Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

The Aerodynamics Of The Knuckleball Pitch: An Experimental Investigation Into The Effects That The Seam And Slow Rotation Have On A Baseball, Michael Patrick Morrissey

Master's Theses (2009 -)

There has been plenty of research on the fluid dynamic effects on different spheres, including sports balls, such as baseballs. Baseball pitches have different velocities, rotation rates and orientations which will cause the baseball to move in different directions. There has also been plenty of research on the aerodynamics of curveballs, but not nearly as much on knuckleballs. The difference between the two is that the knuckleball has a much slower rotation rate and a different initial orientation. This causes the baseball to "knuckle," or moving erratically. This pitch in baseball is one of the hardest to pitch, hit, catch, …