Home run science – I always thought that the ball traveled farther when its a fastball. Wrong. Backspin is the key. “A batted fastball also has batted backspin when it is hit optimally, but it can’t have as much batted backspin as a curveball, because a curveball already has backspin when it gets to the bat. You don’t have to produce as much with the bat and you don’t have to give up as much batted speed.” Batted fastballs create drag. (Kansas City Star)