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This book teaches the physics of baseball and softball in conversational style, for those without extensive physics training, using words and illustrations that make sense. Includes simple experiments readers can perform, and appendices of supporting equations.

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This book describes the physics of baseball and softball, assuming that the reader has a basic background in both physics and mathematics. The physics will be explained in a conversational style, with words and illustrations, so that the explanations make sense. The book provides an excellent opportunity to explain physics at a relatively simple level, even though the primary objective is to explain the many subtle features concerning the physics of baseball. For those readers who already know quite a bit of physics and who will be comfortable with mathematical equations, additional material of this nature will be provided in appendices. The latest research findings and statistical data have been incorporated by the author. The book also contains many simple experiments that the reader can perform to convince themselves that the effects described do indeed exist.

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Preface.- 1. Basic Physics.- 2. Bats and Balls.- 3. Ball Trajectories.- 4. Pitching Trajectories.- 5. Pitching Mechanics.- 6. Swinging a Bat.- 7. Contacting the Ball.- 8. Elastic Properties of Balls.- 9. Ball Hysteresis.- 10. Collisions.- 11.Bat Performance.- 12. Bat Vibrations.- 13. The Trampoline Effect.- 14. The Sweet Spot of a Baseball Bat.- 15. Flexible Bat Handles.- 16. Ball Bounce and Spin.- 17. Ball Spin Generated by a Bat.- 18. Bat and Ball Projects.- Conversion Factors.

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From the reviews:

"Provide the clearest and most extensive explanation of what happens the instant bat meets the ball. ... Cross takes pains to explain the issues so that a motivated nonphysicist could follow the explanations. ... It could serve as the basis for laboratory experiments in an introductory physics course. ... it is a treatise on bats and balls and on batting balls. ... So invest in this book if you care about how baseball bats work or want to teach undergraduates about it." (Cliff Frohlich, Physics Today, May, 2011)

"This book revisits the science of the motion of baseballs and softballs, with little to distinguish between them. ... The author uses basic physics and mathematics to explain the behavior of a baseball after a pitcher throws the ball and a batter hits it. ... provides a list of 12 activities that one can perform to appreciate the motion of baseballs. ... contains excellent diagrams, graphs, and a good index. Summing Up: Recommended. Students of all levels and researchers/faculty." (N. Sadanand, Choice, Vol. 49 (1), September, 2011)

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