It all comes down to fluff.
Subscribe and turn on notifications (🔔) so you don't miss any videos: goo.gl/0bsAjO
Before each serve, most professional tennis players go through a ritual to get in the zone. Novak Djokovic will bounce the ball with his racket, then with his hand. Rafael Nadal will usually pull his shorts and the sleeves around his shoulders, then touch his nose and tuck his hair behind his ears. All very distinct routines. But there’s one tennis ritual nearly every pro tennis player does: choosing a specific tennis ball. A common belief among players is that the ball they choose can help them win.
But there’s real physics at play behind this ritual - and It all comes down to the fuzz. For a faster serve, players try to find a compact ball. For a slower serve, they feel for more fuzz. The idea is that a fluffier ball is more likely to be slowed by drag as it travels through the air - and that choosing the right level of fuzz can help the serving player defeat their opponent.
More information on the aerodynamics of sports balls: people.stfx.ca/smackenz/cours...
Michael Kosta's podcast, Tennis Anyone: open.spotify.com/show/2ca3fTF...
Subscribe to our channel! goo.gl/0bsAjO
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com.
Watch our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on Facebook: goo.gl/U2g06o
Or Twitter: goo.gl/XFrZ5H
They really got a NASA research engineer for a tennis ball breakdown!
He is serving us a good duty
Truly appreciated, Vox. This was nerdy in the best ways. I say this as both a horrible tennis player and physics student.
for more than 4 decades, don't forget that
That too Indian ❤
@@taruna8440 Indians rule nasa and silicon valley
"Bigger juicier fluffier ball" "There are no accidents" - Master Oogway
😂😂
There are no oogways - master accident
"There are Oogway accidents" -Master no
"ka-ching matching" - morik and riorty.
My good sir, you've made my day!
This channel is slowly becoming like Ted-Ed.. *they answering the question that my brain decided to think at 3am when I falls-asleep*
Answers to questions I didn’t even know they were even questions in the first place
Agreed. But I'm loving it!
Exactly
Always has been like this
Tbh they should both collab
"But does fluff actually make a difference?" KZhead content at its best 😃🎾
phrasing?
good luck
@@DyslexicMitochondria sup bro i watch ur videos. Love ur content
@Athletic Interest Love your channel man, keep up the great work!
Athletic interest your video r super.👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌
Rafael Nadal's "bordering on OCD" rituals can be a topic on its own.
I KNOW RIGHT! OMGGGGG there is whole complication on his OCD-ness
He said one time that he doesn`t do any of that on training, just official matches. So its a selective OCD case? Im intrigued.
@@wendel5868 tennis is a weird sport, you have to be mentally very on top of yourself the whole match because you truly are your own worst enemy in tennis... even just playing in high school I became very superstitious about things mid match that never carried themselves off the court or even into practice. Tennis matches are their own very specific flavor of stressful.
@@asmr_sabri I feel like this goes for most sports. Every sport you are playing that you really care abt the results can be stressful
PLEASEEEEEEEEE
Why am I just learning that Michael Kosta was a professional tennis player!?!?
Same
sameee
I had to google it after haha
Me too!
Now, we have to ask: "Is Roy Wood Jr. a professional athlete?"
The most shocking part about the video is that Michael kosta was a professional tennis player, I would never have expected it 😂
I was today years old when I found that out
Seriously lol what the heck
What else is he known for?
@@hugolouessard3914 he's on the daily show with Trevor Noah lol. Dude is super funny
Well what do you expect! Learn to prepare for the unexpected, hasn't coco's taught you that
I shave my armpits before a fight, thus making me more aerodynamic.
I also take off my clothes and shoes
I cut my pp
You're armours aren't moving! It's only your forearms you need to shave
That explains why pro wrestlers have shaved pits.
Next time generously apply lotion all over your body to deflect punches, kicks, and grappling. Hair gel also handy for spiky hair.
I have never played tennis nor I will but this information is interesting.
Same bro same
Why not? Try it out, it’s an amazing sport to play at a casual level. It’s fun, super satisfying when improving, and very friendly. I highly recommend.
Never thought I would see chess comment god here. Btw u should try tennis Levent.
racket sports are fun
been wanting to play tennis since i was a kid now in my 30s haven't played it yet 😐
Props for getting Medvedev and Patrick Mouratoglou in one video those are big names
Yes. Thats what. I think people in US don't realise it.
@@shivkrishna7706 i think people who dont play tennis dont realize it
I KNOW RIGHT?! At the beginning I thought they were just putting clips of Meddy's interviews together but whoaaaa it's specifically filmed for Vox!
@@shivkrishna7706 Anyone who plays tennis in the US knows who they are. What are you talking about?
@@wnuspl8776 even if you watch tennis sporadically, you know the top 5 players, give or take.
You know it's serious when NASA gets involved.
I can't believe the number of huge personalities your team got for this video on tennis ball fluff, its incredible
"If it makes them feel better , then they play better"
It's exactly that. The placebo effect is real.
because I know
it can be applied for almost everything in life. Confidence help alot
@@sidsharma0 Apparently not to me.
The entire video in one sentence. Rest of the video is just fluff (no pun intended).
1:10 _try to find a ball with less hair because it will go faster. You don't want a big ball with a lot of humidity in it_ I'll keep this in mind when the circumstances arise👌
*_If_* the circumstances arise Jk
I am highly amused by how the whole video goes on about how important picking the ball is, etc etc, and then right at the end Serena Williams proves how unimportant all that is by not giving a single thought about what ball she plays. 😂
thats the real hidden message: it doesn't matter.
Because she is like I don't want to waste no time
She’s just that good that it doesn’t matter
Serena Williams during her prime was just so far ahead of her competition, physically and mentally. She didn't need to look for such small advantages. This stuff matters for people competing with others on an even playing field. Serena just wasn't in that situation for most of her career. Nowadays, she's just following her habits, even if she is no longer the singular dominant force in women's tennis.
The tiny advantage of picking a ball may not make up for the tiny disadvantage of carrying around an extra one in your pocket after the first serve.
False Title. The correct one is : "Michael Kosta is a tennis player,for real."
good to
No he is a former player, he retired! Then became a comedian
My universes be colliding rn
That was the real news!!!! 😂
“juicier, bigger, fluffier ball” and he said that with a straight face.
I am disappointed that Michael Kosta is not sitting in the room where he has a framed picture of himself in the background for this interview
Never knew he was a professional tennis player
@@elikyals he's that good!
Dude I thought it was a joke or sketch, I didn't know he was a former tennis player! I only knew him from comedy.
@@elikyals I learned this today as well, I was surprised to see him there. He even wrote a book titled "101 Tips for Winning More Tennis Matches".
I thought you were making a skit when you brought Michael Kosta, but turns out he's the real deal. 😂
I looked again at the channel thinking "Is this Vox? Did I click at something else?"
@@HelgaCavoli I wondered the same thing.
“juicier, bigger, fluffier ball” and he said that with a straight face.
Shouting in the middle of a match! "HEY NADAL, HAVE YOU CLOSED THE DOOR?"
what?
We tennis players are a superstitious bunch. I always run my hand through my hair, bounce the ball 7 times if its a first serve and 5 times if its a second serve. A lot of people don't realise how much of a mental sport tennis is. That's why we try make routines that keep us concentrated and our heads clear.
Yup I like the same setup for serves to help promote consistency in them lol
Its not superstition, having a routine before doing an action promotes consistency. Baseball players have similar rituals when pitching, as do basketball players when making free throws.
Tbh Nobody cares
@@ZuckerbergsAi well said
Yeah I always take the big first step like my fellow countrymen Berdych, Stepanek and Rosol did, and bounce the ball twice before both first and second serves. If I get nervous I only bounce once before my second serve.
Michael Kosta - Former professional tennis player, *The Daily Show comedian present* 😂
Future president?
@@pokuni7319 LOL
You will see NASA on anything that is not on the ground.
Well the first A in NASA is for Aeronautics.
Pretty much, still mostly space stuff, but there's some absurd stuff they study too. They also seem to like alien theories.
@@superslimanoniem4712 they are also working on making supersonic flight less annoying for people on the ground, the plane they came up with looks like a skinny boat hull.
I had no idea Micheal Kosta of all was a Professional Tennis player!
“juicier, bigger, fluffier ball” and he said that with a straight face.
The fact that Serena doesn't do this and had one of the best serves on the women's side is impressive. I used to wonder why Novak took forever to serve. All a part of his champion mindset.
Serena has the best serve in the women's sections purely because of power. She is probably the physically strongest player on the women's tour.
@@zachmason868 Thats true, but its also about her toss and technique that make her serve difficult to read. She can serve anywhere with almost the same toss😅
@@zachmason868 not just all power but placement too. she can slice her serve out wide and made it soo hard to return.
@@zachmason868 placement as well as others have said. Serena vs Azarenka Wimbledon final is a perfect example. That was as a serve clinic hitting with not only pace but placement to serve 4 aces in games repeatedly.
The fact she never asks for a second ball after receiving one made me inwardly smile a bit. It's as if she saying to everyone, "I make the best of anything I'm given in life cuz that's how my mama raised me!"
Lol I was listening and I was like oh cool there’s an athlete with the same name as Michael from daily show.
Next Vox video: *Trevor Noah talks about being a professional bowler*
I wouldn't surprised if they talk about dancing physics and they get his opinion tbh
and he says:”looking for that bigger, smoother, harder ball.”
I feel bonked in the brain, to see Michael Kosta in a Vox video for the first time as an ex-tennis player, not related to his daily show gig.
Only know him from this video so I’m exact opposite 🤣
Michael Kosta!!😃 Never knew about his previous career,love his comedies.
“juicier, bigger, fluffier ball” and he said that with a straight face.
Fun fact: The world's oldest tennis court is still in use today
Open court tennis?
A real tennis court, not a lawn tennis court, presumably?
what tennis court is it?
Fun fact: everyone alive right now is the oldest they have ever been.
I guess it’s a little fun... but not THAT fun in term of facts.
Michael Kosta, I thought he was joking when he said he was a former professional tennis player on the daily show. Now I know different.
2:04 "Yes, THE Serena Williams" Thanks so much for clearing that up, was wondering which of the many Serena Williams had him as coach.
lol. Serena is precious. She deserves her own moment. Period.
Thanks for explaining this. Every time I see the heavy hitters choose or reject a ball I've wondered what they are looking for. Also interesting how each player "gets in the zone" before serving, especially Rafa with his shorts pulling and hair swiping ritual. Each player has their signature moves.
As someone who’s played tennis for the majority of their life, I was always told that this ritual is just to calm you down, there’s no real point to it.
so is the point not to calm you down
I agree. The ball could go 10% faster but it could come back 10% faster too.
@@nsebast In theory, like they said, you want it faster on first serve to gain advantage (ace or serving so fast, opponent hits out on return), and more control on second serve because you don't want to have a double fault.
The coach hits the nail on the head, the fluff essentially fluffs up the players perception of ability in a stressful situation. The problem with rituals is if you miss it then you blame the ritual and not your ability under stress. Treat every point as a new day and learn from your mistakes without carrying them into the next.
The fluff means more air resistance, which means slower speed, and the spin gets more curve through the air. A worn-down ball with short hair flies faster. Not ritual but science.
Perfect timing, this video for me it's like remember that question you had in mind and you forgot to search it? Here is the answer to it. Thank you Vox.
Woah! Really interesting topic! Also definitely makes sense that it's more of a mental "get in the zone" thing than a scientific way to win, really awesome video!
Nobody knows what I really want more than KZhead
Ohhh awesome topic, loved this! As a fan of tennis I thought it had something to do with the fluff, but bringing Medvedev and Muratouglou to explain this is amazing, biiig like!
Thank you Vox for tackling the important stories. Looks like life is returning to normal!
Thanks a lot for this video. I always wondered "what do these players see in a ball and choose the correct one right before they serve"!!! Now I know why :D
Same as golf ball has the dimples, fluff helps in generating turbulent air, this turbulence makes the ball more stable.
The biggest plot twist is tha Michael Costa of The Daily show is a former pro tennis player ???? Like what????
Great stuff. Amazing as always by Vox. Love the tennis video.
The fluffier ball let’s the strings dig in and impart more spin for a second serve. That means the top spin will drag the ball downwards and, hopefully, into the service box. Or, at least, that was my understanding of it.
yep this is exactly what I wanted to watch at 2am
Probably asleep by now.
When Michael KOSTAS popped up, I wasnt sure if this is a some sort of joke, lol. I was like wait vox does satire?
Scrolling down the comments just to see if as many people were surprised as me to realize Michael Kosta was a professional tennis player, and not as part of a comedy bit.
Would have been nice to know how much it actually affects the speed.
Read the research papers, this is just an overview to satisfy curious minds
One more point to the list of legendary things about Williams.
I shave my head before I sunbathe, so that the air can flow around me at higher speeds and therefore my sweating is more effective.
Wow I asked my self this same question while I was watching the french open !! Thanks for the explanation
“Yes, the Serena Williams” Thanks for confirming. I was thinking which Serena Williams is he talking about
Honestly, never once thought about this when playing tennis. My only preference when serving is, if I've won the previous point, I want the same ball back for my next serve. And once I've lost a point with a certain ball, it goes in my left pocket and isn't used again until (if) I've lost a point with all three and the cycle has come back to the top. But I've never once assessed fluffiness.
was anyone going to tell me that michael kosta of the daily show used to be a professional tennis player or was i supposed to figure that out from a vox video about tennis ball fluffiness myself
Thanks for this video Vox. I had this question on mind for a long time how the players choose a ball or two from 4?
Didn't know I needed this information, but feels great to know this 🙌
Kosta mentioned he was a professional tennis player but I thought he was just kidding
It's so nice how these tennis celebrities humbly introduce themselves. We know who you are, Mouratoglou!
No, no we don't, haha >.
kosta, from tennis player to comedian... my hero
Thank you for answering something which has been plaguing my mind for so long
Overall breakdown: A newer smaller compact ball is used to serve faster for the 1st serve A used bigger fluffier ball is used to serve slower for the 2nd serve
Daily Shows Michael Kosta was a tennis pro?!? Nice!!
I love how y'all interviewed a world famous comedian who was once a world famous professional tennis player. And I just learned he used to play tennis. Mind blown 🤯
I legit always wondered about this. Thanks vox.
Tennis is so much more of a head game than people think. I’ll never hit a second serve with the same ball I just faulted. Screws me up every time.
This video was necessary. Thanks
great video , great explication , best presentation. tnx
thanks for the video as a tennis player myself I never actually stoped to think about it, but I have been doing this unconsciously for years
I'm surpised that many people are surpised that Micheal Kosta is a professional tennis player. He have said that he was a professional athlete in some of his segments in Trevor's Daily Show.
Who else thought it was a joke when Michael Kosta came on? I’m so used to laughing with him The Daily Show 😂
Thank you so much for this video !
Vox is so great at making me learn about things that have no feature in my life.
Didn't know the daily show correspondent is a former tennis player
I would actually add some thing to the whole ball picking idea that might’ve been overlooked in this video... A big part of which ball the player chooses sometimes can be based off of pure superstition. If a player has won a huge or important point with a certain ball, then you will often see them try to chase down that particular ball and play another point with it or vice versa - they will get rid of a bad ball. I think that plays into which ball they choose as much or even more than the fluffiness of the ball
I’ve been asking myself this question for so long! Finally got an answer.
Never really knew what kind of ball players looked out for serve.. this is great content..
French open aftermath and Wimbledon hype has reached the house of Vox
Lord Danil!!! All hail!!
Dude I love Kosta but it was a major major surprise to find this out about him!
thank you so much for explaining this thing.... watching tennis for 5 years and still didn't know abt this...
Michael Kosta's appearance caught me off guard. I'm curious to know why they included him, just to surprise us. Now I have to google every Daily Show Correspondent, esp Daisy Lydic..
Didn't know Michael Kosta played
That was very interesting thanks!
Well, thank you for the information, that is exactly what I wanted
I do it to trick the opponent player into believing that I actually know how to play 😂😂😂
I can't tell if this video is actually about the content, or just about flexing who Vox can get on interviews
*watches The Daily Show for years* Vox: 😏bet you didnt know Michael K. Is a professional tennis player 😏
Examining a ball and all rituals are important in that it is the beginning of you controlling the point, then your off to the races ❤❤❤
Wait.... Michael Kosta, THE Michael Kosta from the Daily Show with Trevor Noah, was a Pro-tennis player?!?! *The more you know*
Me : doesn't play tennis/watch tennis matches Also me : interesting
Love these beautiful video's🥰
That is good to know 👍👍👍 Thank you!
Why am I just finding out that Michael Kosta was a professional Tennis Player???
I did not expect Michael Kosta to be here wow
Thank you for solving this great mystery for me.
How very interesting, great choice of topic. It's something I had no idea even existed.
Hi could you guys do a video on the climate effects of krypto currencies? I know I'm asking for a confirmation of my own beliefs here, but krypto currencies are such a huge global hype of which people don't seem to understand the price that comes with it and I think there's no better forum than Vox to explain the subject. Keep up the good work guys! :)
Fedal 🐐
Michael Kosta - Former professional tennis player. You just made my day, Vox, really :D
It is one question that has always been on my mind. Thank You