Imagine you’re dashing towards first base, adrenaline pumping, and the base is just a slide away. But why don’t baseball players opt for the headfirst slide into first as often as they might into other bases? It’s all about understanding the mechanics and physics of sliding.
Sliding into a base primarily serves two purposes: avoiding a tag and stopping efficiently at a desired point.
When a player slides, they’re trading their upright running speed for a lower, more controllable approach that uses friction to halt momentum.
But when it’s a race to first base, it’s a different game.