BP distance:for live bp what should the proper distance be?

[omg]

For players facing pitchers from regulation distance do you think it is harmful to face bp from 40 feet? I know the reality is that bp pitchers cannot throw tons of bp from 60 feet but would it be better to get, say, 5 cuts, from 60, than 20 cuts from 40?

[Jake Patterson]

For players facing pitchers from regulation distance do you think it is harmful to face bp from 40 feet? I know the reality is that bp pitchers cannot throw tons of bp from 60 feet but would it be better to get, say, 5 cuts, from 60, than 20 cuts from 40?
I pitched from 40' and allowed 10 cuts each. I rotated the batters through several times versus one session at 20-30.

[omg]

I pitched from 40' and allowed 10 cuts each. I rotated the batters through several times versus one session at 20-30.

Really what I'm getting at is does throwing from 40 screw up a hitters timing and hinder their ability to wait and adjust. Does it make hitters into dead-red fastball hitters, ones that are prone to lunging because they are constantly facing pitches where they have little tracking time and reaction time?

[GetYourBestSwing]

I've never seen BP thrown from 60 feet.

Your just fine throwing BP from 40 feet, 35 feet, whatever.

The true production from a BP thrower comes from throwing A LOT of strikes to whatever location he chooses or round you are working on.

I wouldn't be concerned with how close it is compared to 60 feet.

[Chris O'Leary]

For players facing pitchers from regulation distance do you think it is harmful to face bp from 40 feet? I know the reality is that bp pitchers cannot throw tons of bp from 60 feet but would it be better to get, say, 5 cuts, from 60, than 20 cuts from 40?

The closer you throw from, at the same effort, the higher the perceived velocity.

That can be good or bad.

Our crappy pitching machine tops out at maybe 40 MPH from 50 feet. I move it up to 30 feet to simulate 60 MPH.

[omg]

I've never seen BP thrown from 60 feet.

Your just fine throwing BP from 40 feet, 35 feet, whatever.

I wouldn't be concerned with how close it is compared to 60 feet.

Ok, but why? I understand the reality that bp throwers NEED to throw from 40 but I'm speculating this does not help the hitter to "ride the back leg" "wait and adjust" or whatever terminology you want to use.

[GetYourBestSwing]

I think throwing BP from 60 feet would mess up "wait and adjust", "ride the back leg" more than throwing from a closer distance where you can control the velocity and location.

[conky149er]

i take BP from about 35 feet of my friend
works fine
it just keeps your muscles moving fast, which is a good thing, so i dont think it would be a hindrance

[Jake Patterson]

Really what I'm getting at is does throwing from 40 screw up a hitters timing and hinder their ability to wait and adjust. Does it make hitters into dead-red fastball hitters, ones that are prone to lunging because they are constantly facing pitches where they have little tracking time and reaction time? It's fairly easy to calculate the flight time of your average BP pitch versus the average game pitch. Adjust the former to match the later. I found in HS about 40 feet for me was a good distance.

[bob_r]

The closer you throw from, at the same effort, the higher the perceived velocity.

That can be good or bad.

Why would it be bat?

[beemax]

Really what I'm getting at is does throwing from 40 screw up a hitters timing and hinder their ability to wait and adjust. Does it make hitters into dead-red fastball hitters, ones that are prone to lunging because they are constantly facing pitches where they have little tracking time and reaction time?

IMO the distance depends on the bp pitcher. As a bp pitcher you should throw from a distance where you can be most accurate and consistent with your velo.

If you only hit bp and never face live pitching, then you should worry about adjustability and whether you are developing kids into dead-red fastball hitters. Otherwise, give them as good a bp session as you can with consistent strikes and velo and make sure they face live pitching as much as possible to develop that adjustability

[CoachB25]

MHO, BP should be thrown from a distance where you can simulate the speed of the typical pitcher in their league. Once you know that distance, you can make adjustment should they see a faster pitcher. Also, keep in mind that if you possess a breaking pitch or several pitches then you should throw at a distance where the hitter can see spin and work on hitting those type pitches. I don't believe you should have them up there for 30 balls. I also don't believe you should have them up there just hacking away. Each player should have a goal. I throw from 45-50 since I can throw from there all day and I can throw all my breaking pitches for strikes. I throw off of a portable mound. This would be the type that has wheels. Do not discount the need for being able to throw strikes! Any bp thrown where a large percentage of pitches are for balls is a waste of time. So, I guess I'm saying that it is up to the individual, their level of competition and the types of pitches they want to throw.

[Towson15]

Coach B25,
I agree that you don't want a lot of BP pitches to be balls because the object is for the player to hit the ball but there is value in taking a BP pitch that is out of the strike zone.You wouldn't want to promote swinging at crummy pitches and you would want to promote pitches that are strikes because what you do in practice ,you will probably do in a game.

[korp]

For players facing pitchers from regulation distance do you think it is harmful to face bp from 40 feet? I know the reality is that bp pitchers cannot throw tons of bp from 60 feet but would it be better to get, say, 5 cuts, from 60, than 20 cuts from 40?
If your talking about actual pitches being thrown you must have the correct distance because it can mess with pitchers mechanics and screw up the hitter. Now "bp" can be thrown at say 40 feet, but the focus there is to get swings in and the pitcher isn't a factor.