Conclusions
A variety of techniques have been used to explore the dynamic and aerodynamic properties of sports balls to an ever-improving degree. Techniques have ranged from judgements by eye, to wind-tunnel tests and computational fluid dynamics, to measurements with tape—paper and video!
As these investigations have led to higher-performing balls, sports have been significantly affected, to the degree that modifications to decrease performance, such as slower tennis balls, are being contemplated by the relevant regulatory bodies.
Many balls operate at or near a critical Reynolds number, such that drag coefficient can be a strong function of flight speed. Substantial side- or lift-forces are developed by many balls via seam-triggered boundary layer transition and thus delayed separation; in other cases Robins—Magnus lift plays the dominant role.
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(2006). Aerodynamics of Balls. In: Spinning Flight. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-47289-8_2
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