Is there a formula for determing how much a head wind (say 20mph) would effect a pitcher throwing (83mph)?
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Yes .... but you need to know what gun was used.
Example: Most Jugs pick up velocity "out of hand". This means that the wind has had no effect at all. The older Stalkers picked up the velo after about 20 feet. A 20 MPH head wind would have had minimal effect by 20 feet but it's effects would increase as the ball approached the plate.
... since the stalkers are more expensive than the Jugs, he's probably throwing about 83.
Example: Most Jugs pick up velocity "out of hand". This means that the wind has had no effect at all. The older Stalkers picked up the velo after about 20 feet. A 20 MPH head wind would have had minimal effect by 20 feet but it's effects would increase as the ball approached the plate.
... since the stalkers are more expensive than the Jugs, he's probably throwing about 83.
I don't think he's talking about speed shown on a gun (BTW, a modern Stalker Sport can pick up a pitch within .046 seconds of leaving the hand...a few feet max)
He's talking about the effect of a tail wind on a ball reaching the plate. I've never seen any info on that. I'm curious too how wind (head, tail or cross) affects trick pitches.
Do major league pitchers take wind into account in selecting the type of pitch they throw?
Also, how much direction change would a 20mph side wind cause in 60 feet to a 90 mph fastball? You'd think there would be some wind tunnel tests to answer that basic question, but I've never seen anything on that.
He's talking about the effect of a tail wind on a ball reaching the plate. I've never seen any info on that. I'm curious too how wind (head, tail or cross) affects trick pitches.
Do major league pitchers take wind into account in selecting the type of pitch they throw?
Also, how much direction change would a 20mph side wind cause in 60 feet to a 90 mph fastball? You'd think there would be some wind tunnel tests to answer that basic question, but I've never seen anything on that.
It would take a wind tunnel, but there are too many factors at play to give a generality.
Which seams are exposed (2 seamer versus 4 seamer)?
What is the spin rate (higher spin rates trap a greater boundry layer of air against the ball)?
The air pressure and humidity that day will have an effect (higher air pressure means more viscosity and you treat a spinning object like a thrown baseball mathmatically as if it were in a fluid enviroment, not a vacuum).
The math isn't for the faint of heart.
Which seams are exposed (2 seamer versus 4 seamer)?
What is the spin rate (higher spin rates trap a greater boundry layer of air against the ball)?
The air pressure and humidity that day will have an effect (higher air pressure means more viscosity and you treat a spinning object like a thrown baseball mathmatically as if it were in a fluid enviroment, not a vacuum).
The math isn't for the faint of heart.
Maybe a wind tunnel isn't necessary for rudimentary readings:
A good pitching machine with new balls will reveal on a gusty day how much a side wind moves a ball off target. You could run radar checks with head and tail winds to see what happens to speed.
I've read the book, The Physics of Baseball but it doesn't address those issue, as I recall.
A good pitching machine with new balls will reveal on a gusty day how much a side wind moves a ball off target. You could run radar checks with head and tail winds to see what happens to speed.
I've read the book, The Physics of Baseball but it doesn't address those issue, as I recall.
http://members.shaw.ca/calgarysoftballumpires/physics_of_baseball.htm
"An average head wind (10 mph) can turn a 400-foot home run into a 370-foot routine out."
That seems like a lot.
"An average head wind (10 mph) can turn a 400-foot home run into a 370-foot routine out."
That seems like a lot.