You dive so that you can try to avoid the tag and won't overrun second or third base. You rarely will dive into first.

This is why you never see anyone slide into first.

I remember watching this years ago and they actually proved (without realizing it) that it IS faster to dive into first base. You can see when they show the side by side that the diving one is further out than the running one. So basically if the base was under the diving player when he was outstretched ahead of the runner, he would be there FIRST. But you might be saying "yeah, but the base isn't".... well there's an easy response to that.... the diving player just starts his dive a little later so that it is timed where he is touching the base while diving ahead of the runner. ...

Mythbusters did this years ago and they did it on 1st and 3rd base. They proved sliding is slower, but a lot better to do if running to bases you cannot overrun.

Runners run through first & home because you don’t have to stay on the bag. However this is different with 2nd and 3rd

You slide to dodge a tag. What was this supposed to prove that wasn't already common knowledge?

When you slide, you are just trying to avoid the tag.

“When his feet leave the ground he decelerates by 50%” Sure technically there’s air drag, but that’s not how physics works.

You spose to slide avoid the tag

Here's what I got out of it. Before 10 feet to first, running through will get you there faster. However, anything closer, sliding will get you there faster.

You could just dive a bit later at that moment where his feet havent left the ground...then that would be faster

As a Kansas City Royals fan. I see our players diving into first at least a few times a month. It kills me at times to see it. The problem with this test is that the runner has "perfect" steps to the base. Rarely does this happen since batters start their runs with different steps so usually you see a runner make "one last stride" to land on the base safely because Authentic bases arent made of foam like this ESPN test. Achilles tendons can rupture on bad steps. This "long" stride usually has the runner hanging in air which can lead to deceleration as well. This experiment actually doesn't settle this ancient debate but it will give some little league coaches some ammo.

1. you never slide to first base 2. you slide to avoid a tag not to be faster 3. you can't overrun 2nd and 3rd

My brother told me when you dive is to take away the noise and make it a harder call on the ump

It’s not like those 10 milliseconds would make ANY difference😂

This literally makes perfect sense... that's why at first where you can run through it no one slides, however it would be fucking stupid to run through second or third, and sliding there and at home is usually used to avoid a tag

So they did a study to prove that running is faster than not running.

Everyone talking bout why this video stupid but nobody talking bout the FPS

This just proves that you can slide 8 feet away rather than 10 and it would be faster

the kinetic friction apparently causes the result. the fact has been known but this footage is the first that proves the fact. thank you.

1st base slinding is fighting spirit , not speed

If you think about what this video shows, doing a late slide into first is the fastest way to do it. Not what we does in the video, I’m talking and really late slide

Sliding isn't meant to be faster. It's meant to keep yourself from overrunning the bag and to avoid tags.

Never slide into first, You can dislocate your shoulder, dislocate a finger, You can give yourself a concussion too. It slows you down also, Always run threw first.

Thanks for proving me right, that back in the day my head first "lunging" was faster than running through the bag :) Go to the superimposition at ~1:21. The rotation of the body has put the "diver's" hand about 2 feet in front of the upright runner's foot. So IMO, the fastest method available is to tag the base with the hand at this stage of what I'd call the "lunge" (before the deceleration kicks in, as if the bag were at the 1 yard line instead of the 3 yard line if we call the solid line the 0 yard line). The only downside is that the landing is even more violent as you are driving all the way through the tag and throwing your body at the bag.

Everyone saying "this is dumb, no one slides into first" has clearly never seen Brett Gardner play

I am a believer that diving is faster. This is a great study and I appreciate it. The only flaw is that this person is a very fast runner with great form. Would love to see this with slower runners as well. Sometimes it takes 2 more steps instead of 1 vs diving.

Can’t wait to play some baseball and be the dude that says “hey guys. It’s faster to run through first. Then slide into it.” I’m gonna get those “really nigga” facial expressions.

Thanks. Was wondering this.

The whole point of a slide is to rapidly slow your momentum so you can stop at the bag without going past, so how anyone would ever think that is faster than running full speed through the bag and maintaining that speed is beyond me. Even if you ignore the obvious momentum loss caused by the friction of sliding you still have to account for the time it takes to gather your feet properly in order to push off them on your dive to the ground (just like a hurdler has to gather their feet and time them properly before each hurdle). hate when guys slide into first, the only reason to ever slide into first is if you're trying to avoid a tag on a wide or high throw. First is the only base that you are allowed to run passed the bag without being tagged out and sense having to slop on a dime at the bag isn't an issue you don't have to find a way to stop your momentum before overshooting the bag you don't need to slide. Like some of you have said the reason players slide into the other bases is it's the fastest way to maintain speed for as long as possible and stop the quickest, being that the friction caused when a player slides on the ground is a fast way but also the safest way to stop completely without overrunning the bag plus if your sliding feet first the bag lets you use your momentum to pop up to your feet in one motion, and sliding head first you can reach out and grab the bag to keep you from having your momentum continue sliding you past the bag (this slide is more dangerous but it's upside is you have more control and maneuverability to change directions and avoid tags). if the rules allowed it on the other bases i guarantee you that you would see players running through them just the same as they do on first. Sorry I know that got a little long.

So, if he dove from a closer distance it would work.

You slide into first if the first baseman is pulled and is trying to tag you from behind

"If it were faster to slide, on a 100m sprint, sprinters would slide at the finish line".

The dive is only for a close play. As in avoiding a tag or just to look safe. It's harder for a ump to make a call when he can't really see if you hit the bag or not.

You don't slide to get there faster, you slide to avoid the tag

Well when you dive, it’s not purely for speed, it’s to avoid the tag

The point of sliding isn’t really for to getting to the bag quicker, it’s to be harder to tagged while base running

It’s mainly used for avoiding tags and to not overrun second and third. That’s why people don’t dive into first as it’s unnecessary

Yeah but what about 2nd or 3rd base? You can't run through them

Even if diving were faster it would still be bad because it throws off the umpires hearing. At first an umpire is listening for the sound of the ball hitting the glove and the sound of the foot hitting the bag. But if the runner slides it throws that off completely.

For all you saying that you just slide to avoid the tag, that is true, but this test was to see if diving into first would beat out the throw compared to running through.

Not a tag play people, this is 1st base. Now to my point, not sliding gives you on average one more foot plant (step) where you maintain traction. Talk to a motocross rider, as soon as your wheels leave the ground, you slow down.

Who dives head first into first?

Sliding to dodge a tag play a game where one team is only allowed to slide and one isn't see who wins if they're roughly the same skill the sliding team will

Never slide at first. I never have

This video is pretty pointless. The only time a person dives back to first is on a throw down or pick off. Otherwise, you don't slide into first base. Obviously running is faster than diving, but if this were about 2nd, 3rd, or home, I'd say you only slide/dive to avoid a tag.

The only time you dive into first is when you are being picked off by the pitcher

The only question I have is if he were to WAIT another step to dive so that his had touches the bag before his body hits the ground, would that make a significant difference?

Masterful!

Would their be the same statistics if they were going to 2nd base not first, because you can't run through 2nd base?

They are not stupid, they understand baseball and why you slide. Some of the very fast players in the show, tend to slide into first base. Even when avoiding the tag is not necessary. That is what this is about.

Whats the best way to slide? Arm or leg first?

In my opinion, it's doesn't matter about how fast you get there, it's just good if you don't get tagged. If you dive, it's harder to get tagged.

If this were in the MLB, he'd have broken his fingers.

I think that players would dive into first base so it would be harder for the umpire to make the call and would hopefully call him safe but now there is no point in doing that now because of the replay challenge can just overturn the call.

They forgot that diving is to help you avoid the tag not to get there faster

Go ahead and try overrunning 2nd or 3rd base... see how well that turns out for you and let me know.

if you dive into first and the first basemen misses the ball you are far more likely to not be able to make it to quickly stand up and run to second base in time

nobody slides at first. But second is totally different because you cant over run the base so you have to slow down

That dudes arms are shredded apart

Depends on the throw and when u don’t dive it gives the teger a easier chance of raging u out

Well nobody slides into first because we can run through it and it's a force out not where you have to tag, so if they're going to second or third they slide to avoid the tag

The only reason you dive into first or home is to avoid being tagged out. If it’s a force play you run through first or home no matter what. The only time you would ever dive into first is if either the first baseman or the pitcher fields a ground ball and can’t step on the base in time to get the force out at first. The only time you dive into first is to avoid getting tagged out which is pretty rare at first base because 90% of the plays there are force plays.

You also slide into second or third because it’s easier to decelerate with the slide while making contact with the bag. If you run into second you would have to decelerate because you can’t run past the bag, thus making running and decelerating to stop at the bag slower than diving (which also has more chances of avoiding the tag).

normaly in baseball you would run threw first base or from first to second and so on. my baseball coach told us that when you run to first you would run threw or to the other bases. he never told us to slide to first

sliding isn't to get to the bag faster, its to get under the second,third, or catcher to not get taged

Ok so when you dive, at one point you do pull ahead, then why not dive a bit late, and you’ll get to the bag faster?

So dive a second later and be graceful with your landing using only your hand to touch the base

I loved sports science growing up. I remembered they had this segment. Which is faster? Running or sliding/diving? I’m here 10 years later to see which was faster. Because in 2024 some MLB teams are no longer sliding into second because it’s faster. Just watched a short where a force was turned into a tag because of this & scored a run even though it was the 3rd out. Chess not checkers!

Why is it that First Base is the only field base that you don't have to constantly be in possession of to be safe?

yeah but if you keep running, you just can easily get out, while if you slide you will avoid the basemans glove

Diving hurts lol. Sense I’m small it’s like I’m already diving so I run my little legs as far as I can go.

This doesn’t tell the whole story though. This is a good example of why you don’t slide into first, because you can run through the bag. However, you can’t run through the bag at second or third, so you would have to slow down anyway. Sliding makes so that even though you’re slowing down, you can avoid the tag

Compare this with Shaunae Miller's winning dive. If Shaunae had enough energy, she could have continued running and done an even faster time, and still won. BUT, she was drained, so she dove everything out, and fortunately she was lucky to have edged Allyson. As you'd have seen, after the race they were COMPLETELY DRAINED. That alone could tell you that she couldn't have run anymore at the required speed to win, which is why it was better to dive and try to win the gold, rather than continue running slower due to a lack of energy, at the risk of a sure second place.

id still like to see this tested at second and third where you can't run through the bag in order to stop safely on the bag you would have to slow down so would sliding to second and third produce the same results

So the fastest method is to dive so that you touch base while your feet is still kicking the dirt

The posting on this site only relates to first base which you can run through or over run similar to home. Runners, in my opinion, should never slide head first into any base or home. At IB, if the first baseman comes off the base toward home, one can avoid a tag as follows: 1. The first baseman can't be in the baseline he or she will be called for obstruction. One should bent-leg slide away from the first baseman as you're allowed a body length distance away from him or her (assuming a wide throw to home plate side of base). 2. The key is to read the first baseman or anyone else covering first and bent-leg slide on the foul side of the base and tag the base with left or right hand. This is called a bent-leg fadeaway slide. 3. The bent-leg pop-up and fadeaway slides to each side of a base or home is rarely executed correctly especially in MLB. Some excellent coaches at any level can teach the slides and the hook slide. 4. A head first is not faster than a bent-slide at any base or home. Multiple studies verify my assertion. The head first exposes the upper body including the neck and spine to paralysis. I have found 10 players who have been paralyzed for life sliding head first. The last one was Cory Hahn at Arizona State in 2010. Look it up on Google under his name or mine. I wrote extensively about the dangers of a head first slide in Collegiate Baseball and in my book: See More and Talk Less: Teaching and Applying The Mental Aspects of Baseball. 5. Routinely practice bent-leg sliding! Waiting or not practicing sliding until one has to is a recipe for disaster. Thanks to all of you who responded. Your comments on this missive are welcomed and invited. Best of luck to all of you in and out of baseball. Respectfully, Al Figone www.alfigonepublishing.org

they should of tested dive sliding vs regular sliding.

Every time I hear the word "deceleration" I cringe because my physics professor taught us that it's not a real word, it's negative acceleration. And he would get REALLY mad anytime someone said it. It's like a PTSD response.

You dive into first when he pulls his foot and trys to stage you, that way you can dodge the tag, and all the other bases its for safety not speed

So i should dive way later than I think and reach real low?

Diving on the last 5 feet is the right choice

The BANDICAM in the top!😂

So what if the bag was right there (at 1:22), then, would have he gotten to the bag sooner? I’ve always thought of that.

what about a late dive it said it took the lead until his foot left the ground if he dove when he would reach the bag before his foot left the ground it would be faster

Ya. Diving is way slower. U dive to avoid being tagged

love how this is recorded with Bandi cam 😂

Then dive when closer

this cant exactly apply to softball because you cant leave the second or third base after you touch unless time is called, and we can't slide to first because its illegal

I love sport science!

It's to dodge the tag mr scientist sir you might want to rethink this instalment of sports science

I would argue that it's faster to slide when you need to stop. When running, you would have to slow down to stop at the base

thought it was run and slide, not run and dive lmao

But if you slide with the only goal to get faster to the base, you should not do it to far from the base, you have to throw yourself closer and straight to the base. Think about it, if you are in a rase and you throw yourself in the last second on the goal line you would probably beat the guy that is next to you. Same in baseball, if you slide to early you will slow down a bit, but if you throw on the base you'll get faster.

I’d like to see this same experiment but compare it to situations where the runner has a half stride to go. Not a full stride like you did here

Only applicable for 1st and home base though... You can't run through 2nd and 3rd like that

In finnish baseball (pesäpallo) there is no base plate. Only a line which you have to cross before the ball gets there, and you don't have to stop and hold on to something. You can overrun the base, and you are still safe if you made it over the line before the ball was caught by an outfielder in the same base. The dive is rather similar, but it has been measured that you can win up to two feet. Baseball players don't dive the same way. This for example is almost like falling to your belly and sliding, but in pesäpallo you keep running and actually leap forward, land on your outstreched palms and chest, and the sliding part is very short. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gbWphrFq1rqck3U.html There you can see few dives. Don't ask about the rules or anything. It is a lot faster game, and rules are somewhat same, but so different.

When u slide, ur trying to get lower than where your foot would be in the air. In other words, ur foot takes longer to come down than sliding does.

But they actually just proved it's faster to slide, he just wasn't timing it right, a perfect dive would be hitting the bag the millisecond you touch the ground and it would actually be faster. As shown in the video

Sliding isn’t for speed it is for avoiding a tag or trying to make it harder for the second or third baseman to tag them