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Why a Curveball Curves: The Incredible Science of Sports Hardcover – April 1, 2008

by Frank Vizard (Editor), Robert Lipsyte (Foreword)

18 ratings

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Sports. They get our blood pumping and our hearts racing. Fans scream and cheer as their favorite athletes run, throw, pedal, dive, or swing their way to victory. But what makes an athlete successful? Why do some players excel when others fall behind?
In Why a Curveball Curves, the experts at Popular Mechanics, along with top athletes, coaches, and sports journalists, explore the science behind sports. Fluid dynamics, biomechanics, and technology determine everything from speed in cycling to protection in football to performance measurement in all sports. This book is designed for both the player and the fan, helping athletes become better-prepared and giving enthusiasts a more complete understanding and appreciation of the subtle nuances of competition.
The explanations are clear, entertaining, and written by people who really love their game. The issues discussed range from Tiger’s swing to Lance’s legs, from gene doping to the physics of why a seemingly straight kick curves drastically just before its target—in other words, how to bend it like Beckham—plus so much more.
Among the specialists who weigh in are: Matt Bahr, who kicked the winning field goal in Super Bowl XXV; Bob Bowman, who coached swimmer Michael Phelps to a record-setting eight medals in the 2004 Olympics; Lou Piniella, manager of the Chicago Cubs; Peter Brancazio, Professor Emeritus of Physics at Brooklyn College and author of Sports Science; and Jim Kaat, a major league pitcher for 25 years.

Print length

224 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Hearst
Publication date

April 1, 2008
Dimensions

7.5 x 1 x 9.25 inches
ISBN-10

9781588164759
ISBN-13

978-1588164759
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Editorial Reviews

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Have you always believed the scientists who say that a curveball is just an optical illusion? Well, guess what: they’re wrong. A curveball, according to this wonderfully informative book, really does curve, and even the illustrious Isaac Newton knew it (he even wrote a paper about it, more than 300 years ago). It’s all in the way the ball is spinning, and something called the Magnus Force. There are even a couple of illustrations here to help you understand the explanation. Of course, the book isn’t just about pitched baseballs, or even just about baseball: it talks about basketball, soccer, hockey, golf, and several other sports; and it answers some very interesting questions, such as why Gretzky really was the greatest (an innate ability to translate physical cues into action) and how you, too, can bend it (a soccer ball, that is) like Beckham. A must-read for sports fans, physics buffs, and general audiences too. --David Pitt

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1588164756
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hearst (April 1, 2008)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781588164759
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1588164759
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.9 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.5 x 1 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,185,014 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,322 in Sports Reference (Books)
- #2,785 in Sports Encyclopedias

Customer Reviews:
18 ratings

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4 star		18%
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Yes

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2020

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Good.

Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2021

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Thumbs up!

Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2016

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Very clarifying.

Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2015

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interesting

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poetmaker

Education About Sport Around Us

Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2013

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Great tool to educate the grandchildren and myself--everyone should read this book--leave it in the coffee table--will start many a conversation

Reviewed in the United States on December 19, 2009

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This was purchased as a gift for a family member who is interested in all phases of baseball. He really liked it.

2 people found this helpful

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floridakid

Cincylou

Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2012

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Very Good Book explaining the basic physics of a multitude of sports. Easy to understand explanations and easy to follow diagrams to match. Wish there were more in depth on Hockey, Basketball, and Golf. Overall, a good book for understanding the reasons "Whys' of the sports you watch and play.

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sgm77

Great service and product

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2010

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Not only was the book everything I wanted it to be and more, the speed at which it was delivered was impressive too.

One person found this helpful

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Why a Curveball Curves: The Incredible Science of Sports Hardcover – April 1, 2008

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