All angles The sweet spot
Stone sinks on the first skip? Use your angles.
The angleAbout 20° between the stone and the water
Physicists found the best angle between a skipping stone and the water is about 20°. Throw a flat stone low and fast, tilted just slightly up at the front, with plenty of spin.
The video for this angle is on its way.
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How to do it
- Pick a flat, round stone about the size of your palm.
- Hold it with your index finger hooked around the edge.
- Crouch low so your throw comes in nearly parallel to the water.
- Tilt the front of the stone up about 20°.
- Throw sidearm, fast, and snap your wrist for spin.
Why it works
At about 20°, the stone gets the most lift from the water with the least drag. Steeper and it digs in. Flatter and it slaps and loses speed. Spin keeps it stable so the angle holds from one bounce to the next.
Questions
Does speed matter too?
Yes. More speed means more skips, but only if the angle is right.
What about the angle of the throw itself?
Keep the path low and nearly flat to the water. The 20° is the tilt of the stone.