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One of the most commonly asked questions by both expert and novice golfers is: how many dimples are there on a golf ball? The question is plain, but the solution is not. We address that question and explain all you need to know about golf ball dimples below.
The fact is that there is no one answer to the question of how many dimples there on a golf ball. This is due to the fact that the amount of dimples vary depending on the model and manufacturer. The average number of dimples per golf ball is between 300 and 500.
For example, the 2017/18 model of the popularTitleist Pro V1contains 352 dimples, whereas the Titleist flagship ball from the same year, thePro V1x, has 328 dimples.
One manufacturer’s response to the question of how many dimples on a golf ball was a staggering 1,070, which happens to be the record for the most dimples on a golf ball.
Why Do Golf Balls Have Dimples?
Golf manufacturers don’t putdimples on golf ballsbecause it seems to be attractive. Their usage is supported by scientific evidence. A flat or irregular object moves through the air in an inconsistent, fluctuating manner because of how air flows over it. As a result, golf balls with no dimples would move in an unpredictable manner through the air. In essence, players would have no chance of 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. (Note:Dimple scienceIt seems to work not just for golf balls, but also for vehicles.)
Finally, golf balls feature dimples to aid with lift. A reverse spinning motion may account for up to half of the lift received by a golf ball. When a ball spins backwards, the air pressure under it is higher than the air pressure above it, causing the ball to rise in the air. Dimples amplify this action, providing up to 50% of overall lift.
When Did Golf Balls Get Dimples?
The creation of golf ball dimples occurred by chance. In the mid-1800s, the most widely-used golf balls were known as gutties, which were first created by Robert Adams Paterson using molded tree sap.
When golfers eventually damaged these balls, they discovered that the damaged ones flew more consistently than the fresh, undamaged balls.
Following that finding, golf ball manufacturers started carving elevated protrusions onto their balls. In the early 1900s, another inventor found that indentations in golf balls performed far better than raised protrusions. In 1905, an English manufacturer named William Taylor registered a patent for a golf ball dimple design. Before long, all golf balls had dimples that are still recognized today.
Dimple science progressed with ball technology. In the modern era, dimple patterns are thoroughly tested using high-tech equipment to find the optimal design for distance and control.
How Big Are Dimples on Golf Balls?
The size of golf ball dimples are most frequently measured by their depth. A golf ball dimple’s average depth is around 0.010 inch. The diameter of dimples varies from model to model. While most dimples are spherical in shape, they don’t have to be.Callaway’s HX ballhas hexagon-shaped dimples, for example.
Golf ball dimples, on the other hand, must be symmetrical and fall within a certain radius and depth range.
How Much Does a Golf Ball Weigh?
For most of the game’s history, golf ball weights changed drastically. With older golf ball designs dating back hundreds of years, the most consistent thing about their weights, shapes and sizes was the inconsistency.
However, in the contemporary game, golf’s regulatory organizations have established specific guidelines forhow much a golf ball can weigh. Currently, a golf ball is required to have a mass no more than 1.620 ounces, or 45.93 grams.
How Big Is a Golf Ball?
The history of golf ball sizes is comparable to that of golf ball weights. Previously, there was a lot of variance among golf balls. However, balls must now be of a uniform size.
A golf ball’s diameter must not be smaller than 1.680 inches (42.67 mm) according to the regulations.
How Do I Know Which Golf Ball Dimple Patters Are Right for Me?
As we noted earlier, the amount of dimples on a golf ball varies greatly from model to model and manufacturer to manufacturer. Furthermore, the size of golf ball dimples and the dimple pattern on golf balls vary per model.
So, which dimple pattern is most suited to you? The truth is, you don’t need to know which dimple pattern is right for you or what dimple pattern a particular golf ball has. It’s preferable to leave that choice to the designers of golf balls.
Instead, concentrate on the performance qualities of the golf ball. For example, it’s more important to know if a ball has high or low launch performance, or if it provides a ton of spin or as little spin as possible. Many of the features of a golf ball are caused, at least in part, by the dimple pattern and size of the dimples. But it’s best to pay attention to the performance specifics themselves, rather than worry about the dimple pattern that contributed to them.
What Would Happen If a Golf Balls Didn’t Have Dimples on It?
We’ve dipped a little bit into the physics behind how golf ball dimples work and the importance of golf ball dimples to performance. But what if a golf ball had no dimples at all, or if the dimples covered just a portion of the golf ball?
Fortunately, GOLF’s equipment editorJonathan WallIn 2014, they investigated this same topic. Wall spoke with Nick Nardacci of Titleist, who had performed a dimple test for Titleist.
In the test, they set up a swing robot to hit two different balls: one with dimples on just one side, and one that was completely smooth. A snap hook was made by the ball having dimples on one side. The one with no dimples threw a low-flying knuckleball.
“The dimples assist produce lift,” Nardacci said to Wall. “Once the ball leaves the clubhead, the only thing acting on the golf ball are aerodynamic forces of gravity. It’s the fact that the air is moving faster over the top, and as a result of moving faster, the pressure is lower. That is what generates the lift force that acts in an upward direction.”
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