Math and target color help determine target stability?

The title is right.

Target rotation helps stabilize a clay target. Targets with lots of spin are more stable but the more spin the greater the difference there is in air pressure between the two sides. Imagine a spinning top or a frisbee. Or a baseball. Blow air on a spinning top. It will move sideways. The faster it spins the more it moves due to air pressure. But it will be more stable. No wobble.

How does color affect the math?

Solid orange targets tend to gum up the pat traps. The targets need friction to spin. Black rimmed targets have less colored paint. For that reason they have more friction. And more spin.

The Cardinal Center throws all orange targets.

Can CC targets shot late in the day have less spin? Yes! But, less spin may mean they fly straighter.

Physics 101 with a colorful twist.

 

the spread of the pattern compensates to any trivial deviation due to color/speed.

 

STaT mAn STaN. I built and repaired trap and skeet machines for over 20 years. You are correct a gummed up throwing arm will cause less target spin and make them fly funny. Most carrier arms never get cleaned. It only takes a second to either sand or wipe the rubber with a solvent. Any one who does not clean the rubber on the throwing arm is short changing their customers. Roger C.