You might not spend much time thinking about it, but your golf balls are pretty interesting.  So before you go and play your next round of holes, spend a little time getting to know the little white sphere that you spend so much time hitting, cursing at, and digging out of water hazards and sand traps.

For competition use, the design of a golf ball is pretty specific.  It must not weigh more than 45.93 grams or 1.620 ounces.  It must have a minimum diameter of at least 42.67 millimeters or 1.680 inches and obviously needs to be a symmetric sphere shape.  The United States Golf Association tests and approves the balls that are used for competition.  In the past, certain brands of balls have been discontinued if the United States Golf Association felt like they gave players an undue advantage.

Golf has been around since the 1200s, but the golf ball has gone through many stages since then.  It took quite a lot to get the ball that so many people hardly think twice about now.  For the first couple hundred years, a wooden ball was used in the game.

Then in the early 17th century, a new ball was introduced.  Known as the “featherie”, it was sewn by hand from cowhide.  The ball was then stuffed with goose feathers.  To finish it off, they then added a coat of paint.  It flew much better than its wooden counterpart, and was used until the 1800s.

In 1848, Doctor Robert Adams invented the “gutta percha” ball, known as the “guttie”.  Gutta percha is inelastic natural latex produced from the sap of gutta percha trees. These could be made with surfaces that improved aerodynamics and at a lower cost than the “featherie” balls, so soon became the standard that was used.

In the twentieth century, multi-layered balls became the thing to use.  First these balls consisted of different wound layers where a rubber thread was wound around a core and then covered with a thin outer shell.  Many golfers preferred these types of balls because they have a soft feel to them when struck.  The layered balls then progressed to the ones that we know today, that have cores of titanium compounds and urethane blended outer layers.  Quite a change from the wooden balls originally used!

Now that you know more about what is in your ball, you may be taking a closer look at it.  Of course, unless you go and get a tool to carve it open, you can only see the outside.  You have probably noticed the dimpled surface of the ball.   The purpose of dimples is to increase and shape the lift and drag forces on the ball.  The dimples reduce drag, which allow for a longer flight than would be possible for a smooth ball.  Most of the balls that you can purchase today have 300 to 450 dimples – often varying in size.  The United States Golf Association does require that the golf balls have symmetrical dimples.  A dispute in the 1970s between the association and Polara caused for this ruling.  The Polara had normal dimples around the equator, but the other dimples on the ball were shallow, allowing the ball to adjust its axis during flight.

If you can examine your ball very closely, you will notice that there is a small band around the equator with no dimples.  This allows the ball to be made in two halves and then sealed around the core.  Some people believe that if you line this up with the hole you can get a more accurate shot – and there are even gadgets out there that will help you to find the seam specifically for this purpose.

Aside from the dimples, golf ball exteriors can vary greatly in their design.  While they generally come in white, you can also get colored balls.  Some will also be emblazoned with symbols or brand logos, or you can even get your name added.

So the next time that you go out for your favorite game of golf, take a moment to consider the varied and interesting history that got it to where it is today.  Just imagine what the sport would be like if everyone went back to wooden balls!

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