CR7's Secrets

For those who are crazy about how Cristiano Ronaldo's free kicks swerve, just relax.

There is no big deal about it, and it's definitely NOT his invention.

It's just a knuckleball. Plain and simple.

If you could avoid spinning the ball (so that the patterns of the ball remain clearly visible when it travels) when you throw or kick it, it would "stutter" in the direction of the fluctuating air current. Instead of kicking across the lower side of the ball and bend it like Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo kicks straight at it, and the ball will not spin as it travels but moves like crazy.

It is a simple principle of physics. Ironically, too many commentators call it "physics-defying".

Knuckleball has been in existence in baseball since the beginning of the last century. Instead of throwing as hard as one can and hurting their arms, throwing a knuckleball allows pitchers to rest their arms, and the unpredictable movement of the ball makes it difficult for batters to make clean contact. While traditional pitchers need three to four days of rest between starts, knuckleballers generally have "rubber arms" and can pitch on very short rest.

Knuckleball is one of the most interesting aspects in the world of sports. In what other sports can you see some soft-tossing old guys a member among the starting line-up?