You may be an avid golf player, but have you ever wondered why golf balls have dimples on them? The indented surface of a golf ball has a scientific basis behind it since it has to cope up with a number of natural, elemental factors like aerodynamics, air pressure and turbulence. However, the golf ball did not always look like this and I will share with you the precise course for its evolution from its feathery form.
Did you know that golf first evolved as an informal Scottish game? I call it ‘informal’ since both the clubs and the balls were crudely made of wood. Eventually the game gained popularity and feather balls replaced their wooden counterparts. These were called ‘Featherie’ and were hand-made with goose feathers compressed into animal hide. The next stage of its evolution was the Guttie golf ball, made from the sap of the tropical Gutta Percha tree. These were easy to make and cheaper than the Featherie.
Despite these basic advantages, the Featherie traveled longer distances than the rubber ball due to differences in their surface textures. Examinations revealed that the Guttie ball had an extra smooth surface that worked towards reducing its speed. This happens because the smooth surface creates an area of low-pressure air around it that drags the ball thereby reducing its speed. Hence, the need was felt for the introduction of the ‘dimples’ that you see today upon a modern golf ball.
These depressions help to lower the aerodynamic drag by minimizing the difference of air pressure. Instead, these ‘turbulators’ attract the surrounding air to grasp the boundary layer more closely, reduce the separation and help the air-borne ball to navigate through free space. With the drag and opposition considerably reduced, the ball flies faster. The next time you do a backspin and drive the golf ball through the putting green, thank the dimples for your beautiful feat!
Well, you might wonder in whose head the idea of the dimples first came. Coburn Haskell came up with the Gutta Percha cover for the golf ball. The initially smooth balls became bruised with use and this helped them to travel further. Taking up this cue, William Taylor introduced the dimples to the Haskell ball in 1905 and paved the way for the modern shape of golf balls. Since then, dimpled balls were officially introduced for golf tournaments and assumed a standard weight and size.
Modifications were constantly made upon this dimpled model and the result is the variations of golf balls that you get today. While some balls travel longer distances, others give you better control. However, all the balls have common dimples on them, which are specimens of sophisticated application of the principles of physics.
