From:	Mark A Shieh SHODAN+@***.EDU
Subject:	[OT] Volleyball Re: Ballistics (was: Two firearms at once)
Date:	Wed, 10 Mar 1999 12:11:24 -0500 (EST)

Quick vball comment...

Adam Getchell <acgetchell@*******.edu> writes:
> There's not a quick answer to this, but here goes ....
>
> If you've ever watched a volleyball game, you might notice that the best
> serves are hit with top spin. This is called the Magnus effect.

Actually, the best serves are hit with no spin, and we call
them "floaters". You can't plant them with quite as much accuracy,
since it's less predictable, but your opponent also isn't sure where
it's going to land. I hear it's like a knuckleball, but I don't play
baseball. A server with regular topspin is easier to predict than a
server who serves a floater serve, every time. Odds are, an
experienced player will get to either serve in time to dig it, but the
floater might jink at the last minute.

Of course, when your shooting, you don't care if your opponent
can calculate the trajectory of the bullet and get in its way... :)
I just disagree completely on which serve is the best serve.

Mark