Apparatus for calibrating golf ball launch monitors

A method of calibrating a golf ball launch monitor, comprising the steps of:

• providing the launch monitor that comprises at least one camera for capturing golf ball images;
• providing a calibration apparatus having a rotatable circular wheel, the wheel having at least one golf ball embedded therein with at least one contrasting marking, the golf ball placed at a predetermined distance from a center of the wheel, a wheel cover having a field-of-view opening defined in a lower portion of the cover;
• measuring a distance between the launch monitor and the at least one golf ball embedded in the wheel;
• focusing the at least one camera upon the field-of-view;
• rotating the wheel at a predetermined revolution rate wherein the at least one golf ball is visible through the field-of-view opening defined in the cover and a speed and a spin rate of the at least one golf ball are known constants;
• capturing at least two images of the at least one golf ball and calculating units of ball speed and ball spin rate;
• and
• comparing the ball speed and ball spin rate data obtained by the launch monitor against the known speed and spin rate of the calibration apparatus, wherein the accuracy of the launch monitor is verified or amended.