Softball Hitting: Normative Ranges

Full percentile reference tables (5th–95th) for softball hitting metrics, broken out by competition level.

This page collects the percentile summaries on individual metric pages, fully documented for each competition level. See Normative Ranges for how to interpret these tables.

Distance metrics are shown in inches to match the display units used on individual metric pages.

Note: due to relatively low sample size in some subgroups, Softball Hitting Norms are identical for (youth, high school) and (college, pro).

Youth Sample

Reference dataset built from 104 unique youth athletes performing a hit in 2025, pooled with the High School sample due to low individual subgroup sample size.

Kinematic Sequence – Peak Segment Angular Velocities & Speedup Factors

Prefer higher velocities and speedup factors for better performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Peak Pelvis Angular Velocity	361	384	406	455	494	537	554	deg/s
Peak Trunk Angular Velocity	469	489	533	582	666	715	745	deg/s
Peak Arm Angular Velocity	455	486	577	694	805	924	1020	deg/s
Trunk to Arm Speed Up	0.80	0.89	1.03	1.14	1.31	1.51	1.67	ratio
Pelvis to Trunk Speed Up	1.08	1.13	1.23	1.33	1.42	1.48	1.53	ratio

Times

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Time to Ball Contact	0.00	0.00	0.57	0.68	0.80	0.92	1.02	s
Time to Launch	0.00	0.00	0.18	0.34	0.45	0.55	0.70	s
Pelvis Acceleration Time	0.14	0.14	0.16	0.19	0.33	0.38	0.39	s
Pelvis Deceleration Time	0.14	0.14	0.17	0.25	0.42	0.54	0.57	s

Distance

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Stride Length	18.2	20.7	23.6	25.3	27.7	29.5	31.0	in
Linear Stretch	13.7	16.5	19.3	22.0	25.4	27.2	28.5	in
Drifting Forward Magnitude	-0.9	-0.6	0.1	0.7	1.5	2.9	3.7	in
Inter Elbow Distance at Elbow Slot	0.205	0.218	0.254	0.302	0.358	0.395	0.408	m
Inter Elbow Distance at Ball Contact	0.187	0.203	0.231	0.282	0.344	0.391	0.410	m
Rear Arm Connection	8.9	9.5	10.3	11.1	12.2	13.5	13.9	in
Relative Hand Position - Towards Pitcher	-11.5	-10.8	-9.8	-8.0	-6.2	-4.2	-3.2	in
Relative Hand Position - Up	-0.9	-0.2	1.8	4.0	6.1	7.1	7.8	in
Relative Hand Position - Away from Body	0.0	0.8	2.3	4.5	5.9	7.3	8.0	in

Angles

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Max X Factor	0	0	14	19	26	36	38	deg
Hip Hinge	43	44	54	60	67	73	79	deg
Trunk Coil	15	20	26	33	38	47	50	deg
Trunk Tilt at Launch	-1	0	3	6	10	14	21	deg
Scap Load at Launch	-15	-11	-4	8	21	29	37	deg
Elbow Flexion at Launch	110	117	124	128	132	135	135	deg
Elbow Flexion at Ball Contact	47	50	60	74	88	97	103	deg
Lead Knee Angle at Ball Contact	9	10	11	15	20	28	34	deg
Shoulder Rotation Plane Flexion	22	24	27	33	37	40	42	deg
Shoulder Rotation Plane Tilt	-7	-1	3	12	19	26	28	deg

High School Sample

Reference dataset built from 104 unique high school athletes performing a hit in 2025, pooled with the Youth sample due to low individual subgroup sample size.

Kinematic Sequence – Peak Segment Angular Velocities & Speedup Factors

Prefer higher velocities and speedup factors for better performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Peak Pelvis Angular Velocity	361	384	406	455	494	537	554	deg/s
Peak Trunk Angular Velocity	469	489	533	582	666	715	745	deg/s
Peak Arm Angular Velocity	455	486	577	694	805	924	1020	deg/s
Trunk to Arm Speed Up	0.80	0.89	1.03	1.14	1.31	1.51	1.67	ratio
Pelvis to Trunk Speed Up	1.08	1.13	1.23	1.33	1.42	1.48	1.53	ratio

Times

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Time to Ball Contact	0.00	0.00	0.57	0.68	0.80	0.92	1.02	s
Time to Launch	0.00	0.00	0.18	0.34	0.45	0.55	0.70	s
Pelvis Acceleration Time	0.14	0.14	0.16	0.19	0.33	0.38	0.39	s
Pelvis Deceleration Time	0.14	0.14	0.17	0.25	0.42	0.54	0.57	s

Distance

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Stride Length	18.2	20.7	23.6	25.3	27.7	29.5	31.0	in
Linear Stretch	13.7	16.5	19.3	22.0	25.4	27.2	28.5	in
Drifting Forward Magnitude	-0.9	-0.6	0.1	0.7	1.5	2.9	3.7	in
Inter Elbow Distance at Elbow Slot	0.197	0.208	0.233	0.272	0.301	0.344	0.360	m
Inter Elbow Distance at Ball Contact	0.185	0.193	0.214	0.249	0.306	0.355	0.373	m
Rear Arm Connection	8.9	9.5	10.3	11.1	12.2	13.5	13.9	in
Relative Hand Position - Towards Pitcher	-11.5	-10.8	-9.8	-8.0	-6.2	-4.2	-3.2	in
Relative Hand Position - Up	-0.9	-0.2	1.8	4.0	6.1	7.1	7.8	in
Relative Hand Position - Away from Body	0.0	0.8	2.3	4.5	5.9	7.3	8.0	in

Angles

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Max X Factor	0	0	14	19	26	36	38	deg
Hip Hinge	43	44	54	60	67	73	79	deg
Trunk Coil	15	20	26	33	38	47	50	deg
Trunk Tilt at Launch	-1	0	3	6	10	14	21	deg
Scap Load at Launch	-15	-11	-4	8	21	29	37	deg
Elbow Flexion at Launch	110	117	124	128	132	135	135	deg
Elbow Flexion at Ball Contact	47	50	60	74	88	97	103	deg
Lead Knee Angle at Ball Contact	9	10	11	15	20	28	34	deg
Shoulder Rotation Plane Flexion	22	24	27	33	37	40	42	deg
Shoulder Rotation Plane Tilt	-7	-1	3	12	19	26	28	deg

College Sample

Reference dataset built from 112 unique collegiate athletes performing a hit in 2025, pooled with the Professional sample due to low individual subgroup sample size.

Kinematic Sequence – Peak Segment Angular Velocities & Speedup Factors

Prefer higher velocities and speedup factors for better performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Peak Pelvis Angular Velocity	420	438	472	507	543	578	605	deg/s
Peak Trunk Angular Velocity	510	553	595	645	692	746	770	deg/s
Peak Arm Angular Velocity	501	588	684	792	919	1011	1054	deg/s
Trunk to Arm Speed Up	0.87	0.92	1.06	1.21	1.37	1.54	1.66	ratio
Pelvis to Trunk Speed Up	1.08	1.12	1.18	1.28	1.34	1.42	1.44	ratio

Times

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Time to Ball Contact	0.42	0.58	0.65	0.79	0.89	0.96	1.04	s
Time to Launch	0.07	0.18	0.33	0.46	0.57	0.64	0.69	s
Pelvis Acceleration Time	0.14	0.15	0.17	0.18	0.30	0.34	0.36	s
Pelvis Deceleration Time	0.15	0.16	0.17	0.20	0.39	0.51	0.58	s

Distance

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Stride Length	21.3	23.0	26.1	28.8	31.6	34.3	36.7	in
Linear Stretch	14.1	15.4	19.9	23.2	27.3	30.6	32.1	in
Drifting Forward Magnitude	-1.0	-0.6	0.0	0.7	1.5	2.2	3.3	in
Inter Elbow Distance at Elbow Slot	0.216	0.235	0.295	0.341	0.388	0.403	0.422	m
Inter Elbow Distance at Ball Contact	0.209	0.231	0.259	0.313	0.372	0.403	0.420	m
Rear Arm Connection	10.5	11.2	12.6	14.0	15.4	16.8	18.4	in
Relative Hand Position - Towards Pitcher	-12.6	-12.1	-10.8	-8.3	-5.6	-2.9	0.3	in
Relative Hand Position - Up	-0.9	1.6	4.0	5.6	7.3	8.9	9.6	in
Relative Hand Position - Away from Body	1.8	3.3	4.7	6.7	8.5	10.1	11.0	in

Angles

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Max X Factor	8	16	21	27	34	38	40	deg
Hip Hinge	42	44	49	55	62	69	72	deg
Trunk Coil	5	21	29	36	43	49	53	deg
Trunk Tilt at Launch	1	3	6	10	13	18	21	deg
Scap Load at Launch	-29	-19	-6	6	16	33	40	deg
Elbow Flexion at Launch	110	118	125	130	135	137	138	deg
Elbow Flexion at Ball Contact	41	45	56	72	86	98	103	deg
Lead Knee Angle at Ball Contact	6	7	9	12	17	21	27	deg
Shoulder Rotation Plane Flexion	20	25	29	33	37	40	43	deg
Shoulder Rotation Plane Tilt	-4	-1	3	9	17	23	25	deg

Professional Sample

Reference dataset built from 112 unique professional athletes performing a hit in 2025, pooled with the College sample due to low individual subgroup sample size.

Kinematic Sequence – Peak Segment Angular Velocities & Speedup Factors

Prefer higher velocities and speedup factors for better performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Peak Pelvis Angular Velocity	420	438	472	507	543	578	605	deg/s
Peak Trunk Angular Velocity	510	553	595	645	692	746	770	deg/s
Peak Arm Angular Velocity	501	588	684	792	919	1011	1054	deg/s
Trunk to Arm Speed Up	0.87	0.92	1.06	1.21	1.37	1.54	1.66	ratio
Pelvis to Trunk Speed Up	1.08	1.12	1.18	1.28	1.34	1.42	1.44	ratio

Times

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Time to Ball Contact	0.42	0.58	0.65	0.79	0.89	0.96	1.04	s
Time to Launch	0.07	0.18	0.33	0.46	0.57	0.64	0.69	s
Pelvis Acceleration Time	0.14	0.15	0.17	0.18	0.30	0.34	0.36	s
Pelvis Deceleration Time	0.15	0.16	0.17	0.20	0.39	0.51	0.58	s

Distance

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Stride Length	21.3	23.0	26.1	28.8	31.6	34.3	36.7	in
Linear Stretch	14.1	15.4	19.9	23.2	27.3	30.6	32.1	in
Drifting Forward Magnitude	-1.0	-0.6	0.0	0.7	1.5	2.2	3.3	in
Inter Elbow Distance at Elbow Slot	0.216	0.235	0.295	0.341	0.388	0.403	0.422	m
Inter Elbow Distance at Ball Contact	0.209	0.231	0.259	0.313	0.372	0.403	0.420	m
Rear Arm Connection	10.5	11.2	12.6	14.0	15.4	16.8	18.4	in
Relative Hand Position - Towards Pitcher	-12.6	-12.1	-10.8	-8.3	-5.6	-2.9	0.3	in
Relative Hand Position - Up	-0.9	1.6	4.0	5.6	7.3	8.9	9.6	in
Relative Hand Position - Away from Body	1.8	3.3	4.7	6.7	8.5	10.1	11.0	in

Angles

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Max X Factor	8	16	21	27	34	38	40	deg
Hip Hinge	42	44	49	55	62	69	72	deg
Trunk Coil	5	21	29	36	43	49	53	deg
Trunk Tilt at Launch	1	3	6	10	13	18	21	deg
Scap Load at Launch	-29	-19	-6	6	16	33	40	deg
Elbow Flexion at Launch	110	118	125	130	135	137	138	deg
Elbow Flexion at Ball Contact	41	45	56	72	86	98	103	deg
Lead Knee Angle at Ball Contact	6	7	9	12	17	21	27	deg
Shoulder Rotation Plane Flexion	20	25	29	33	37	40	43	deg
Shoulder Rotation Plane Tilt	-4	-1	3	9	17	23	25	deg

Broad Sample (All Levels)

Reference dataset built from 216 unique athletes performing a hit in 2025, pooled across all competition levels.

Kinematic Sequence – Peak Segment Angular Velocities & Speedup Factors

Prefer higher velocities and speedup factors for better performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Peak Pelvis Angular Velocity	384	402	437	485	526	564	584	deg/s
Peak Trunk Angular Velocity	487	511	563	630	683	739	770	deg/s
Peak Arm Angular Velocity	482	509	634	743	881	996	1047	deg/s
Trunk to Arm Speed Up	0.81	0.90	1.04	1.19	1.36	1.55	1.67	ratio
Pelvis to Trunk Speed Up	1.08	1.12	1.20	1.30	1.39	1.48	1.53	ratio

Times

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Time to Ball Contact	0.00	0.45	0.61	0.74	0.87	0.95	1.02	s
Time to Launch	0.00	0.08	0.26	0.39	0.52	0.64	0.70	s
Pelvis Acceleration Time	0.14	0.15	0.16	0.18	0.31	0.36	0.39	s
Pelvis Deceleration Time	0.14	0.15	0.17	0.23	0.42	0.52	0.58	s

Distance

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Stride Length	19.7	21.6	24.1	26.9	29.6	32.6	34.5	in
Linear Stretch	12.3	15.3	19.3	22.3	25.7	28.8	31.1	in
Drifting Forward Magnitude	-0.9	-0.5	0.0	0.7	1.5	2.8	3.7	in
Inter Elbow Distance at Elbow Slot	0.205	0.218	0.254	0.302	0.358	0.395	0.408	m
Inter Elbow Distance at Ball Contact	0.187	0.203	0.231	0.282	0.344	0.391	0.410	m
Rear Arm Connection	9.4	9.9	11.0	12.6	14.4	15.8	17.6	in
Relative Hand Position - Towards Pitcher	-12.2	-11.6	-10.1	-8.1	-6.1	-3.7	-1.6	in
Relative Hand Position - Up	-1.0	0.3	2.6	4.7	6.6	8.0	8.9	in
Relative Hand Position - Away from Body	0.4	1.4	3.6	5.6	7.6	9.2	10.1	in

Angles

Deviations from center indicate atypical positioning, not necessarily poor performance.

Variable	5%	10%	25%	50%	75%	90%	95%	Units
Max X Factor	0	10	17	24	31	37	39	deg
Hip Hinge	42	44	50	58	64	71	75	deg
Trunk Coil	14	21	28	34	42	48	51	deg
Trunk Tilt at Launch	0	1	4	9	12	17	21	deg
Scap Load at Launch	-24	-15	-4	7	19	33	40	deg
Elbow Flexion at Launch	109	117	124	129	133	136	137	deg
Elbow Flexion at Ball Contact	43	48	57	72	87	97	103	deg
Lead Knee Angle at Ball Contact	7	8	10	13	19	25	32	deg
Shoulder Rotation Plane Flexion	21	24	28	33	37	40	43	deg
Shoulder Rotation Plane Tilt	-6	-1	3	11	18	25	27	deg