Rising fastball

[nickrego]

Originally Posted by SAump

Next time you see heavy objects flying around a tornado or a hurricane, don't tell me any of those round or flat objects can't behave like a wing. This AIR passing beneath (not around) a 100 mph baseball makes LIFT possible at relatively flat angles, less than 15 degrees.

A round object has too much Side Spill to create as much lift as a wing. Side Spill is air spilling over from the sides onto the top, and counteracting the lift. This effect is something wing designers have to fight with. One of the reasons a wing is narrower at the tip.

Originally Posted by SAump

I compare it to skipping rocks above water at much lower velocities. I can get a RISE 2 or 3 times before the rock settles below the water.

Try skipping a ROUND rock, and see what happens.