Physics of Sports
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          • Banana Kick
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              Banana Kick

              A banana kick is an off-center kick that makes the ball curve or suddenly change direction before dropping to the ground.  A banana kick is one of the handiest moves to use in a soccer game, and is used in just about every goal.  The banana kick is especially useful for players who are given a free PK (penalty kick), as the goaly has a very low chance of blocking the shot

              http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/banana+kick 

              The Physics Behind a Banana Kick

              A banana kick is caused by putting a spin on the ball while kicking in one specific direction.  Due to the Bernoulli effect, the ball will change direction in mid-air.  This is because there is a difference in velocity on different portions of the ball.  This difference causes there to be a force moving the ball sideways.  This is the same principle that keeps an airplane in the air.  To put a spin on the ball, most players have to kick the center of the soccer ball at an angle so it spins in mid air.  This is when Bernoulli's Principle "kicks" in and does the rest of the work for whoever is shooting the ball.

              Bernoulli's Principle

              Daniel Bernoulli's Principle helps explain that we can control the flight of an "aircraft" and achieve lift due to the shape of the aircraft's wings.  At any one time during flight, air flows faster over the top of the "wing" and slower underneath.  Fast air has low air pressure and slow air has high air pressure.  Therefore, the high air pressure under the wing will push the aircraft up through lower air pressure.  This explains both how we control the flight of a plain and the direction of a kick.  Another example of the Bernoulli Principle in action is when we blow a ping pong ball up into the air with a blow dryer.
              http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/pber.html 

              Roberto Carlos' Famous Banana Kick Goal


              Penalty Shooting

              Free online penalty shooting game:

              http://www.agame.com/game/penalty-shooting.html 

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