The Contentious Physics of Wiffle Ball

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The Wiffle ball was designed to increase access to the thrills of baseball. It made trick pitches available to younger players, and also made the game accessible to adults whose ball-playing glory days are now behind them, offering an experience similar to baseball without the risk of rotator-cuff injury. The Wiffle Ball company has cultivated this all-American, family-run story with their “it just works, who could possibly explain it?” mystique. There is innocent nostalgia baked into the game. And yet, understanding how the ball works its magic takes none of that folk glory away. Instead, it increases respect for the sport, by showing how much is possible within it.