Dynamic contact behavior of a golf ball during an oblique impact

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 nu(r), inbound angle theta(i), rebound angle theta(r), and the coefficient of restitution e. The results showed that theta(r) and e decreased as nu(i) increased. The maximum compression ratio eta(c), contact time t(c), average angular velocity (omega) over bar, and tangential velocity (nu) over bar (t), along the target were determined from images obtained during the impact. The images demonstrated that eta(c) increased with nu(i) while t(c) decreased. In addition, (omega) over bar and (omega) over bar (t) increased almost linearly as nu(i) increased. A rigid body model was used to estimate the final angular velocity omega* and tangential velocity nu(t)* at the end of the impact; these results were then compared with experimental data.