| The dynamics behind the flight of the ball used in | | | | available in an affordable price. To top that, this |
| golf gives us an amazing view of the inner | | | | kind of ball can be easily revamped by reshaping |
| workings of turbulence, air pressure and | | | | and reheating. |
| aerodynamics. Let us discuss the evolution of the | | | | These early attempts in producing balls for golf |
| ball used in golf, and how golf ball dimples came to | | | | led to a significant discovery in golf history. If you |
| be. Golf was first played in Scotland with most of | | | | compare the two spheres, the Featherie can go |
| the players using wooden golf clubs and balls - | | | | farther than the Guttie ball. Why? It's mainly |
| such clumsy golf equipment. A couple of years | | | | because the Guttie has a smooth surface which |
| later the "Featherie" came out - a golf ball made | | | | prevents it from travelling a longer distance. This |
| of feather. This unusual ball was made by goose | | | | knowledge encouraged golf equipment |
| feathers, handcrafted and tightly pressed into a | | | | manufacturers to put golf ball dimples that have |
| cowhide or horse sphere while it is still wet. The | | | | become very popular and very common in |
| golf ball is hardened after drying as the feathers | | | | modern golf. |
| expand and the leather shrank. This kind of ball | | | | Golf ball dimples reduce aerodynamic drag |
| was pricier than the golf clubs back then, | | | | significantly. This drag is very common in smooth |
| discouraging the average people to play golf. | | | | balls. By placing dimples on the ball the drag force |
| The Guttie ball was manufactured next. This ball | | | | is minimized. The dimples also create air turbulence |
| was made from the rubberized sap of the Gutta | | | | which surrounds the ball, which enables the air to |
| tree and is only found in the tropics. The rubber | | | | hold the ball more closely. In the year 1990s |
| like sap was molded into a sphere while hot and | | | | William Taylor applied this dimpled pattern, turning |
| turned into a ball for golf. Because of the material | | | | the golf ball into what it is today. |
| with which it was made, the Guttie ball is made | | | | |