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sports3h ago
Is a new Premier League ball helping with long-range goals?
- The Premier League switched from Nike to Puma, prompting questions about ball-related changes in long-range goals.
- Analysts show shots from outside the box have decreased since 2008-09, reaching historically low levels this season.
- Physicist testing suggests the Puma ball is smoother and can carry farther, affecting flight and accuracy.
- Experts note that ball surface and drag characteristics influence how long-range shots behave at different speeds.
- Arsenal and Pep Guardiola referenced the ball as a factor in perceived changes to shooting and goalkeeping.
- Analysts caution against over-attributing longer-range goals solely to the ball, noting multiple contributing factors.
- The article highlights the broader context of analytics, showing how xG and other metrics shape perceptions of shooting trends.
- The 2026 World Cup ball, Trionda, is discussed as a near-match to last season’s Premier League ball, affecting expectations for distances.
- Arsenal's and other teams' comments reflect a perception of ball-related change but with varied opinions on its significance.
- The piece notes that while shots from distance are down, goals from outside the box have remained near the historical average.
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