The Physics of Baseball (Paperback)

~ (Author) "A small, but interesting, portion of baseball can be understood on the basis of physical principles..." (more)
Key Phrases: squarely hit ball, bat velocity, hickory bat, Babe Ruth, Official Baseball Rules, American Journal of Physics (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

YA --An exceptional volume about some of the physical principles involved in the game of baseball. The flight of the ball, pitching, batting, and the properties of bats are discussed in nontechnical language that can be understood by young adults familiar with introductory physics. Short chapters, which include clear and helpful diagrams, each conclude with technical notes that can be skipped or studied closely, depending on readers' interests. Baseball players or fans and budding physicists should be intrigued by Adair's explanations of the effect of the stitching on the distance the ball travels, of the relative merits of wooden and aluminum bats, and of why spitting on the ball does make a difference. This is a book that makes science real, relevant, and fun without being gimmicky or overly simplistic. --Jane Hanley Greene, Prince George's County Memorial Lib . System, Hyattsville, MD
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Fascinating and irresistible."

New York Times Book Review

"Delivers scads of interesting facts about the game with few embellishments."

Wall Street Journal

"A neat little volume on the physical principles that drive the game . . . Highly recommended."

Wall Street Journal

"An absolutely wonderful compendium of little know fact about the national pastime."

Wall Street Journal

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Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Perennial; 2nd Rev edition (February 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060950471
• ISBN-13: 978-0060950477
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #694,340 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Technology of the flight of a baseball written for laymen., October 2, 1999

By	[e-mail] "aldilz" (Cincinnati, Ohio) - See all my reviews

Excellent treatment of the variables that affect the flight of a thrown or batted ball. Reveals facts that explain why the ball does, or doesn't do what people think it does. For example, most players, coaches and spectators are not aware that a fastball decelerates on its' flight from the pitcher to the catcher at a rate of about one mile per hour for every seven feet of travel. Thus the ball speed, as it reaches the batter, 60 feet six inches away, is about 8-9 MPH slower than the speed when it leaves the pitcher's hand. The Professor also explains the dynamics of the curve ball; and why a ball hit at Coor's Field travels farther than those hit at most other ballparks. His theories are interesting, enlightening, and provocative. I strongly recommend the book to any baseball fan who wants to understand why a thrown or batted ball does what it does.

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Change-Up Your Perspective on Pitching, Hitting and Running, June 30, 2000

By	Professor Donald Mitchell "Jesus Makes Me a P... (Boston) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

When I was a teenager, I did a science fair project looking at statistical analyses of baseball games to help understand how one could improve the strategy of the game from a general manager's perspective. In The 2,000 Percent Solution, I wrote about the potential levels of perfection for a baseball team. So I have long been hooked on what measurement could add to my understanding of baseball. What a pleasant surprise it was when I discovered this fine book that used measurements and analyses to go even further!

Whenever I listen to former Big Leaguers talk about baseball on television, I get lost by half of what they say. While I can see fast balls falling on the way to the plate, the broadcasters are describing a "rising" fast ball. Suddenly, the ball moves strangely, and they refer knowledgeably to the pitcher throwing a "splitter." Then a knuckle ball pitcher comes in, and the catcher can't seem to ever control the ball because there is little spin. Why is that happening? What's going on here?

If you have ever wondered about questions like these, The Physics of Baseball will fill you in and actually give you the ability to amaze others with your precise explanations why the unexpected is either perceived to be happening or is actually happening.

When I was a teenager, baseball games usually lasted about 2 hours. Now, they are much longer. This book gives you a way to take advantage of that, by giving you more interesting things to talk about during the prolonged games.

The author also takes on the many controversies of recent years, such as corked bats, scuffed balls, and extra pine tar on the bat. Although he did not have the resources or information to definitively answer some questions, his educated guesses are probably good enough for now.

If you don't really want to understand physics, you can mainly focus on the graphs and illustrations that simply show the conclusions of Professor Adair's analyses. That simpler approach makes the book a much quicker and more exciting read.

Physics is not my favorite subject, but I was impressed by how much this book was able to add to my understanding and potential enjoyment of watching a baseball game. I think it will probably do the same for you.

Although he is a professor, the author has the humility to consider whatever the players talk about as a potentially important subject. One of the most interesting topics is an evalutation of why Babe Ruth used a bat that was both longer and heavier than any modern slugger would ever consider using. There are also references to "juiced balls" and playing baseball in Denver, and what the impact might be on home runs and a pitcher's e.r.a.

Play ball!

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why and How a Baseball Behaves As it Does, March 20, 2000

By	Spencer K. Stephens (Rockville, Maryland USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ever wondered why a curve ball curves? Why major leaguers stretching for third often take a wide turn between first and second? Why bats seem to break much more often than they used to? This wonderful book contains the answers. Written by a Yale physicist, it contains well-documented but sometimes densely worded explanations of why and how a baseball, a bat and even the players behave as they do. Any serious fan of baseball will finish this book with an enhanced appreciation for the game. Not to mention the ability to speak intelligently about how grip and mechanics differ between pitchers throwing curves and sliders. The author has wisely chosen to address the questions posed most frequently by baseball lovers who aspire to higher knowledge. His only failure is his heavy reliance on technical academic language and somewhat mysterious graphs. It makes for a very enlightening but slow read.