What is How Spin Works?
How Spin Works is a website dedicated to the science behind table tennis. Part 1 was an experiment dedicated to studying the effects of different substances on a table tennis rubber (such as vegetable oil). This can be found in "The Tests" pages.
The physics and the Magnus Effect are discussed on the "How Spin Works" page, while the variables and causes of spin are discussed in the "What Causes Spin?" and "Things That Affect Spin" pages.
The "Speed and Spin off the Rubber" page discusses what it is about rubbers that gives the characteristics of power and spin.
Part 2 was an experiment on the effectiveness of cleaning rackets and keeping them in cases. It also goes into more detail about how cleaning a racket with water affects its playability.
Finally, the blog pieces all these factors together and explains how to use them, with tutorials on playing table tennis, tips, tricks, tactics and general table tennis news. Enjoy the website!
Please note that the mobile version of this website is available at howspinworks.weebly.com. This is a work in progress.
The physics and the Magnus Effect are discussed on the "How Spin Works" page, while the variables and causes of spin are discussed in the "What Causes Spin?" and "Things That Affect Spin" pages.
The "Speed and Spin off the Rubber" page discusses what it is about rubbers that gives the characteristics of power and spin.
Part 2 was an experiment on the effectiveness of cleaning rackets and keeping them in cases. It also goes into more detail about how cleaning a racket with water affects its playability.
Finally, the blog pieces all these factors together and explains how to use them, with tutorials on playing table tennis, tips, tricks, tactics and general table tennis news. Enjoy the website!
Please note that the mobile version of this website is available at howspinworks.weebly.com. This is a work in progress.
Part 1 Intro:
There have been many articles on the internet on how to enhance spin on a table tennis racket. Oil, water and even detergent can supposedly increase spin. Here, I've put them to the test.
Part 2 Intro:
Also, check out the new "Part 2", which is an investigation in to just how effective keeping a racket in a case and cleaning it is!
There have been many articles on the internet on how to enhance spin on a table tennis racket. Oil, water and even detergent can supposedly increase spin. Here, I've put them to the test.
Part 2 Intro:
Also, check out the new "Part 2", which is an investigation in to just how effective keeping a racket in a case and cleaning it is!
The origins:
How Spin Works started off as a physics experiment in Grade 8. I had played competitive table tennis for a few years, and had seen online videos on the topic of how to increase the spin of your racket. I had spoken with people at my table tennis club, and some said rather than buying the special rubber cleaners, I should just wash it with water. I decided that I would put this to the test. I decided to take it a bit more seriously than I intended, and chose to turn it into a school project. I added another 10 (so far) substances to an old racket that had its handle broken off. I spent over 100 hours on the experiment, so I used it for another project, the main for the year. I also entered it in the science competition at UTAS, the closest university. I won it with this. I did a 103-minute presentation at school and continued to work hard to put it into a website. I have since added more things such as the physics behind table tennis and I am now working on a How to Play Table Tennis series. My new blog will be updated frequently with table tennis news and upcoming tournaments. Enjoy the website!
Check out our new blog page! It has news about table tennis (and the website itself), videos on how to play table tennis, including tips and tricks on how to play table tennis, polls, and a new request feature, where you can ask me to answer a question, or show you how to do a certain shot. Enjoy!
*Winner of the 2014 & 2016 UTAS Science Investigation Awards*
