Science behind “the nick”!

Science behind “the nick”!  I read the dailysquashreport.com each day, and today they linked to an article from a journal catchily titled Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).  

The article dives into the science behind one of squash’s coolest shots: the “nick shot.” That’s when the ball hits the exact corner where the side wall meets the floor—called the "nick"—and barely bounces out, making it almost impossible to return.

Using high-speed cameras and computer models, researchers found out that when the ball hits the nick, it squishes and slows way down. They suggest this is because of the sharp angle, the ball’s rubbery material, and friction with the wall and floor. Most of the ball’s energy gets absorbed, so it rebounds super low and with weird angles—bad news for your opponent.

Why does this matter? Well, it shows how even small details, like the shape of a court, can have a big effect on the game. It’s also a cool example of how physics plays a part in sports—even one as fast-paced as ours.

In short, the nick shot isn’t just fancy—it’s science in action!  For our geekier crew, link to the article HERE.