Abstract

Slippery baseballs are a necessary problem to address because of the potential for injury. A pitcher with little grip on a baseball is more likely to have more wild throws which could lead to injuries to opposing hitters. Finding a solution to this problem can save athletes from missing time due to injury and can enhance the pitcher's performance without the need to cheat. Lena Blackburne found a unique mud that is the most effective at solving the problem. This study tests the extent to which Blackburne’s mud is stickier than soil from a softball field and construction site. Blackburne’s mud was the most consistent at achieving a positive correlation between spin rate and velocity. It also maintains stickiness better when force is applied during a peel test. The properties that make Blackburne’s mud different are that it is a silty clay loam with quartz grains. This is a unique study that explores a relatively unknown nature of Blackburne’s mud and compares it to other common replacement options. It also lays a foundation for exploring future work to find a mud that could be more effective at reducing the slickness of baseballs.

Advisor

Pollock, Meagen

Department

Earth Sciences

Disciplines

Soil Science | Sports Studies

Publication Date

2024

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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