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October 27, 2006

Physics

UTA involved in NBA ball test

The Physics Department was given charge of an experiment comparing synthetic and leather basketballs.

Story by: Anthony Williams

Contributor to The Shorthorn

The Shorthorn: Monica Lopez

Physics professor Kaushik De explains that the embossing on the synthetic balls causes it to not come back to the same location it was dropped from Thursday in Science Hall. Demonstrations of tests being conducted on the Mavericks’ new synthetic basketballs were also shown.

It’s the NBA vs. its players, and now the university is playing the role of moderator.

Physics professors and students are intensely experimenting with the NBA’s new official basketball made by Spalding, released this summer. The changes are the first since 1970, when the ball went from four panels to eight, and are only the second in 60 seasons.

James Horwitz, physics professor and chair, received a call Oct. 11 from Terdema Ussery, president and CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. Ussery said the organization was interested in having the department compare the new and old balls. They began that Saturday with various tests.

“We dropped balls from consistent heights and noted how high they bounced — the coefficient of restitution,” Horwitz said. “We also poured water on them and observed the absorbency.”

The following week, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban’s network, HDNet, was interested in the project. A camera crew filmed several of the experiments comparing the new synthetic microfiber ball to the old leather one.

“They filmed us pouring water, showing how the leather ball turned brown and absorbed it, preserving its grip,” Horwitz said. “The new ball didn’t.”

While the physics group observed the data, it let some players on the UTA Mavericks basketball team test the balls out for themselves.

“It did feel a lot better, as long as it wasn’t wet,” assistant coach Reggie Brown said. “Then it was hard to hold. You can’t even pick it up.”

He also said the ball felt harder.

The Shorthorn: Monica Lopez

Physics professor Kaushik De demonstrates one of the tests being used to determine the differences between the Dallas Maverick’s old leather basketballs and the new synthetic ones Thursday in Science Hall. In this particular experiment, a vacuum was used to suck in and then let the ball go to measure how well it moves vertically. This showed that the new synthetic basketballs bounce lower than the old leather balls.

Guard Jeremy Dewalt, an accounting junior, said it has good grip, but once it gets wet it goes away.

“If it had a way to stay dry, it’s a good ball,” he said. “And when you’re dribbling, it goes off to the side.”

Guard Rodrick Epps, an advertising junior, said that when sweat got on the ball, it was difficult to dribble and shoot. He attributed the awkward bouncing to the new ball’s embossing.

“It’s too deep, so it’ll bounce off to the right once and then the left,” he said.

Horwitz said it did appear that the ball’s logos and insignia were two to three millimeters deeper and that they noticed the bouncing as well.

Physics graduate student Rajalakshmi Sundaramoorthy said the new ball was weak in that regard and others.

“We found that the leather ball bounces much higher, and there was less deviation from the point of impact,” she said.

Physics professor Kaushik De said they are doing the work for fun but are proud that they were called to do it.

“Our tests and measurements will be under lots of scrutiny,” he said. “I’m happy the university is getting recognition.”

Horwitz said that even after the testing is complete he doesn’t expect the league to change its firm stance regarding the ball, but they might take another look before the 2007-08 season.

Guard Baron Sauls, an accounting junior, said he was unsure about the ball.

“I’m just glad we don’t play with it,” he said.