Loughborough University is a top-ten rated university in England for research intensity (REF2014) and an outstanding 66% of the work of Loughborough’s academic staff who were eligible to be submitted to the REF was judged as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’, compared to a national average figure of 43%. In choosing Loughborough for your research, you’ll work alongside academics who are leaders in their field. You will benefit from comprehensive support and guidance from our Doctoral College, including tailored careers advice, to help you succeed in your research and future career. Many sports rely on the consistent performance of a variety of different balls undergoing repeated impacts. The design of these balls, and our understanding of the implications for the objects the interact with (e.g. bats, rackets, playing surfaces, human body parts, protective equipment for human body parts), relies on computational analysis backed up by experimental evaluation of impact phenomena. Recent and proposed advance in these areas will influence the rules and regulations in sport, but also a broader understanding of other impact scenarios in the years to come. This PhD is a career launching opportunity to make a significant contribution to international developments in ball, sports equipment and human impact research.