Comments on: Optical Illusion – Why A Curveball Confuses Batters

By: SenorMysterioso

SenorMysterioso — Fri, 15 May 2009 13:32:18 +0000

re Confused: a curveball actually curves unlike the illusion here so the batter is looking strait forward. When the ball curves he is still looking forward(away from the ball). The spinning of the ball, as illustrated by the illusion, exaggerates the curve.

By: roxtar

roxtar — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:33:23 +0000

Here’s an experiment just begging to be conducted:

Would a curve ball “curve” less if it was sewn with white thread instead of red thread, making the rotation more difficult to percieve?

By: Foreigner1

Foreigner1 — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:08:59 +0000

Nice illusion!
I like the bands at left and right of the screen on that site! All wobbly when you just look at it, yet totally straight when you focus on it.

By: gambit

gambit — Fri, 15 May 2009 03:13:07 +0000

the science behind it is simple: a curve ball is in projectile motion. it’s just sideways.

By: danoso

danoso — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:12:48 +0000

OK, it’s a neat illusion, but I don’t think it has much to do with explaining a curve ball. Pitching in general is the art of making the ball appear to do something it’s not. A rising fastball, for instance, doesn’t really rise — all pitches drop due to gravity (with the exception of those submarine throwing goofballs I suppose). A rising fastball appears to do that since it’s thrown with 4 seams (to give it some compenstating lift) and harder than all other pitches (so it gets to the batter faster). Since it gets there quicker, if appears to rise (only because it didn’t fall as much as expected).

A curve ball moves in a direction counter to what the batter expects, and will make use of gravity to have it moves farther than it otherwise would (if it was only the spin of the pitch causing the change in direction).

By: Church

Church — Fri, 15 May 2009 01:45:38 +0000

While interesting, that’s only/at least part of the effectiveness of a curveball. The ball actually arcs from left to right (assuming a right-handed-pitcher and a batter’s view.) So this is at best an incomplete demonstration.

By: Confused

Confused — Fri, 15 May 2009 00:05:33 +0000

I’m a bit confused. A batter would be looking at the ball, not a blue dot off to the right. Also changing the orientation/frequency destroys the illusion. Sorry to hate, but I’m not sure about “Best Visual Illusion of the Year”

By: Michelle Bivotti

Michelle Bivotti — Thu, 14 May 2009 19:29:28 +0000

Great illusion. Thank you for showing.

By: Byrd Brain

Byrd Brain — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:32:46 +0000

Where is Jobu when you need him?

By: Sakina Al-Amin

Sakina Al-Amin — Thu, 14 May 2009 17:07:28 +0000

Nice.

By: jermH

jermH — Thu, 14 May 2009 16:43:29 +0000

Truly amazing. This is one of the best optical illusions I’ve ever seen.