Contact: Kenneth Billings
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State aerospace engineer is among a select group helping Golf Digest evaluate and rank new and innovative golf clubs.
Thomas E. "Tom" Lacy Jr. was among 32 players, instructors, golf retailers, and researchers who spent two weeks testing nearly 100 different products at the CasaBlanca Resort in Mesquite, Nev.
Golf Digest, with a circulation of more 1.6 million, is a leading publication that covers the sport monthly. Its seventh annual "Hot List" findings are in the January edition now on sale.
"As an avid golfer with two sons who love the sport, I was excited to be part of the Golf Digest 'Hot List' panel," said the associate professor, a Bagley College of Engineering faculty member since 2003.
"I was honored to be able to use my expertise as a scientist and engineer to represent my field and Mississippi State University in such a visible way," he added.
Lacy, a Georgia Tech doctoral graduate, was one of six scientific advisers tasked with assessing performance and technology claims of club manufacturers. Their ratings were based on the greatest likelihood of improved club performance and technology.
Following the panel's work, a team of four judges examined the evaluations. Also utilizing technical data provided by manufacturers and independent sources, the judges awarded final grades in the categories of performance, innovation, look/sound/feel, and demand.
Solid mechanics is one of Lacy's primary teaching areas; damage tolerance of metallic and composite materials is one of his research areas.
For additional information, contact Lacy at 662-325-2754 or lacy@ae.msstate.edu.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.