Calculated golf ball performance based on measured visco-hyperelastic material properties

Dynamic behaviour of golf balls during oblique impact is investigated using Abaqus (FEA software) to represent the ball structure and measured material properties. The properties of the mantle layer were measured from independent tests of material properties. Materials of golf balls were shown to possess viscoelastic and hyperelastic (or visco-hyperelastic) behaviours. The merit of this approach is that characterisation of new materials and modelling impact of a golf ball can be performed before construction of a prototype golf ball. This paper compares calculated and experimental coefficients of restitution (COR) of a hollow, multilayer golf ball.