# What's the fastest moving object in sports? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 25, 2003, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564 "2003-10-25T22:24:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/21 "2003-10-26T03:13:18Z")
According to some other sites, the pelota is now (maybe always was) hard rubber. I could’ve sworn it was wood when I first saw a match (as a wee young child somewhere in Tijuana, iirc… ). ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/22 "2003-10-26T03:23:49Z")
WAG: ping pong ball initial velocity off the paddle. ---
**Author:** ![doctordoowop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecc23a/32.png) [@doctordoowop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doctordoowop)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/23 "2003-10-26T03:56:46Z")
Al Macinnis- he had fastest slapshot in contests over the yrs-timed at about 110 mph. Roscoe Tanner had a 160mph serve-it got him in jail recently-was serving drugs to an undercover cop. Actually it would be the ammo used in target shooting-(or trap & skeet) these are sports- about 700mph? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/24 "2003-10-26T04:05:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by doctordoowop \* > \*\*Actually it would be the ammo used in target shooting-(or trap & skeet) these are sports- about 700mph? \*\* Not eligible for consideration under the terms of the OP. ---
**Author:** ![PRNYouth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PRNYouth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PRNYouth)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/25 "2003-10-26T04:06:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by doctordoowop \* > \*\*Al Macinnis- he had fastest slapshot in contests over the yrs-timed at about 110 mph. Roscoe Tanner had a 160mph serve-it got him in jail recently-was serving drugs to an undercover cop. Actually it would be the ammo used in target shooting-(or trap & skeet) these are sports- about 700mph? \*\* **doctordoowop** , did you read any of the thread? First, regarding ammunition, the OP had this to say: > [@](#): > > For the purposes of this topic, the object must be propelled only by the strength of one person, without using any machines. And second, regarding the 110 and 160 mph speeds, those are apparently topped by other records, in both badminton (surpise to me) and jai-alai. ---
**Author:** ![bromells](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@bromells](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bromells)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/26 "2003-10-26T04:20:49Z")
“Well, first off, Rysto, you have to be South American. Then, you become suicidal. Then, you let people bet on whether or not a speeding wooden ball is going to impact your fragile head.” Actually, jai alai originated in the Basque region of Spain. Most players historically were Basques (some from across the border with France). I am originally from Miami and many a day I should have been in high school was spent instead at the Miami Jai Alai fronton, known as the Yankee Stadium of jai alai. Michelena, a French Basque, was the best player in those days but Joey, a tall, lithe Jewish guy from North Miami Beach, was probably among the top 5 players. Kent, a whitebread kind of guy, was also competitive. I am sure there were some players with South American roots, too, but it’s certainly not a South American game. As far as fragile heads go, they do wear protective helmets. And they are good at what they do, believe me. It is my favorite parimutuel because unlike the others, the action can last 20 or 30 minutes, especially if they play to 9 points rather than 7. A horse or dog player only gets a couple minutes’ worth of action for the same $2 win bet or whatnot. If you are ever in Miami, a visit to Miami Jai Alai is a diverting afternoon. The old Cuban guys in their guayaberas (sp?) — the shirts with 4 pockets in front — chomping on their cigars, whacking their programs in their palm and disgustedly shouting their epithets in Spanish are worth the price of admission (only $2 itself). ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/27 "2003-10-26T04:30:14Z")
Which is pretty much what I remember from actually having seen it in person myself. 🙂 I don’t remember the helmets, but we are talking 1960s childhood memories. (Notice I did post a non joke link in the post immediately following…) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/28 "2003-10-26T04:33:31Z")
**bromells** , did you guys always use a rubber pelota? Do you remember them ever being wood? Just wondering if I’m remembering correctly. ---
**Author:** ![flusyndrome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@flusyndrome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flusyndrome)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/29 "2003-10-31T17:36:35Z")
Interesting thread, I play both jai alai and racquetball, I always heard jai alai was the fastest sport, although 188 mph surprised me, I never had it clocked but I know I can throw it faster than I can hit a racquetball, and I did have the racquetball clocked in a racquetball clinic, with one of those speed guns and my fastest was 138 mph, the fastest player whack it at 152 mph, I assume the pros may even hit the ball faster, we just play at open level. ---
**Author:** ![flusyndrome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5e9695/32.png) [@flusyndrome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flusyndrome)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/30 "2003-10-31T17:43:13Z")
OOOps I didn’t see the previous post, jai alai is never played with a wood ball 🙂 It is played with a ball similar to golf but about three quarters the size of a baseball and the cover is made of goatskin, which is replaced every few games or so. There are other choices for amateurs, a rubber ball, or a platic ball, but no wood. I guess you could say that is sounds like wood when it hits the granite wall, maybe that is why you think is wood. ---
**Author:** ![bughunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@bughunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bughunter)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/31 "2003-10-31T18:02:26Z")
Pod Racers. Definitely Pod Racers. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/32 "2003-10-31T18:10:46Z")
Not quite legal for the OP since the power comes from Gravity not the person doing it, but ultra high altitude sky diving gives some very fast non machine powered speeds. See [http://www.stratoquest.com/default.cfm?page=2](http://www.stratoquest.com/default.cfm?page=2) which quotes an expected speed of 885 mph. ---
**Author:** ![Figaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ea666f/32.png) [@Figaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Figaro)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/33 "2003-10-31T18:21:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hauss \* > \*\*Golf club head (Tiger Woods)? Probably not 199mph, but close I’m sure. \*\* Nah - the fastest club head speeds (Tiger isn’t the fastest around) are only in the high 150s, occasionally the low 160s. The ball leaves the club face faster than that (170s-190s if I recall), so a John Daly drive might be a contender here. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/34 "2003-10-31T18:35:50Z")
I’m not the only one who would like Cecil to take a whack at this, right? (Or did I just jinx that possibility right out of existence?) ---
**Author:** ![CrazyMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ee59a6/32.png) [@CrazyMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyMonkey)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/35 "2003-10-31T19:04:13Z")
I swear the record must have been set by this kid named Anotonio during a recess game of dodgeball in 4th grade. I still have nightmares. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/36 "2003-10-31T19:05:01Z")
That may be it, **flusyndrome**. The last time I saw one in person, I was a child, so maybe I just thought it was wood. btw, Welcome to the Dope! ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/37 "2003-10-31T19:11:15Z")
I have an incredible tape of a Grateful Dead concert played at the Miami Jai Lai Fonton in June 1974. Having seen the sport played (at least on TV), I can’t for the life of me figure up where they put the stage and how the setting worked. Still, an amazing show. ---
**Author:** ![akrako1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c77e96/32.png) [@akrako1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/akrako1)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/38 "2003-10-31T19:33:36Z")
Doesn’t the ‘ball’ being chucked around in Lacrosse move pretty damn fast? Does anyone have a speed for it? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/39 "2003-10-31T20:24:41Z")
I wonder how fast the tips of the streamers they sometimes use in gymnastics move. ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564/40 "2003-10-31T20:42:34Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by akrako1 \* > \*\*Doesn’t the ‘ball’ being chucked around in Lacrosse move pretty damn fast? Does anyone have a speed for it? \*\* I don’t have numbers for it, but in the amount of lax that I’ve watched (and I’ve watched a goodly amount), I’d say that it’s sub 100mph most of the time, and might hit 120 if someone took an amazing shot. And, why the quotes around ‘ball’? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-fastest-moving-object-in-sports/209564.md?page=3)