Smooth soccer balls fly with less predictable trajectories

Aerodynamic testing on World Cup soccer balls reveals that surface texture is the primary factor in flight stability. While a perfectly smooth ball might seem ideal for speed, it actually suffers from a phenomenon called the drag crisis at relatively high speeds. As the ball slows down midair, the air resistance suddenly spikes, causing the ball to swerve or dip unpredictably. This led to widespread criticism of the eight panel Jabulani ball used in 2010, which players described as having a deceptive and wicked flight path.