Dropball
Topspin that adds to gravity for a late, steep finish at the knees.
A Dropball flying to home plate in 3D, from the catcher's view.
What it does
A dropball spins forwards, at 6 o'clock. The topspin pushes the ball down on top of gravity, so it falls off the table in the last part of its flight and produces ground balls.
How to read it
It starts on a fastball line at the thighs and keeps sinking. The seams tumble forwards, away from the pitcher. A pitch that starts at the knees will end in the dirt.
What makes it work
Clean forward spin and a low target. The steeper the downward angle at the plate, the harder it is to lift.
The numbers
| Speed at release | 62 mph |
|---|---|
| Speed at the plate | 55.1 mph |
| Time to the plate | 0.44 s |
| Spin rate | 1200 rpm |
| Break direction (clock) | 6:00 |
| Spin efficiency | 87% |
| Movement from spin, up or down | 12.6 in down |
| Movement from spin, sideways | 0.5 in to the glove side |
| Total drop with gravity | 51.2 in |
A typical Dropball from a right-handed pitcher at 43 feet in still air, from the AXIS43 flight model. A physics estimate, not a radar reading.