The Effect of Artificial Substances on the Increasing Spin Rate in Major League Baseball

Robert SwickFollow

School Name

Spring Valley High School

Grade Level

11th Grade

Presentation Topic

Engineering

Presentation Type

Non-Mentored

Abstract

In Major League Baseball (MLB) there is currently a crisis with Spider Tack usage. Per the MLB guidelines it is prohibited for the usage of any substance except for pitching rosin to be applied to the baseball (Castrovince, 2021). These substances each have different effects on the baseball, but the most prominent effect is on the spin rate of the baseball. Increased spin rate on the baseball increases the movement and overall speed of the pitch dramatically. During the 2021 baseball season, there have been reports on the effects of spider tack such as the article written by Ari Alexander Putting Spider Tack and other MLB Substances to the Test. But there is no actual comparison involved. The purpose of this study is to test the different widely used substances such as Spider Tack, pine tar, and pitching rosin to determine if there was a statistical difference between the substances. It was hypothesized that out of all of the substances that were tested (pine tar, Spider Tack, and rosin) pine tar will be the substance that will have the most effect on the baseball's spin rate. This is due to the fact that it is the most widely used substance as well as the fact that it provides the most “stick” to the baseball. To test this research hypothesis a mechanical design was made. This Mechanism holds a baseball still so that it would be able to be dragged over silicone skin replicant in order to find the friction force required to pull the baseball. After testing was completed a one way ANOVA was used to determine that with a p value of less than .00005 the data was statistically significant. Using a Tukey test, it was determined that Spider tack was the most effective between the groups.

Location

HSS 109

Start Date

4-2-2022 9:15 AM

Presentation Format

Oral and Written

Group Project

No

COinS
 
Apr 2nd, 9:15 AM

The Effect of Artificial Substances on the Increasing Spin Rate in Major League Baseball

HSS 109

In Major League Baseball (MLB) there is currently a crisis with Spider Tack usage. Per the MLB guidelines it is prohibited for the usage of any substance except for pitching rosin to be applied to the baseball (Castrovince, 2021). These substances each have different effects on the baseball, but the most prominent effect is on the spin rate of the baseball. Increased spin rate on the baseball increases the movement and overall speed of the pitch dramatically. During the 2021 baseball season, there have been reports on the effects of spider tack such as the article written by Ari Alexander Putting Spider Tack and other MLB Substances to the Test. But there is no actual comparison involved. The purpose of this study is to test the different widely used substances such as Spider Tack, pine tar, and pitching rosin to determine if there was a statistical difference between the substances. It was hypothesized that out of all of the substances that were tested (pine tar, Spider Tack, and rosin) pine tar will be the substance that will have the most effect on the baseball's spin rate. This is due to the fact that it is the most widely used substance as well as the fact that it provides the most “stick” to the baseball. To test this research hypothesis a mechanical design was made. This Mechanism holds a baseball still so that it would be able to be dragged over silicone skin replicant in order to find the friction force required to pull the baseball. After testing was completed a one way ANOVA was used to determine that with a p value of less than .00005 the data was statistically significant. Using a Tukey test, it was determined that Spider tack was the most effective between the groups.