ABSTRACT
Tangential and normal forces of golf balls were measured at highly lofted impact angles using piezoelectric force transducers. An air cannon was used to eject golf balls at the force transducer surface mounted almost parallel to the incoming golf ball direction. Two types of golf ball constructions used in the playing of golf were measured to determine the dynamic coefficient of friction on a grooved surface. These measurements were compared with the photographic analysis method for obtaining the dynamic coefficient of friction. A one-camera system was used to image capture the golf ball at two positions before and after impact with the force transducer. From the position measurements of markers on the golf ball, spin rate and ball velocity were measured before and after impact. Using the rigid body theory of impact, the resulting dynamic friction is calculated from these photographic measurements. A comparison of the two methods for measuring the friction coefficient and the effect of velocity on the resulting spin rate and friction coefficients of the golf balls are discussed in this study.
