# Why do Home Run Derby balls travel so far? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [July 22, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750 "2014-07-22T16:42:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/1 "2014-07-22T16:42:04Z")
During the MLB Home Run Derby preceding the All Star Game, many baseballs are hit tremendous distances that far exceed those hit during actual games. Even when a power hitter “gets a hold of one” during an actual game, they rarely reach Home Run Derby levels. But during the derby, pitches are essentially lobbed to the hitters at relatively low speeds in the 70 mph range. Meanwhile, fastballs from pitchers during games typically exceed 92 mph and sometimes top 100 mph. So how come those balls don’t go further than derby balls? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/2 "2014-07-22T16:54:23Z")
The answer is… they don’t travel further than regular home runs. > **[So, About Those Home Run Derby Baseballs ...](https://www.sbnation.com/2012/7/10/3148452/home-run-derby-2012-mlb-baseballs)** > > So, about those home run derby balls ... Are they juiced, or not? Our intrepid reporter investigates. Also, the balls aren’t juiced. ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/3 "2014-07-22T17:06:44Z")
The biggest reason is that these guys are doing nothing but swinging for the fences. There is no pressure to get a hit to drive in a run, there is no pressure to not get booed if you pop up, all you have to do is concentrate on tattooing the ball. So they swing much harder than they do in a regular game. This is one of the reasons why many players swings are screwed up for a while after the HR contest. I went to the HR contest in Pittsburgh back in 1994 (i think) and Frank Thomas hit the longest HR ever hit there, (well, it wasn’t in a game, so it wasn’t official). But the thing was a rocket. I was in left center field, and the ball travelled to my left, and hit the upper deck facade. From my guessing, that ball went close to 450 ft easily, and it appeared to have not started on it’s downward trajectory yet. It was amazing. If the centerfield upper deck wasn’t there, I would loved to have seen how far it would have travelled from the plate to the ground on a natural path. When they showed the replay, the swing was gargantuan. The man literally left his feet and connected with the ball on a swing that made his body torque so hard that both feet were clearly off the ground either right when he made contact or shortly after. I have never seen anything like that, ever. I think in a game, players are much more controlled in their swings, so HR’s going 500 ft are rare. 450 ft HR’s are rare. But those are more a product of the pitch speed, as you mentioned, and less a product of the bat speed. I wonder if some physics guru has ever studied this… I am sure someone has at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/4 "2014-07-22T17:56:33Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > The answer is… they don’t travel further than regular home runs. > > [So, About Those Home Run Derby Baseballs ... - SBNation.com](http://www.sbnation.com/2012/7/10/3148452/home-run-derby-2012-mlb-baseballs) > > Also, the balls aren’t juiced. Despite the article, many clearly do travel further. Anyone familiar with any of the stadiums used the past few years will attest that the derby balls are landing in places much further out than you can ever expect to land in a game. ESPN now also takes the trajectory into account when estimating the distance had the ball’s flight not been impeded by the seats, decks, etc. Many of these are well over 500 feet. During the season, all of MLB might generate a 500 foot shot once-a-month (my estimate). ---
**Author:** ![leftfield6](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leftfield6/32/18780_2.png) [@leftfield6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leftfield6)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/5 "2014-07-22T18:35:44Z")
Get to a game early and watch batting practice. Basically the HRD is a glorified batting practice. I have been at the Braves game early enough to see BP, and have seen homers that were definitely ohh and ahh inspiring. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/6 "2014-07-22T18:46:41Z")
If you know you’re getting an optimal pitch and can put everything into an optimal swing, it’s a situation that doesn’t happen more than a time or two during a regular season’s ABs. Result, five hundred foot shots. (The center-field advertising sign at whatever they’re calling the ballpark by McCovey Bay these days is blacked out during play, but flips to read: “This sign is 540 feet from home plate. Good luck, gentlemen.” Always cracks me up.) ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/7 "2014-07-22T19:04:16Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > But during the derby, pitches are essentially lobbed to the hitters at relatively low speeds in the 70 mph range. Meanwhile, fastballs from pitchers during games typically exceed 92 mph and sometimes top 100 mph. So how come those balls don’t go further than derby balls? That statement alone provides two possible solutions. First, slower pitch = more time for the batter to get a bead on it = more likely to get a “full” hit on it. Second, the force put on the ball by the bat is countered somewhat by the ball’s force in the opposite direction. You would think a slower pitch would travel farther when hit. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/8 "2014-07-22T19:48:53Z")
I’ve watched a lot of MLB batting practice and if you go to some you’ll often see a player putting on an incredible home run show. I once watched Jim Thome at SkyDome hit more 450-foot homers in a single session than you’ll see in a month of games. It was incredible, like he was hitting golf balls. I’d therefore guess it really is just tha the players are swinging for the fences with no concern for anything else; they can hit it that far if they want to. It is worth noting that although you do seem to see more incredible homers in HR derbies thanin regular games, you do not see them hitting home runs further than the furthest homers in regular games. I didn’t see any homers in the Derby longer than that shot Albert Pujols hit off Brad Lidge in the playoffs one year, or the time Glenallen Hill hit one onto the roof of the apartment building across the street at Wrigley. You can hit them that far in regular games - just not as frequently. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/9 "2014-07-22T19:59:55Z")
[Here’s a list of the longest home runs this season.](http://www.hittrackeronline.com/top_true_distance.php) I didn’t see the derby this year, but someone who did might be able to make a comparison. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/10 "2014-07-22T20:35:48Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > [Here’s a list of the longest home runs this season.](http://www.hittrackeronline.com/top_true_distance.php) I didn’t see the derby this year, but someone who did might be able to make a comparison. I couldn’t find a list for the derby, but I definitely remember at least a couple of “true distances” of over 500 feet. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/11 "2014-07-22T20:40:34Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > I couldn’t find a list for the derby, but I definitely remember at least a couple of “true distances” of over 500 feet. So much for “True Distance” (hence the quote marks). [Link.](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2130345-home-run-derby-2014-complete-results-and-highlights-from-all-star-event) > [@](#): > > To be fair, Stanton’s monster blast didn’t actually travel 510 feet but was projected to go that far if there was no upper deck at Target Field. The ball landed “just” 422 feet, which is shorter than he usually hits homers this year. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/12 "2014-07-22T20:41:22Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > …Second, the force put on the ball by the bat is countered somewhat by the ball’s force in the opposite direction. You would think a slower pitch would travel farther when hit. This point is counter-intuitive and against conventional wisdom, which doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wrong. But I think most people believe that the harder a ball is thrown at the bat, the harder the ball can be hit back in the other direction. The assumption is that there is some springiness to the ball and more bend to the bat from faster pitches causing more of a slingshot or trampoline effect and harder hit balls. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/13 "2014-07-22T20:47:42Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > So much for “True Distance” (hence the quote marks). > [Link.](http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2130345-home-run-derby-2014-complete-results-and-highlights-from-all-star-event) I’m not sure what your point is. If we know where the ball landed and the trajectory, it shouldn’t be too hard with modern technology to determine how far it would have traveled had it not been impeded. The 422 foot actual distance doesn’t mean anything unless you believe the ball would have just fallen straight down, which is of course impossible. You may not believe that “true distance” is accurately measured by ESPN, but that is a different matter. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/14 "2014-07-22T21:04:01Z")
[The Science Of Baseball: What Is The Farthest Home Run (And Did Mickey Mantle Hit It)?](http://www.science20.com/science_20/science_baseball_what_farthest_home_run_and_did_mickey_mantle_hit_it-51254) (2009) > [@](#): > > Does Mantle have the record? The farthest accurately measured home run I can find is Cecil Fielder’s 502 foot blast over the left-field bleachers at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/15 "2014-07-22T21:37:00Z")
In a game, the pitcher is attempting to throw it in such a way that it will not be hit, and if hit, will not travel very far. They throw knucklers, curves, sliders, change-ups, they try to hit the corners, change speeds and arm angles, jam you high and tight, outguess you…and throw it _ **at** _ you if you try to lean in. Everything is designed to throw you off your rhythm. In the HDP, they serve 'em up on a platter. ---
**Author:** ![amorali](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3e96dc/32.png) [@amorali](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amorali)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2014, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/16 "2014-07-22T23:16:29Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > In a game, the pitcher is attempting to throw it in such a way that it will not be hit, and if hit, will not travel very far. They throw knucklers, curves, sliders, change-ups, they try to hit the corners, change speeds and arm angles, jam you high and tight, outguess you…and throw it _ **at** _ you if you try to lean in. Everything is designed to throw you off your rhythm. > > In the HDP, they serve 'em up on a platter. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/17 "2014-07-24T17:28:25Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > In a game, the pitcher is attempting to throw it in such a way that it will not be hit, and if hit, will not travel very far. They throw knucklers, curves, sliders, change-ups, they try to hit the corners, change speeds and arm angles, jam you high and tight, outguess you…and throw it _ **at** _ you if you try to lean in. Everything is designed to throw you off your rhythm. > > In the HDP, they serve 'em up on a platter. Makes sense, but every so often in a real game a batter guesses fastball and the pitcher obliges with a fat mistake right down the middle. Even these balls don’t go as far as the slow-pitched derby balls. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2014, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-home-run-derby-balls-travel-so-far/693750/18 "2014-07-24T22:23:01Z")
> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#): > > Makes sense, but every so often in a real game a batter guesses fastball and the pitcher obliges with a fat mistake right down the middle. Even these balls don’t go as far as the slow-pitched derby balls. Some of those slow-pitched derby balls don’t go very far either. Even when they know what’s coming, they don’t hit it out every time.