Articles

Advantage Isner
How much of an advantage does a player's height give him on serve? American rising tennis star John Isner is nearly 6'10", and in this article I examine, using some basic math, exactly what kind of advantages he has over you and me. The results are quite surprising. read more…

Comparing Ball Spins in Tennis and Baseball
When I wrote the article on the physics of topspin, I explained how the Magnus effect causes a tennis ball spin on it to curve as it flies through the air. After finishing that article, I wanted to explain how these spins and their effects are not limited to the sport of tennis, but are an integral part of many of the world’s most popular sports. In particular, I want to draw an intimate comparison between tennis and baseball, because ball spin is such a critical element to both games. read more…

The Magnus Effect Equation
In this article, we examine the equation that underlies the Magnus Effect. There are several different formulas used, ranging from the simple to the complex depending on how precise and accurate the desired results must be. We will examine a simple Magnus effect equation because describing the Magnus effect on a tennis ball is not a complicated scenario. read more…

The Physics of Topspin on a Tennis Ball
Topspin is a big buzz word in tennis. Everyone wants to put more topspin on their groundstrokes and their serve. But what exactly is topspin, and what does it do to the tennis ball that makes hitting with topspin so desirable? This article explains the ultimate physical origins of the topspin effect. read more…