You tee off and strike the ball with all you skill and might, full of enthusiasm. Your heart sinks as the ball veers off in to a bunker. A natural reaction is to blame your clubs, but thanks to the work of the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and The R&A, golf equipment manufacturers cannot produce kit that gives players an unfair advantage.
As a world leading centre of excellence in developing and applying the most accurate standards NPL was recently approached by The R&A - golf's governing body and organiser of The Open Championship - to investigate essential measurements of the surface texture of golf clubs.
The texture and form of the surface that strikes the ball can have an effect on the launch speed, spin and trajectory of the ball. The R&A currently set Rules limiting the magnitude of the surface texture of a golf club. Golf club manufacturers constantly strive to find new techniques to impart surface finishes, whilst staying within the confines of the Rules.
For this reason, The R&A has to assess the surface texture of each new type of club and determine whether it conforms to the rules. NPL's Richard Leach examined The R&A's measurement equipment and protocols and carried out a critical assessment of all their processes and advised them on the latest ISO standards in the field. The ISO standards can be difficult to interpret, so Richard referred them to the appropriate NPL good practice guide. Also, the current Rules refer to specific machining practices and many different machining methods are used these days.
As a result, The R&A are now evaluating their procedures in light of Richard's comments, including the implications of modern surface roughness engineering and measurement procedure for the Rules of Golf documentation. The Rules of Golf aim to provide a comprehensive and understandable summary of the playing and equipment Rules.
Richard Leach said:
"At NPL we develop and apply the most accurate standards and measurement science available. We used this expertise to review and assess the processes used by The R&A when deciding on the conformity of new golfing equipment. While we don't have the expertise to turn the average golfer into the next Lee Westwood, we can at least help to ensure that golf's best traditions are protected, and that skill remains the dominant element in determining success."
Notes to Editors
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is one of the UK's leading science facilities and research centres. It is a world-leading centre of excellence in developing and applying the most accurate standards, science and technology available.
NPL occupies a unique position as the UK's National Measurement Institute and sits at the intersection between scientific discovery and real world application. Its expertise and original research have underpinned quality of life, innovation and competitiveness for UK citizens and business for more than a century:
- NPL provides companies with access to world leading support and technical expertise, inspiring the absolute confidence required to realise competitive advantage from new materials, techniques and technologies
- NPL expertise and services are crucial in a wide range of social applications - helping to save lives, protect the environment and enable citizens to feel safe and secure. Support in areas such as the development of advanced medical treatments and environmental monitoring helps secure a better quality of life for all
- NPL develops and maintains the nation's primary measurement standards, supporting an infrastructure of traceable measurement throughout the UK and the world, to ensure accuracy and consistency.