The aerodynamic properties of a spinning table tennis ball were investigated using flight
experiments. Using high-speed video cameras, the trajectory and rotation of an official ball
(Nittaku 3-Star Premium), which was launched by a three rotor machine, were recorded. The drag and
lift coefficients ( C D and C L ) were determined by analysing the video images. The measurements
covered the speed and rotation range of typical table tennis shots in the form of the Reynolds
number ( Re ) and dimensionless spin rate ( SP ), i.e. 3.0 × 10 4 < Re < 9.0 × 10 4 and0 < SP
< 1.0, and C D and C L were obtained as functions of Re and SP . We determined that the lift
coefficient C L is not a monotonically increasing function of SP . A deep valley of C L was found
around SP = 0.5, and the lift force exerted ...