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this is a proven fact, but how?

2007-04-05 10:46:38 · 15 answers · asked by JimmyBu 3 in Sports Golf

15 answers

Let's take a brief look at some of the characteristics of a golf ball.

Originally golf balls were made of wood. These were superceded by "featheries", small leather purses filled with wet goose feathers, sewn inside-out for less drag, oiled and painted. Then came golf balls made from the gum of a Malaysian tree. It had been noted that balls with roughened surfaces travelled further than smooth ones, and after much experimentation the dimpled golf ball was accepted as standard in 1930.

Golf balls are constructed with a very long thin band of rubber wound round a rubber centre, then coated with enamel patterned in dimpled rows. The featherie could be hit about 150 yards, today's balls go 250 yards or more.

Today there's a small revolution going on to produce the best golf ball with a solid core that will travel an even greater distance. The core is made of polybutadiene, covered with polyurethane, which in turn is softened with an acrylic to give the ball a soft feel. They seem to be "the rage".

What effect do the dimples have? The not so simple answer is, "An aerodynamic one." As the ball flies, air moving over its surface causes friction, which in turn produces negative pressure behind the ball, called drag. "Lamina drag" over a smooth ball separates out much quicker than "turbulent drag" over a dimpled ball. ThIs produces less pressure, and the ball goes further.

There is another aerodynamic effect that helps a ball to "fly higher" through the air. A ball hit with a back spin experiences a lift similar to that of the aerofoil shape of an aircraft's wing. The pressure on the upper surface of the ball is less than the pressure on the lower surface, and this difference is again increased by the presence of the dimples. Back spin is applied with the club's "loft" - the angle betwen the club face and vertical plane.

You've probably noticed the presence of numbers on every golf ball. They are there for three reasons. A single number 0-9 is the identification number - you know who the owner is. Numbers 300 -450 tell us how many dimples there on on the ball, and numbers 70-110 give it's compression rating.

2007-04-05 11:06:19 · answer #1 · answered by minty359 6 · 1 0

1

2016-12-05 01:09:38 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0 0

The dimples cause turbulence where with backspin the air on top of the ball is moving faster than the botton. This decreases air pressure on top and the difference in force allows for rise. Therefore more distance

No ball is perfect for all shots. Depth, size, and shape of the dimples all compromise between rise and drag which can effect distance. You don't necessarily need dimples, just some roughness on the ball for lift w/ backspin.

2007-04-05 13:49:35 · answer #3 · answered by iu ryu 3 · 0 0

The dimples create turbulence around the golf ball while in flight. That turbulence provides a temporary cushion of air that is eventually defeated by gravity. Different dimple patterns, different dimple depths, different quantity of dimples, different dimple shapes, etc, provide different flight patterns.
That's why ping pong balls have great initial velocity but rapidly lose that velocity. They are merely punching a whole in the air ant the resistance slows them down immediately. I hope this is easier to understand than some of the other long-winded, technical information that was provided.

2007-04-06 09:30:21 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

i've heard that a rifle has grooves in the barrel to make the bullet spin and this is what makes it go straight instead of curving off line. I would guess that the dimples on a golf ball do the same thing. I've heard that a smooth golf ball would drastically go off line and therefore not far.

2007-04-05 14:38:19 · answer #5 · answered by expertless 5 · 0 0

The easiest way to learn golf like a pro is by following "The Simple Golf Swing" program. It's primarily a 31 page eBook that teaches golfers how to make solid contact with the ball, how to avoid hitting fat, how to avoid slicing, how get more power, accuracy, and consistency in your swing. Consistency being the number 1 golf skill.

You not only get the eBook though, you also receive a ton of extra material including video, lessons on putting, driving, chipping, sand play etc. Here is their official site: http://www.golfswingguru.net

2014-09-24 14:07:44 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

The short answer is "Dimples on golf balls turbulate the boundary layer." For more details, see the source link below.

2007-04-05 11:20:40 · answer #7 · answered by bentleydarcy 1 · 0 0

Air dynamics; The dimples help 'capture' air and keep the ball in the air longer.

2007-04-05 10:53:55 · answer #8 · answered by p_rutherford2003 5 · 1 0

The golf balls doesn't have a wing to fly and no pilot to navigate to reach the destination. Unlike the airplanes must have a smooth body to fly more speed than golf balls. And must not compare any balls to the airplanes. airplanes has an engines, balls doesn't have it.

2016-03-31 23:37:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Have dimples, go father! No dimples, no look as good, no get to far!

2007-04-06 15:21:02 · answer #10 · answered by Mars 2 · 0 0

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