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shelton, mike. "probing question: how do dimples make golf balls travel farther?

by Fiona Champlin Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Dimpled golf balls travel further than smooth golf balls is because the dimples on a golf ball create turbulence in the boundary layer. This actually helps reduce drag and increase lift. Do non dimpled golf balls go farther?

Full Answer

Do dimples reduce drag and air resistance in golf balls?

Dimples also cannot overcome everything. Although dimples greatly reduce drag and air resistance, they do not make your ball immune to these forces. The impact will just be far less than it would be with a smooth ball.

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.

Are dented golf balls better than smooth balls?

Golf has been around for a long time, and for a lot of that time, people played with smooth balls. However, at some point in the 1800s, players noticed that their dented golf balls actually performed better than the perfectly smooth ones.

How do dimples on a golf ball increase the distance it will travel?

Dimpled golf balls travel further than smooth golf balls is because the dimples on a golf ball create turbulence in the boundary layer. This actually helps reduce drag and increase lift. The dimples actually scoop up air and move it back towards the rear of the ball as the ball spins.

What makes golf balls go further?

2:5710:26How to Hit the Ball Further in Golf with an EASY GOLF SWING - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFeel the braking system before you go into a normal uh normal position then go and hit the shot allMoreFeel the braking system before you go into a normal uh normal position then go and hit the shot all i'm going to do.

Why a dimpled golf ball can be hit further than a smooth ball?

Dimpled golf ball Therefore, a much smaller wake is created behind the ball, which reduces drag, i.e. the backward pull on the ball. That's why a dimpled ball is able to travel much faster and cover a greater distance than a smooth golf ball.

How does the number of dimples affect a golf ball?

The number of dimples on a ball affects the drag of the ball, not necessarily the spin. The spin of the ball is affected by the depth of the dimples. Shallower dimples mean more spin. The way the dimples on a golf ball are shaped and laid out is more important than the actual number of dimples on the ball.

How do you drive a golf ball farther?

1:302:32Titleist Tips: To Drive the Golf Ball Farther, Tilt Your Hips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou might make sure that that hip is pounding. In nice athletic setup. We'll take it so remember getMoreYou might make sure that that hip is pounding. In nice athletic setup. We'll take it so remember get your pelvis organized at setup to help the spine angle tilt away from the target.

How do I get more distance in golf?

5:326:40SIMPLE TIPS TO GET EXTRA DISTANCE WITH THE DRIVERYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo let's go ahead ball position is good sternum is behind the ball. Lead shoulders to centerline.MoreSo let's go ahead ball position is good sternum is behind the ball. Lead shoulders to centerline. Head behind the ball. And hit up over that head cover.

How do 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 do dimples work?

Cheek dimples are the result of a muscle in the cheek, the zygomaticus major, splitting in two. Before birth this muscle can split into a superior bundle that is positioned above the corner of the mouth, and an inferior bundle, below the corner of the mouth.

Why do golfers have dimples?

The dimples in golf balls create turbulence (that means mixed airflow!) which, if done right, reduces drag, making it go farther. The mixed airflow is of two types: laminar and turbulent.

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.

How many dimples does a Titleist Pro V1 have?

New 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?

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.

Why does a dimpled golf ball travel further than a smooth golf ball?

Dimpled golf balls travel further than smooth golf balls is because the dimples on a golf ball create turbulence in the boundary layer. This actually helps reduce drag and increase lift.

Do non dimpled golf balls go farther?

After watching Brian hit a series of 8-iron shots with both types of ball, our students easily concluded that a golf ball without dimples did not go nearly as far as a ball with dimples, and flew with a different trajectory.

How the dimpled design of golf ball surfaces allows greater distance to be achieved than by striking a smooth ball?

In a dimpled ball, however, the airflow changes drastically. Therefore, a much smaller wake is created behind the ball, which reduces drag, i.e. the backward pull on the ball. That’s why a dimpled ball is able to travel much faster and cover a greater distance than a smooth golf ball.

What makes a golf ball travel farther?

As a golf ball travels through the air, wind resistance creates drag, which slows the ball down. The dimples on a golf ball reduce the drag of the air making it possible for the ball to go faster and farther.

Why are there 336 dimples on a golf ball?

So, any ball with number of dimples less than 300 or more than 500 is not optimised for performance. So, most manufacturers have around 350-450 dimples on their golf balls. 336 dimples is believed to be a totally optimised number.

Why are golf ball dimples different sizes?

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.

How many dimples does a Pro V1 have?

The new Pro V1 has 388 dimples, and the new Pro V1x has 348 (both in a tetrahedral pattern), marking the first time the dimple counts have changed since 2011. Dimple patterns, however, are far more than simply the number of them.

How does the number of dimples affect the drag of the golf ball?

This means that if you prefer a golf ball to move a little more slowly through the air to compensate for a specific swing or hit style , then the highest number of dimples you can find will be the way to go.

Why are dimples important in golf?

The dimples on a golf ball are crucial. They determine all of the major aerodynamic properties of a golf ball, which ultimately determines how well the ball performs during a game. More dimples on a golf ball do not necessarily make the ball better, but rather the way the balls are laid out and how they are designed.

Why do dimples affect the distance the ball can go?

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. This backspin motion creates a low-pressure zone behind and underneath the ball while in flight, effectively pushing the ball upwards, which translates to longer air-time.

How many dimples does a 1070 have?

The Dimple 1070 has 414 large dimples and 656 small dimples, making it a non-regulation golf ball. The Mizuno RB 566 is a regulation ball that has 566 micro-dimples, which are more dimples than any other regulation golf ball.

What affects the spin of a golf ball?

The spin of the ball is affected by the depth of the dimples. Shallower dimples mean more spin. The way the dimples on a golf ball are shaped and laid out is more important than the actual number of dimples on the ball.

Why do golf balls have dimples?

Dimples do make a golf ball fly farther. Without dimples, golf balls do not spin well and have too much drag while in flight to travel a long distance.

Why is a lower number of dimples better?

Having a lower number of dimples will result in less drag, and so the ball with move more quickly through the air, being slowed down less by the air around it. If you prefer a fastball, then choosing one with a lower number of dimples is a better option for you.

How Do Golf Ball Dimples Work?

Any object moving through the air faces the force which the air exerts on it. There are two components to the force an object flying through the air undergoes:

How Do Golf Ball Dimples Improve the Game?

Now that you understand at least a bit of the aerodynamics involved with golf ball dimples, you can look at how exactly this appears in an average round of golf. For the player, golf ball dimples serve two purposes:

Have Golf Balls Always Had Dimples?

Golf has been around for a long time, and for a lot of that time, people played with smooth balls. However, at some point in the 1800s, players noticed that their dented golf balls actually performed better than the perfectly smooth ones.

Are All Golf Ball Dimples the Same?

After learning how vital dimples are to a golf ball’s success, you may be surprised to learn that golf ball dimples are not regulated. They can have different shapes, different depths and appear in varying amounts on balls.

Golf Ball Dimples Are Not Everything

There are other things that go into how smoothly and how far a golf ball flies beside the dimples.

Conclusion

Two key forces affect your golf ball’s flight: drag and lift. Golf ball dimples have a massive impact on both, which is why they are so crucial for effective golf balls. Dimples reduce drag and increase lift.

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