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Sports
What is a good reaction time for an athlete?
The short answer
The answer varies enormously by sport because different sports demand different types of reaction - simple RT, choice RT, or anticipatory responses to predictive cues.
The data
| Sport | RT type | Elite RT | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100m sprinting | Gun reaction | ~130ms | Every 10ms = ~8cm at top speed |
| Formula 1 | Simple visual | ~150–200ms | Race starts, hazard response |
| Baseball hitting | Choice RT | ~100–200ms decision | Ball visible for ~400ms total |
| Esports (CS:GO) | Choice RT | ~150–180ms | First to shoot wins exchanges |
| Tennis (serve return) | Anticipatory | N/A | Ball too fast to purely react - prediction required |
| Boxing | Choice + motor | ~150–200ms | Response to telegraphed punch |
What it means for you
The Aim Trainer test is closer to sports-relevant RT than the simple Reaction Time test - it requires pointing to an unpredictable target location, which more closely mimics athletic demands.
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Quick Answer
Elite sprinters leave the blocks in ~130ms after the gun. F1 drivers average ~200ms. MLB batters have ~400ms to decide on a pitch. "Good" varies enormously by sport and stimulus type.
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