How is bowling speed measured ?

[Atharv]

How is bowling speed measured .
Which instrument is used to measure the bowling speed ?

 

[angryangy]

Whether on TV, or just for coaching purposes, it's done with radar guns. At the ground, the intention is to measure the ball out of the hand and there is usually at least one back up radar, in case of an obviously false reading.

The concept behind radar is that of hitting solid objects with radio waves; like how we see objects depending how light interacts with them, the results of radar can produce a range of data about the target. The classic application was to find the location of something such as an aircraft, but to many motorists and a fair few sports-people, radar guns are a more familiar device. Radar guns measure speed via the Doppler effect. The best example of the Doppler effect is the sound of a car or train zooming past; approaching objects shorten wavelengths (and sounds coming from the sound higher pitched), while objects leaving the observer increase wavelengths (and the pitch lowers). A radar gun bounces radio waves off an object and simply measures the difference.

However, to say a radar gun measures speed is a little non-specific. Precisely, a radar gun measures the component of an object's velocity that is either coming towards or going away from the radar gun. In other words, a radar at deep square leg is unable to read much of the speed on the ball. So the best spot is directly behind or in front of the bowler (in case you're a leadfoot wondering how this applies to you, then yes, the same can be said of police using radar). Of course, we know that bowlers bowl from a variety of positions on the crease and equally bowl a variety of angles down the pitch, so the science tells us that the best readings are probably still up to a mile quicker or slower than the actual speed. As for the worst readings, well I wouldn't say 10mph is out of the question.

Speed can also be measured by cameras. Hawkeye does all its tracking via six strategically placed cameras. By modelling the complete physical behaviour of the ball, Hawkeye can produce instantaneous speeds for the ball across the whole length of a delivery. It was also through cameras that some of the earliest observations of pace bowling were made of Thomson, Lillee, Holding and Roberts at the WACA in 1975.

What is important to remember is that some comparisons might be a bit meaningless. Different conditions will make a difference; the air is much thinner in high places such as Johannesburg, meaning reduced air resistance (same rules apply off the bat, mind you). In other words, take it all with a grain of salt. It's never lab conditions and if the reading looks odd, bear in mind that it may well be. Of course the reverse is also true; if someone looks insanely fast, they probably are and you may as well just enjoy not being the guy facing it.

 

[Dr. Pepper]

I've always wondered it as well. Thanks angryangy, very interesting stuff.

 

[aussie1st]

I knew it was measured from the hand but that was about it. Nice to know why the readings are so different in different conditions and countries and also explains why some bowlers who seem slow can still be effective as their speed is probably quicker than reported.

 

[Fenil]

It is measured through speed guns as far as I know.

 

[shravi]

It is measured through speed guns as far as I know.

Are you sure?

 

[s2sschan]

The handheld Speed Guns seem to be consistently 10% below the actual speed according to a Fast Bowling Coach I trained with. He prety much said they were garbage because the radar was of low quality/intensity.

 

[Insomniac]

Whether on TV, or just for coaching purposes, it's done with radar guns. At the ground, the intention is to measure the ball out of the hand and there is usually at least one back up radar, in case of an obviously false reading.

The concept behind radar is that of hitting solid objects with radio waves; like how we see objects depending how light interacts with them, the results of radar can produce a range of data about the target. The classic application was to find the location of something such as an aircraft, but to many motorists and a fair few sports-people, radar guns are a more familiar device. Radar guns measure speed via the Doppler effect. The best example of the Doppler effect is the sound of a car or train zooming past; approaching objects shorten wavelengths (and sounds coming from the sound higher pitched), while objects leaving the observer increase wavelengths (and the pitch lowers). A radar gun bounces radio waves off an object and simply measures the difference.

However, to say a radar gun measures speed is a little non-specific. Precisely, a radar gun measures the component of an object's velocity that is either coming towards or going away from the radar gun. In other words, a radar at deep square leg is unable to read much of the speed on the ball. So the best spot is directly behind or in front of the bowler (in case you're a leadfoot wondering how this applies to you, then yes, the same can be said of police using radar). Of course, we know that bowlers bowl from a variety of positions on the crease and equally bowl a variety of angles down the pitch, so the science tells us that the best readings are probably still up to a mile quicker or slower than the actual speed. As for the worst readings, well I wouldn't say 10mph is out of the question.

Speed can also be measured by cameras. Hawkeye does all its tracking via six strategically placed cameras. By modelling the complete physical behaviour of the ball, Hawkeye can produce instantaneous speeds for the ball across the whole length of a delivery. It was also through cameras that some of the earliest observations of pace bowling were made of Thomson, Lillee, Holding and Roberts at the WACA in 1975.

What is important to remember is that some comparisons might be a bit meaningless. Different conditions will make a difference; the air is much thinner in high places such as Johannesburg, meaning reduced air resistance (same rules apply off the bat, mind you). In other words, take it all with a grain of salt. It's never lab conditions and if the reading looks odd, bear in mind that it may well be. Of course the reverse is also true; if someone looks insanely fast, they probably are and you may as well just enjoy not being the guy facing it.

Does this mean someone speeding 80 mph in South Africa will clock a higher speed although he may be going the same exact speed in the UK?

Am I reading this right

 

[Aswin8]

I was wondering for a long time...thanks for the explaination

 

[bobby210]

Thanks angry angry. I didn't know that. YOu learn something new everyday. Whats my mum saying the internets useless