Ava Romero
CT in golf refers to characteristic time, which is a test used by the USGA and R&A to determine whether drivers conform to the limits within the Rules of Golf on spring-like effect. The test involves using a pendulum device to drop a steel ball that strikes the face of the driver being tested. Sensors within the steel ball measure the amount of time in contact between the two objects. The CT limit is 239 microseconds, with a tolerance of 18 microseconds, making the maximum limit 257 microseconds. A CT reading above 257 indicates a non-conforming driver.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Characteristic Time |
| Governing Bodies | USGA and R&A |
| Purpose | To determine whether drivers conform to the limits within the Rules of Golf on "spring-like effect" |
| Unit | Microseconds |
| Limit | 239 microseconds |
| Tolerance | 18 microseconds |
| Maximum Limit | 257 microseconds |
| CT Test | Involves using a pendulum device to drop a steel ball so that it strikes the face of the driver being tested |
| COR | Coefficient of Restitution |
| CT Score Range | Low to mid 240 |
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What You'll Learn
CT refers to 'characteristic time' in golf
CT in golf refers to "characteristic time", which is the amount of time, measured in microseconds, that there is contact between the clubface of a driver and the ball during the moment of impact. The USGA and R&A, golf's governing bodies, measure CT to determine whether drivers conform to the limits within the Rules of Golf on the "spring-like effect". The "spring-like effect" refers to the springiness of a clubface, which affects how far a golf ball can fly.
The CT test involves using a pendulum device to drop a steel ball so that it strikes the face of the driver being tested. Sensors within the steel ball then measure the amount of time there is contact between the two objects. The CT limit for drivers is 239 microseconds, with a tolerance of 18 microseconds, making the absolute maximum limit a reading of 257 microseconds. Golf clubs that measure higher than 257 microseconds on the CT test are deemed illegal.
Prior to 2004, the USGA and R&A tested spring-like effects by measuring the coefficient of restitution (COR). The COR test involved firing a golf ball from an air cannon at a club head and measuring the velocity at which the ball bounced off. However, the COR test was time-consuming, taking about 45 minutes to map each club head. The CT test was introduced as a faster alternative, using a small, portable pendulum system.
While the CT test is now the standard for testing golf clubs, some argue that it does not always accurately mimic the response of a golf ball. For example, golf club expert Tom Olsavsky notes that the CT test reads high when tested off-centre, which is not an accurate representation of what happens when a golf ball is hit off-centre. Despite this, the current rules of golf club conformity are based on the CT test, and it is the test that PGA Tour players must pass each week to continue using their drivers.
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CT measures the 'spring-like effect' of a club face
Golf's governing bodies, the USGA and R&A, use "characteristic time" (CT) to determine whether drivers conform to the limits within the Rules of Golf on "spring-like effect". Simply put, characteristic time is the amount of time, measured in microseconds, that there is contact between the clubface of a driver and the ball used in the testing apparatus at the moment of impact. The springier the clubface, the farther the golf ball can fly.
The CT test measures the spring-like effect of a club face by using a small, portable pendulum system that strikes the face with a steel ball. Sensors then read the amount of time the two objects stay in contact with each other. The USGA developed this testing device in 2004 to be portable enough to use at sanctioned golf tournaments to determine clubface conformity.
The CT test replaced the COR test, which tested for the spring-like effect of a club head by firing a golf ball from an air cannon at a club head and measuring the velocity at which the ball bounced off. The COR test was time-consuming, taking about 45 minutes to map each club head.
The CT test uses a pendulum device to drop a steel ball so that it strikes the face of the driver being tested. Sensors within the steel ball measure the amount of time there is contact between the two objects. The governing bodies have set a CT limit for drivers of 239 microseconds, with a tolerance of 18 microseconds. Therefore, any golf club that measures higher than 257 microseconds on the CT test is deemed non-conforming.
It is important to note that the USGA and R&A only test characteristic time for drivers. COR continues to be the method of measuring spring-like effect in fairway woods, hybrids, and irons.
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The CT test involves using a pendulum device
The CT test, or Characteristic Time test, is a method used by the governing bodies of golf to determine whether drivers conform to the limits within the Rules of Golf on the "spring-like effect". This effect refers to the springiness of a clubface, which, if higher, can make the golf ball fly further.
The pendulum device used in the CT test has very precise sensors within the steel ball that measure the amount of time there is contact between the two objects. This measurement is taken in microseconds, with the governing bodies setting a CT limit of 239 microseconds for drivers. A microsecond is one-millionth of a second, so 239-millionths of a second is the prescribed limit for the time the steel ball and the driver face can be in contact.
However, the governing bodies allow a tolerance of 18 microseconds, making the absolute maximum limit a reading of 257 microseconds. Any golf club that measures higher than this limit is deemed illegal. Golf club manufacturers aim to get as close to 257 microseconds as possible without exceeding it.
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The CT limit is 239 microseconds
In golf, "characteristic time" (CT) is a measurement used by the sport's governing bodies, the USGA and R&A, to determine whether drivers conform to the limits within the Rules of Golf on "spring-like effect". In other words, it measures the springiness of a clubface, which can affect how far a golf ball can fly.
The CT test involves using a pendulum device to release a steel ball so that it strikes the face of the driver being tested. Sensors within the steel ball then measure the amount of time the two objects are in contact with each other.
Golf club manufacturers usually aim to get as close to 257 microseconds as possible without going over the limit. While the CT test is now the standard for testing golf clubs, some critics argue that it doesn't always accurately mimic the response of a golf ball, and that the previous COR (coefficient of restitution) test was more accurate in terms of the physics of a golf club hitting a golf ball.
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A CT reading above 257 means the driver is non-conforming
In golf, "characteristic time" (CT) is a term used by governing bodies, the USGA and R&A, to measure the conformity of drivers within the Rules of Golf. It determines the "spring-like effect" of a clubface, or how springy it is. The springier the clubface, the farther the golf ball can fly.
The CT test involves using a pendulum device to drop a steel ball so that it strikes the face of the driver being tested. Sensors within the steel ball then measure the amount of time the two objects are in contact with each other. The CT limit for drivers is 239 microseconds, with a manufacturing tolerance of 18 microseconds, making the absolute maximum limit a reading of 257 microseconds. Therefore, a CT reading above 257 means the driver is non-conforming.
Golf club manufacturers aim to get as close to 257 as possible without exceeding the limit. However, perfectly legal drivers can become non-conforming over time through normal use as the club "creeps" beyond the allowed limits. This phenomenon is known as "CT creep". It occurs when a driver's clubface becomes more flexible over time due to repeated use and high-speed impacts.
CT testing is now mandatory for PGA Tour players, and all retail drivers must pass the test before they are sold.
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Frequently asked questions
CT stands for Characteristic Time, which is the amount of time in microseconds that a golf club and ball are in contact at the moment of impact.
CT is important because it measures the "spring-like effect" of a clubface. The springier the clubface, the farther the golf ball can fly.
The CT limit is 239 microseconds with a tolerance of 18 microseconds, making the maximum limit 257 microseconds.
The CT test involves using a pendulum device to drop a steel ball so that it strikes the face of the driver being tested. Sensors within the steel ball then measure the amount of time in contact between the two objects.
