The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-07
My is THE SPII-BAlL?
HERE is THE SCIENTIFIC
DOPE ON THAT PROBLEM
with All the Science, However
Nobody Seems to Know
Reason for Shoot
MANY HAVE THEORIES
Those of Pitchers and Coiiege
Professors Do Not
Agree
MANY HAVE THEORIES

what do you know about TIE sp''
bali. Mr.. Baseball Fan?
You have seen II pitched a 'hou'
sand times, and know how cfcc''Ve
n Il when the pitcher has contfoi
yon have seen catchers stop tho el't
eve hall with their shins anh KING
cYps and have watched batteis "ha''
a; II in vain. c,s
Can YOU say why the spit Dsl' ACES
az Ii does?
Golfers tries TO explain ihe mNs'
tcry OF the srit ball" Whether ,, "a
succeeded Is 4 question. inc lo'lo"
,ug Is part OF what VIII lrwih saw
en- the subject, in Golfers
Ed Walsh, greatest spil-pahSi :
doesn't know why the bal acts 50
aueerly lie practices and exieT,
nents and repeats the motions, Vhiep
produce the effect.
princeton university scientists say
n IL a new phenomenon to them
The spit ball pitcher vets s!naii
spot on the ball witr saliva, carete!i.
Athng two angers over the wei spot
lie throws the ball with all speed
straight toward the plate.
Christy Mathewson, Russel forn'
poe White and other brainy phch
ers have a theory. which after months
n Investigation, deserves conadera
ton. though Il is not accepted oN the
scientists he consulted,
II il that the ball, because on the
vet surface, does not spin
A spinning bail bores into the air,
edging the molecules aside, The spit
( ball, travelling dead, aecumuiates an
air-cushion ahead When II ''tee!s
this pressure II seeks the line OF east
resistance, jumping into free air, cs''s-
ing that curious break. The momeh-
tary pause lets gravitation draw me
ball earthward.
The exact direction OF the Down
ward break is determined BY che po-
sition of the seam at the instant az
the break, the ball shooting from 'he
greatest smooth surface Il presents to
the air cushion. See diagranll SO
much for the spit ball oil the ordinary
pitcher Who does not know how the
hafl will break.
like the spit ball, the knuckie ball
and slow ball do not spin. In Eight
the FIRST named resembles the ~ ter
Not having wet surface.
entity proves that the saliva
ing to do With the peculiar
OF the ball. The slow ball, "a,
be effective, must be thrown vi he
same motion as fast ball or curve,
wobbles from side TO side as /, goes
weakly TO the plate, because 1t is
gripped loosely by the pitcher. -
Here are three pitching tricks with
q common Characteristic or dle'hoo
and common effect.
When a ball spins rapidly, one side
travels faster than the other. hi Is
law OF physics. The greater the
speed, the lower the pressure This
regular pressure. exerted Oh orc side
rnore than on the other, pushes the
~ evenly from its line OF flight,
using the curve.
Here you have a spinning BAH that
turyes and dead ball that jumps,
Walsh and Ford are different from
the ordinary spit.ballers The coN-
troll the break, by giving the bal.
very slight spin with the thumb, "a
the wet surface slides on tho fore
fingers The ball revolves p1laalo
SIX times in its course.
The comparatively insignificant
s"in does not make the bal Bore
through the air cushion. but Il Is
enough 20 give II very sllgdt rfrs.
SIRE on one side.
As the ball swerves. II is in a ttate
OF very unstable equilibrium. rhe
treeze OF butterhy's wing would lie.
t"rmine the direction OF its siI.e on
the air cushion. That pressure. ~
csitesiniai as n IS, controls the dlrce.
an OF the break hence by Inc POST.
ton OF the Thumb and the spin, troy
nd the ball 70 left. right or down
,S With ~. e.. 81 y .oak inward