"Small ball" is partially created when you sit further away from the field and it makes the ball seem a lot smaller. The ball is the same size, it just looks smaller cause you aren't as close. If a player hits the ball real hard, it not only compresses the ball (hence, small ball), it also travels a lot further and makes the ball appear to shrink in the sky as it travels away from you. It can get a little confusing if you sit in the outfield bleachers. These people experience the reverse effect. For those sitting behind the plate, the effect is the most obvious. The ball is actually the same size as before, it just looks smaller as it flies away. We need to play some of this kind of small ball. where we hit the ball really hard, compressing it momentarily, and then letting it fly. real far. into a gap or over the fence, in the field of play. That would be really cool. Another key is to limit how many times the other team hits the ball into compression (or small ball) and not allowing subject ball to get into the gaps or over the fence, in the field of play. If you combine both your team hitting well and their team not hitting well. the outcome is generally in your favor. It generates more wins and less losses. I call it "small loss" with "small ball".