ABSTRACT
In this paper, the dynamic characteristics of golf balls during impact is measured by using a newly developed experimental apparatus, in which a golf ball fired by an air gun hits on a steel target of load cell and the contact force and the deformation of the golf ball are measured by the load cell and a high speed camera respectively. Some commercial golf balls are tested in order to clarify the restitution characteristics and mechanical models consisting of mass, spring and damper for golf balls are identified and are proposed to be used for investigating the dynamic characteristics of golf clubs as a subsequent stage of the research. The mechanical models would be a powerful idea which enables to simulate golf shots by a computer with higher accuracy and less computing time.
