A spinning baseball can create a physical force that defies gravity

A baseball spinning at high rates creates a physical phenomenon known as the Magnus effect. As the ball rotates, it drags a layer of air around it, creating a pressure difference that generates a force perpendicular to the direction of flight. For a four-seam fastball, high backspin creates upward lift that causes the ball to drop much slower than gravity alone would dictate, giving it the appearance of rising as it nears the plate.