A review of recent research into aerodynamics of sport projectiles

Abstract

A review of aerodynamics research connected to sport projectiles is presented here. The review's focus is on work conducted in the current millennium, though deference is made to some classic work still invaluable to modern research. Besides serving as a resource for seasoned scientists and engineers, this article is especially geared toward young investigators who are just beginning careers in sport science. Basic and sophisticated methods are discussed, including vacuum physics, air drag, lift, numerical approaches, trajectory analysis, wind tunnels, and computational fluid dynamics. Eighteen sports are discussed with an eye to future research. © 2013 International Sports Engineering Association.