What is Golf: Definition and 178 Discussions

Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a course in as few strokes as possible.
Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not utilize a standardized playing area, and coping with the varied terrains encountered on different courses is a key part of the game. The game at the usual level is played on a course with an arranged progression of 18 holes, though recreational courses can be smaller, often having nine holes. Each hole on the course must contain a teeing ground to start from, and a putting green containing the actual hole or cup 4+1⁄4 inches (11 cm) in diameter. There are other standard forms of terrain in between, such as the fairway, rough (long grass), bunkers (or "sand traps"), and various hazards (water, rocks) but each hole on a course is unique in its specific layout and arrangement.
Golf is played for the lowest number of strokes by an individual, known as stroke play, or the lowest score on the most individual holes in a complete round by an individual or team, known as match play. Stroke play is the most commonly seen format at all levels, but most especially at the elite level.
The modern game of golf originated in 15th century Scotland. The 18-hole round was created at the Old Course at St Andrews in 1764. Golf's first major, and the world's oldest tournament in existence, is The Open Championship, also known as the British Open, which was first played in 1860 at the Prestwick Golf Club in Ayrshire, Scotland. This is one of the four major championships in men's professional golf, the other three being played in the United States: The Masters, the U.S. Open, and the PGA Championship.

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  1. susan_khan

    How to Calculate Speed of Head of Driver After Collision?

    A 0.045 kg golf ball is hit by a driver. The head of the driver has a mass of 0.15 kg, and travels at a speed of 56 m/s before the collision. The ball has a speed of 67 m/s as it leaves the clubface. What is the speed of the head of the driver immediately after the collision? I'm not sure...
  2. U

    Golf Ball Projectile Motion Problem -- Solved

    26.6m/s = v0 36.5º = θ g = 9.81m/s^2 A) Find Range: (v0^2)/g *sin2θ = (26.6^2)/9.81 * sin2(36.5) = 89.99 I double-checked with the other Range equation (2v0*cosθ * (v0sinθ)/g) so I know I'm doing something wrong. Please help! Thank you edit: A) Correct answer is 69.0
  3. Fisic

    I How weather conditions affect a golf shot

    Please correct me if I'm well off the fairway with the following theory. We all know that atmospheric conditions (temperature, pressure, dewpoint, etc.) can affect many different bodies in motion, from aeroplanes to cars to golf balls. But in the case of a golf ball, exactly how big is the...
  4. J

    Number of dimples on a golf ball

    The approximate number of dimples is 1/(1-√(1-r^2/R^2))
  5. P

    Describe the physics of a golf ball flight off the club face

    How did you find PF?: social media The flight of a golf ball off the club face at the moment of strike would seem to be determined, among other variables such as elasticity, by the mass of the ball, the club's force vector, and the orientation of the club face relative to that force vector...
  6. Jregan

    A golf ball being hit on the moon vs Earth

    I am just not sure if I did this properly. My professor hasn't really gone over when to use the range equation but I would assume range would equal the distance traveled therefore can be used for this problem. If not the how would I go about solving this? I did 1/6*9.8=1.63 for g on the moon...
  7. Boyi

    What factors affect a golf ball's drag and lift besides spin and speed?

    Summary: What could affect Magnus force's magnitude and direction except for speed and spin? Most golf flight simulators model the coefficient for drag (Cd) and lift (Cl) as a function of the relative spin ratio (rsr), where rsr = spin * radius / speed. In Figure 1, parameters of two similar...
  8. O

    Clearing a wall with a golf shot

    Every trajectory follows a parabola if we neglect air resistance. So we can calculate the maximum distance in x direction s_max. Also we can determine the time it takes to hit the ground again t_max. If the ground is everywhere the same height, I can assume that at t_max/2 the height (s_y) is at...
  9. T

    Calculating the force required to move a golf ball up a ramp

    Homework Statement Hello and good day, I am currently working on a design project which involves creating a golf ball collecting machine. The current design method involves the golf ball being swept up a ramp by rotating sweeping arms. I am trying to calculate the force required to push the...
  10. Ulle73

    Golf club "Swing Weight" and club head rotation

    for those Who Dont know golf. Swing weight is a measurment how Heavy the clubhead Feels. If i put on a heavier grip the swingweight falls. Heavier head swing weight goes up etc. If i Want to swing the Club with as little clubhead rotation as possible (i know forarm creats the rotation) Would i...
  11. Kaura

    Designing a Disc Golf Launcher: Feasible & Accurate?

    For my Engineering class I have to work with three other people to design a device that launchers a disc golf. So far we have a basic design plan but we are unsure if it is actually viable. Essentially there will be a platform that holds the disc in place and will be propelled by 2 to 4...
  12. M

    Acceleration of a golf club hitting a ball

    What will be the difference in distance of the ball if it is hit by a club traveling 120 mph at impact (constant velocity) versus a ball hit by a club traveling at 120 mph but accelerating at the point of initial impact?
  13. JTC

    Golf ball and Tennis ball turbulence

    So I have read many articles on tennis ball fuzz and golf ball dimples and I am more confused than before. Here is one that says that the dimples make the golf balls go faster: https://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/sports/golf/basics/question37.htm And just when it makes all sense, I read...
  14. A

    How high did my golf ball go? (I have time of flight straight up)

    Years ago, I made a golf ball launcher. It shot straight up at a 90 degree angle. From launch to landing only 2 feet from where it started, it took about 20 seconds before it was back on the ground. Is there a way to determine its maximum speed and height it reached? This has been bugging me for...
  15. N

    Roller coaster for a golf ball

    I have to make a roller coaster for a golf ball. It has to be made out of recycled materials. This also means no materials for construction (but chicken wire is allowed) and no prefabricated materials (Legos, Kenex, etc) 2 loops, 2 hills. Each hill has to be 20 cm height change. Can anyone...
  16. G

    Projectile Motion: golf ball velocity to reach the green

    Homework Statement A golfer strikes a golf ball at an angle of 17 degrees above the horizontal. With what velocity must the ball be hit to reach the green which is a horizontal distance of 250 m from the golfer? It is at the same height as the tee. Homework Equations trig equations...
  17. J

    Find the average force of a golf club on a golf ball

    Homework Statement A golf ball is struck by a golf club and sent flying down range at an angle of 30 degrees to the ground and lands 150m downrange. If the mass of the ball is 0.045 kg and the collision of the ball and club lasted 0.01s, what was the average force applied by the club...
  18. U

    Ratio for the dimples in a golf ball

    I'm conducting an experiment in order to find the effectiveness of dimples in a golf ball when flying through the air. As part of the experiment, I'm planning on testing the different dimple patterns of various golf balls. However, I'm having trouble coming up with a numerical ratio that can...
  19. J

    I Can counterbalancing a golf club improve consistency and distance?

    Hello, I'm posting this question here to eliminate the confirmation bias of golfers, as I want a more real scientific answer to counterbalancing. My theory on counterbalancing a golf club is that it is beneficial in reducing the sway on the club head caused by the swing itself. In other words...
  20. J

    Acceleration of golf club hitting a ball

    The great Ben Hogan said he learned from a physics book when he was on the PGA Tour that if the golf club head is still accelerating AFTER it has struck the golf ball, the result is a straighter shot on line to the target. I can't find any examples of what he is talking about in the physics...
  21. C

    What is the optimum angle to hit a golf ball the furthest?

    Could anyone please tell me how to get this answer through calculations and other means?
  22. K

    How much current does a 36 volt golf cart battery draw?

    Hello forum. How much current does a 36 volt battery draw under a full load? (Scratch the word battery in this first sentence and replace it with motor). I know I could find it under manufacturers web sites, but I cannot seem to figure it out quickly.
  23. K

    Gravitational force of a basketball to a golf ball

    Homework Statement Two basketballs, each of mass 0.58 kg and radius0.12 m, are placed on a floor so that they touch each other. Two golf balls, each of mass 0.045 kg and radius 22 mm, are placed on a table so that they touch each other. What is the ratio of the gravitational force exerted by...
  24. ProjectTruth

    Golf ball homework problem

    << Mentor Note -- Thread moved from the technical math forums, so no HH Template is shown >> Hey guys, could use some insight here... So this is a basic story problem: "I paid $22.30 for 6 new golf balls and 10 used balls. If each new ball costs $.65 more than a used ball,how much did I pay...
  25. N

    Calculating Force Applied to Golf Ball by Club with Limited Data

    Homework Statement You hit a golf ball (mass 50g) squarely with the club face from ground level on a flat golf course. The ball leaves the club at an angle of 20 degrees above horizontal and travels 250m before hitting the ground. The force vs time graph below shows the force exerted on the...
  26. BTBlueSkies

    Is the wave function more like a soccer ball, or a golf ball

    I have been trying to understand the wave function around an atom.. Is it more like a soccer ball where the shell is smooth but is more likely to be found in say the dark areas, or is it more like a golf ball where it is not only angularly undulating, but also radially undulating?
  27. K

    Effect of golf shaft length and flex

    Hi, I'm wondering about the effect of the shaft flex on the impact velocity between the club and the ball. I understand that as I swing down the golf club, the shaft flexes and the club head lags behind. Near the end of the point of impact, the shaft bends forward. Intuitively, I would think...
  28. M

    Calculation to launch a golf ball

    Hi, I need your help. Is my calculation correct? 1. Homework Statement We have to build a launcher that will be able to reach a target that is place anywhere in a prism 3m X 3m X 1m. The launcher have to used a golf ball and gravity as source of energy. I am trying to calculate what we need...
  29. R

    Distance golf ball travels

    Homework Statement Golfer hits a golf ball so that it goes with initial velocity of 40 m/s at angle of 45 degrees. 100 m away is a lake that is 50 m wide. The ball will not bounce or roll when it lands. Where does the ball land? Before, in, or after the lake.Homework Equations Vertical: a =...
  30. lovethepirk

    What is the reflection angle of a golf ball after being struck by a putter?

    I'd like to begin by ignoring friction and center of gravity at the moment if that is possible...and throw out any other variables until I get the larger picture down and then I'd like to ask for a discussion including those items... The picture shows a block moving towards a ball...similar to...
  31. lovethepirk

    Golf Ball Backspin: Understanding Compression and Groove Effects

    Thanks in advance... I am trying to conceptually get my arms around backspin placed upon a golf ball when an angled(lofted) putter strikes a ball. -I'm assuming as you can see in the attachment that the two objects meet with the horizontal center of gravity at the same location so any twisting...
  32. rjbeery

    Black hole formation with golf balls in GR

    Start with an existing black hole and an event horizon radius R at time T. Say the black hole is being "fed" an infinite series of golf balls, one after the other, which are all stamped numerically such that the current golf ball external to the event horizon is 1.0 * 10^32. See linked img...
  33. F

    What is the final velocity of the golf ball before it lands?

    A golfer hits a shot to a green that is elevated 3.00 m above the point where the ball is struck. The ball leaves the club at a speed of 17.1 m/s at an angle of 52.0˚ above the horizontal. It rises to its maximum height and then falls down to the green. Ignoring air resistance, find the speed of...
  34. R

    Projectiles Question -- Tiger Woods drives a golf ball on the Moon

    Homework Statement As part of a NASA experiment, golfer Tiger Woods drives a golf ball on the moon, where g = 1.60 m/s2. He ‘launches’ a golf ball with a speed of 285 km/h, at an angle of 42o with the horizontal. What horizontal distance will his drive travel before landing back on the...
  35. N

    How far can a golf ball travel on the moon?

    Homework Statement If you can hit a golf ball 180m on Earth, how far can you hit it on the Moon?The Attempt at a Solution Since this question deals with range; sx = [vxi^2 sinΘ]/g My problem is that I do not have the velocity at which the golf ball is being hit. As for the launch angle, I...
  36. J

    Motor Selection to Operate Golf Cart Steering Wheel

    Hi all, I am trying to select a motor for a project that will have enough torque to operate the steering wheel of a golf cart. I'm trying to avoid over design as I want to be as economical as possible. The problem that I am having lies in determining the torque that is required to move the...
  37. M

    Average Acceleration of a golf swing

    Hello, I'm actually working on a project, which record the acceleration of a golf club via an accelerometer. And with the data of it i have manage to draw a graphic of a golf swing. My question is : how can i get the average speed of the recorded data. Indication, the time is in ms.
  38. P

    Modelling flight path of a golf ball

    Is there an equation in which you can model the flight path of a golf ball? I know there must be as there are plenty of "Golf Ball Flight Simulators". Does anyone know of this equation? Would be quite helpful to me.
  39. S

    Why Does Backspin on Golf Balls Increase Distance? Explained by Science

    Golf balls are dimpled to give the ball some grip on the air. Backspin is usually highly desirable as it increases lift and hence further distance. But why? Could it be that the friction of the ball and the air is greater on the bottom than on the top and hence heat is released under the ball...
  40. J

    Answer Check: A golf ball is hit and hits a bee. find the work done on the bee

    Homework Statement Homework Equations F=ma W= Fdcosθ The Attempt at a Solution I first found the acceleration: t= d/v t= 37m/28m/s = 1.32s a = v/t a = 28m/s / 1.32s a= 21.21 m/ss Second, the force: Fclub - Fgsinθ = ma Fclub = a +gsinθ Fclub = 21.21m/ss + 9.8m/ss...
  41. D

    Momentum of golf ball and basketball

    Homework Statement Place a golf ball on top of a basketball, and drop the pair from rest so they fall to the ground.The golf ball stays on top of the basketball until the basketball hits the floor. The mass of the golf ball is 0.0459 kg, and the mass of the basketball is 0.587 kg. a) If the...
  42. Hercuflea

    Golf Balls and differential equations

    Hey Everybody, I am supposed to model the trajectory of a golf ball. I have been given the equations for velocity as a function of its derivative with respect to time. I am supposed to find the x-range as a function of the angle θ. (Pardon my bad latex skills, I will fix mistakes)...
  43. C

    Automotive Stiffness and dumping coeficients of a VW Golf

    stiffness and damping coeficients of a VW Golf Hi! I need information about the VW Golf IV 1.6 16V(2003). I need to estimate and calculate the transfer function of the quarter model car so i need the coeficients of stiffness (K) (N/m) and damping (C) (Ns/m) of the front suspension, its...
  44. C

    Can dimpled fuselages reduce drag on aircraft?

    First off, I'm not an engineer. I'm only in high school so this may sound like a stupid question to some. But, I watched this episode of mythbusters where they tested the gas mileage on a standard car, and one with golf ball-like dimples all over it, and there was a significant difference...
  45. S

    How do dimples on a golf ball affect its aerodynamics?

    Homework Statement What effects does the shape of a golf ball (dimples) have on its aerodynamics in comparison to a ball without dimples.
  46. S

    Pneumatic Golf Ball Cannon Distance HELP

    Alright, So for my Grade 11 class our project was to design and build something that shows scientific characteristics. I decided to make a golfball cannon It uses a regulator with a schraeder valve to fill with air. In one shot we used 80 Psi to shoot a golfball with a diameter of 1.68...
  47. E

    Calculating 3D Impact Coordinates for Golf Ball Collisions

    hi there, I have been working on this particular problem for some weeks?months? now, and it has me quite stumped. I need to calculate the x,y,z co-ords of a golf ball after it has been putted into a hole, when it contacts the opposite rim, assuming it is traveling fast enough to contact the...
  48. B

    Golf ball, projectile question

    Homework Statement a golf ball is struck at an angle of 30 degree with respect to the horizontal, at a velocity of 11m/sec. the golf course is perfectly level and the golf ball stops instantaneously when it hits the ground. a) determine the horizontal distance traveled by the golf ball b)...
  49. E

    What is the force exerted by a golf club on a ball in a typical swing?

    Homework Statement In a typical golf swing, the club is in contact with the ball for about .001s. If the 45g ball acquires a speed of 53 m/s, estimate the magnitude of the force exerted by the club on the ball. Homework Equations do i use a collision formula for this? The Attempt at...
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