It is important to have exact informations on the real contact mechanism between spheres and rough plates under various normal loads, sphere diameters and combined surface roughnesses. Most previous papers have proposed the questions of the errors which might be incurred when the Hertzian theory is used to calculated the contact deformation and the contact pressure of practical higher pair. So, this study investigates the real contact deformation between a rough sphere and a rough plate by three experimental methods far from any assumptions and theorems. The soot coating method among them is used successfully. Accordingly, this study presents the simple dimensionless parameter to predict such errors to occur in the design of high pair members and to govern the real mechanism of two-body higher pair.