Wiffle ball is serious.
September 15, 2017 2:16 PM   Subscribe

To this day, the company insists, “we don’t know exactly why it works—it just does!” That folksy answer is charming, but a scientific one can foster even greater admiration for this curious ball and the sport that makes use of it. "The Contentious Physics of Wiffle Ball" from The Atlantic via Object Lesson
posted by chavenet (10 comments total) 16 users marked this as a favorite
 
On the set of Sport Science, Wiffle Ball Cy Young Winner Joel Deroche attempts to strikeout MLB star James Loney.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:48 PM on September 15, 2017 [4 favorites]


I found this all pretty interesting. Thanks for the post.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:52 PM on September 15, 2017


...even greater admiration for this curious ball and the sport that makes use of it.

Failing to use the work "eponymous" whenever you can makes Baby Word Jesus cry.
posted by The Tensor at 2:53 PM on September 15, 2017 [5 favorites]


Seems like a good topic for a book: Will it Wiffle?

Seriously, fascinating topic.

There are so many non- ball uses for the things. My most recent invention is 'kitty treat dispenser' which is easily fashioned by taping up all holes except one and then putting in a few treats. One then presents the yummy smelling item to the nearest kitty along with a couple of treats strategically placed right at treatball. Watch as kitty goes for visible treat and simultaneously pushes treatball out of way. Hmm, that thing rattled. Hmm, it smells like more treats. Hmm, kitty investigation ensues. Watch amusedly as kitty gets the hang of bulldozing around treatball with her head while hoping for additional intermittent payouts.
posted by mightshould at 2:54 PM on September 15, 2017 [6 favorites]


There's a vote right now for Toy Hall of Fame inductees and quite puzzlingly, the Wiffle ball was in second place last time I checked.
posted by Calzephyr at 3:49 PM on September 15, 2017


We played wiffle ball with a bigger bat. I am not even slightly athletic. I am slow, clumsy and have poor hand-eye coordination. I loved wiffle ball.
posted by shoesietart at 6:10 PM on September 15, 2017 [1 favorite]


(not to be confused, incidentally, with Waffle Bill, who is responsible for seriously distorting statistics about the average number of waffles consumed each year)
posted by Wolfdog at 6:29 PM on September 15, 2017 [7 favorites]


I grew up in s house in the woods with a decent sized yard. My brother and I couldn't play yard baseball because we'd lose the ball almost immediately in the woods. You could hit a wiffle ball with all your might and it would never fly so far that it would get lost. Even grounders would snag on sticks and leaves at the forest's edge. We loved wiffle ball so much. I'd happily play it right now.
posted by Joey Michaels at 9:16 PM on September 15, 2017 [1 favorite]


On the set of Sport Science, Wiffle Ball Cy Young Winner Joel Deroche attempts to strikeout MLB star James Loney.

1) That dude can throw a whiffle ball.

2) People in the comments are not happy about 1.
posted by Literaryhero at 3:11 AM on September 16, 2017 [2 favorites]


When I coached Little League I would wrap wiffle balls with duct tape and use them for batting practice. The additional weight of the tape allowed me to get some zip on the pitches, and being plastic tape balls the kids could relax at the plate and learn how to hit.
posted by COD at 5:53 AM on September 16, 2017 [2 favorites]


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