German sporting giant Adidas has overhauled this year’s official FIFA match ball. CCTV’s Mat Morrison looks into their findings.
The goal was to develop a ball that flies more smoothly through the air. A Japanese aerodynamics team has been putting the ball through its paces.
32 Teams, hundreds of thousands of fans, and billions of dollars in investment & infrastructure, but there is only one ball. This year’s ball is what designers at Adidas call the Brazuca. Named after a slang term for native Brazilians, the Brazuca is an overhaul from the last official World Cup ball. It features 6 panels, instead of 8. It’s weighs a gram less and the stitching has been altered.
Using a wind-tunnel as a measuring tool, Japanese researchers have found that the ball’s design does add stability in flight. The upshot of that is to prevent the so-called ‘knuckling’ effect. That’s when the ball floats through the air, like a beach ball. With no knuckling comes more speed. Designer Asai, a former college player himself, says that could help some players more than others. Adidas is selling the ball for $160 dollars on its website.
However, for the players looking to make history in this World Cup, the value of the new design could be priceless.