Pitch Speed Equivalent Calculator (Reaction-Time Conversion)
Convert a pitch speed from a youth or softball pitching distance to the equivalent speed from 60 ft 6 in (or any other distance) by matching the batter’s reaction time, in km/h or mph.
How it works
Equivalent speed = actual speed × (equivalent distance ÷ actual distance) · time to plate = distance ÷ speed (metres ÷ m/s).
A batter’s challenge depends on how much time the ball takes to arrive, so a pitch thrown from a shorter distance “plays” faster. Holding the travel time constant gives the equivalent speed: multiply by the ratio of the two distances. This is the conversion youth coaches use to compare a 46-ft Little League fastball or a 43-ft softball pitch with a 60-ft 6-in big-league pitch. It uses rubber-to-plate distances and ignores the pitcher’s stride and the ball slowing down, so treat it as a close comparison rather than an exact figure.
Worked example
A 12-year-old throws 100 km/h from the 46-ft (14.02 m) Little League rubber. Equivalent speed from 60 ft 6 in = 100 × 60.5 ÷ 46 = 131.5 km/h (81.7 mph). The ball reaches the plate in 14.02 ÷ 27.78 = 0.505 s, the same time a 131.5 km/h pitch takes from 18.44 m.
Sources: Little League — Pitching distances by division · NCAA Softball Rules — Pitching distance 43 ft
Frequently asked questions
How fast is a 60 mph Little League pitch in MLB terms?
Multiply by 60.5 ÷ 46: 60 mph from 46 ft is equivalent to about 79 mph from 60 ft 6 in, because the batter has the same time to react.
What distance does softball use?
High school and college fastpitch softball pitch from 43 ft (13.11 m); younger age groups often use 35–40 ft. A 65 mph softball pitch from 43 ft is equivalent to roughly 91 mph from 60 ft 6 in.
Is the equivalent speed exact?
No. Pitchers release the ball several feet in front of the rubber and the ball slows down in flight, so real reaction times differ slightly. The ratio is the standard quick comparison.
How much time does a batter have to react?
A 90 mph pitch from 60 ft 6 in reaches the plate in about 0.46 s; the swing decision has to be made within the first half of that.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.