Research uses over 90 different brands of golf balls Golf Ball Centrifuge

 

 

Marks 1 and 2 placed on the golf ball Marks 3 and 4 placed on the golf ball Golf ball marking template Drive robot set up hitting blocks Swing arm

Coefficient of Restitution

Research & Development
  • Balls tested are chosen from the leading brands sold in most retail stores in the U.S., Japan, and Europe.
  • 3 dozen test balls are used for each brand.
  • The golf balls are individually numbered for identification.

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  • Each golf ball is then placed into a salt-water solution to float the golf ball. The ball is rotated by hand to create a spinning motion. When the golf ball comes to rest gravity will pull the heaviest point downward and the lightest spot of the golf ball will rest at the highest point above the water line. A dot is placed on the golf ball at that exact point with a marking pen to indicate the light spot. On the exact opposite side of the golf ball a mark is made on the golf ball to indicate the heaviest point.
  • The balls are then put into a Check Go centrifuge for line assignment.
  • The ball is spun at a rate of approximately 12,000 RPM’s. The centrifugal force of the spinner will pull the center of gravity outward towards the side of the golf ball. Theoretically the heaviest point of the golf ball will be thrown outward and a line is drawn around the golf ball establishing a plane with the heaviest point and the lightest point of the golf ball are on the same plane.



  • This line should pass directly through the two points previously marked with the saline test
  • Four locations are marked and numbered on each ball. The locations marked represent the lightest point, heaviest point, and 2 points 90 & 180 degrees adjacent to the center of gravity.
  • These marks are used in performing accuracy test for both coefficient of restitution and aerodynamic research.

     

     

     

  • Two lines are then drawn around the golf ball, one on the same plane as the lightest and heaviest points, the other is drawn adjacent 90 degrees to the first line.
  • These marks are used for alignment purposes in the air cannon and robot for future dispersion and COR testing.

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  • The AGS robot is designed with the intention of testing golf balls only.
  • The robot is used to conduct coefficient of restitution test on all the golf balls
  • The shaft is swung on a single plane at the speed set to the servo.
  • The ball is positioned on the tee to create impact at a specific location on the ball.

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  • Adjustable hitting blocks are attached to the end of the swing arm to create various degrees of launch angle.

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  • A launch monitor is used to capture data from the golf ball immediately after impact. This measures ball speed, launch angle and spin rates.
  • A chronograph is used to record the swing arm speed.
  • A series of nine tests are performed on each brand of golf ball. The data is recorded and a database is created to determine the COR characteristics of each brand. A specific golf ball profile is created for each brand from this database.