Harder to hit: a pitched baseball or a tennis serve?

[cat_in_the_hat]

The arm motion for a screwball is totally opposite from a curveball so I'm not sure I've ever heard of a pitcher having both. Screwball is very rare by itself. Now, as another poster stated, certainly a two seamer, slider, sinker all have different spins and make the baseball move a different direction, even in rare cases, the opposite of a curve.

My OP was more of returning a serve in play vs. hitting a baseball in play. Yes, getting a racquet on a 125 mph serve is most likely easier but hitting it over the net, inside the court boundaries is much, much more difficult. Same for baseball - hitting a fair ball against a 95+ mph pitch a lot different than getting a foul tip.

As for those who say 'baseball and it's not even close', I'm guessing none of you have ever tried to return the serve of a really good tennis player. Because, I have and it's a daunting task to say the least. A big serve just explodes off the racquet and, in most cases, you need to move both feet into position in order to get a swing at it. A lot of moving parts within a fraction of a second not to mention a totally different swing if it's on the forehand or backhand side. Neither is easy and I wouldn't argue for or against either one being more difficult. But, 'not even close' is showing a lack of knowledge of how hard a tennis serve can be to return, imo.

Fred Norman threw both a screw ball and a curve ball. Not sure who else, but I can’t imagine he would have been the only one who did.

As far as the question goes, I would say it’s much harder to hit a baseball. I played both for years and it was certainly harder for me to hit a good pitcher than it was to return serve against a good server.

 

[WayneDougan_rivals170043]

Controversial take: I think I could make contact against Mariano Rivera in his prime. Now I'm not bragging about my capabilities. I think his skill was screwing up talented MLB hitters. But I'd just stick my bat out about 6 inches lower than where I think it was going and at some point I'm sure I'd make contact (albeit a dribbler or foul ball). I mean the dude basically only threw one pitch. Randy J I'm not sure I could ever touch - even with a bunt.

I feel like returning the serve against say Djokovic is the same deal. If your goal is just to make contact, that's a different story than to be able to successfully return it.

 

[PhDcat2018]

You’re swinging at everything, until you’re not. Basically deciding not to swing, not deciding to swing.

Mindset is - hit hit hit hit, take.

start the load when the pitchers doing the same.

I think it’d be impossible to truly have an open mindset on swing/take until the pitch leaves the pitchers hand. Impossible

They're looking for certain pitches... they absolutely are thinking take if it's a certain pitch. Some have a leg kick timing mechanism of course.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

They're looking for certain pitches... they absolutely are thinking take if it's a certain pitch. Some have a leg kick timing mechanism of course.

But you never think take take take, swing. Just doesn’t work.

can definitely sit on something and take if you identify something else - as you would with a ball…but you can’t sit on thinking take, and then hit with success.

 

[Glenn's Take]

If you are looking for a breaking ball and a fast ball comes you will never hit it.

 

[DSmith21]

Batting average has three things going for it, hitting it in play or not (or at least in catchable foul range), rather a fielder catches it or not, rather you get thrown/tagged out or not. You have three hurdles you have to cross.

Meanwhile in tennis the concept of hitting is based on nothing more than putting the ball in bounds or not measure batting average against the percentage of returns that result in a point.don't even know if that stat exists in tennis.

I disagree. Hitting winners off of someone's serve is fairly rare. That is not comparable to a base hit. The normal goal when returning serve is to return the ball in such a way as you have a fair chance to win a rally. One shot winners off of someone's serve is more like a home run. The server has the advantage which is why breaking someone's serve is a big deal.

 

[American Dragon]

I disagree. Hitting winners off of someone's serve is fairly rare. That is not comparable to a base hit. The normal goal when returning serve is to return the ball in such a way as you have a fair chance to win a rally. One shot winners off of someone's serve is more like a home run. The server has the advantage which is why breaking someone's serve is a big deal.

Not all hits come off the serve or return serve…

 

[funKYcat75]

Can tennis players change the trajectory of the ball when serving, or is it just a straight line at incredible speeds?

 

[rudd1]

Can tennis players change the trajectory of the ball when serving, or is it just a straight line at incredible speeds?

-they can. Speed, placement and which direction the ball "kicks" (spin) are all in play.

 

[Tskware]

-they can. Speed, placement and which direction the ball "kicks" (spin) are all in play.

Have been to the 5th 3rd pro tennis tournament here in Lexington which is roughly equivalent to the Barbasol golf tournament, i.e., maybe the best player in the field is ranked number 100. Even so, up close pro tennis players are absolutely amazing how hard they hit the ball and how much spin is on it. Plus the great ones are super fast, can cover the entire court very hard to hit the ball past them

 

[rudd1]

-tskware et al...I highly recommend going to the WS open in Cincy at least once. All the top players are there getting ready for the US open. It's like The Memorial golf tournament (as a point of reference).

 

[rick64]

I’ve got no shot at either one.

 

[Tskware]

-tskware et al...I highly recommend going to the WS open in Cincy at least once. All the top players are there getting ready for the US open. It's like The Memorial golf tournament (as a point of reference).

I have often wondered at the 5th 3rd tournament if these women are so good my God how good Serena Williams must be because she doesn't break a sweat smoking them

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

There's an interesting series of videos on youtube. "Can the average guy:"

Hit a major league fastball

Hit a 300 yard drive

etc.

This dude was able to work up to getting good contact on a 90 MPH heater, but couldn't come CLOSE to hitting a 300 yard drive. I don't think he did tennis.

 

[funKYcat75]

Something else to consider. What would be the ratio of people who can throw a baseball 95 mph vs. how many can hit a tennis ball 120 mph?

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

As a percentage of the general population, it would have to be throwing a 95 mph fastball, but only because there are so many more top level baseball players.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

There's an interesting series of videos on youtube. "Can the average guy:"

Hit a major league fastball

Hit a 300 yard drive

etc.

This dude was able to work up to getting good contact on a 90 MPH heater, but couldn't come CLOSE to hitting a 300 yard drive. I don't think he did tennis.

If it is this dude - he did not end up with any good contact off the 90+ pitching machine. hell, the one they celebrate was a foul.



Hitting off a machine sucks, but he didnt have to worry about any pitch variation or location. To be fair though, this average joe dude may actually suck at sports.

 

[WayneDougan_rivals170043]

As a percentage of the general population, it would have to be throwing a 95 mph fastball, but only because there are so many more top level baseball players.

As God as my witness and on my children, I hit a 356 yard drive at Firestone CC where they used to have the Bridgestone tournament. I hit it just right and got an unbelievable roll down the hill. I actually landed right next to where Bubba Watson's ball was on this drive on the same hole in the video below. However, Bubba was playing from the tips (667 yard hole) where I was playing from 596.

 

[Ukbrassowtipin]

The more I think about it the more they become harder to compare.

Are you talking just making contact? Are you talking about in tennis returning a serve in play or actually scoring a point vs in baseball putting it in play or actually getting a hit?

You have to put a tennis ball in a smaller area of play, but obviously in baseball you have 9 people to get around to actually get a hit.

Batting 300...meaning you fail 7 out of 10 times is hall of fame worthy in baseball. People hit the ball endless times in a tennis match and generally score several times.

But if you are talking you stand at the plate and someone throws a down the middle strike at 90 mph vs someone in tennis gives you a serve at 120 mph. I for one couldn't return the serve in play.

 

[American Dragon]

Can tennis players change the trajectory of the ball when serving, or is it just a straight line at incredible speeds?

Is this a serious question? Are you asking if it's physically possible or a legal strategy?

 

[American Dragon]

Something else to consider. What would be the ratio of people who can throw a baseball 95 mph vs. how many can hit a tennis ball 120 mph?

Does one have to put the 95 mph fastball in the strike zone or merely just be able to throw it regardless of location?

 

[CatsFanGG24]

There’s about zero non professional/college or high school 1st rd prospects that can throw 95, strike zone or otherwise. Certainly no average Joe doing it.

no idea about tennis.

here’s a dude pulling people off the street to see if they can throw 80.

 

[funKYcat75]

Is this a serious question? Are you asking if it's physically possible or a legal strategy?

I was asking out of ignorance. I know it is done on volleys, but I guess I always assumed serves were just straight gas.

I would assume someone who can throw 95 has practiced enough to throw a strike.

 

[American Dragon]

I’ve got no shot at either one.

To be fair, this is the correct answer

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

The hitting instructor in that youtube video made a salient point: There really is no time to "adjust"/aim at the ball, when facing ML pitching. It basically boils down to putting a good swing on it, and hoping the ball connects on sweet spot of the bat.

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

I seriously doubt that more than even a half dozen Paddock posters can throw even 65 mph

 

[CatsFanGG24]

Went 3/4 off a 6’7 dude sitting 90-94 in college - ex D1 guy. His stuff was pretty straight though. Most others in lower level college were probably mid/upper 80s.

Idk how it looks in the mid -upper 90s…but if you see 80s all the time, it doesn’t seem crazy for someone playing…but still would for someone off the street.

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

I don't know about throwing 90 plus, but I grew up down the street from Jeff Parrott, and, just goofing around in my neighbors yard once, I caught a couple of pitches from him.

Thank god he put it in the mitt, because I barely saw the ball. I "heard" it though. The next sensation was my mitt hand going numb. Jeff could throw elite gas. His arm was like a bullwhip.

the whole experience was unnerving.

 

[CatsFanGG24]

90+ off the face mask can send an average Joe spiraling…

 

[*CatinIL*]

I don't know about throwing 90 plus, but I grew up down the street from Jeff Parrott, and, just goofing around in my neighbors yard once, I caught a couple of pitches from him.

Thank god he put it in the mitt, because I barely saw the ball. I "heard" it though. The next sensation was my mitt hand going numb. Jeff could throw elite gas. His arm was like a bullwhip.

the whole experience was unnerving.

Jeff could BRING IT for sure. He always scared the S#it out me when I batted against him. Fortunately I can brag that I got A hit against him...but damn...my knees were knocking...

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

VR - You know who was hard to hit against, up at Southland? Roger Hillard. He was short, and threw kind of sidearm. Pretty sure I struck out against him, EVERY SINGLE TIME. He wasn't shy about rubbing it in either. LOL

 

[*CatinIL*]

I don't know about throwing 90 plus, but I grew up down the street from Jeff Parrott, and, just goofing around in my neighbors yard once, I caught a couple of pitches from him.

Thank god he put it in the mitt, because I barely saw the ball. I "heard" it though. The next sensation was my mitt hand going numb. Jeff could throw elite gas. His arm was like a bullwhip.

the whole experience was unnerving.

And Jeff would pitch to his dad sitting on a pail in his backyard almost every day. Jeff would ask me to stand in the "Batters Box" so he could work on his placement...I was like...Jeff, DON'T HIT ME!

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

You couldn't pay me enough to do that. Get Ben Hulette to do it. LOL

 

[*CatinIL*]

You couldn't pay me enough to do that. Get Ben Hulette to do it. LOL

Exactly...
Hey Ben...get over here! [laughing]

There were some good players out of the old hood. Danny Whelan was another one. I remember playing for Catholic and we were playing a team in EKY and one of the guys asked me if Whelan was pitching...I said, I don't think so...only to find out he was and he threw a NO HITTER! [laughing] Those were good times!

 

[HymanKaplan_rivals48997]

You're not kidding. A lot of talent in that small area.

 

[KyCatFan1]

And Jeff would pitch to his dad sitting on a pail in his backyard almost every day. Jeff would ask me to stand in the "Batters Box" so he could work on his placement...I was like...Jeff, DON'T HIT ME!

I never got to hit against an elite pitcher so I have no idea what that's like (terrifying I'd imagine). I did get to pitch to some huge dude just messing around. I wasn't throwing anything hard (probably was only in the 40's or 50's and the equivalent of batting practice for little leaguers) and that dude got a hold of it and beamed me right in the shoulder. Couldn't move my arm much and it hurt for days.

 

[LowCountryCat]

I’ve played most of my life and coached quite a bit before Father Time hit. Also played 10 years of baseball through high school. Tennis from a technical standpoint is one of the most difficult things to learn and FAR more difficult than baseball in that respect.

As far as hitting a serve vs a pitch, assuming you know what you’re doing in both circumstances, it’s significantly harder to hit a pitch. Not even close.

This is correct. I’ve returned a 100+ mph serve many times. If a pro pitcher wanted to strike me out, he could do so easily.

 

[Deeeefense]

I play league tennis doubles and one of the guys that I play against is about 6'5" 220 and 35 years old with a 100+ MPH serve. At the club level when you face a big server like this the technique to follow is just to get the racquet on the ball, lined up towards the middle or slightly to the right in doubles. You're not swinging at all, if anything it's more like a bunt in baseball. I can return him about half the time, but returns are frequently weak giving the opponent the advantage.

I never played baseball at a level where I would ever see a 90 MPH pitch but I think that would be harder because in tennis the racket head is flat and quite large whereas the baseball bat is curved and comparatively thin. You would have to hit the ball almost perfectly to keep it in play.

 

[Deeeefense]

Can tennis players change the trajectory of the ball when serving, or is it just a straight line at incredible speeds?

At the pro level the most common first serve is with slice, which is created by pronation or a turning outward of the wrist as it makes contact with the ball. For a right handed serve the slice will cause the ball to break to his/her left. The slice gives the ball a better chance of landing inside the service box and also makes it a bit more difficult to return as the ball is moving differently at the bounce requiring the returner to adjust his return. At the club level you can see a lot of flat serves. I personally use the flat serve much more because I can get it in the service box over 60% of the time and my speed is in the low 90s which usually overpowers club level players, they either miss the shot or hit a weak return. Higher rated club players will commonly use slice.

 

[Beatle Bum]

If you mean a successful hit, as defined by the rules, a baseball must be harder. No one would watch tennis if hitting .300 was a good return on service average.