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Miracle Pitch Connected to Space Aged Toy

Willie Kazakoff
October 19, 2007

With Daisuke Matsuzaka in the World Series, his use of the first new Major League Baseball pitch since 1976, the gyroball, is sure to give the pitch world wide recognition.

However, not much has been said of the American toy that lead to its creation. It was after seeing the incredible flight characteristics of the X-zylo Ultra, a flying gyroscope that weighs less than an ounce and has been thrown over 200 yards, that caught the attention of Kazushi Tezuka, a Japanese baseball trainer. After Tezuka saw the incredibly straight flight pattern with its characteristic bullet-like spin, he wondered why the motion could not work on a baseball.

Tezuka sought out a Japanese computer scientist, Tyutoaro Himeno, to test his theory. They published a book in 2001 called "Makyuu no Shoutai." Translated, the title of the book means, "Secrets of the Demon Miracle Pitch."

Baseball physicists, sports columnists and scientists have studied the movement of the gyroball leading to all sorts of conclusions and ideas of what they think is happening yet few have gone back to it's origin. The gyroscopic principles of the X-zylo Ultra and it's ability to effortlessly ride the air are well documented on the science page of this site.

Watch the video, then buy the toy and throw like "Dice-K" Matsuzaka. You don't need to be major league baseball pitcher to easily see it thrown 100 yards. See for yourself.

Related videos: X-zylo Ultra Demo Video, Full ESPN segment on the gyroball.

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