What is Exit Velocity in Baseball and How Does Age Affect It?
Exit velocity by age simply refers to the speed at which the baseball leaves the bat after making contact. It measures the bat speed at the point of impact and the energy transferred from the swing to the ball. Exit velo is displayed in miles per hour (mph). The faster the ball comes off the bat, the higher the exit velocity. Hitting the ball solidly with the bat’s sweet spot results in maximum energy transfer and higher exit speeds. Exit velocity by age has become one of the top tools for gauging a hitter’s power and contact efficiency.
Exit velocity by age directly correlates to the energy and force transferred from the swinging bat to the ball. The faster the exit speed, the more potential power and distance the batted ball can have. Elite MLB hitters regularly drive balls with exit velocities over 110 mph.
Exit velocity by age and launch angle together give hitters key data points to understand the quality of their contact. By tracking exit velo and making adjustments, hitters can evaluate and improve their hitting mechanics, strength, and overall effectiveness at the plate.
Why Does Exit Velocity by Age Matter in Baseball?
Exit velocity by age directly influences the outcome of a batted ball and the success of a hitter. Here are some key reasons exit velo is important:
- Higher exit speeds lead to farther distances when other factors like launch angle are optimal. This leads to more extra-base hits.
- Solid contact with high exit velo results in hard-hit balls that are tougher for fielders to defend.
- Monitoring exit velocity by age helps hitters and coaches identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement.
- Hitting the ball with consistently high exit speeds is a core skill required to have success at higher levels of baseball.
- Analyzing exit velo patterns helps identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement in a hitter’s swing.
- Scouts heavily evaluate amateur players on their exit velocity and power potential. Increased exit speeds improve the draft stock.
- Athletes who can generate elite bat speeds and exit velos are rare. This skill separates MLB sluggers from average hitters.
- Scouts evaluate amateur players based heavily on their exit velocity and power potential. Exit velo is king!
In summary, maximizing exit velocity by age is a key to unlocking a hitter’s power, driving the ball cleanly, and getting positive results at the plate. Both hitters and coaches should understand its importance.
Ranking the Top Exit Velocity by Age in MLB
The highest exit velocities achieved by MLB hitters exceed 110+ mph. Here are some of the fastest recorded exit speeds:
- Giancarlo Stanton (Marlins) – 122.2 mph
- Aaron Judge (Yankees) – 121.1 mph
- Joey Gallo (Rangers) – 120 mph
- Nelson Cruz (Twins) – 119.9 mph
- Miguel Sano (Twins) – 119.7 mph
These MLB sluggers consistently rank among the exit velo leaders, though many others have topped 115+ mph. However, hitting the ball hard is just one ingredient alongside factors like consistency, discipline, and clutch performance.
Understanding the Average Exit Velocity by Age in MLB
A hitter’s exit velocity by age will increase over time as they mature physically and improve their skills through proper training. Here are general exit velo ranges by age:
- Ages 5-7: 25-45 mph
- Ages 8-9: 35-55 mph
- Ages 10-12: 45-65 mph
- Ages 13-14: 55-70 mph
- Ages 15-18: 65-85+ mph
- College/Pro: 90-110+ mph
As players get older, their exit velocity by age should steadily rise as they develop. Comparing averages can help set goals and evaluate progress but remember that individual results will vary based on size, strength, experience, etc.
How to Measure Exit Velocity by Age in Baseball
Technology has enabled the tracking of batted ball metrics like exit velo during games, practices, workouts, or recreational play. Here are some of the most common ways to monitor exit velocity by age:
Exit velo is most commonly tracked using a radar gun positioned behind the hitter in their line of sight. Radar guns detect the speed of the ball immediately after bat-to-ball contact. Radar guns positioned behind the plate instantly record the speed in mph as the ball rockets off the bat.
Other options like Blast Motion, SwingTracker, and Rapsodo sensors combine radar with high-speed cameras to also capture advanced hitting metrics like launch angle.
During games, MLB Statcast systems use high-precision radar to track exit velo with incredible accuracy. For personal use, pocket radar guns as low as $150 provide data to help improve your swing. Systems like Blast Motion sensors attach to the knob of the bat to track swing metrics. Rapsodo, HitTrax, and other advanced monitors use radar and cameras to capture comprehensive hitting data. MLB ballparks have high-tech Stat cast tracking technology to analyze every batted ball. Mobile apps sync with smart bat sensors to display exit velo and other swing details after each hit.
Access to these technologies was once limited, but now affordable personal radars, sensors, and apps make exit velocity tracking realistic for players of all levels. Measuring exit velocity by age consistently allows for data-driven training.
Factors That Influence Exit Speeds at Different Ages
What enables certain hitters to consistently drive balls at eye-popping velocities? Here are key factors that contribute to exit velocity by age:
- Bat Speed – The velocity of the barrel right before impact has a direct effect on exit velo. Faster barrel speeds transfer more energy.
- Bat Path- The plane, path, and angle taken by the barrel through the hitting zone optimize energy transfer when correct.
- Barrel Impact- Hitting the ball flush with the bat’s sweet spot results in maximum exit velocities.
- Bat Weight – Increased bat weights (within regulations) can build muscle to increase bat speed.
- Pitch Velocity – The speed of the incoming pitch positively influences the potential exit velo upon contact.
- Hitting Mechanics – Proper rotation, weight shift, and sequenced power from the lower half play key roles.
- Strength – Stronger legs, core, and hips increase potential force exertion and bat speed capabilities.
Hitting smart line drives at optimal launch angles also helps convert high exit speeds into hits and extra-base hits. Exit velocity by age is a product of refined technique and athleticism.
Age-Specific Tips for Increasing Your Exit Velocity
Here are some keys for unlocking your power potential and making gains in exit velocity by age:
- Get stronger – Focus on building baseball-specific strength through resistance training. Target the core, shoulders, and hips.
- Control bat path – Keep the barrel in the hitting zone longer through proper swing plane and angle of attack.
- Increase bat speed – Develop quick, explosive hands and wrists combined with solid rotational mechanics.
- Attack inner half – Make adjustments to get optimal impact and exit velo on inside pitches.
- Use the lower half – Incorporate the legs more for power transfer during the swing.
- Analyse metrics – Track exit velo consistently and make data-driven adjustments.
- Optimise equipment – Use BBCOR bats and tees tailored to improve exit speed.
- Refine technique – Focus on mechanics like hip rotation, lag loading, and extension through contact.
The Influence of Age on Exit Velocity in Baseball
As covered earlier, exit velocity generally increases significantly as a player ages and progresses through higher levels of baseball. Let’s take a closer look at factors affecting exit velo growth at different ages:
- Ages 5-10: Exit velocities start lower but the focus is on establishing proper swing fundamentals and mechanics. Building these skills will support future growth.
- Ages 11-14: Exit velos begin rising as players mature physically and athletically. Increased strength, bat speed, and power emerged during this period.
- Ages 15-18: Through high school, players experience significant gains in physical development, hitting prowess, and exit velocity. Advanced strength training pays dividends.
- College/Pro: Athletes achieve elite strength levels allowing elite exit speeds. Fine-tuning mechanics and recognizing pitches also optimize exit velo.
While physical maturity plays a role, dedicated training and mechanical refinement are required to fully realize potential exit velocity at each stage of development.
Identifying the Next Great Power Hitter Through Exit Velocity by Age
The obsession in baseball today with radar gun readings and exit velocities is unlikely to subside anytime soon. While still an imperfect measure of overall hitting effectiveness, optimizing exit velo is critical for uncovering the next generation of elite power hitters.
By understanding the importance of exit speed by age, tracking it regularly, and refining their training, young players can take huge strides forward. Parents and coaches can use exit velo data to identify developmental areas and customize drills. The information exit velocity by age provides is invaluable.
The great power hitters dominating the modern MLB like Aaron Judge, Ronald Acuña Jr., and more figured out long ago how to unlock maximum bat speeds and exit velos. They dedicated hours of work specifically targeting increased velocity and distance in their swings.
The Path to Power: Increasing Exit Velocity by Age
Unlocking maximum exit velocity by age is a process that takes time and consistent work. With a strategic progression focused on skills, strength, and swing efficiency, hitters can achieve impressive gains in their exit velos.
Remember, higher exit speeds don’t automatically translate to baseball success. But tracking and improving exit velocity gives hitters valuable objective data to advance their development as powerful, productive swingers. Start using exit velo metrics to evaluate your swing today. With an optimized training program, the only place your exit velocity will go is up!
The future sluggers launching moonshots with towering exit velos are out there practising and perfecting their swings right now. Will one of them be you? It takes commitment, smart training, mechanical refinement, and the hunger for power. Get to work and start tracking and improving your exit velo to reach elite levels!
FAQs:
- What’s a good exit velocity by age for a high school baseball player to have?
There’s no magic number for high school players. A range of 70-85 mph is common depending on the player’s size and strength. As long as you’re making hard consistent contact, you’re on the right track.
- How can I tell if my exit velocity by age is good?
Compare your exit velo to averages for your age group. Also, watch the flight of the ball. If you’re regularly hitting line drives and hard grounders and can drive balls into gaps and over fences, your exit velo is likely in a good range.
- What drills can help increase bat speed and exit velocity?
Some great drills are soft tosses into a net or batting tees working on turning on inside pitches, hitting off a high tee, and overspeed training with weighted bats. Resisting the weight during your swing recruits more muscle fibres.
- Does exit velocity by age matter for baseball players under 10 years old?
Not really. Proper mechanics and making consistent contact are much more important. A focus on exit velo at young ages can lead to tension and poor habits.
- How often should you measure exit velocity by age?
Once a week is fine, just to track progress over time. Don’t do it too often before making swing adjustments, as it can mess with your mechanics and approach.
- What is more important, exit velocity or launch angle?
They go hand in hand. You can crush the ball but without the right launch angle, it’ll be an easy out. Focus on hard, consistent contact and the launch angle will optimize naturally.