A system and method is provided for measuring a physical parameter of a gear. The system and method includes moving a contact probe into a start position on the pitch circle of the gear in a gap between adjacent teeth. The contact probe is moved in a path substantially along the pitch circle of the gear until the contact probe contacts the flank of one of the adjacent gear teeth at a contact point. Spatial coordinates of the contact point are determined. A measurement of a physical parameter of the gear is determined based on the spatial coordinates of the contact point.