Why do they have dimples in golf balls?

Dimples on a golf ball create a thin turbulent boundary layer of air that clings to the ball's surface. This allows the smoothly flowing air to follow the ball's surface a little farther around the back side of the ball, thereby decreasing the size of the wake.

Why are there 336 dimples on a golf ball?

Essentially, golfers would have little hope controlling a smooth golf ball. When dimples are added to a golf ball, it creates a tiny layer of air around the golf ball that significantly cuts down drag. This forces the air to flow over a larger portion of the ball, which results in a much smoother ball flight.

Why is a golf hole 4.25 inches?

Four-and-a-quarter inches in diameter. R&A ADOPTS 4.25-INCH HOLE SIZE That first hole-cutting implement utilized a cutting tool that was, you guessed it, 4.25 inches in diameter. The folks running the R&A apparently liked that size and so adopted it in their rules for 1891.

Why is a golf ball white?

It was a bright color and was a good alternative compared to the natural brown of the feathery balls. It is not as if high-intensity yellows and neons were available options, so for hundreds of years, white was the standard color.

How many dimples does a Titleist Pro V1 have?

New Spherically-tiled Tetrahedral Dimple Designs– featuring a 388 dimple layout for Pro V1, and 348 for Pro V1x – are optimized to each model to maximize distance and flight consistency.

Science of Golf: Why Golf Balls Have Dimples

What makes a golf ball fly?

A smooth ball with backspin creates lift by warping the airflow such that the ball acts like an airplane's wing. The spinning action makes the air pressure on the bottom of the ball higher than the air pressure on the top; this imbalance creates an upward force on the ball.

Is it better to have more or less dimples on a golf ball?

The number of golf ball dimples is less important than the shape and depth of the dimples. The number of dimples can affect drag, so it is important to not have too many dimples. Between 330 and 400 dimples is the optimum number. More dimples mean more focussed control over the ball trajectory.

What is the number one golf ball on tour?

Titleist likes to remind us that that the Pro V1 is the No 1 ball used by professionals on worldwide golf tours, but that it's a great ball for non-superstars as well. The ball is manufactured to perfectly balance short game control without sacrificing good yardage from the tee.

How many dimples are on a professional golf ball?

Most modern golf balls have about 300–500 dimples, though there have been balls with more than 1000 dimples. The record holder was a ball with 1,070 dimples—414 larger ones (in four different sizes) and 656 pinhead-sized ones. Officially sanctioned balls are designed to be as symmetrical as possible.

Which golf ball has the deepest dimples?

American golf balls, more often than not, come with 336 dimples. While how many dimples on a British golf ball, they have 330 dimples. As for the highest number of dimples, that would be Ultra 500 Series Golf Balls (500 dimples). Then you also have Nike and Maxfli golf balls with +400 dimples.

Why do some golf balls spin better than others?

Premium multilayer balls with urethane covers generally are superior because they perform well throughout the bag. On wedge shots, for example, they spin more because of the soft urethane cover, and off the tee they have the same distance-producing characteristics as firmer Surlyn balls.

What determines the direction of a golf ball?

Path — The direction the clubface is traveling through at impact. The club can travel on three different paths during impact — Inside Out, Inside-Square-Inside, or Outside In. Clubface Position – The clubface can be square, open or closed through impact. The path will determine which direction the ball starts.

Why are Pro V1 so good?

Designed for pros and high-level amateurs (single-digit handicaps), the ProV1 is designed to maximize short game control while delivering nearly the same driving length as balls in the "distance" category. It's also much more durable than its balata-covered predecessors, which were prone to large cuts and scuffs.

Which is better Pro V1 or Pro V1x?

The Pro V1 is designed to produce a more penetrating ball flight and descends at a shallower angle ultimately leading to more roll. The Pro V1x on the other hand launches higher and falls out of the air at much steeper angles of attack.

Should I play Pro V1 or Pro V1x?

If you hit it higher, usually as a result of faster swing speeds and higher spin rates, then the ProV1 would probably be the better ball for you. If you typically hit the ball lower, due to slower swing speeds or lower spin rates, then the ProV1x will be better for you out on the course.

Is club or club face more important?

While there are a number of variables that can affect ball flight and shot shape, the most important are swing path and clubface angle. Swing path is the primary source of sidespin on the ball, and clubface angle is the primary source of aim.

Do cheap golf balls go further?

After hitting each of them a number of times it was pretty clear that the expensive ball felt a lot better at impact (tee and green) and lasted a lot longer (didn't get chewed up). A lot of the cheaper balls can feel like you're hitting rocks.

How do pros get so much backspin?

How Do Pros Get So Much Backspin? Professional golfers can spin the ball with ease because they compress the golf ball into the ground with a descending blow at a high swing speed. Also, they are using softer golf balls, which allow for more spin and the finest golf clubs available on the market.

Does the brand of golf ball really matter?

The quality of golf ball you use definitely matters and impacts on your game. Higher quality, more expensive golf balls generally have a urethane cover, leading to greater 'feel' and spin control. Premium balls will usually perform longer and hold greens more consistently, helping you shoot lower scores.

What happens when you remove the dimples from a golf ball?

The small depressions found all over the ball ultimately determine velocity, launch and spin rate after it leaves the clubface. Alter the depth of a dimple by as little as 1,000th of an inch and you could negatively affect the ball's aerodynamics (lift and drag) while it's rocketing through the air.

How far can you hit a golf ball without dimples?

According to Frank Thomas, Golf Digest's chief technical advisor and former technical director of the USGA, a smooth golf ball with no dimples would travel about 130 yards when hit with a modern driver by a tour-caliber player.