How far did feather golf balls go?
While the leather shrank, the feathers expanded, which made the ball very hard and compact21. Interestingly, the featherie also had excellent flight characteristics as it could reach a distance of up to 175 yards22; although the longest recorded distance is more than 361 yards.
When did they stop making wound golf balls?
Remember, wound golf balls were popular prior to the 2000s and they were constructed with thread windings that wrapped around their cores.
What is a Featherie?
A featherie, or feathery, is a hand-sewn round leather pouch stuffed with chicken or goose feathers and coated with paint, usually white in color. A standard featherie used a gentleman's top hat full of feathers. The feathers were boiled and softened before they were stuffed into the leather pouch.
Who invented the Featherie golf ball?
In 1835, at age 14, Tom Morris (later known as Old Tom Morris & the Grandfather of Golf) began working under Robertson at St. Andrews. The two worked together making featherie golf balls until the advent of the guttie ball. Robertson didn't like the guttie and saw it as a threat to his business.
Do new golf balls go further than old ones?
Lab tests, including our own, show little or no loss in yardage compared to new balls, and most golfers report no appreciable difference in play. But most of this research is based on tests of mint-quality used golf balls pulled from water hazards with no understanding of how much time each ball spent underwater.
Do pro golfers use balata balls?
"Balata balls" were used by professional golfers and low-handicappers because the soft, balata cover allowed for much higher spin rates on iron and wedge shots, and greater control over ball flight by those highly skilled golfers.
Do smaller golf balls go further?
A 0.06-inch difference in golf ball diameter doesn't sound like much. But according to golfers who played the two different golf balls back then, the smaller ball provided a bit more distance and was more workable in the wind.
Are old golf balls worth anything?
Because of the age and the craftsmanship put into these balls they are among the ones that have the highest price tag of collectible golf balls. These balls are referred to as antique, and goes for sums upwards of +$5000! See example from eBay below.
What makes a golf ball Illegal?
Legal golf balls can't be smaller than 1.68 inches in diameter. The Polara balls have a diameter of 1.68 inches (the same size as normal). If you have a smaller ball, you'll have less drag and that should give you more distance.
How far did Old Tom Morris hit the ball?
220 yardsHis opening hole at Prestwick was a staggering 578 yards—in 1851. Given that golfers were only hitting the ball 180–220 yards, it was a monster.
Do they still make balata golf balls?
The balata cover generated higher spin rates on iron and wedge shots thus offering greater control over ball flight for highly skilled golfers. The advances in technology eventually overtook the balata construction in the 1990s and manufacturers stopped producing it.
What are the dimples on a golf ball called?
What Are Dimples On A Golf Ball Called? In most cases, golf ball dimples are simply referred to as dimples. However, there are some instances when they will be called indentations or more thoroughly referred to as the golf ball dimples pattern.
Do golf balls still have rubber bands inside?
Today's golf balls usually have a synthetic rubber core. Technology has shown that these rubber cores return the most energy put into them. The core can be made stiffer and produced in different sizes and compression.
Do modern golf balls go further?
Using a modern golf ball, players are able to drive the ball much farther than players could when many courses were designed.
What is the liquid in the center of a golf ball?
Contrary to golf folklore, the liquid cores aren't dangerous. Titleist, for example, has used a salt water and corn syrup blend. Today's core is generally made from synthetic rubber -- which may be mixed with bits of metal, such as tungsten or titanium -- or a plastic-like material such as acrylate.
What is a solid core golf ball?
Two-Piece Golf Balls The solid core is typically a high-energy acrylate or resin and is covered by a tough, cut-proof blended cover that gives the two-piece ball more distance than any other ball. These 'hard' balls are covered in either Surlyn, a specialty plastic or a similar kind of material.
Who was the author of the Gutty Golf Ball?
Gutty Golf Ball which sold at Christie's for £180 2006. Rev John Kerr, writing in 1896, does not mention this story but provides three other tales ascribing the origin of gutties to Dr Montgomery in 1842, Campbell of Saddell in North Berwick in 1848, and Mr H T Peter at Innerleven in 1848.
What was the first ball used in golf?
There are theories that wooden balls may have been used in a target version of golf in Scotland, but this is not golf proper and it is more likely than not that the ‘hairy’ colf ball was the first ball used for golf on the links in Scotland.
What is the most famous golf ball?
The feathery or featherie is the most famous of all golf balls, though it is not definitively known when or where it was developed. There is a reference in the Edinburgh Testaments (vol xlvii 123b) to 'fyve scoir twell flok goiff ballis' (112 flok golf balls) in a will in 1612.
Why are gutties painted red?
Gutties were painted white or red for winter play, for the same reason as featheries, as protection and to be able to find them. The cost of gutties was 1/- one shilling, much cheaper than featheries, and a main factor in bringing golf to the masses. The gutty lasted until 1900.
When were gutties invented?
However, by 1860, gutties were good enough and popular enough to replace the feathery and a new era of golf was born. In 1871, Willie Dunn at Musselburgh created a mould to make gutties, which was a quicker and more consistent method of production.
How many metres can a hairy colf ball hit?
It is estimated that the ball could be hit 135-150 metres and it was more controllable than wooden colf balls, although it was prone to water damage.
What are the four types of golf balls?
In the first four hundred years of golf there were only four types of golf ball - the Hairy, the Feathery, the Gutty and the Haskell. Everyone refers to golf as a ‘stick and ball’ game, and this has over-emphasized the role of the clubs, ...
What are the qualities of a gutty?
Perhaps one of the finest qualities of the gutty was its ability to be remolded when it had become heavily scarred. Several manufacturers offered a trade in service where the old guttys were taken in part exchange against new. The old gutty.s were then remolded and resold.
What did James use to make a golf ball?
James sent a statue back to Scotland, which he used the gutta percha as protective packaging for. On his return home he was idly fiddling with this elastic substance which in turn gave him the idea to attempt to create a golf ball from this substance.
How long did Robert Gutty last?
This was known as the hand hammered gutty and this period lasted 20 years until markings where then applied in the molds.
Who discovered the gutty percha?
In the end it was a golf mad Reverend called Rev. James Patterson of Dundee who whilst on missionary work in Malaysia discovered the gutty percha which is a rubber like material that comes from the dried sap of sapodilla trees of East Asia.
What is the best speed for a golf ball with a high handicap?
Recommended for players with club head speed below 95mph.
Do high handicappers have problems with their golf shot consistency?
High handicappers will have problem with their golf shot consistency, especially for their driver. We have redesigned our core to lower the driver side spin and back spin of the ball so that golfers can achieve a straighter and longer flight. Excellent spin, control and feel around the green.
What are gutty golf balls made of?
They were made from the rubber-like sap of the gutta percha tree, and gutty (or guttie) golf balls could be made from molds, made much faster and much cheaper than featheries. After the invention of gutties, featheries faded from golf very quickly.
What was the first purpose built golf ball?
The "feathery" was the first purpose-built golf ball. Prior to featheries (the singular is also frequently spelled "featherie"), people playing golf or its antecedents used wooden spheres. But such wooden balls were also used in other stick-and-ball games; the same balls, in other words, were used by people to play different games.
How much does a feathery golf ball cost?
According to the book Golf: The Science and the Art, the price of a single feathery ball from a reputable maker could range from $10 to $20 in today's terms.
Why did golf balls soften?
The seams busting open was another issue. And so was wet weather — common in Scotland and England where almost all featheries were in use — that caused the balls to soften and fly shorter distances. Then there was the cost, which limited the number of people who could afford to play golf.
When did the feathery golf ball come out?
The feathery arrived on the scene probably by the mid-1500s, although the first definitive reference to featheries comes from the early 1600s. The feathery was the first true golf ball, in that it was created specifically for golfers. Featheries remained the standard golf ball until the mid-1800s. It was time-consuming to create a feathery ball, ...
When did golf balls become feathery?
Featheries remained the standard golf ball until the mid-1800s. It was time-consuming to create a feathery ball, which meant they were expensive in their own time. Today, featheries are highly sought and very valuable as collectibles.
Who blasted the feathery golf ball?
It was blasted by a golfer named Samuel Messieux in 1836. There's a catch: The ground was frozen, helping the ball slide and skid for a very long distance. The average driving distance of top golfers with featheries, however, was little more than half that record distance. The most commonly cited range for feathery driving distance is ...
