Loading ...WHAT WOULD HURT MORE GETTING HIT BY A BASEBALL OR SOFTBALL?
Today I will bring you one debate that has create quite a riff between Fielders Choice Staff. What would hurt more getting hit by a baseball or a softball?
The scenario is as follows a baseball and a softball are travelling at MPH and comes in contact with your front arm (tricep) when batting.
Here are the figures for each
Baseball weighs 5 – 5 1/4oz, diameter of approx 3inches
Softball weighs 6 1/2 – 7oz, diameter of approx 4.5inches
The diameter is measured by the distance from one end of the ball to the other like a straight line cutting it in half. On face value with these statistics one would automatically assume that a softball would hurt more because of its greater weight and diameter. However the mass of the balls per inch and the diameter of the ball when making contact would have one believe that a baseball would hurt more.
baseball weight per inch = 5.25oz / 3inches = 1.75oz per inch
softball weight per inch = 7oz / 4.5inches = 1.55oz per inch
This formula shows that a baseball is far more compact in its weight to diameter ratio. Now why is this important you might think. When getting hit by an object with a larger diameter it gives your body more of a chance to absorb the shock through your body’s muscle mass. IE getting hit in the tricep with a softball would come in contact with a greater surface area of the tricep than a baseball would.
baseball approx force based on weight per inch would be 1.75oz x 85mph = 148.75
softball approx force based on weight per inch would be 1.55oz x 85mph = 131.75
Therefore I believe that getting hit with an object such as a baseball will hurt more as it is more compact having a higher weight to inch ratio and thus causing a more painful strike to the tricep due to the lower surface area contact.
Let me know what you think.
Reader Comments
Nah!
Softball hurts more!
especially if your half way through your 3/4 swing!
softball 4 life
I umpire both softball and baseball and I can tell you that they both hurt LOL