Thread: ball speed
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Unread 15-02-2006, 09:10
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What would Dave do?
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Re: ball speed

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jack Jones
It's 26.8 MPH = 39.3 FPS = 12 m/s

The answer to the original question is: Maybe?

A shot from there at max velocity - aimed dead center - should just skim the bottom of the hole. But that dosen't account for drag nor the spin on the ball. If the ball has top spin, then it won't hang as well and would probablly miss low. OTOH, a shot with enough backspin should be able to hit it.
I think you'll find that ball spin will be the major factor determining whether you make a shot at that distance. If I got my numbers right, a spin of 5 rev/sec would generate lift about equal to the mass of the ball. The vector of the lift is perpendicular to the axis of rotation and the the direction of flight. A back-spin generates positive lift, a front spin negative and side spin causes a curve ball. In any case, we've observed that with back-spin the ball trajectory is more linear than parabolic for 25 ft or so.

NASA has a nice page explaining the effect of lift on a rotating cylinder.
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