Baseball Lab: Why Seam Height Matters So Much On Baseballs

To make a ball spin, you need to know what factors are in play.

“The largest contribution to aerodynamic drag on a baseball are the seams,” Jeff Kensrud said, a professor a Washington State University. “The seams stick out on the surface of the ball so naturally they are going to disrupt the airflow.”

The seam of a baseball largely affects spin. That not only contributes to a pitcher’s ability to execute, but how far the ball travels when hit.

Check it out in the “Baseball Lab” segment from “NESN Clubhouse” the video above!