There has been a huge increase in interest in the sports science field in recent years. This is an area of study that looks at how our bodies operate as we carry out different sorts of exercise.
What if you just want to be better at sports without studying it in too much depth? Are there some key points from science that you can pick up to help you along the way?
How to Strike a Ball
There are some fairly simple scientific principles that can guide us in sports where the objective is to hit the ball as far as possible. For example, hitting the ball at an angle of 45 degrees is, generally speaking, the best way of obtaining the maximum amount of distance.
This can vary according to a range of factors. For instance, if you are hitting the wind then hitting the ball higher than 45o will give the wind the chance to carry it further for you. On the other hand, when the wind is against you, it makes sense to hit it lower.
Do MLB players need to study scientific matters? The hitter has about 0.4 seconds from the time the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand until it reaches them. This means that they need to decide and react in the same instant.
The sweet spot on the bat is the ideal place to transfer the maximum amount of energy from the bat to the ball. Since the energy is going to the ball, the bat doesn’t vibrate much. However, if the batter doesn’t hit the sweet spot, the bat will vibrate, and the ball will lose energy.
The Best Angles to Run
If we turn our attention to NFL games, some new issues are introduced. To start with, what is the best way to run so that you cover the ground as quickly as possible?
For the ball-carrier, it is normally a case of trying to run directly at the opponent’s end zone. However, they also need to angle their run so that they avoid anyone looking to tackle them.
In terms of blocking and tackling, players need to use the Pythagorean Theorem. It might sound complicated, but it really just means that they run along the diagonal line of a right-sided triangle, as explained in this NBC video. This is the shortest route between two points on a flat surface.
The next time you watch the Super Bowl or are watching college football, watch how players stick to this rule. They may do it instinctively, but it is a rule that makes perfect sense scientifically.
With such strategic play in the preseason, it’s no wonder fans are already on the hunt for Super Bowl 2024 tickets at TicketSmarter to catch these teams at their peak.
Jump Better
Jumping is a crucial part of many sports. It is easy to think that the height you are able to jump is determined solely by your height. Yet science tells us that there is a completely reliable way of increasing jumping ability that anyone can benefit from.
The height of your vertical jump is all about the ratio of power to body weight. Make this ratio better and you will undoubtedly be able to jump higher.
This is why basketball players and other athletes who need to jump regularly carry out exercises such as varied squats and deadlifts. The more that you can lift the higher you can jump, provided that your body weight doesn’t increase by the same rate or more.
By understanding a few basic scientific principles, you can become better at just about any sport. Even the worst teams in NFL history would benefit from learning these basic principles and applying them in their game. It is simply a question of learning the facts and then working out how to put them into practice.