I can juggle, and I can hit a baseball. But I can't do this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUMhskwjCmM

That was pretty cool.

The Rangers need this guy!

Im not sure if Im calling shenanigans or not...either that guys really good, or the CGI team paid very close attention to the details. Im still a fence sitter at this point...

I held off on throwing the bullE36 M3 flag myself, but I think its time. There are way too many variables at work here for this to be real.

I smell a future Mythbusters recreation here.

I'd say it's plausible in theory, but practically impossible under real world conditions.

If it's not real (and I'm really leaning that way) it has some amazing detail for CGI.

Pluses:
1) The ball has a shadow
2) The balls never hit the pitchbacks in the same location.
3) The pitchbacks (watch the one on the right) wobble and vibrate with every hit.
4) The ball is going slower every time it returns to the batter
5) The cadence of the ball seems accurate.
6) Since ball has slowed down considerably by the time it returns to him, it should be easier to hit it exactly where he wants it.

Minuses:
1) He hits it at the first pitchback within a foot or two EVERY time
2) His assistant's eyes are not following the ball
3) The cameraman's comments seem too forced
4) Too much "bromance" for it to be real
4) Watch it in high def. TWO RAINBOWS!! :)

High Def version

-Rob

rob_lewis wrote: Minuses: 1) He hits it at the first pitchback within a foot or two EVERY time

I wouldn't count this as a minus, it is probably necessary to hit within a foot or two for it to work.

Lots of fun, but no way.

In reply to rob_lewis:

If you watch the left pitchback, the ball hits it on one of 3 spots every time: just below center, right on center, the same distance above center as below...every time. Its easier to spot when he has 2 balls going. My theory is, with the camera stationary, record someone throw a ball a each pitchback about 3 or 4 times, recording 3 or 4 different pitchback responses. Loop em, over lay them, wash rinse repeat, - bingo: youtube sensation...

NO MATTER how good you are, even if youre able to hit the ball exactly at an area within a few inches each time, youre not going to have the exact same trajectory each time, nor are youre not going to hit the ball with the exact same velocity each time. Any of he 3 variables change: Speed, angle, position, the system fails.

Not to mention, having used a pitchback as a kid for over a decade, I have a pretty good feel for he way they work...theres no way a ball maintains that velocity after having direction reflected at 60° 3 times with no forward acceleration added. Theres simply not enough kinetic energy generated...the ball can only travel so high with the given input of energy. No matter how you reflect it, its only going to gain so much elevation...in this case, it looks like that ball has to travel about 200'...but the energy to travel 200' reflected 3 times is much greater than to travel that far in a straight line. You lose a little with friction as well, not to mention the energy to stretch the springs...that guy has to hit a homer every time, at a spot the size of a shoebox...repeatedly.

Srsly no

I struck out at slow-pitch softball, so I can offer no insights.

Of course, I drove home in 1/2 the time of anyone else.

Green screen with ball launchers. You can see the ball eject at the same spot every time.

I thought this was going to be juggling a bat, ball, and glove (which I usually do once a season for my teams).

It's a convincing visual, but logic (and a lot of years of coaching baseball) says I don't think so.

you guys want the real explanation? he's an alpha.
http://www.syfy.com/alphas

Easton baseball bat viral ad. http://www.endthread.com/2011/08/eastons-fake-and-awesome-viral-baseball-bat-ads.html

Heck, we all did something similar as kids. Remember throwing a ball at the ground so it would bounce up and hit the wall and come back at us? Wasn't hard once you positioned yourself correctly to keep it up without moving.

Some of us would find an overhang and do it off three surfacs; ground, wall, ceiling. Took more power and more consistent power, but also easily managed.

Nah, I say this is perfectly plausible and doable. All the batter has to be is consistent.

In reply to 4cylndrfury:

You are 100% correct. I don't think this could even be accomplished with a pitching machine. There are way to many variables.

I put this vid on my favorites a month ago. It's pretty sweet.