How do humans even catch a fly ball in #baseball? Do they use the #physics equations and calculate the landing location? Nope - no way. Here's a way that humans can actually catch balls without calculations. wired.com/story/how-do-p…
The idea is called Optical Acceleration Cancelation (OAC). If a human is in the correct landing location, the apparent up-down acceleration of the ball is zero. So, you just need to move in a way to make it so.
@rjallain This is true for bad outfielders, even at the major league level. Good outfielders, however, can close their eyes a fraction of a second after the ball is hit and run directly (straight line) to a spot where the ball will be within their catch radius. Watch a great outfielder +
@rjallain + go back on a ball hit to the wall. They turn and run, without wasting time looking back, which slows them. When they get to the wall (or to the landing zone), THEN they look back and reaquire the ball. The ability to understand, from sound and sight and experience, where +
@rjallain + the ball will land separates defensive outfielders from the rest of us. Sound is especially important. I had the chance to play a non-hearing team, and even their most athletic players could get no jump on fly balls.