Dynamic Contact Behavior of a Golf Ball during an Oblique Impact

Abstract

The oblique impact between a golf ball and a rigid steel target was studied using a high-speed video camera. Video images recorded before and after the impact were used to determine the inbound velocity vi, rebound velocity vr, inbound angle θi, rebound angle θr, and the coefficient of restitution e. The results showed that θr and e decreased as vi increased. The maximum compression ratio ηc, contact time tc, average angular velocity \(\overline{\omega } \), and tangential velocity \(\overline{v} _{{\text{t}}} \), along the target were determined from images obtained during the impact. The images demonstrated that ηc increased with vi while tc decreased. In addition, \(\overline{\omega } \) and \(\overline{v} _{{\text{t}}} \) increased almost linearly as vi increased. A rigid body model was used to estimate the final angular velocity ω* and tangential velocity νt* at the end of the impact; these results were then compared with experimental data.