Spin Rate of a Racquetball Due To Angular Impact

Abstract

The relationship between the impact angle of a racquetball and the resulting angular velocity of the ball was investigated. Impact angles ranging from 0° to 80° were tested. The ball was dropped at constant speed on a plywood board that could be angled and the impact was filmed at 600 fps. The video was then analyzed to determine the angular velocity of the ball after the bounce. It was found that there is a proportional relationship between the incoming impact angle (θ) and angular velocity (ω) of the racquetball, for angles up to 50°, indicating that the ball did not slip during impact at these angles.