Riseball
Backspin that fights gravity and finishes above the bat.
A Riseball flying to home plate in 3D, from the catcher's view.
What it does
A riseball spins backwards, close to 12 o'clock on the clock face. That backspin creates lift, so the ball drops far less than a hitter expects. It does not truly rise, but next to the path the eyes predict it seems to jump.
How to read it
Look for a flat, high start and seams that spin backwards towards the pitcher. It often starts at the belt and ends at the letters. Lay off the one that starts at the top of the zone: it will finish above it.
What makes it work
Spin efficiency decides everything. With true backspin the ball carries; when the axis tilts towards gyro spin, the rise flattens into a hittable high fastball.
The numbers
| Speed at release | 64 mph |
|---|---|
| Speed at the plate | 56.4 mph |
| Time to the plate | 0.43 s |
| Spin rate | 1350 rpm |
| Break direction (clock) | 11:45 |
| Spin efficiency | 87% |
| Movement from spin, up or down | 12.8 in up |
| Movement from spin, sideways | 1.5 in to the arm side |
| Total drop with gravity | 23.5 in |
A typical Riseball from a right-handed pitcher at 43 feet in still air, from the AXIS43 flight model. A physics estimate, not a radar reading.