The Golf Ball - A Technological Wonder

When anything moves through the air, whether an arrow or an aeroplane, the science of aerodynamics comes into play. This is no less true for the golf ball. From simple balls, probably made of carefully carved wood, in the early days of the sport in Scotland the golf ball has come a long way.

In the 17th century there was a major development. High quality golf balls began to be made from tightly compacted goos feathers surrounded by a thin leather cover, made from eith horse or cow hide. The technology, although now it appears quite basic, was in fact highly innovative at the time. The feathers and leather were assembled while wet, and then on drying the leather shrank, the feathers expanded, and a hard, tightly formed ball was created.

These golf balls were expensive to make as each had to be separately handcrafted, and eventually further progress was made. As tropical supplies of rubber became more widely available this newly popular raw material was pressed into the service of golf. Some thing like mass production became feasible, and good balls became more accessible to a wider range of golfers.

However, there was a problem. With modern knowledge it can now be seen that the aerodynamics of a smooth-surfaced rubber golf ball were not ideal. It was harder to hit a rubber ball the same distance as one of the old style feather balls.

As knowledge of air flow around moving objects became more advanced it was possible to design golf balls for maximum performance. The dimples currently seen on golf balls are there for a reason. They aid the flow of air, and allow the ball to be hit further. The pocket of low pressure behind a moving smooth-surfaced ball drags it back, whereas dimples create a form of turbulence around the ball which eases its passage through the air.

These and other changes steadily improved the performance of golfers, both as to the length and controllability of shots, until at last in 1921 the modern standard weight and size golf ball emerged. There is now a wide variety of golf balls. They must comply with certain basic criteria to be acceptable for competition use, but still the technology advances.