| Many years ago golf was played in Scotland, | | | | in flight. When a ball without dimples is in |
| they obviously did not have all the equipment | | | | the air a huge pocket of dead air is created |
| that we enjoy nowadays and certainly did not | | | | behind the ball which creates drag, therefore |
| play the game in the structured manner that | | | | slowing the ball down. The dimples on a golf |
| we do. Back then they had to utilise both | | | | ball reduces this dead air behind the ball, |
| golf balls and clubs which were both | | | | therefore reducing drag and allowing the golf |
| manufactured from wood. | | | | ball to travel. It does this by the dimples |
| | | | creating turbulence in the air around the |
| It as back in the 17th century that the | | | | golf ball which in turn ensures that a spiral |
| feather golf ball was designed and | | | | like trail of air is left behind the ball |
| introduced, another word for this type of | | | | rather than a huge amount of dead air. This |
| ball was the featherie. The feather golf ball | | | | spiral of air allows other air particles to |
| was made from goose feathers which were | | | | flow around the ball rather than just past |
| compressed into a sphere which was normally | | | | it. |
| cow hide. The feathers were compressed into | | | | |
| the cow hide whilst the cow hide was still | | | | The dimples of the golf ball dependant upon |
| wet. When all the feathers were in the hide | | | | the type of center in the ball can allow for |
| was left to dry and as it dried it shrank | | | | an amount of spin to be imparted onto the |
| creating a hard golf ball. | | | | ball at impact, this can either create |
| | | | backspin upon impact with the ground or allow |
| These balls, however due to the nature of | | | | the golfer to control the ball better in the |
| creation and build time were very very | | | | air - ie to draw a ball. |
| expensive and quite often cost much more than | | | | |
| the golf club itself. Due to the cost of | | | | Dimples have been on golf balls now for many |
| purchase only the more financially privileged | | | | many years, however it is believed that they |
| golfers could afford to purchase such a ball. | | | | were created after the introduction of a one |
| | | | piece golf ball with a rubber core. This golf |
| After the feather ball came the creation of | | | | ball had a smooth outer on it and golfers |
| the guttie golf ball. This type of ball was | | | | found that they were able to hit a better |
| made from the sap of a gutta tree, the gutta | | | | shot as the ball started to wear - ie the |
| tree is predominantly found in the tropics, | | | | outer edge started to become rough. It was |
| These balls were created whilst the sap was | | | | around 1905 when the dimpled golf ball was |
| hot where the ball was shaped, when it dried | | | | officially introduced and from this time |
| it formed a hard rubbery golf ball. Due to | | | | dimples have been used on all golf balls, in |
| the ease of manufacture these golf balls were | | | | 1921 the golf ball was modified so that all |
| a lot cheaper to both manufacture and | | | | balls were a standard size and they were all |
| purchase. | | | | the same weight. |
| | | | |
| There was a huge difference between the | | | | Nowadays, there is an absolutely staggering |
| featherie and the guttie though. The guttie | | | | amount of variety when it comes to the |
| did not fly as far or as true as the | | | | selection of a golf ball. There are golf |
| featherie. This was identified as being due | | | | balls which are designed to go a long way, |
| to the completely smooth surface of the | | | | other which are designed to be very soft so |
| gutterie which limited the golf ball in the | | | | that more control can be achieved. Even the |
| air. | | | | dimples vary slightly between balls, there |
| | | | are some balls which have more than others |
| Designers of golf balls eventually came up | | | | and some balls have slightly different shaped |
| with a solution - the creation of the golf | | | | dimples. No matter which golf ball you decide |
| ball dimple - and these are still utilised on | | | | to play you can be sure that you are playing |
| golf balls nowadays. | | | | with an item which has evolved through |
| | | | evolution and is at present at or very near |
| The dimples on a golf ball are created to | | | | its optimum. |
| reduce resistance to air whilst the ball is | | | | |