The dimples on a golf ball cause turbulence in the air, slowing the ball down as it travels through the air. This decreases spin rate and creates a lower ball flight. A common mistake made by amateurs is to buy a driver with a high loft and ignore the ball’s dimples.
Why are there dimples on a golf ball?
The dimples that are made on the surface of a golf ball during manufacture are purposefully designed to affect the ball in flight, including how far or how short the ball will travel after being hit. The reason why dimples affect the distance the ball can go is because the dimples on the surface of the ball cause the ball to spin in the air.
How does the shape of a golf ball affect its lift?
Dimples also affect lift. 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.
What are dimples and how do they work?
The dimples work to break the air around the ball in flight, and have two key characteristics that are measured: Lift and Drag. The ideal dimple design is a combination balancing the lift and drag of the ball. We vary the diameters, shapes, total coverage, edge angles to control these two key variables.
What determines the spin of a golf ball?
The pattern dictates trajectory, ball spin, flight stability, distance, drag, lift, ball speed, and launch height. The depth and size of the dimples determine the spin of the ball, which in turn determines how much lift the ball has in the air.
Do dimples on a golf ball make it fly farther?
0:544:54Science of Golf: Why Golf Balls Have Dimples - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIt you can make golf balls go a lot farther.MoreIt you can make golf balls go a lot farther.
What does more dimples on a golf ball mean?
Dimples directly affect ball flight. The higher the number of dimples on a golf ball, the greater the drag over its surface. And this means a lower trajectory.
What are the effects of dimples?
First, dimples allow air to flow more smoothly around a ball's surface, which decreases the wake and low-pressure area behind the ball, resulting in less drag. Second, the dimples increase lift by causing the air to move faster at the top of the ball, creating lower pressure there.
What is the optimal number of 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.
Do golf ball dimples reduce drag?
Golf ball dimples reduce drag by creating a turbulent boundary layer flow around the ball. The boundary layer is defined as a thin layer of fluid dragged by the ball. By creating this turbulent boundary layer, the separation point decreases.
How many dimples are on a Titleist Pro V1 golf ball?
388 dimpleNew 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. Pro V1 maintains its penetrating trajectory while Pro V1x will fly higher than the prior generation.
How far would a golf ball go without dimples?
If you swing like a PGA Tour player, about 160 yards. 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.
What are the benefits of having dimples?
Dimples may also help us communicate with others. A study on human facial features suggests that the presence of features such as a dimple may make an expression or smile more noticeable, or may convey more information about the intensity of a person's expression.
Why is 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.
How many dimples does a Callaway supersoft golf ball have?
332-dimpleThat soft cover is filled with Callaway's trademark, 332-dimple HEX aerodynamics covering 100 percent of the surface area of the ball.
How many dimples are on a Callaway chrome soft golf ball?
332 dimplesHowever, throw it over to another popular golf ball such as the Callaway Chrome Soft, and you get 332 dimples. On the new Vice Pro Plus, you will see 336 dimples, while on Tiger Woods' Bridgestone Tour B XS ball there are 330 dimples. The Titleist Pro V1 ball consists of 352 dimples.
What makes a golf ball go further?
1:2310:26How to Hit the Ball Further in Golf with an EASY GOLF SWING - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSimple you've got to add a braking system to your entire motion to add power you need club headMoreSimple you've got to add a braking system to your entire motion to add power you need club head speed this club head needs to be speeding.
Which golf ball has 500 dimples?
GOLF AERODYNAMICS. The Ultra (Registered TradeMark) 500 Series golf ball (above), introduced in 1995 by Wilson Sporting Goods Company, Humboldt, Tennessee, has 500 dimples arranged in a pattern of 60 spherical triangles.
Why are there 336 dimples on a golf ball?
Dimples create the aerodynamic ability to hit golf balls for distance. A ball without dimples would not travel very far. The decision to experiment with dimples on golf balls grew out of the discovery that dented or chipped balls actually flew farther and straighter than smooth ones.
How many dimples does a Pinnacle golf ball have?
Golf Ball Dimples ChartGolf Ball ModelDimplesPinnacle Rush332Pinnacle Soft332Pinnacle Bling Golf Ball332Pinnacle Gold Distance332177 more rows
How many dimples does a Wilson golf ball have?
Most modern golf balls have 300 – 400 dimples. Some will have more than 400 – 500 patterns to increase the ball performance. For example, the Wilson Ultra 500 golf balls and Volvik Magma have the same 432 dimples.