Aerodynamics and Trajectory of Vertical Slider of Baseball Ball

Abstract

Wind tunnel experiments were conducted to measure aerodynamic forces acting on highly spinning baseball balls, which rotate around an axis oriented uniform flow direction. This is called as vertical slider with non-lift force and less drag force compared with other spinning direction ball. A professional pitcher named Daisuke Matsuzaka with powerful ball adopts this U-type rolling spin ball. Experimental results show less drag force in U-type ball than the other X-type one.