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The physics of free throw shooting

posted by Jason Kottke   Mar 17, 2010

Attention @THE_REAL_SHAQ: it's all about parabolas and backspin.

Free-throw success is also improved by adding a little backspin, which pushes the ball downward if it hits the back of the rim. The North Carolina State engineers calculated the ideal rate of free-throw backspin at three cycles per second. That is, a shot that takes one second to reach the basket will make three full revolutions counterclockwise as seen from the stands on the player's right side.

(via mr)