The kind of sports you’re shooting will determine the type of shutter speed you’re meant to use.
This brings me to What Shutter Speed Should you Use With your Camera. The first time I shot a sporting event it took me hours before I could figure out the best shutter speed for a tennis shot.
Shutter speeds faster than 1/1000th of a second will freeze pretty much anything, even fast-moving cars. For most sports, however, you won’t need to go this fast.
Shutter speeds between 1/500th of a second and 1/1000th of a second will freeze any moving human, though fast-moving balls like tennis or baseballs may show a little motion blur.
Shutter speeds between the range 1/100th of a second and 1/500th of a second will freeze most human motion. A fast sprinter or someone swinging their arms or legs will probably have some motion blur. There’s also the risk that comes with using a long lens that your shutter speed won’t be fast enough to prevent blur coming from the camera shaking in your hands except you use a mono-pod or tripod to prevent your hands from shaking.
It’s usually better to shoot on a faster shutter speed than you think you need coupled with a wider aperture if you’re trying to freeze action. Most of the time, if I’m shooting in daylight, I try to use a shutter speed of at least 1/800th of a second. The other option is to use a slightly slower shutter speed than it takes to freeze your subject. A bit of motion blur around the edges adds a sense of speed and action.
