Pitch Speed Converter
See how fast a pitch from a youth mound really looks to the hitter. Enter a speed and the distance it was thrown from, and get the equivalent speed from 60 feet 6 inches or any other common pitching distance.
Pitching speed conversion chart: Little League to MLB
Find his speed from a 46 foot mound in the first column, then read across to see the speed that gives a hitter the same time to react from 50 feet, 54 feet, and the full 60 feet 6 inches. A 60 mph fastball in Little League gives the hitter about as much time as a 79 mph fastball from a high school mound.
| At 46 ft | Equals at 50 ft | Equals at 54 ft | Equals at 60 ft 6 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 mph | 43 mph | 47 mph | 53 mph |
| 45 mph | 49 mph | 53 mph | 59 mph |
| 50 mph | 54 mph | 59 mph | 66 mph |
| 55 mph | 60 mph | 65 mph | 72 mph |
| 60 mph | 65 mph | 70 mph | 79 mph |
| 65 mph | 71 mph | 76 mph | 85 mph |
| 70 mph | 76 mph | 82 mph | 92 mph |
| 75 mph | 82 mph | 88 mph | 99 mph |
| 80 mph | 87 mph | 94 mph | 105 mph |
How the conversion works
The converter multiplies the speed by the ratio of the two distances: equivalent speed = speed x (new distance / original distance). A pitch that covers a shorter distance at the same speed reaches the plate sooner, so it gives the hitter the same reaction time as a faster pitch from farther away. For example, 70 mph from 46 feet x (60.5 / 46) is about 92 mph from 60 feet 6 inches.
Common pitching distances
The distance from the front of the pitching rubber to the back point of home plate grows as players do. These are the national rulebook distances this converter offers and where you'll most often see them. Local leagues and tournaments can set their own field sizes, so check your league's rules for the exact distance.
| Distance | Where it's used |
|---|---|
| 40 ft | 7U and 8U kid pitch, including PONY Pinto, USSSA, and Perfect Game |
| 46 ft | Little League Minors and Majors, Cal Ripken 60-foot fields, PONY Mustang, and 9U to 10U travel ball |
| 50 ft | Little League Intermediate (50/70), PONY Bronco, and 11U to 12U travel ball |
| 54 ft | PONY 14U and many 13U travel tournaments |
| 60 ft 6 in | High school, college, pro, Babe Ruth, and Little League Junior and Senior |
What the converted number means
The converted speed describes the hitter's side of the at-bat: how much time he has to see the pitch and decide. It is not a prediction of how hard a pitcher would throw from a longer distance, and it says nothing about the movement or location that make a pitch hard to hit. Every pitcher also lets go of the ball a few feet in front of the rubber, so treat the result as a close estimate. The number worth tracking is his own speed over time. Compare him to himself, not to the kid on Instagram.
Common questions
How fast is a 60 mph Little League pitch in big league terms?
About 79 mph from 60 feet 6 inches. A 60 mph pitch from a 46 foot mound reaches the plate in about the same time as a 79 mph pitch from the full distance.
What does 70 mph from 46 feet equal from 60 feet 6 inches?
About 92 mph. That's why a hard thrower can look overpowering on a small field: the hitters get roughly the reaction time a high school hitter gets against a 92 mph fastball.
Does this mean he would throw that hard from a full-size mound?
No. The conversion compares the hitter's reaction time, not the pitcher's arm. A pitcher's speed from a longer distance depends on his own strength and delivery.
How far is the pitching mound in Little League?
46 feet in Little League Minors and Majors, 50 feet in the Intermediate (50/70) division, and 60 feet 6 inches in Junior and Senior League. Local leagues can shorten Junior League to 54 feet for regular-season play.
How do I convert a pitch speed between two distances?
Multiply the speed by the new distance and divide by the original distance. For 55 mph from 46 feet compared to 60 feet 6 inches: 55 x 60.5 / 46 is about 72 mph.
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