Subject:  08/95 Fly ball.JPG
Author:  Michael Crawford
Uploaded By:  CHansen598
Date:  7/7/1995

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From the August 1995 issue of SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN

Science and the Citizen

How to Catch a Fly Ball

by John Horgan

This 364 x 480 pixel image illustrates that since 1968 the leading theory of fly-ball catching has been the optical-acceleration-cancellation hypothesis, which holds that the fielder must run under a ball in such a way that it appears to be moving upward at a constant rate. If the ball appears to be accelerating, it will land behind you; if it is decelerating, it will drop in front of you. This method has stood you in good stead--hey, you've got the Golden Gloves to prove it. But wait! A recent article--in "Science," no less--has proposed a different and perhaps superior technique.