Speed Guns

[Wallaby]

Does anyone actually believe the speed guns? The variations are too dramatic.

I remember way back in 75/76 when the Windies were here, the boffins in WA timed Thommo at 99.7 mph, Holding at 94, Roberts at 92 etc.
Then 2 years later, under 'Lab' conditions, everybody just going for maximum speed, Thommo won with about 91 mph!

Today, note now how everybody's speed picks up about 5-6Ks in South Africa - just check out the English bowlers. Compare what they did last month with what they did against us in England. Brett Lee always used to improve up his average from about 150 to 155 when over there.

And why are bouncers always a few Ks slower than a 'normal' delivery?

 

[Kim Hagdorn]

I think the high altitude at Wanders makes the ball travel faster, pretty sure the speed is also measured just as it's released from the hand.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

the speedgun also only measures the horizontal vector - not the true velocity of the ball - which would be higher

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Good call. The speed guns are all over the place. In fact I might contest my last few speeding fines.

Fuller deliveries measure quicker than shorter balls. And shorter bowlers (Gough, Edwards) meansure quicker than tall bowlers. According to the speed guns Greg Blewett was quicker than McGrath. Why? Surely it should just measure the raw speed the ball is travelling.

Seeing as fuller balls register faster does this mean that the speed guns are measuring how quickly the ball travels horizontally? So the steeper the delivery, the more distance it has to travel between these two points and the slower it registers?

A fuller ball does reach the batsman quicker than a bouncer because it has to travel less distance. But that should have nothing to do with the speed the ball is travelling.

 

[Kram]

Good call. The speed guns are all over the place. In fact I might contest my last few speeding fines.

I've had a cop try to book me for 120kms in a 90 zone when I was doing high 90s at the most, he even showed me the speed recording in his car, I got off because I guess he saw how surprised I was and said no way man that's bullshit!!

 

[Wallaby]

I think the high altitude at Wanders makes the ball travel faster, pretty sure the speed is also measured just as it's released from the hand.

True, but they also play in Durban and Capetown which are sea-level.

Also, the high altitude doesn't make the ball travel faster - it makes it slow down less. So the max speed (just as it leaves the hand) should be the same.

 

[Ill Chicken]

True, but they also play in Durban and Capetown which are sea-level.

Also, the high altitude doesn't make the ball travel faster - it makes it slow down less. So the max speed (just as it leaves the hand) should be the same.

It would also come down to the bowler being able to swing his arm around faster though, ie less resistance which is what would equate to the higher speeds.

There are these video's on the tube regarding other stuff mentioned in this thread; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GjkBNxKZOE8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPDW7hj1yfs&feature=related

 

[didak04]

And why are bouncers always a few Ks slower than a 'normal' delivery?

It's the angle of the ball out of the hand that causes the variation isn't it?

 

[The Falcon Strike]

A fuller ball does reach the batsman quicker than a bouncer because it has to travel less distance. But that should have nothing to do with the speed the ball is travelling.

Depends on what the purpose of the radar is for

If we are talking about the reaction time - then the horizontal vector is what is important.

Mcgrath might bowl with greater velocity - but that doesn't mean Blewett can't get the ball to the batsman quicker.

However - as we know - reaction time isn't the be all and end all.

A short ball at your ribs is going to require a lot more movement of your entire body - and hence you are going to need every hundredth of a second possible to play it appropriately.

 

[rickyp]

It's the angle of the ball out of the hand that causes the variation isn't it?

Yes, because as it was mentioned the gun only measures the horizontal velocity. So if you're bowling short, you're going to be releasing at a higher gradient, and increase your vertical velocity by decreasing the horizontal.

 

[Notorious_29]

Yep I'd agree there all over the place.

I never understood how Damien Martyn, Steve Waugh and even Michael Hussey now can stroll in and bowl 125 - 130 km/h, the same pace as the late Glenn McGrath. Also the guns seem to tip up a notch on the international scale. There is no way Tait was bowling quicker on Friday night than what he was in the twenty20 against Victoria when he took 3/12, making fools of White, Hodge and Hussey.

 

[Drugs Are Bad Mackay?]

Yep I'd agree there all over the place.

I never understood how Damien Martyn, Steve Waugh and even Michael Hussey now can stroll in and bowl 125 - 130 km/h, the same pace as the late Glenn McGrath. Also the guns seem to tip up a notch on the international scale. There is no way Tait was bowling quicker on Friday night than what he was in the twenty20 against Victoria when he took 3/12, making fools of White, Hodge and Hussey.

RIP?

There is a moon landing conspiracy theory floating around first class cricket that the Channel 9 radar is a little more generous with its readings because speed sells. Bit like the world record line in the swimming events where it crawls along for most of the race and then flies home in the last few seconds so that every swimmer is "on target for a world record" for the bulk of the race.

 

[Notorious_29]

RIP?

There is a moon landing conspiracy theory floating around first class cricket that the Channel 9 radar is a little more generous with its readings because speed sells. Bit like the world record line in the swimming events where it crawls along for most of the race and then flies home in the last few seconds so that every swimmer is "on target for a world record" for the bulk of the race.

Was referring to his later years of his cricketing career.

 

[Belnakor]

The way they measure the speed is dumb. some bowlers bowl a much "heavier" ball than others. Thats why Greg Blewett probably timed so high, out of the hand he probably was working up some serious pace (Blewett could bowl btw, he just didn't put enoug work in). Stewy Clark and Mcgrath were well know as bowling a heavy ball.

Its like when ever they play a test at the WACA they talk about how quick the pitch etc, how they are going to try and break records. The way they measure speed at the moment the pitch is irrelevant. The only thing that might be relevant is humidity.

 

[davey_magik]

I completely agree they are inconsistent.

I don't think Siddle is up to 145/150 that Channel 9 says he is. I don't think Stuart Broad is anywhere near as quick as the guns seem to think when he is bowling. I also can't see how Dale Steyns terrific spell against India (7/51) had an average speed in the mid 130s.

Anyone else also noticed the speeds in ODI always seem to be about 5km/h more than usual? I mean Liam Plunkett was touching 150km/h a few years ago FFS.

Having said that I do think Tait is as quick as the guns say he is. I would not be surprised at all if the Ch 9 speed gun 'exaggerates' speeds though.

 

[Belnakor]

I don't think Siddle is up to 145/150 that Channel 9 says he is. I don't think Stuart Broad is anywhere near as quick as the guns seem to think when he is bowling. I also can't see how Dale Steyns terrific spell against India (7/51) had an average speed in the mid 130s.

that might be humidity based.

Its odd - for example Mckay looks like he should bowl faster than Harris in the flesh, yet he is 7-8km slower, according to the speed gun.

 

[flamethrower]

A lot depends on the make of the speed gun being used. Talk to any US baseball scout and they will tell you that some brands are notorious for giving readings 3 to 4 mph higher than the actual speed.

 

[Illinois Nazi]

RIP?

I thought exactly the same thing!

There is a moon landing conspiracy theory floating around first class cricket that the Channel 9 radar is a little more generous with its readings because speed sells. Bit like the world record line in the swimming events where it crawls along for most of the race and then flies home in the last few seconds so that every swimmer is "on target for a world record" for the bulk of the race.

That's more to do with the "record line" moving along at a constant pace with only the split times at the end of each lap as markers, while the swimmers slow considerably as they tire toward the end. If you superimposed the "record line" over the actual world record swim, you'd find the swimmer well in front until the last few metres where the line would fly home to finish at the same time. Still handy for TV presenters wanting to create some excitement though!

 

[davey_magik]

that might be humidity based.

Its odd - for example Mckay looks like he should bowl faster than Harris in the flesh, yet he is 7-8km slower, according to the speed gun.

Now I think about it I think it is definitely giving exaggerated readings. McKay looks faster than Harris as well IMO and yet Harris has hit high 140s in the ODIs.

I agree humidity is a factor but I refuse to believe some of the players are as quick as the guns say (Or in Steyns case not fast enough).

 

[Big Tezza]

Now I think about it I think it is definitely giving exaggerated readings. McKay looks faster than Harris as well IMO and yet Harris has hit high 140s in the ODIs.

I agree humidity is a factor but I refuse to believe some of the players are as quick as the guns say (Or in Steyns case not fast enough).

Steyn hit 148kph against India earlier today, so I wouldn't exactly say he's being hard done by.