7 Best Baseball Radar Guns- With Buying Guide

I have seen many hobbyists who use radar guns just for the hobby in baseball fields to measure the speed of pitchers’ pitching. On the other hand, as a pitcher, or a coach, a radar gun is one of the part-and-parcel to measure pitching speed for valid reasons. 

You will also find many radar guns with different qualities and expenses. But, determining which one is the best baseball radar gun for you based on your budget is important. For this, you have to understand why y you need the radar gun and what to consider before purchasing. 

So, in this article, we will talk about radar gun facts and will suggest some best radar guns according to different criteria. 

Baseball Radar Gun Buying Guide- What to Consider?

Before purchasing a radar gun for you or anyone, you have to consider some basic criteria so that they fit you the most. You might spend a lot of money, but the expensive one might not suit your needs. 

Here are some basic criteria to look for. 

Build Quality and Performance

Figure 01- The build quality of baseball radar guns must be standard

There is no chance to compromise the build quality and performance. Low build quality will not ensure longer durability and finishing. It will rather give a cheap feel. So, must ensure the gun you are picking holds a great build quality. 

On the other hand, without performance, there is no value in radar guns. If your radar gun can’t read the speed and shows an accurate result, it will be nothing but trash. So, you have to make sure the gun is well-performing. 

You can make sure a particular radar gun is well-performing by watching video reviews, real user reviews in eCommerce sites and the product page, or authentic product review sites. 

Range and Accuracy

Figure 02- Good range and accuracy are the most important for radar guns

When determining the range of radar guns, there are two factors that are considered to be the most relevant. Both the speed at which pitchers throw the ball and the distance from which a shot is fired count toward these stats.

The effectiveness of a radar is proportional to both its cost and its level of sophistication. The shooting range could be anything from 90 feet all the way up to 500 feet or even further.

On the other hand, depending on the price range and quality of the radar, the speed that can be read by the radar can range anywhere from 120 mph to 900 mph.

But what about the data that were captured? Is each one of them as accurate as it appears? You are obligated to examine how well the radar gun operates. Is it providing a random reading that always stays within the same range and moves at the same speed? If such is the case, it might not be the most effective one.

It is a positive sign that the radar produces results that are usually always the same in the same range and activity. A radar gun has a standard error margin of plus or minus one mile per hour.

Battery Life

Batteries of the AA or AAA variety are typically used in radar guns. The radar gun typically has a battery life of up to 24 hours, and you should anticipate this as the standard.

Rechargeable batteries are included with some of the more expensive gun models. By the way, if something goes wrong with the battery, your radar guns could perform even worse than they now do. It could do significant damage to your radar system.

Figure 03- Facts to Consider Buying Baseball Radar Gun

Price and Affordability

So, what is your budget then? Do you have a fixed budget range? Or do you already have anything determined to purchase? If you have a range budget for purchasing a radar gun, search for the best one in the range. Make sure the picked one adds the best value for money.

On the other hand, if you have anything determined, make sure the expense you are spending makes the most sense. 

Easy Storage Capability

Storing the gun after using it is an important fact. If the storing process is complex, this might be hampered by its surroundings. So, make sure the radar gun has a good box and storing options. 

Radio Wave or Laser Technology

Typical radar guns work through radio waves. So, radio frequency may face interference which could be the reason behind an incorrect reading sometimes. 

On the other hand, there are radar guns that use lasers to read the speed. Laser technology is more advanced than radio frequency.

In this case, you can choose between these two. But radars that are featured by laser technology will cost you more than $1000. So, you know what? You have to spend more to get the most advanced technology. 

Portability

As the radar gun is a thing to carry, it must have easy and reliable portability. A much heavier radar gun is not easy to use. 

Type of Radar Guns

There are basically two types of radar guns available. One is hand-held, and the other is mounted. So, what type of radar gun do you want?

You have to hold the hand-held one in your hand. And the mounted one is comparatively heavy and remains mounted with a stand on the surface. 

So, mounted guns are more stabilized and hands-free. Also, the initial setup is a little complex and needs more protection and maintenance. 

On the other hand, hand-held radar guns are easy to hold but not hands-free. They are also easy to pick, with no setup hassles. But, you have to sacrifice stability. 

Brand Radar Gun

The brand is always a partial catalyst when you want to purchase something. A good brand is always more advanced than a small brand. Because big brands have good support and technology, which is often missing for smaller and less popular brands. 

Brand value has an impact in all ways. So you can consider the best brand for your next purchase. 

Coach's Note: Radar Gun is a great tool to improve the performance of the player because player can track their performance with real time data. It not only helps players to reach the goal but also increase the confidence in the field. 

7 Best Baseball Radar Guns You May Check

Here are our top 7 picks for best baseball radar guns based on several facts.

1. Bushnell Velocity Radar Gun (Most Balanced Pick)

If you are searching for the best value for money, I think the Bushnell Velocity radar gun could be one of the best choices. This gun is just perfect for regular use. It’s a hand-held gun that is easy to use, reliable, and portable. 

If you are just not thinking about breaking Major League Baseball, it’s one of the perfect choices, I assure you. Because the gun is able to shoot and catch the throwing speed as low as 10 mph and as high as 110 mph. This is a very good range, no doubt. 

On the other hand, I don’t think any player can exceed his throwing speed by 110mph. Also, the Bushnell radar gun accuracy is up to the mark, no wrong read anyhow. Also, the radar gun can pick the speed from up to 90 feet which is great. 

So, this distance is enough for a coach to check his player’s pitching speed on a regular basis. 

Aside from the throwing/pitching, the Bushnell Velocity is also designed for vehicles too. You can measure the speed of big vehicles from up to 1500 feet away. It also can shoot a maximum speed of 200 mph. 

Also, the Bushnell radar gun with display is easy to use. You just need to stand behind the pitcher and keep the gun down the itching line. Keep holding the trigger until a throw is over. Release the trigger and see the fastest speed your pitcher reached. 

This Bushnell radar gun gives so accurate read, which might be +/-1 mph different. 

Pros

• Clear LCD screen
• Long-lasting battery
• Good build quality
• Accurate reading
• Easy to use, too much handy
• Comfortable feel
• It can be used for vehicle speeding measuring
• Good pricing

Cons

• The only con is you have to use it at 90° angle

2. Pocket Radar Smart Coach/Compatible with Pocket Radar App ( Premium Product, Premium Price )

In passing, I’d like to point out that the Pocket Radar Smart Coach is not only one of the most portable and dependable radar guns on the market but also compatible with the Pocket Radar app. As soon as I got my hands on this little devil, I couldn’t help but fall in love with it.

It is one of the most engaging ones, can be customized, and has a lot of intelligence. Despite the fact that I have a deep affection for the traditional model, the fact that it is compatible with all of my modern digital gadgets brings additional benefits to my life.

The Pocket Radar Smart Coach has the capacity to store CSV data files, which makes it suitable for performance monitoring and a comprehensive range of tracking applications. You don’t need to track your performance manually.

Additionally, it contains a voice speaker, an LED display, and a mode for recording videos. You can easily share the auto-recorded video via email, social media, or text message from the app. It takes up little space and is simple to operate.

The gun is a mere 4.5 inches long, 2.25 inches wide, and 0.75 inches thick. The radar has a range of 120 feet. However, it is capable of shooting at speeds ranging from 25 to 130 miles per hour.

Pros

• Compact in size, accuracy, and good shooting range
• Compatible with several radar apps
• Smart and interactive technology ensures great performance
• Shoots up to 130 mph, which is good enough.

Cons

• Delays happen in android devices
• Take a little more time to set up. 

3. Pocket Radar Gun Ball Coach, PR1000-BC ( Not compatible with Pocket Radar APP)

Pocket Radar is one of the most popular brands for making radar guns. There are varieties of radar gun we have seen yet. But, the Pocket Radar PR1000-BC is less like a radar gun, rather more like a pocket phone. 

As was to be anticipated, it is a literal hand-held radar gun that is reasonably priced. It is a baseball and softball pitching training device that is a stand-alone speed reader designed with ergonomics in mind. It is one of the radar guns that are most precise and can meet the requirements that are necessary for a coach.

Before we go any further, I want to share something that is a letdown regarding this particular Pocket Radar. This one does not support communication to the pitching radar gun app and is not compatible with it in any way.

But does it matter much? It depends. It makes no impact at all for coaches who focus on classes and adhering to simplicity. Despite this, you will be unable to benefit from some app features.

By the way, the radar gun is extremely durable, lightweight, and can read up to 120mph. It’s one of the top-rated radar guns in terms of accuracy. It’s compact, easy to use, and easy to carry- just in your pocket. 

Pros

• Ergonomic stand-alone reading
• Accurate reading up to 120 mph
• Continuous mode 
• Durable, lightweight
• Range is up to 90ft

Cons

• Short battery life
• No apps support

4.  Stalker Sports 2 Radar Gun (Expensive One)

If you are thinking about getting an expensive hand-held radar gun, the Stalker Radar Sports 2 is one of the best options. It belongs to a premium-grade radar gun. 

The handle of the gun is too comfortable and reliable to hold due to its rubber texture on both sides. The performance, feel, and compactness is too great to feel the pitches. The Stalker radar guns measure both pitching and plate speed at the same time, whereas ordinary guns measure the release speed. 

Stalker Sports 2 does so because its measuring range is wider. It can measure speeds around 300 feet which is great. The Stalker Sports 2 is able to shoot and catch as low as 5 mph to as high as 150 mph. 

The Stalker Sports 2 is able to send feedback on pitchers pitching by plus-minus adjustment, mph offset, etc. So, the accuracy level is highly up to the mark.

By the way, the build quality is great, as expected, as the price range is high. Also, it has a bigger screen, a serial data port for display, a tripod mount advantage, and both mph and kmph measuring. 

Pros

• High-quality build
• Wider range for measuring speed
• Measures both releasing and plate speed
• Read in both mph and kmph mode
• You can mount it on a tripod, though it’s designed for hand-held
• Has continuous mode
• Long battery life

Cons

• The price range is very high
• Sometimes you need to purchase this directly from the manufacturer

5. CRANKSHOOTER Radar – Shot Speed Radar with MPH and KPH Measurement (With Tripod)

If your enthusiasm demands a mounted radar gun, but at a lower price, which is unusual, the Crankshooter Shot Speed is the choice. Actually, its stand-alone design makes it one of the hot choices even for MLB team coaches. 

Radar guns are not perfectly designed for a day-long performance. With a lot of use for day-long, it will get lagged and slow down. But, the Crankshooter Shot Speed is one of the radars which is designed and developed for a day-long performance without any lag. 

It can deliver a long-term signal with maximum accuracy. 

In contrast, this radar gun has a longer lifespan than its predecessors because to improvements made possible by more recent technological developments. We are already aware of a large number of satisfied customers who use it.

It is a speed reader that does not require the use of your hands, can operate independently, is stable, and is accurate. However, using this with a hand is unreliable and will increase battery use. Therefore, if you want to extend the battery’s life while using it, it’s a good idea to use five AA batteries.

Pros

• Incredible stand-alone design
• Combined with its cutting-edge digital signal processing technology, it delivers maximum performance.
• More stability since it’s mounted speed gun
• Durable enough
• Hands-free

Cons

• Consumes more battery 

6. Swing Speed Sports Sensors Glove Radar (Something Different)

You and your catcher partner are practicing, but there is no coach present. If things continue to go this way, you may find that you would prefer to receive non-traditional options for a radar gun rather than the standard ones.

This is a presentation of the Swing Speed Glove sensor radar gun, which is a one-of-a-kind device that is incredibly simple to operate. It is not something traditional, and it does not force you to spend any more money than is necessary either.

It is a small radar for baseball that is not used in the same way as regular radars are. It needs to be attached behind the catcher’s mitt in order to function properly. It possesses a wonderful law that is put into effect. The speed of the ball as it passes through the mitt is measured by the radar.

It’s hands-free; no need to stand behind the pitcher and no need to be worried about the proper lining. It enhances the speed of practice for the pitchers. Because there is no need to wait for the feedback. 

The catchers catch the ball, back it, and give feedback to the pitcher. No extra hassle for having a coach. Mainly, this is perfect for practice pitching alone when you are out of the season or for amateur players.

Another great fact about the radar gun is it’s highly cost-effective and can be found for under 100 dollars. 

Pros

• Easy to use
• No hassle for keeping it on hands. It’s a mitt-mounted hands-free radar gun
• Durable enough, has good reading
• Good price point
• Reliable 

Cons

• You shouldn’t expect the maximum level of accuracy like expensive radar guns

7. Stalker Pro II+ (Most Expensive One on the List)

A highly professional radar gun is needed when dealing with professional MLB teams. With all enthusiasm and premium accuracy, you might agree that Stalker Pro II+ is one of the most premium radar guns on the market. 

One of the primary considerations for its selection by professionals is the radar’s incorporation of the most recent WiFi technology. You are able to connect it to the scoreboard and send the data immediately to the board, thanks to this feature. In addition to this, you may also directly connect it to your mobile phone, speed signs, as well as any proprietary applications that you have.

Its large screen can display the data without the use of any additional gadgets, thanks to its presence.

Any user level, from little league to MLB, can analyze pitching, running, hitting, and fielding. It is remarkable that the radar gun has video recording capabilities in addition to regular and slow-motion modes. The video can later be edited, remarks added and shared.

Now, talking about other facts. I anticipate that the accuracy level will increase to 100% with a greater pricing range. If it’s less, it won’t be worthwhile. Nevertheless, the radar passed the test and provides hassle-free 100% accuracy.

Also, there is no dropping the accuracy. It has a very wide range of shooting which is 500ft. The speed it can shoot is up to 900mph, which is undoubtedly incredible. Aside from baseball mode, it also has vehicle carnival and tennis modes. 

The radar gun also holds a long battery life. Quick start, rechargeable battery, and charger, highly sophisticated carrier are included in the package. It is also IP67 dust and water-resistant. 

Pros

• High-level build quality
• 100% accuracy
• Wider range, much more speed shooting
• Can connect with any type of wireless-enabled screening devices
• Hard-plastic and high-quality carrying bag
• IP67 rated
• Shows both mph and kmph
• Several modes
• Consistent accuracy 

Cons

• The only con is its price. You have to spend around $1800 on it. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Are Expensive radar guns any better? 

Yes, obviously, expensive radar guns are better by any means. They provide more accurate reading along with more features and advancements. But, the fact depends on your needs, whether you need expensive radar guns or not. 

Is the Bushnell radar gun accurate for baseball?

Bushnell radar guns are mostly accurate. Most of the Bushnell guns can reach up to +-1 mph with accuracy distanced up to 75 feet at a 12° angle. The accuracy may decrease to +-3 if the distance is 60 feet at a 20° angle.

How far away should a Pocket Radar be?

The maximum operating distance of the Pocket Radar Ball coach is 120 feet away. 

Final Note

So, what is the best baseball radar gun? Actually, it depends on many factors to become the best. Like if your budget and requirements are limited, a low-priced which can meet all your criteria is the best. 

On the other hand, if you want to get the highest level of premium performance, you have to spend a lot comparatively on low-priced ones. 

By the way, we hope this article will help you to find the best radar gun regarding your needs and budget. 

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