Search for Science Fair Projects

1000 Science Fair Projects with Complete Instructions

Sports science Science Fair Project

Golf Ball Balance and Putting Accuracy

Medium
Golf Ball Balance and Putting Accuracy | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
Does finding a golf ball's balance point improve your putting? Every golf ball has a slightly heavier side. Some golfers believe that orienting the heavy side down gives a truer roll. You float 10 golf balls in salt water. When a ball stops spinning, the lighter side faces up. You mark that spot. Five golfers each putt 10 marked balls and 10 unmarked balls into a hole 2 meters away. You count successful putts for each group. The results are close. Unmarked balls produced 39 total successful putts. Marked balls produced 40. Knowing the balance point made almost no measurable difference.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that the balanced golf ball does not produce better putt results compared to unbalanced golf balls.

Method & Materials

You will randomly separate the golf balls into two groups, test the second group to find out their balance points, and putt the golf balls into a hole two meters away.
You will need five amateur golf players, one practice putting green, twenty golf balls of the same brand and model, five golf putters, one beaker filled with water, one pack of salt, one marker pen, and one measuring tape.

Results

The results of the experiment showed that the total successful putts using the golf balls whose balance points were unknown were comparable to the golf balls whose balance points were known. This proved the hypothesis to be true.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it tests a common assumption about golf balls and puts it to the test.

Also Consider

Consider repeating the experiment with different brands or types of golf balls, varying the distance from which the golf balls are being shot, or using the Check-Go to find the balance point for each golf ball.

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

Related videos

These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
Share this Science Project:

Related Science Fair Project Ideas

Slow Breathing and Runner Fatigue
Train half your runners in slow breathing for four weeks and find out if they hit the wall less often than the control group.
Medium
Fast-Paced Music and Treadmill Performance
Have the same runners do two treadmill sessions, one silent and one with fast-paced music, and compare the distances.
Medium
Soccer Ball Bounce on Different Turf
Drop a soccer ball from two meters onto three kinds of turf and discover which surface keeps it bouncing longest.
Medium
Share this Science Project: