Editing Magnus effect (section)

== In sport ==
[[File:Copy of Alexander Leal - Wikipedia Digital Diagram.svg|thumb|350px|Magnus effect on [[Roberto Carlos]]' infamous "banana kick"]]
[[Image:12-6 Curveball.gif|thumb|200px|An animated diagram of a [[12–6 curveball]]]]
The Magnus effect explains commonly observed deviations from the typical trajectories or paths of spinning balls in [[sport]], notably [[association football]], [[table tennis]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-23|title=Identifying The Magnus Effect in Table Tennis|url=https://edgesandnets.com/2021/04/23/identifying-the-magnus-effect-in-table-tennis/|access-date=2021-04-23|website=edgesandnets.com|language=en-US}}</ref> [[tennis]],<ref>[[John Strutt, 3rd Baron Rayleigh|Lord Rayleigh]] (1877) "On the irregular flight of a tennis ball", ''[[Messenger of Mathematics]]'', vol. 7, pages 14–16.</ref> [[volleyball]], [[golf]], [[baseball]], and [[cricket]].

The curved path of a [[golf ball]] known as ''slice'' or ''hook'' is largely due to the ball's spin axis being tilted away from the horizontal due to the combined effects of club face angle and swing path, causing the Magnus effect to act at an angle, moving the ball away from a straight line in its trajectory.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://blog.trackmangolf.com/spin-axis/ | title=Spin Axis | newspaper=Trackman Golf | date=17 November 2015 }}</ref> [[Backspin]] (upper surface rotating backwards from the direction of movement) on a golf ball causes a vertical force that counteracts the force of gravity slightly, and enables the ball to remain airborne a little longer than it would were the ball not spinning: this allows the ball to travel farther than a ball not spinning about its horizontal axis.{{citation needed|date=December 2020}}

In [[table tennis]], the Magnus effect is easily observed, because of the small mass and low [[density]] of the ball. An experienced player can place a wide variety of spins on the ball. [[Table tennis racket]]s usually have a surface made of rubber to give the racket maximum grip on the ball to impart a spin.

In [[cricket]], the Magnus effect contributes to the types of motion known as ''drift'', ''dip'' and ''lift'' in [[spin bowling]], depending on the axis of rotation of the spin applied to the ball. The Magnus effect is ''not'' responsible for the movement seen in conventional [[swing bowling]],<ref name="LJC">{{Cite book |last=Clancy |first=L. J. |year=1975 |title=Aerodynamics |publisher=Pitman Publishing Limited |location=London |isbn=0-273-01120-0}}</ref>{{rp|Fig. 4.19}} in which the pressure gradient is not caused by the ball's spin, but rather by its raised seam, and the asymmetric roughness or smoothness of its two halves; however, the Magnus effect may be responsible for so-called "Malinga Swing",<ref name="Malinga Swing">{{cite magazine |last=Mehta |first=R. D. |date=2007 |title=Malinga's unique swing |magazine=[[The Wisden Cricketer]] |volume=4 |issue=10 |issn=1740-9519 |page=23}}</ref><ref>{{cite conference |last=Mehta |first=R. D. |date=2014 |title=Fluid Mechanics of Cricket Ball Swing |conference=19th Australasian Fluid Mechanics Conference |volume=1 |location=Melbourne |publisher=Australasian Fluid Mechanics Society |pages=1–8 |isbn=978-1-5108-2684-7 |s2cid=34183383 }}</ref> as observed in the bowling of the swing bowler [[Lasith Malinga]].

In [[airsoft]], a system known as [[hop-up (airsoft)|hop-up]] is used to create a backspin on a fired [[BB gun|BB]], which greatly increases its range, using the Magnus effect in a similar manner as in golf.

In [[baseball]], pitchers often impart different spins on the ball, causing it to curve in the desired direction due to the Magnus effect. The [[PITCHf/x]] system measures the change in trajectory caused by Magnus in all pitches thrown in [[Major League Baseball]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Determining Pitch Movement from PITCHf/x Data |url=https://baseball.physics.illinois.edu/Movement.pdf |last=Nathan |first=Alan M. |date=18 October 2012 }}{{self-published inline|date=September 2024}}</ref>

The [[2010 FIFA World Cup#Match ball|match ball]] for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] has been criticised for the different Magnus effect from previous match balls. The ball was described as having less Magnus effect and as a result flies farther but with less controllable swerve.<ref>SBS 2010 FIFA World Cup Show interview 22 June 2010 10:30pm by [[Craig Johnston]]</ref>