Understanding Time
A pitch thrown at 100 miles per hour (mph) takes approximately 375-400 milliseconds to reach the home plate from the pitcher’s mound, which is 60 feet 6 inches away. This incredibly short reaction time challenges batters, demanding exceptional hand-eye coordination and quick decision-making. The ball travels this distance almost faster than the human eye can track, making hitting a 100 mph fastball one of the most difficult feats in professional sports. The sheer speed leaves a minuscule margin for error, often deciding between a triumphant home run and a miss or foul ball.
A skilled baseball hitter can swing the bat with speeds exceeding 70-80 mph, initiating the motion in roughly 150 milliseconds. This rapid, explosive action is crucial for meeting fast pitches effectively. The swing’s velocity is pivotal in generating the force needed to propel the ball, often dictating the game’s momentum.
So how can a hitter use two different time moments to hit 100? When a hitter begins their stretch or load will determine how much time they have to see and decide to launch the bat. Every hitter has a stretch movement time value. This means that from the time the hitter stretches to when their lead foot hits the ground, they have a time value. Understanding this value helps the hitter understand when they have to begin their stretch and when their stretch has to be 95% complete at pitch release.
The second time value is time to impact. How fast does it take the tip of the bat to reach the ball in front of the plate? Both of these time values have concrete values and can be learned.