Thursday, May 14, 2009

Only An Illusion

The three best visual illusions in the world were chosen at a gathering last weekend of neuroscientists and psychologists at the Naples Philharmonic Center for the Arts in Florida.
The winning entry, from a Bucknell University professor, may help explain why curve balls in baseball are so tricky to hit.

A properly thrown curve ball spins in a way that makes the air on one side move faster than on the other. This causes the ball to move along a gradual curve. From the point of view of a batter standing on home plate, though, curve balls seem to “break,” or move suddenly in a new direction.

This year’s winning illusion, created by Arthur Shapiro of Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, may explain this phenomena. His animation shows a spinning ball that, when watched directly, moves in a straight line. When seen out of the corner of the eye, however, the spin of the ball fools the brain into thinking that the ball is curving.

So as a baseball flies towards home plate, the moment when it passes from central to peripheral vision could exaggerate the movement of the ball, causing its gradual curve to be seen as a sudden jerk.

You know. When I was a younger man and played baseball, I never knew that a curve ball really wasn’t happening and was only an illusion. If I had only known, maybe I would have been a better ballplayer!

I wonder. How many pro baseball players today believe that a curve ball is nothing more than illusion? Try convincing them of that!

6 comments:

  1. Gotta go with you on this one Steve. I watched several ball players on TV last night who would bet they saw more than an illusion. When I pitched unless I held the ball differently, which was a no-no, I could not throw a curve. Hmmm if I had only known that the fastball I just threw really was a curveball I might have continued on. Too bad I couldn't have convinced the ones who got hits that it was just an illusion also. A virtual hit not a real one. But I still don't understand that guys explanation.

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  2. Bill...I am either blessed or cursed. I can throw with both arms...and bat both ways. So, when I pitched, I had a "natural" curveball. More than once, the umpire came out and complained about me throwing curveballs. I couldn't help it! My dad, who was our team's coach, had to explain it repeated to the umps...

    I always wanted to pitch half a game lefthanded and half a game righthanded...

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  3. Steve - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8U2xkHOTvvw

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  4. Bernard...how cool!

    Sure takes away the advantage of a switch hitter!!!

    Also, did you see all those illusions he was throwing?

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  5. If the curve ball is an illusion, why does the catcher's glove have to move to catch it?

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  6. Me writing on your blog is only an illusion. Now where's my prize?

    Heidi

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Thank you for sharing your thoughts! I can't wait to read what you have written.