The "curve-ball"... too good to be true...

**glwilson** · 10-14-2010, 06:29 PM

Okay... for those that love baseball, or have pitched a few games themselves -- you may surprised to learn that a curve-ball doesn't really curve.

According to recent research; things are not what they appear to be.

The first link is the article about this.

The second link takes you to a screen demonstrating what you see when looking at a curve-ball. Be sure to first watch the ball fall in a straight-line... then move your eyes to the blue spot on the right and watch what happens to your curve-ball.

I found it interesting.

http://www.rdmag.com/News/2010/10/Ph...od-to-be-true/

http://illusioncontest.neuralcorrela...the-curveball/

AlabamaNomadRider · 10-15-2010, 12:08 AM

Never was a pitcher and didn't learn to throw a curve ball. I was a batter and have missed many a pitch. It sure appeared to curve to me. Looking at the blue dot and then shifting your eyes made it look like the ball really broke a lot. Interesting.

blowndodge · 10-16-2010, 12:03 AM

that happens when I drink too Greg!!

**glwilson** · 10-16-2010, 08:39 AM

I thought it was just me!

Sin City Stan · 10-21-2010, 09:56 PM

OK . . . fine . . . so it doesn't curve. It still worked to strike people out or be struck out.

So . . . let's see the smarty pants prove a knuckle ball doesn't dance.

**Top Cat** · 10-21-2010, 11:41 PM

I call BS.
The video with the blue dot is the actual illusion.
I have thrown curve balls and batted against pitchers who can throw a mean curve ball. While batting i looked at the ball all the way from the pitchers hand to my bat. I did not look away at a dot in mid air that made the ball SEEM to curve.
A curve ball curves, A screwball breaks in the opposite direction, a drop ball drops, a knuckleball dances and a palm ball drops even faster than a drop ball.

Netnorske · 10-22-2010, 12:27 AM

As a fifteen year veteran umpire who worked the 2009 Little League Western Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, CA.....I can say without question that a curveball does in fact curve! All you have to do is watch the ball-tracker on any MLB broadcast and you can see that! Sorry Greg....I'm just sayin'......

!

**glwilson** · 10-22-2010, 06:24 PM

LOL!!

Baseball... it ranks right up there with "don't mess with my wife, kids, or motorcycle"!!!

"Don't mess with baseball!!!!

Look guys... I was just giving you guys something to look at!

To prove a curve-ball curves... all one needs is a multi-camera setup to film the ball's movement. So far, I haven't seen one; but I feel a curve-ball curves.

I do agree Kris that when I watch a curve-ball on television it appears to curve to me.

I think one thing this study was trying to suggest is that when a batter first sees a curve ball with their peripheral vision, that it gives the batter a distorted view as to where the ball actually is.

It is only within the last several feet that a batter's vision gives them a more accurate location of the ball and its actual direction -- which is one reason a curve-ball is so damned hard to hit.

There... do you all feel better about it now!!!

Netnorske · 10-22-2010, 07:19 PM

Every professional baseball player can hit the fastball. Those that can hit the curveball play in the Major Leagues and make millions of dollars doing so! It is said that hitting Major League pitching is the single hardest thing to do in all of sports. With the changes in velocity, break, and location....I'm amazed that anything gets hit....let alone crushed...

!

Loafer · 10-22-2010, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Netnorske

Every professional baseball player can hit the fastball. Those that can hit the curveball play in the Major Leagues and make millions of dollars doing so! It is said that hitting Major League pitching is the single hardest thing to do in all of sports. With the changes in velocity, break, and location....I'm amazed that anything gets hit....let alone crushed...

!

And I always thought it was the hockey puck. You learn something new everyday. Thanks.

flavor · 10-22-2010, 08:00 PM

I think it's all about perception. I think what is being said is yes the ball curves but not the way your eyes perceive it. The curve is a constant. So when peripheral gets involved where your mind perceived the ball to be is different than when it leaves the pitchers hand and to overcome that focal change is a learned art.

Am I making myself perfectly unclear.

**glwilson** · 10-22-2010, 09:29 PM

Just as clear as a curve-ball seen with peripheral vision!!!

No... seriously... you said it right. It is the visual deception of where the ball is actually at versus what your eyes are telling you.

I would have to agree that a pro-pitcher's pitch would have to rank extremely high in difficulty to see -- let alone hit squarely.

A well hit puck would have to rank awfully high also though.

10-14-2010, 06:29 PM	#1
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	The "curve-ball"... too good to be true... Okay... for those that love baseball, or have pitched a few games themselves -- you may surprised to learn that a curve-ball doesn't really curve. According to recent research; things are not what they appear to be. The first link is the article about this. The second link takes you to a screen demonstrating what you see when looking at a curve-ball. Be sure to first watch the ball fall in a straight-line... then move your eyes to the blue spot on the right and watch what happens to your curve-ball. I found it interesting. http://www.rdmag.com/News/2010/10/Ph...od-to-be-true/ http://illusioncontest.neuralcorrela...the-curveball/ __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

10-15-2010, 12:08 AM	#2
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	The "curve-ball"... too good to be true... Never was a pitcher and didn't learn to throw a curve ball. I was a batter and have missed many a pitch. It sure appeared to curve to me. Looking at the blue dot and then shifting your eyes made it look like the ball really broke a lot. Interesting. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

10-16-2010, 12:03 AM	#3
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	The "curve-ball"... too good to be true... that happens when I drink too Greg!! __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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10-16-2010, 08:39 AM	#4
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	The "curve-ball"... too good to be true... I thought it was just me! __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417
	0

10-21-2010, 09:56 PM	#5
Sin City Stan Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Henderson, NV Posts: 3,746	The "curve-ball"... too good to be true... OK . . . fine . . . so it doesn't curve. It still worked to strike people out or be struck out. So . . . let's see the smarty pants prove a knuckle ball doesn't dance. __________________ Oldest Saloon In Nevada http://www.pioneersaloon.info/ "Sin City Stan" Henderson, NV VBA #01004 VROC #29365 2004 Nomad 1500L5 +100 "The Bike" 2009 Nomad 1700 (past) 2004 Vulcan Classic 800 (past) 2010 Cortez - 2011 Crescent City - 2012 Kanab - 2013 Estes Park Login or Register to Remove Ads
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10-21-2010, 11:41 PM	#6
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	The "curve-ball"... too good to be true... I call BS. The video with the blue dot is the actual illusion. I have thrown curve balls and batted against pitchers who can throw a mean curve ball. While batting i looked at the ball all the way from the pitchers hand to my bat. I did not look away at a dot in mid air that made the ball SEEM to curve. A curve ball curves, A screwball breaks in the opposite direction, a drop ball drops, a knuckleball dances and a palm ball drops even faster than a drop ball. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
	0

10-22-2010, 12:27 AM	#7
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	The "curve-ball"... too good to be true... As a fifteen year veteran umpire who worked the 2009 Little League Western Regional Tournament in San Bernardino, CA.....I can say without question that a curveball does in fact curve! All you have to do is watch the ball-tracker on any MLB broadcast and you can see that! Sorry Greg....I'm just sayin'...... ! __________________ *Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016
	0

10-22-2010, 06:24 PM	#8
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	The "curve-ball"... too good to be true... LOL!! Baseball... it ranks right up there with "don't mess with my wife, kids, or motorcycle"!!! "Don't mess with baseball!!!! Look guys... I was just giving you guys something to look at! To prove a curve-ball curves... all one needs is a multi-camera setup to film the ball's movement. So far, I haven't seen one; but I feel a curve-ball curves. I do agree Kris that when I watch a curve-ball on television it appears to curve to me. I think one thing this study was trying to suggest is that when a batter first sees a curve ball with their peripheral vision, that it gives the batter a distorted view as to where the ball actually is. It is only within the last several feet that a batter's vision gives them a more accurate location of the ball and its actual direction -- which is one reason a curve-ball is so damned hard to hit. There... do you all feel better about it now!!! __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417
	0

10-22-2010, 07:19 PM	#9
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	The "curve-ball"... too good to be true... Every professional baseball player can hit the fastball. Those that can hit the curveball play in the Major Leagues and make millions of dollars doing so! It is said that hitting Major League pitching is the single hardest thing to do in all of sports. With the changes in velocity, break, and location....I'm amazed that anything gets hit....let alone crushed... ! __________________ *Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016
	0

10-22-2010, 08:00 PM	#11
flavor Sr. Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: RI Posts: 1,351	The "curve-ball"... too good to be true... I think it's all about perception. I think what is being said is yes the ball curves but not the way your eyes perceive it. The curve is a constant. So when peripheral gets involved where your mind perceived the ball to be is different than when it leaves the pitchers hand and to overcome that focal change is a learned art. Am I making myself perfectly unclear.
	0

10-22-2010, 09:29 PM	#12
glwilson Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Central Illinois Posts: 8,575	The "curve-ball"... too good to be true... Just as clear as a curve-ball seen with peripheral vision!!! No... seriously... you said it right. It is the visual deception of where the ball is actually at versus what your eyes are telling you. I would have to agree that a pro-pitcher's pitch would have to rank extremely high in difficulty to see -- let alone hit squarely. A well hit puck would have to rank awfully high also though. __________________ "During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." "You can have your own opinion, but not your own facts." *Former VBA NCR Assist Regional Leader* Formerly: 2004 1500FI Bronze Nomad: 2009 & 2014 HD Ultra Current Rides: 2017 HD Ultra Limited & 2011 Can Am Spyder RTS-SE Attended: VBA National Rallies 2009, 2011, 2015; VBA/NCR Regional Rally 2010, 12, 14, 16 and several rides throughout with regional members. VBA Member #652 HOG Member #3935417
	0

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