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Author: Ken Bray

A fly walks round a football

What makes a perfect football? Anyone who plays or simply watches the game could quickly list the qualities. The ball must be round, retain its shape, be bouncy but not too lively and, most importantly, be capable of impressive speeds. We find out that this last point is all down to the ball's surface, the most prized research goal in ball design.

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If you can't bend it, model it!
Learn about the aerodynamics of footballs and perfect your free kick.
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