When it comes to baseball, having the right equipment is important for a successful game. A radar gun is one of the most fundamental equipment any coach should have. As a coach, you use the gun to evaluate the speed of your players and know what to improve on. You get to see just who is the fastest when throwing the ball and who still has some work to do on the team.
You choose the best players after this evaluation for competitions or tournaments. This makes owning a radar gun very instrumental in the success of your team. You can’t just drop by any sports shop and purchase one though. You have to know what you’re looking for and what factors to consider before purchasing one.
There are many varieties available in the market. Keep in mind whether it’s for professional players or a little league team. With this buying guide, you get to see the distinguishing characteristics of different guns and you can choose the best for your team.
This guide helps make the purchasing journey easier and you won’t get stressed out selecting among the many radar guns. With the right radar gun, you can put together an undefeated team and win numerous titles in the process. Many fans are very passionate about the game and the teams and its best to have a team that performs at its best always.
Table of Contents
Best Radar Baseball Guns
The Jugs Gun-Sports Radar Gun
This is one of the best radar guns in the market that you can use on during a professional practice or when training little league. It uses state of the art technology that gives you very accurate readings. This is because it uses DSP (Digital Signal Processing).
It has a very high accuracy index of +/0.5mph and can be used to measure in both KPH and MPH. This accuracy is very important for correct readings while training. It has a very wide range and covers up to 300ft. You don’t have to stand very close to get a reading especially when training on a large field.
It comes equipped with a data port that you can connect to your laptop and transmit data of all the readings you get while using it. It has two modes namely trigger and continuous.
It has a very long-lasting battery that you don’t have to worry about charging for about a week. It takes only two hours to fully charge the battery. It’s very easy to use and doesn’t require any special training. Use the manual to learn of all its functions.
This radar gun is lightweight and portable. This makes it easy to carry to and from the field after using it. It comes with a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer.
With so much accuracy and tech in it, this gun is expensive and best purchased for professional practice by little league or professional baseball teams.
Pros
- Comes equipped with a user manual
- Lightweight and portable gun
- 2-year warranty
- Long-lasting battery up to one week
- Fast recharge of two hours
- Accurate readings
- Uses state of the art digital signal processing technology
- Easy to use without needing training
- Covers up to 300ft in range
Cons
- Expensive
Bushnell Velocity Speed Gun
This is a relatively cheaper speed gun that you can use for coaching practice or at home as you enjoy a game with the children and friends. It has a very large and clear LCD screen that uses a large font that is readable from a distance.
It uses rechargeable batteries that you have to place in the correct order for the machine to power on and off.
The LCD screen is at the back of the gun and shows you immediately the reading. This happens once you let go of the trigger as it reads the speed of the ball.
This speed gun has an accuracy of +/- 1.0 mph and is very easy to use. This means it gives you an accurate reading no matter the speed of the ball but it has to be up to 110mph.
You can utilize the manual to learn all its functionality and what is the best way to use it. This gun can’t be used on a wide range. You have to be standing at least 10ft away to get accurate readings.
It comes with a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer. It’s portable because it’s very light and easy to carry around.
Pros
- Accurate readings of +/-1.0mph
- Portable and lightweight
- Has a large LCD screen
- Has rechargeable batteries
- Comes with a manual
- Cheap
- Ideal for short distance measurements
- Good for fun practice
Cons
- Not the best for professional training sessions
- Can’t measure distances longer than 10ft
Pocket Radar Ball Speed Training Tool
This is meant for professional use at a little league or pro-training session. It can be used to measure balls that travel at a speed of between 25-130 MPH with precise accuracy of 1MPH. This is why it’s ideal for professional use.
It has very easy triggering capabilities giving you accurate measurements of the speed of the ball. You don’t have to use a timer while using this speed measuring tool.
It comes equipped with a mounting tripod that you just set on the ground and mount the gadget on it. This frees up your hands for other functions as it measures the speed of the ball. Also, it’s very easy to use.
It has a very wide range of up to 125 feet meaning it can be used in a wide field. It uses AAA batteries to power up and is rechargeable.
Besides the tripod, it comes equipped with AAA batteries with a charger and microfiber cloth for cleaning it.
You get a warranty of 2 years when purchasing it. The pricing is ideal compared to the range and accuracy of readings you get when using it.
Pros
- Has a mounting tripod
- Rechargeable batteries with charger
- Covers a wide range
- Speed accuracy of 1.0 MPH
- Well-priced
- 2-year warranty
- Ideal for professional or little league training
- Has a good trigger
Cons
- Some delivered with a broken tripod
Ball Coach Pocket Radar Pro-level
It’s an automatic one that finds the speed of the ball on its own. All you have to do is turn it on and set in on the tripod facing the right direction. This device remains constantly on and doesn’t turn off if not used for some time. It only turns off after 5 minutes of not being used.
This feature means it can last for a complete practice session without needing to keep turning it on. The triggering is simple and needs you to only hold the button down then let it go for automatic scanning.
You get to enjoy the in-built memory that stores up to 25 readings meaning you can keep track of each player and get their average speed. It is designed to keep the measurement of the fastest balls on the field which makes it easy to pinpoint who is the best player on the team.
It measures speeds from 25-130 MPH with an accuracy of 1MPH/2KPH. You get a range of 120 feet from it meaning you can use it on a wider field.
Its pocket-sized making it portable and discreet as well. It uses AAA life batteries that can be recharged
Pros
- It’s pocket-sized making it portable
- Small size meaning its discreet
- Uses rechargeable AAA batteries
- It automatically reads the speed of a ball
- Very easy to use
- Has a 25 reading internal memory space
- Measures speeds of 25-130
- Has an accuracy of 1MPH/2KPH
- Stays on longer than most
- Easy to mount on a tripod
Cons
- Readings slow down when the battery charge is low
Sports Radar Speed Gun SR3600
This is an instrument that is best used by coaches who want precise readings on their teams. It measures speeds from 10 to 250 MPH which is a great advantage for it.
It has a very unique design but is still lightweight making it a portable device to carry to and from the field. It is a reliable device that gives accurate readings and is very durable. It makes use of the point and shoot technology and has a range of 60 feet on the field.
The accuracy of its readings is 1MPH. This is why it’s very useful for coaches. It can display speeds in both MPH and KPH depending on which one you prefer. It can function on both trigger and continuous mode. You pick the one you want at that moment and set its trigger mode.
This radar gun can be mounted on a tripod for easier use especially when practice runs for hours. It can get tiresome to keep shooting it in the direction on the ball. Mounting and angling it works best.
There is a data port where you can install a memory card to store the readings and retrieve it later for further analysis. It has an audio indicator that reads the readings out loud. This comes in handy when standing away from it once mounted.
It uses batteries that have a life of 20 hours once fully charged. In case the batteries need recharging, the low battery indicator will let you know.
It comes with a 1-year warranty from the manufacturer. You get an instruction manual that helps you use it accurately.
Pros
- Has a battery life of 20 hours
- Batteries are rechargeable
- Has a low battery indicator
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
- Has an instruction manual
- Portable and lightweight
- Reading accuracy of 1 MPH
- Readings on both MPH and KPH
- Has a data port
- Uses point and shoot technology
- Range of 60 feet
- Can be mounted on a tripod
Cons
- Needs improvement on durability
Supido Multi Sports Speed Radar
This is a radar measuring gadget that takes readings in both MPH and KPH. You can choose the one you prefer between the two types. The speeds you can use this radar to detect measure from 25 to 150 MPH. You have to use another device if they are higher than that.
It uses an LED display that is very bright. You can be able to read it accurately from a distance. You can even program is to voice out the reading. This works very well especially when mounted and you’re standing far away from where you can’t view the LED screen.
The device is very light and easy to carry from place to place. This makes it portable and has a very durable design. Once you buy it, it lasts for a long time without needing replacement.
You can set it to automatic reading and mount it on a tripod for hands-free reading. This frees you up to walk around giving guidance to your players.
It has a battery saver option that turns on automatically thus prolonging the life of the battery. The battery used can be recharged and has a long life. This radar, however, has a shorter range of 9 meters only.
Additionally, it has a speed recall feature that retrieves for you the last 10 recorded readings. It’s relatively cheap as compared to others in the market.
Pros
- Can read in both KPH and MPH
- Has a retrieval feature for 10 recordings
- Cheap
- Has an automatic battery saver feature
- Rechargeable batteries with long life
- Readings from 25-150 MPH
- Can be mounted on a tripod
- Portable and durable
Cons
- Has a range of only 9 meters
Stalker Sport 2 Radar
This is a radar gun that gives you the most accurate readings. It is very light and easy to carry around. Portability is one of the characteristics of a good radar gun. It also fits well in one hand so you don’t have to hold it with both.
It comes with 6 AA batteries that you can recharge and the packaging includes a wall charger for this. You fit in the battery and snap back the handle cap that gets back into place easily.
You get an instruction manual to guide you on how to use it accurately. This way you can get the best results. It can display the speeds in either tenths or units depending on how you configure it.
It has a stopwatch that you can use to time the speed of the ball as you get the velocity reading as well.
You can use this for your professional games since it has a 300 feet range meaning you can stand as far as you need to on the field. It measures speed that ranges from 5 to 150 MPH with an accuracy of 1MPH. This makes it a very accurate reader.
It has two windows. One captures the plate speed and the other the release speed. They both work simultaneously.
There is a user menu where you can calibrate the settings as per your preference. The manufacturer gives you a 1-year warranty for it.
Being a professional model, it’s very expensive.
Pros
- Has two display windows for release and plate speed readings
- Covers a range of 300 feet
- Measures speeds of 5 to 150 MPH
- Has an accuracy of 1 MPH
- Comes with a 1-year warranty
- Easy to use
- Comes with a user manual
- Portable and lightweight
- Has a stopwatch feature
Cons
- Very expensive
Sports Sensor Glove Radar
This is a speed measuring radar that attaches to the back of your glove and can take measurements. It’s very small and doesn’t weigh much thus won’t add weight to your glove when attached to it.
It’s used to measure accurate readings of the speed of the baseball. It has a very high accuracy reading and can compete with bigger radar guns. It has no limit on coverage as you can throw from any distance you want.
It measures speeds from 20-160 KPH. You don’t need anyone to operate it because you simply tie it onto your glove. You can use a normal baseball and get your accurate readings.
It is powered by a single cell lithium battery. It operated like a mini processor similar to that of a small computer. The processor comes housed in a plastic casing that protects it from the elements, dust, and dirt. This makes improves its overall durability giving you service for longer.
You must protect it when it rains because it can get easily damaged by water since it’s not hermetically sealed.
You can remove the plastic casing by unscrewing the two screws holding it in place to change the battery. The battery is not rechargeable.
It attaches to the glove using a nylon cord that is water-resistant and has a rubber padding to absorb the impact from the glove.
Pros
- Small and portable
- Light adding little weight to the glove
- Uses a lithium battery that lasts
- Has a plastic casing that houses the processor
- Measures speeds between 20 to 160 KPH
- Has a nylon cord for attaching that’s water-resistant
- Simple to use
- Attaches to the glove
- Has an accuracy comparable to larger guns
- Well-priced
Cons
- Instances of inaccurate readings after using for some time.
Bushnell 101911 Velocity Speed Gun
With this speed gun, you can take measurements with a range is up to 90 feet. You only need to use the point and shoot technology to get your accurate readings. It has a very large and clear LCD screen which displays the results when measuring speed. You can read it even from a distance when the gun is mounted on a tripod.
It can display the fastest speed once you release the trigger. It measures speeds that are from 10 to 110 MPH.
The accuracy of its readings is 1MPH and measurements are done in MPH and KPH.
Pros
- Takes measurements in MPH and KPH
- Has an accuracy of 1MPH
- Measures speeds of 10 to 110 MPH
- Has a large and clear LCD screen
- Can be mounted on a tripod
Cons
- Has instances of inaccurate readings
Factors to Consider when Purchasing a Radar Gun
Know exactly what you’re looking for before purchasing a radar gun. It’s best to consider a few factors before spending your money.
Battery Life
Radar guns use batteries to operate after which you have to recharge them when depleted. You want a gun that has long-lasting battery life. This means it can last throughout the practice sessions without needing to replace or recharge it.
Since it’s the main instrument to measure the speed of a ball, it wouldn’t be the best if it needs recharging every 20 minutes or so. The best guns have a battery life that lasts for hours meaning it can be used on multiple practices without needing a recharge.
The Range
Baseball fields vary in size and you have to consider this before buying a radar gun. A little league field is smaller than that for professional players. You want a gun that has a wide range to cover a longer distance. Some guns have a very long range of more than 250ft of unobstructed view. This means you can gauge the speed of a ball from far off.
Accuracy
When determining the best radar gun to buy for your baseball team. You need to get the most accurate one you can find. This means doing ample research beforehand and making the right purchase.
If playing for fun, accuracy may not be a very big factor to consider, but when competing, it should be a priority. Whether it’s for a little league team or a professional one, you have to purchase a gun that measures the speed with utmost accuracy.
Memory
Different radar guns have different memory capacities. When it’s for simple and fun practice then you don’t have to buy one with a lot of memory. When the practice is for competitive games then you can get one that stores 20 or more readings. With these readings, you can analyze the progress of a player and even get their average speed. The best guns store more readings.
The Manufacturer and Model
As a coach, there are those manufacturers and brands that you prefer to use as compared to others. Keep this in mind as you shop for a new radar gun. Some models are known for their great features and if within your budget then you can choose among these. You can do simple research and see which manufacturer is loved by many coaches and see the radar guns they have. This is the best way especially if this is your first gun.
The Price
As a coach, you have an incline of how much you’re willing to spend on a radar gun. Having this in mind, you can choose among the guns in this guide for one that fits your budget. Since you might need to get other equipment also, it’s best to keep the purchase within your means.
The Weight
You’ll have to hold the radar gun for long on the field. This means you need to buy a very lightweight one. A heavy gun is not convenient since you get tired easily after some time of using it. Choose one that you can hold for hours without needing to take frequent breaks. Practice can last for hours.
The Display
The best radar guns have an LCD screen. This screen is easier to read and you don’t have to strain to see what is written on it. Check among the guns you’re looking at for one with a good LCD screen.
Warranty
Choose a radar gun with a long-lasting warranty. This helps you if the one you purchase has an issue and you need to get it replaced. Most guns have a warranty of 2 years which means during that time you can return it if it develops any technical issues. Remember to read through the rules and guidelines of the warranty too.
Hands-Free
You can opt to buy a gun that operates by itself. This means you don’t have to hold it while it measures the speed of the ball. All you have to do is set it and then place it on a tripod and it good to go.
Conclusion
There are various speed radars that can be used in baseball. You need to determine if the one you want to purchase is to use for fun or professionally. They vary in size and price. The pro speed guns are expensive but take more accurate measurements. If you want one to use with friends or simple training then select the ones with less range like 60-90 feet.
Professional ones have a range of up to 300 feet. The best speed radar guns have an accuracy of 1MPH and measure speeds from 10-110 or 25-150 MPH. Buy one that you can mount on a tripod freeing up your hands. Some are sold as a set together with the mounting tripod.
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