Spider Tack in Football
WouterSpider Tack is a substance used by pitchers to increase their spin rates. It is sticky, and comes in Competition Grade and Heavy. It is also sold to wheelchair sports. It is known to be “wickedly effective,” but it has a few drawbacks.
Some of the issues with Spider Tack are that it can cause injury to the inner arm, or it can interfere with the ball’s maneuverability in gloves. Moreover, it is difficult to remove the substance. It requires baby oil and WD-40 to get rid of it.
In addition, it is known to impart unwanted spin on thrown balls. This can include bulletlike spin, or gyroscopic spin. This is the type of spin that is not noticeable, but it can still affect a thrown ball.
Major League Baseball is investigating Spider Tack. It has a reputation for being a foreign substance, and it is considered illegal. If a pitcher uses Spider Tack, he could be suspended from the game. If an umpire detects the substance, he could also eject the pitcher from the game.
As of right now, there is no concrete data about how much Spider Tack can increase the spin rate of a baseball. While some say it adds hundreds of rpms to a pitch, others claim it is difficult to quantify. However, most major league pitchers use grip enhancers. Some of them are sunscreen and rosin mixtures, while others use bubble gum spit. It is also possible to conceal steroids in the glove or hat bill.
