Racquetball Crotch Shot
Most recent answer: 02/09/2013
- Jay (age 62)
Fairfax, VA, USA
Hello Jay,
This is a pretty interesting question.
If we only consider the ideal situation, i.e. the racquetball is incompressible and assuming the surface of wall and floor forms a degree of 90, then the answer is yes-it has to approach at exactly 45o. The reason is that if we look at the moment when the ball touches both surfaces simultaneously, we see two perpendicular surfaces tangent to the sphere, which forces the center of our racquetball to be at exactly 45o incident angle. [Whoops, see below- that doesn't mean that before contact it also had to be at 45° angle. Our goof.]
But in reality, a racquetball is never a perfectly incompressible sphere. Thus, when you hit the racquetball to the corner, though not at 45o, it is still possible that the ball hits one surface first, then gets compressed and hits the other surface while still in contact with both. Thus, in this case, it doesn't necessary have to be at 45o.
Hope this helps,
Lingyi
(published on 02/09/2013)
Follow-Up #1: racquet ball crotch shot
- Jay Wald (age 62)
Fairfax, VA 22033
You're absolutely right. And you've picked out the incorrect hidden assumption of our old answer.
Mike W.
(published on 09/22/2013)