A sweet spot is referred to in sport as the perfect place to strike a ball with a racquet or bat. It is the point of contact between bat and ball where maximum results can be produced with minimal effort from the hand of the player. Similar physics can be applied to the less inspiring examples of door stops; the perfect position of a door stop is such that the door comes to rest with minimal or no effort from the hinges. Such phenomena can provide an interesting and accessible investigation for young physicists. This article describes a project designed to stretch secondary school pupils looking to further their knowledge and skill base in physics; it has been used at Bromsgrove School in the UK to strengthen university applications. (Contains 6 figures.)