This dissertation seeks to address the implications on putting a golf ball with an off center mass by analyzing the effect of the asymmetric mass on a ball's impact with a club head, subsequent rolling, and interaction with hole. In first part, a numerical study is conducted to elucidate the effect of impact loft angle on the golf ball speed, total spin and total distance traveled. Specifically, the subsequent trajectory of a golf ball that has an eccentric mass and is impacted by a putter over a range of positive/negative loft angles is examined. A general formulation is derived to predict the launch conditions of the golf ball with a center of mass offset. Simulations show that exerting a positive/negative loft angle of 5° on a ball with an offset length of 0.001 of radius of the golf ball decrease the deviation of the ball from straight path and increase the probability of a successful putt. It is also found that eccentric mass with an offset length of 0.5 to 1.00 percent of the golf ball's radius can change the ball's initial velocity such that the ball's trajectory misses the hole. Based on our analysis, contact point on the clubhead has a significant influence on the trajectory in comparison to the loft angle.;In the second part, the general equations of motion of a rigid golf ball rolling with slip and then transitions to rolling friction on an arbitrary surface are derived and presented. Particular attention is given to the effects of rolling resistance and the offset center of mass of the golf ball's trajectory. An experimental setup based on a USGA Stimpmeter is used to calibrate the position of contact point as the ball rolls on the green. The trajectories of the ball with mass imbalance are studied by numerically solving the equations of motion during putting using simulations implemented in Matlab. Results show that depending on the green slope, ball launch velocity, and length of putt, an offset mass center of 0.2% of the ball's radius can impact the path of the ball with the consequences of a missing a 5.8 m putt. The results indicate that changing golf ball trajectories with offset mass center has implications on the development of golf balls and putting.;Finally, the interaction of an asymmetric golf ball with the hole is investigated. The deformation of the green is taken into account and included in the equations of motion as rolling resistance parameter. General equations of motion for the unbalanced ball that rolls on the edge of the hole are derived. The last section presents analytical estimates of the required initial velocity that leads an off-center golf ball to be successfully captured by the hole.
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