Do left-handers throw better curve balls due the gravitional pull of the earth? My son says 'yes', I say 'no'.

Question

My left-handed son claims that any baseball thrown by a left-handed pitcher automatically curves because of the earth's gravitational pull. He says it's not possible for a left-hander to throw a straight pitch. I've seen him pitch and I totally disagree with his theory. He has not been able to find any written proof that his theory is true. I say that right or left-handed, the pitcher has an equal chance to make a pitch curve because the ball will automatically have some rotation to it no matter which hand it comes out of.

Can anyone provide proof either way to we can put this debate to bed?

Answer 1

Pitching a ball is so miniscule to the earths gravitational pull that it wouldnt matter. Why would a lefty throw mean any difference in the gravitational pull that a rightie?

Answer 2

The gravitational force on any object thrown by a pitcher (left or right handed) is the same. It simply pulls the ball down toward the ground.

A curve ball is strictly affected by the aerodynamics that result from the spin and speed of the ball.

Anyone who understands basic physics can understand this.

Any difference in a left handed or right handed curve ball is probably due to some difference in the physical makeup of the left or right arm and hand. Our bodies are not completely symmetrical, most right handers when they try to throw left handed will feel the muscles reacting differently than when they throw right handed. This means the left hander probably spins the ball slightly differently than a right hander resulting in a curve ball that a bit different.

Answer 3

A spinning ball curves when thrown due to Bernoulli's principle, a fluid exerts less force on a surface the faster it flows over it. This is the same principle that explains the lift provided by an airplane wing.

Coriolis effects are due to the Earth's surface moving faster closer to the equator. This will have a very tiny, though calculable effect on the curve of baseball if thrown north or south but none if thrown east or west.

Gravity will always cause a throw baseball to curve downward but it seems irrevelent which hand threw the ball. Bottom spin will tend to keep it aloft longer, top spin to sink faster, but this is Bernoulli again.

Answer 4

That effect is negligible if there is one. The only force acting on the ball other than the throwers hand is the pull of gravity toward the center of the earth. Both of which would be the same left or right.

Answer 5

I think you can prove this out yourself- but it would take a lot of work, a LOT. Videotapes of every pitcher and his pitching speed
and whether left or righthanded, and then compare the overall records of all pitchers (I'm tired already), etc, plus, I suppose
physically where they were at the time figures into the question too- like Seattle or Florida, whatever. Tough question, my money
goes with your son- it seems to make sense, but like I said, lotsa' homework.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

There is no proof to support his theory. It's utterly ridiculous. While I know of no specific proof to dispute his theory, statistics and the laws of physics should be enough to convince anyone who has the capacity to analyze the facts that his theory just doesn't hold any water. Now if we were talking about whirlpools, that might be different.

Answer 8

Earth's gravitational force is 9.8 meters per second per second. This value is precisely the same for both left- and right-handed pitchers.

Answer 9

no