The Science of Sports

Whether you're an athlete or coach wanting to improve performance or a student of science or math looking for some interesting applications of those disciplines, these titles from our collection may be of interest:

Why a Curveball Curves : the Incredible Science of Sports  by Frank Vizard.  Sterling Pub., 2008.  "... the biology, chemistry, and physics behind the winning stroke, hit, throw, dive, kick, punch, and slam dunk."  Many illustrations accompany accessible explanations of the science behind thirteen different sports.

Mathletics is the title of two different books in our collection:  One by Wayne Winston (Princeton University Press, 2009) that looks at the "mathematical methods that top coaches and managers use to evaluate players and improve team performance;" and the other by John D. Barrow (W. W. Norton, 2012) showing the math or physics behind 100 entertaining examples from the world of sports. 

The Physics of Pitching : Learn the Mechanics, Science, and Psychology of Pitching to Success  by Len Solesky.  MVP Books, 2011.  This generously illustrated step-by-step guide to fundamental pitching mechanics includes an instructional DVD.

Newton's Football : the Science behind America's Game  by Allen St. John and Ainissa Ramirez. Ballentine Books, 2013.  A seasoned journalist and an engineer team up for this look at the science and scientific thought behind the game.  It includes both a science and football glossary. 





Other sports science titles:

Faster,Higher, Stronger : How Sports Science is Creating a New Generation of Superathletes--and What We Can Learn from Them  by Mark McClusky.  Hudson Street Press, 2014.

Football Physics : the Science of the Game  by Timothy J. Gay.  Rodale, 2004.

Gold Medal Physics : the Science of Sports  by John Eric Goff.  Johns Hopkins Univ. Press, 2010.

Golf Science : Optimum Performance from Tee to Green  by Mark F. Smith.  Univ. of Chicago Press, 2013.

Newton on the Tee: a Good Walk through the Science of Golf  by John Zumerchik. Simon & Schuster, 2008.

The Perfection Point : Sport Science Predicts the Fastest Man, the Highest Jump,and the Limits of Athletic Performance  by John Brenkus.  Harper Collins, 2010.