What is Exit Velocity?

Simply put, exit velocity is the speed of the ball leaving the bat. You may also hear it be referred to as exit speed. Today, we will take you through what we believe to be the ideal exit velocity by age. It is tied closely with launch angle which you can read our previous post on that here. 

Generally speaking, analysts and coaches look at exit velocity in order to judge the quality of contact made. As you could imagine, a hard-hit ball has a better chance of being successful rather than a slow dribbler.   

Just to give you an idea, most power hitters in the MLB have an exit velocity of 90+ mph. The league average is lower at roughly 86 mph. 4 mph might seem like a small difference, but it is very noticeable and generally more effective. 

Also as a little fun fact, do you know who has the highest exit velocity this year in the MLB? Well according to MLB.com, it’s none other than Aaron Judge. He has a very impressive exit velocity at 114 mph. If you want to check out the hardest-hit balls of 2021 you can check this article out. The velocity that some of the pros can generate is unbelievable!  

In this post, we will give you an idea of what speeds you should be aiming for and how to improve them. At Momentum, we use the Hittrax system and the Rapsodo system to track exit velocity. Be sure to inquire about it the next time you come. It can be a valuable measurement that can be helpful in taking your game to the next level. 

Exit Velocity by Age

Just to be clear, everybody’s exit velocity will differ depending on a few things. Your size, strength, and swing mechanics will be the biggest determining factors. Someone with a smaller frame may have a harder time producing a high exit velocity. With this being said we are going to give a general range to aim for depending upon your age. We showing the ideal exit velocity by age.

Youth

For youth hitters, solid contact and the ability to drive the ball down and hard is generally prioritized over increasing launch angle. We believe this is for good reason. But, just because the launch angle might not be high this does not affect exit velocity. 

For kids 7-10, they should typically be somewhere within the range of 42-68 mph of exit velocity. These are just averages, but they will provide a goal or a milestone to shoot for. If you exceed those numbers that, of course, would be a good thing.

Intermediate

As players get a bit older their body grows and matures. Their bone structure and muscle density increase and generally their exit velocity will as well. 

For players between the ages of 13-14 should aim to be somewhere between 70-82 mph. Players 15 and up should shoot for 82+, with showcase aged (16-18) players shooting for exit velocities 88 mph and up. Our facility record for 17u exit velocity is 107 mph! It may be a big gap but think about the difference between a 13 yr olds body and a 17 yr olds body. Some high schoolers might even be on par with the major league players, but if you’re not there yet, do not worry.

College

In your college years, your body starts to fully mature, and also, by that point your mechanics will be refined as well. That means you can really start focusing on your exit velocity and putting all of your power into play. 
Players from 18-22 should, on average, will have a max exit velocity of 95+ mph. Elite college players will have exit velocities comparable to major league players. What separates MLB players from the collegiate players at this point would be the consistency of quality contact & the ability to hit these numbers in game settings.

How to Improve Exit Velocity?

1.  Fix Your Mechanics – Mechanics are everything! If you can’t repeat solid mechanics, you will always struggle to make quality contact. Making quality contact is key when it comes to exit velocity.
2. Increase Swinging Power – Once your mechanics are where you want them to be, the next step is to improve your power. Now, you can do that by lifting weights and doing other strength exercises. Plyometric exercises are especially good for younger athletes. Plyometrics uses your own body weight and is typically regarded as a bit safer while boasting many of the same benefits.

Well, that’s it for now, but be sure to subscribe to our mailing list so you can be updated on our latest posts.