The use of an inclined plane to measure golf green performance is not new. A device to replicate 'putts' was first successfully demonstrated by Sir Ralph Payne-Gallwey in 1908. His experiments showed in fact that the rubber cored balls of the time had inconsistent centres of gravity. Sideways deviation of 2 feet along the line of an 8 foot putt was not uncommon.
These tests were carried out indoors, on a full size billiard table, and showed that a ball with a true centre of gravity would consistently hold its line during an 8 foot putt. The surface was, of course, very true and very smooth. In effect, it was a constant, not a variable, in the experiments.
The ball was the variable and Payne-Gallwey added further evidence with in vivo ballistic tests. The entire set of results were published in the London Times during March 1909 and ensured that golf ball makers rapidly improved their products.
