diff --git a/qml/CatDefs.qml b/qml/CatDefs.qml
index 9e0ab97..5f49d17 100644
--- a/qml/CatDefs.qml
+++ b/qml/CatDefs.qml
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ QtObject {
     // holds the whiskers, the tail and the glyphs that float above the head.
     readonly property real aspect: 106 / 120
 
+    // Chip.qml draws in a 52 x 58 box, large enough to hold the tumbling curl.
+    readonly property real chipAspect: 58 / 52
+
     readonly property var moodNames: ["walking", "running", "sitting", "grooming", "stretching",
                                       "sleeping", "loving", "alert", "chasing", "batting", "drinking"]
 
diff --git a/qml/Chip.qml b/qml/Chip.qml
index f02a001..bbb57e4 100644
--- a/qml/Chip.qml
+++ b/qml/Chip.qml
@@ -3,27 +3,41 @@ import QtQuick
 import QtQuick.Shapes
 
 // A curled steel chip, the kind that comes off a milling cutter.
-// Design space is 60 x 44 units.
+//
+// The box is 52 x 58 and the curl tumbles about (26, 33). Sizing rules, all in
+// design units, all measured off the actual Bezier curve rather than its
+// control points:
+//   * farthest point of the curl from the pivot is 24.2 including the stroke,
+//     so the box has to give 24.2 in every direction or spinning clips it
+//   * at rest the curl reaches 15.1 below the pivot, which is where the shadow
+//     goes, so it comes to rest sitting on its own shadow
+//   * spins are whole turns, so the resting silhouette is always the same one
 Item {
     id: chip
 
-    property int kick: 0
+    // Degrees, driven from outside. Each bat adds most of a turn and the
+    // Behavior lets it coast to a stop.
+    property real spin: 0
 
-    readonly property real unit: width / 60
+    readonly property real unit: width / 52
 
-    implicitWidth: 60
-    implicitHeight: 44
+    implicitWidth: 52
+    implicitHeight: 58
+
+    Behavior on spin {
+        NumberAnimation { duration: 750; easing.type: Easing.OutCubic }
+    }
 
     Item {
-        width: 60
-        height: 44
+        width: 52
+        height: 58
         transformOrigin: Item.TopLeft
         scale: chip.unit
 
-        Rectangle { // ground shadow
-            x: 14; y: 36
-            width: 32; height: 6
-            radius: 3
+        Rectangle { // ground shadow, under where the curl comes to rest
+            x: 9; y: 48
+            width: 26; height: 4
+            radius: 2
             color: "#000000"
             opacity: 0.18
             antialiasing: true
@@ -31,8 +45,10 @@ Item {
 
         Item {
             id: curl
-            x: 30; y: 22
-            width: 0; height: 0
+            x: 26; y: 33
+            width: 0
+            height: 0
+            rotation: chip.spin
 
             Shape {
                 x: -30; y: -22
@@ -58,13 +74,6 @@ Item {
                     PathCubic { control1X: 5; control1Y: 19; control2X: 16; control2Y: 8; x: 30; y: 12 }
                 }
             }
-
-            RotationAnimation on rotation {
-                running: true
-                loops: Animation.Infinite
-                from: 0; to: 360
-                duration: 2600
-            }
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/qml/ChipWindow.qml b/qml/ChipWindow.qml
index a7edb4c..eaad11f 100644
--- a/qml/ChipWindow.qml
+++ b/qml/ChipWindow.qml
@@ -10,10 +10,10 @@ Window {
     required property CatController cat
     required property AppSettings settings
 
-    readonly property int chipSize: Math.round(settings.catSize * 0.45)
+    readonly property int chipSize: Math.round(settings.catSize * 0.46)
 
     width: chipSize
-    height: Math.round(chipSize * 0.73)
+    height: Math.round(chipSize * CatDefs.chipAspect)
     x: cat.chipX - width / 2
     y: Screen.desktopAvailableHeight - height - settings.bottomMargin
     color: "transparent"
@@ -29,6 +29,6 @@ Window {
 
     Chip {
         anchors.fill: parent
-        kick: win.cat.chipKick
+        spin: win.cat.chipSpin
     }
 }
diff --git a/qml/OverlayWindow.qml b/qml/OverlayWindow.qml
index d05012b..570a170 100644
--- a/qml/OverlayWindow.qml
+++ b/qml/OverlayWindow.qml
@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ Window {
     Chip {
         x: win.cat.chipX - width / 2
         y: win.height - height - win.settings.bottomMargin
-        width: Math.round(win.settings.catSize * 0.45)
-        height: Math.round(width * 0.73)
+        width: Math.round(win.settings.catSize * 0.46)
+        height: Math.round(width * CatDefs.chipAspect)
         visible: win.cat.chipVisible
-        kick: win.cat.chipKick
+        spin: win.cat.chipSpin
 
         Behavior on x {
             NumberAnimation { duration: 320; easing.type: Easing.OutQuad }
diff --git a/src/catcontroller.cpp b/src/catcontroller.cpp
index 184b3ae..457e95e 100644
--- a/src/catcontroller.cpp
+++ b/src/catcontroller.cpp
@@ -179,6 +179,8 @@ void CatController::tossChip()
     setChipX(fromLeft ? margin : m_stageWidth - margin);
 
     m_batsLeft = rng->bounded(2, 5);
+    m_chipSpin = fromLeft ? 360.0 : -360.0; // it rolls in already turning
+    emit chipSpinChanged();
     m_chipVisible = true;
     emit chipVisibleChanged();
 
@@ -223,9 +225,6 @@ void CatController::endCoffee()
 void CatController::batChip()
 {
     auto *rng = QRandomGenerator::global();
-    ++m_chipKick;
-    emit chipKickChanged();
-
     const qreal distance = rng->bounded(140, 380);
     qreal next = m_chipX + (m_facingRight ? distance : -distance);
     const qreal edge = 40.0;
@@ -235,6 +234,11 @@ void CatController::batChip()
     }
     setChipX(next);
 
+    // Whole turns in the direction it was hit, so it always lands on the same
+    // silhouette, right on top of its shadow. The QML side lets it coast.
+    m_chipSpin += (m_facingRight ? 1 : -1) * 360.0 * rng->bounded(1, 3);
+    emit chipSpinChanged();
+
     if (--m_batsLeft <= 0) {
         endChase();
         holdMood(Mood::Sitting, 2500); // pleased with itself
diff --git a/src/catcontroller.h b/src/catcontroller.h
index 1bba9a2..058dfdc 100644
--- a/src/catcontroller.h
+++ b/src/catcontroller.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class CatController : public QObject
 
     Q_PROPERTY(bool chipVisible READ chipVisible NOTIFY chipVisibleChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(qreal chipX READ chipX NOTIFY chipXChanged)
-    Q_PROPERTY(int chipKick READ chipKick NOTIFY chipKickChanged)
+    Q_PROPERTY(qreal chipSpin READ chipSpin NOTIFY chipSpinChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(bool cupVisible READ cupVisible NOTIFY cupVisibleChanged)
     Q_PROPERTY(qreal cupX READ cupX NOTIFY cupXChanged)
 
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ public:
 
     bool chipVisible() const { return m_chipVisible; }
     qreal chipX() const { return m_chipX; }
-    int chipKick() const { return m_chipKick; }
+    qreal chipSpin() const { return m_chipSpin; }
     bool cupVisible() const { return m_cupVisible; }
     qreal cupX() const { return m_cupX; }
 
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ signals:
     void lookChanged();
     void chipVisibleChanged();
     void chipXChanged();
-    void chipKickChanged();
+    void chipSpinChanged();
     void cupVisibleChanged();
     void cupXChanged();
 
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ private:
 
     bool m_chipVisible = false;
     qreal m_chipX = 0;
-    int m_chipKick = 0;
+    qreal m_chipSpin = 0;
     int m_batsLeft = 0;
 
     bool m_cupVisible = false;