Baseball Diamond vs. Olympic Pool
Comparing 2 standards across 19 specifications. 19 key differences identified.
Official baseball diamonds are regulated by Major League Baseball (MLB Official Baseball Rules Rule 2.01). The infield is a 90 × 90 ft (27.43 × 27.43 m) square rotated 45 degrees. The pitcher's rubber is located exactly 60 ft 6 in (18.44 m) from the back tip of home plate on a mound raised 10 in (25.4 cm). Regulation outfield fences typically range from 325–350 ft at the foul poles to 400+ ft in center field.
Official competition swimming pools are regulated by World Aquatics (formerly FINA Swimming Facilities Rules). An Olympic-standard long-course pool measures exactly 50.020 m in length (50.00 m with touchpad timing plates installed), 25.0 m in width across 10 lanes (8 active lanes of 2.50 m with two 2.50 m outer wave-buffer lanes), and a uniform depth of 2.0–3.0 m. Water temperature is held strictly at 25.0–28.0 °C (77–82.4 °F).
Specification Comparison Table
19 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Base Path Distance
|
27.43 m (90.0 ft between consecutive bases) | — |
|
Pitching Distance
|
18.44 m (60.0 ft 6.0 in from home plate apex to rubber) | — |
|
Pitcher's Mound Height
|
25.4 cm (10.0 in above home plate level) | — |
|
Pitcher's Mound Diameter
|
5.49 m (18.0 ft circular circle) | — |
|
Pitcher's Rubber Plate
|
61.0 × 15.2 cm (24.0 × 6.0 in white rubber) | — |
|
Home Plate Geometry
|
5-Sided 17-Inch Pentagon (17" front, 8.5" sides, 12" apex) Standard | — |
|
MLB Base Size (Enlarged 2023)
|
45.72 × 45.72 cm (18.0 × 18.0 in square foam-filled canvas) | — |
|
Home to 2nd Base Diagonal
|
38.79 m (127.0 ft 3.375 in) | — |
|
Recommended Minimum Foul Pole Distance
|
97.54 m (320.0 ft minimum along foul lines) | — |
|
Recommended Minimum Center Field Distance
|
121.92 m (400.0 ft minimum) | — |
|
Pool Length (with Touchpads)
|
— | 50.00 m (164.04 ft exact between touchpads) |
|
Pool Width
|
— | 25.00 m (82.02 ft) |
|
Total Lane Count
|
— | 10 Lanes (Lanes 1–8 racing, Lanes 0 and 9 wave buffers) |
|
Individual Lane Width
|
— | 2.50 m (8.20 ft per lane) |
|
Standard Competition Depth
|
— | 2.00–3.00 m (6.56–9.84 ft uniform depth) |
|
Total Water Volume
|
— | 2,500,000–3,750,000 liters (~660,000–990,000 US gallons) |
|
Water Temperature Regulation
|
— | 25.0–28.0 °C (77.0–82.4 °F strictly enforced) |
|
Touchpad Thickness
|
— | 10.0 mm (0.39 in per electronic sensor board) |
|
Starting Block Height
|
— | 0.50–0.75 m above the water surface with 10° tilt |