Bonderman hits 99mph

[RynMan]

I really question the accuracy of velocity readings on those devices. To get the most accurate measurement you need to video the flight of the ball from the side and use slow motion video analysis to calculate the velocity.

The velocity of a pitch changes throughout its flight.....so which velocity does the gun record? The average? Peak? Before the plate?? Does anyone know?

[TheYanks04]

There are 2 types guns. The so-called "fast" gun is supposed to measure the speed out of the pitcher's hand. The other gun registers the speed half way between the mound and the plate.

[RynMan]

There are 2 types guns. The so-called "fast" gun is supposed to measure the speed out of the pitcher's hand. The other gun registers the speed half way between the mound and the plate.

How does it differentiate between the velocity of the ball and the velocity of the arm?

And I also find it difficult to understand how it can register a reading half way to the plate, considering the guns are usually setup at varying distances back from home plate.

I'm not saying your wrong Yanks04, I believe that you are right. I just question the accuracy of these things...

[TheYanks04]

I have no idea what the tolerance of the instrument is. And like any instrument, if not properly setup or calibrated I am suret he readings would lose accuracy even more.

The science behind them is the same as that in detecting an airplane in motion. The time it takes for a radio wave to bounce back to the receiver is used to calcualte the distance and using multiple points and multiple readings over time you can calculate velocity.

[Jagfan21]

I doubt it. I know he generally sits between 92-95 mph so 99 mph does seem a stretch. I'd say he could maybe touch 97 at best.

I dunno, he consistently hits 97mph in MVP Baseball 2005....

lol and how slow is greinkes curve?

[Dawgpound 1613]

There are 2 types guns. The so-called "fast" gun is supposed to measure the speed out of the pitcher's hand. The other gun registers the speed half way between the mound and the plate.

How does it differentiate between the velocity of the ball and the velocity of the arm?

And I also find it difficult to understand how it can register a reading half way to the plate, considering the guns are usually setup at varying distances back from home plate.

I'm not saying your wrong Yanks04, I believe that you are right. I just question the accuracy of these things...

Which is exactly why cops use other types of speed guns now, and why I have never heard of anyone getting pulled over unless they were going AT LEAST 10 mph over the speed limit (and usually 15) - it is too easy to show the inaccuracies in these things should they ever be challenged in court.

[TheYanks04]

While that may be a part of it, the reason cops do not write tickets for guys going less than 10 mph over the limit is simple...$$$$. The big fines are usually for > 10 or 15 mph over the speed limit. Speeding tickets are about making money, not about public safety.

No cop is going to waste his time pulling someone over for 5 mph over the limit as it is not only potentilally challengeable in court, but it is simply not nearly as profitable as getting the guy going 75 in a 55 on the highway.

And as to accuracy, as they say innoncent until proven guilty except wrt to traffic tickets where Napoleonic law applies in most states. Most times, when people get out of a moving violation by challenging it in court they plead to a lesser, non-moving violation that probably has nearly the same fine but does not put points on the license or affect insurance rates....I.e, the accuracy of the gun is really not going to be a major factor regardless, although it could be in some cases where you can prove that the cop did not handle the instrument properly, etc.

[MikeD22]

Yanks04 said it, 10mph over or it's a waste of their time.

$$$$ > public safety

also, a lot of times when a motorcycle goes flying by doing 90-100, they don't even bother, too much work and dangerous for them.

[RynMan]

Funny how this thread has gone from Bonderman to speeding.