Apparatus for calibrating golf ball launch monitors

The present invention is directed to a calibration apparatus and method for calibrating and verifying the accuracy of a golf ball launch monitor. The apparatus includes a support structure and a rotatable wheel that has embedded golf balls evenly dispersed at a known distance from the center of the wheel, and a field of view opening in a protective cover. A power device, typically an electric motor, rotates the wheel at a predetermined speed to establish a known speed and spin rate of the golf balls. Each golf ball surface includes contrasting markings. Camera(s) of the launch monitor are focused on the field-of-view wherein each camera is triggered such that two images of a ball are captured. The monitor has a computer to analyze data for speed and spin rate of the golf balls. A comparison of this data to the established known speed and spin rate of the calibration apparatus enables determination of the accuracy and repeatability of the monitor.