to what extent is geometry important in sports?

Question

give specific instances in which it has made a positive impact or made a significant contribution

Answer 1

Let's start with soccer: When you kick that little ball towards the net at an angle, you need to know the correct angle or else you will miss. Also, the playing field is a rectangle and has to be set up according to regulations.

Baseball: The diamond dimensions and angles have to meet the regulations set by the Baseball Commission. Also, if you are an outfielder and the batter hits the ball, if you know a bit about Geometry, you can approximate where the ball will land.

Pool: Not all pool shots are straight shots into the pocket.

Golf: Not all shots are on a level playing surface.

Hockey: Where is that carom off the boards going to go?

I could go on (Basketball - hoop height, distance, etc,), but I think you should be able to brainstorm some more instances for yourself.

Answer 2

Geometry helps when you are playing any type of a game with a frisbee. I found myself in the right place at the right time because I was able to correctly read the angle of the frisbee in which it was thrown.

The other answer with golf and pool is also correct. In pool you need to know at what angle you need to hit the balls in order to sink them in the pocket.
In golf, every single club in a golf bag has the club face at a different angle. from a 0 degree putter to I think a 60 degree wedge legally. Each club is going to give the ball a different type of ball flight. However, in all sports, it is not soley alone. Geometry is only half the story. Physics plays just as much of a role in which physics deals with speed, distance, and time where as Geometry deals with the angles.

Every sport deals with time speed and distance as well as angles. Even in American Football the Quarterback knows that he has to throw the ball at the right angle so that the ball will travel over the defenders and to the reciever. Of course the Quarterback is not thinking about angles, speed, time, and distance when he is throwing the ball, but he is subconciously and that is what seperates the best Quarterbacks from the good ones.

Answer 3

http://www.haverford.edu/educ/knight-booklet/geometrysports.htm

http://myweb.students.wwu.edu/~hamiltd3/

just a few sites....do a search