what was first golf ball made of

What Were Golf Balls Originally Made Of?

• The first golf ball was most likely a rock.
• Then came wooden balls which were very inconsistent, but probably matched the level of the game back in the 16th century.
• Revolutionizing the game did the “featherie” ball which was a leather ball stuffed with goose feathers introduced in the 17th century.

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Full Answer

When was the first golf ball made?

Although the era of the feathery golf ball may have started in the early 1400's and run until the late 1840's, it is believed that it was in 1618 that a new type of golf ball was created by handcrafting a cowhide sphere stuffed with goose feathers.

What is a golf ball made of?

Until the mid-19th century, the featherie was the standard golf ball. It was made of cow or horsehide which was stuffed with feathers; most often goose feather. The leather, in order to be easier to work with, was soaked in water.

Who invented the ball?

(47) Bertram G. Work, and Coburn Haskell, “Ball,” U.S. Patent 622,834 filed August 9, 1898, and issued April 11, 1899. (48) Tim Harris, “Coburn Haskell” in Players: 250 Men, Women and Animals Who Created Modern Sport (London: Yellow Jersey, 2009), Kindle Edition.

Who invented the rubber-wound golf ball?

Just like the invention of the gutta percha ball, the invention of the rubber-wound golf ball is kind of romanticised. 51 The narrative goes that Haskell, while waiting to be received by Bertram Work at the Goodrich plant, started playing with a bit of rubber thread. He rolled it into a ball and bounced it to the floor.

What is the oldest golf ball made of?

The first "real" golf ball was known as a "feathery"golf ball. Basically, the feathery was a leather sack filled with boiled goose feathers, then stitched up and painted. Feathery golf balls were expensive to make easily damaged and only the privileged few could afford to use them.

What was the first golf ball made of wood?

The first golf balls from the 14th Century were made out of wood, specifically beech, by carpenters using hand tools. They weren't perfectly round and it's safe to assume that they sucked. The 17th Century saw the slight design improvement of the featherie, a leather ball stuffed with bird feathers and stitched shut.

When was the first golf ball made?

In 1848, the Rev. Dr. Robert Adams Paterson (sometimes spelled Patterson) invented the gutta-percha ball (or guttie, gutty). The guttie was made from dried sap of the Malaysian sapodilla tree.

What was the golf ball made out of?

These days, a golf ball is typically made of a butadiene rubber center surrounded by one or more rubber mantles and topped off with a tough skin.

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 the liquid inside 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 were golf balls made of in the 1930s?

In the 1930's through the 1960's, the major innovations in golf balls related to core development. The first wound balls consisted of a solid or liquid-filled core wound with a layer of rubber thread and a thin outer shell.

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.

Why is golf called golf?

The word 'golf' is not an acronym for anything. Rather, it derives linguistically from the Dutch word 'kolf' or 'kolve,' meaning quite simply 'club. ' In the Scottish dialect of the late 14th or early 15th century, the Dutch term became 'goff' or 'gouff,' and only later in the 16th century 'golf.

Are golf balls made of ivory?

A golf ball is made up of mostly plastic and rubber materials. A two-piece ball consists of a solid rubber core with a durable thermoplastic (ionomer resin) cover.

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.

Is a golf ball hollow or solid?

solidThese balls tend to have a solid rubber or liquid core, a thin layer of rubber and then the durable cover. These balls are softer and produce more spin than two-piece balls.

How were feathery golf balls made?

The feathery golf balls were manufactured while the leather and feathers were still wet, and as the leather shrunk while drying, the feathers expanded to create a hardened, compact ball. The Feathery was then painted and sold, often for more than the price of a golf club.

Who makes golf balls?

Currently golf ball technology has reached new levels of design. Still closely guarded, top golf ball manufacturers such as Callaway, Titleist, Pinnacle, Nike and others compete within a multi million dollar year industry for their due market share.

What is a feathery golf ball?

Basically, the feathery was a leather sack filled with boiled goose feathers, then stitched up and painted.

What is the evolution of the golf ball?

The evolution of the golf ball highlights the major changes in the game of golf and depicts important golf landmarks during the long evolution of the game. The development of the golf club, the golf course, and the rules of the game were affected by the evolution of the golf ball itself. The balance (and debate) between technology ...

When did rubber core golf balls replace gutty golf balls?

The more modern rubber core golf ball replaced the gutty in 1899. However, the rubber core golf ball of the day did not meet with immediate success. Golfers complained that while the rubber cored golf balls were longer off of the tee they were far too lively on and around the greens.

When was the Brambleberry golf ball invented?

The advent of the rubber core golf ball changed the face of the game of golf as we knew it. This new design was invented in 1898 by Coburn Haskell in association with the BF Goodrich Company.

What was the first game of golf?

There is no question that the first games of golf, as we know it today, were played using wooden golf balls. Wooden golf balls were the first man made golf balls, and although information is scant, it would be a pretty safe bet to assume that a wooden golf ball had some rather interesting playing characteristics.

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.

Where were leather golf balls made?

It came into its own on the Scottish Links. Leather stitched golf balls were been being made in Scotland from at least 1554, when there was a recorded dispute between the cordiners (leather workers) of the Cannongate in Edinburgh and the 'cordiners and gouff ball makers of North Leith' .

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.

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, ...

Where did feathery ball originate?

The first reference to a feathery is in the Netherlands in a poem in 1657, as a pennebal, in connection with a Scottish 'cleek', so it is possible that the ball was developed in Scotland and the concept re-exported to the Netherlands.

What were the first golf balls made of?

According to most authors who investigated the early history of golf ball, 14 15 16 17 the first balls (if we ignore the story about the shepherd and stones) were probably made of wood, most likely beech, boxroot and similar hardwoods.

When was the first golf ball invented?

Even though the Haskell’s rubber-wound core ball is traditionally regarded as the first modern golf ball, the origins of the ball that is used by today’s pros and amateurs alike dates from the 1960s. At that time, an American chemical engineer named James R. Bartsch (1933-1991) entered the golf ballmaking business only to find out that he was not going to succeed unless he finds a way to reduce the cost of the materials and labour. He started to experiment with various synthetic materials and refused to give up until he found the perfect formula. Bartsch’s ball, however, wasn’t only more than twice less expensive to produce 63 but it also re-introduced the concept of a solid-moulded ball.

Why was the Gutta Percha Ball so popular?

There are several reasons why the gutta percha ball replaced the featherie which was the standard for more than 300 years. Cheaper production and consequently, lower cost (up to 80 per cent!) are definitely among the main reasons for the success of the guttie. 36 Equally important, its performance wasn’t in any way inferior to that of the featherie. In fact, it could fly even further than its costly counterpart, reaching distances of up to 246 yards. Also, it lasted longer and was less vulnerable to moisture , which was a huge advantage over the featherie, especially in the wet British climate. 37 For obvious reasons, the old ballmaking “dynasties” initially resisted the change but when they realised the effect it had on the game and that the decrease of profits due to the lower cost of the guttie can be compensated by increased production, they accepted the new reality. 38 Even the guttie’s fiercest opponent, Allan Robertson of St. Andrews (1815-1859) changed his viewpoint when he figured out that he could make as many gutties in an hour as he could make featheries in an entire day. 39

What was the name of the ball that was used to play golf?

Gutta Percha Ball (The Guttie) In the mid-19th century, most people could only dream of playing golf. There were at the time fewer than 20 golf clubs around the world, with just three being outside Scotland. But that was not the only thing that prevented most people from playing golf.

What is the most likely precursor of golf?

A Dutch game known as kolven or kolf that was played with a stick and leather ball at least since the 13th century is by most authors seen as the most probable precursor of golf although there is also evidence of a similar game being played in China during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). 5 6 In addition, the claim to the “invention” of golf has also been laid by the French. This claim is largely based on a late 14th century illustration depicting two individuals playing a golf-like game. However, they could also be playing kolven or kolf. 7 And then there is also the British game known as cambuca, which was played in the 14th century with a small wooden ball and a mallet. 8 But as Hotchkiss notes, the game came to be called gowf, goff and eventually, golf only when the players started hitting the ball with an aim to get it into the hole in the ground. And by the time that happened, the game was very much established in Scotland. 9

How many times has the golf ball revolutionized the game?

According to John F. Hotchkiss (1997), the author of one of the most acclaimed books on the history of the golf ball, the latter revolutionised the game at least four times.

How were the feathers forced into the ball?

The feathers that were forced into the ball by using a specially designed crutch-handled filling rod 20 were soaked as well . After the ball was carefully hand sewn together, it was left to dry. While the leather shrank, the feathers expanded, which made the ball very hard and compact 21.

What are the different materials used in golf balls?

What Are The Different Golf Ball Materials? Golf balls are made from different materials from synthetic rubbers for the core to thermoplastic polymer for the mantle to Surlyn for the cover are used to construct a golf ball. All of these different components play a key role of the make up of a golf ball.

What is the process of making golf balls?

The process for golf ball manufacturing include: washing, imprinting, coating, pressing and packaging the golf balls. Every step must be done in a specific order and there are many different machines involved in order to produce a golf ball from concept to completion.

How to wash golf balls?

Step 1: Washing. The first step, washing involves the use of a machine that washes the golf balls in order to prepare them for the imprinting process . The washing machine is a washer and dryer hybrid that uses high pressure to remove unwanted material, such as oil, from the ball surface.

What are the main components of a golf ball?

A golf ball comprises of three main elements. The cover, the mantle and the solid rubber core. These three areas combine to allow golf balls to offer spin rate, compression and initial velocity.

Why are golf balls elasticity?

By having elasticity the golf ball is able to quickly reverse to its natural state after the club has had impact with the golf ball.

What are the three main areas of golf ball performance?

In golf speak, they are referred to as the spin rate, compression and initial velocity respectively. source: intheholegolf.com.

Why is elasticity important in golf?

By having elasticity the golf ball is able to quickly reverse to its natural state after the club has had impact with the golf ball. It is so influential to the extent that a manufacturer could create an entire collection of balls solely based on what the core is made from . For example, the Titleist Pro V1 consists of just a large heart ...

Where did golf originate?

Golf originated from the Scottish hobby of hitting stones with sticks. Over time, this game developed into a popular sport all over the world. Therefore, the ball’s sizes, materials and making procedures have changed accordingly across history and regions.

Why is a two piece ball used in golf?

Two-piece is probably the most common one because it offers both control and distance. Therefore, it is an especially suitable type of ball for average players and casual golf courses.

How does golf ball design affect distance?

The design of a golf ball greatly affects its flight speed or distance. For example, a slick ball cannot fly as high and as far as a dimpled ball. Besides, the design and arrangement of the dimples on the ball also affect the ball’s speed.

Why do dents help a ball fly?

This reduces air resistance and helps the ball fly further.

What happens when a golf ball is finished?

Once the golf ball is finished, the manufacturer will put it into a large barrel to dry. At this point, the ball has completed the production process and is ready to be used.

What is a three piece ball?

The three-piece ball consists of a solid or liquid rubber core, a fibrous rubber layer, and a protective outer shell.

What is a glossy shell made of?

The glossy shell is made of 3 pieces of leather sewn together. Then the goose feathers are wetted and stuffed. When the bristles dry, a spherical ball appears. To give it a unique look, people also painted it with color.

Golf Balls Through The Years

Materials Used in A Golf Ball

• The majority of a golf ball’s materials are plastic and rubber. A two-piece ball has a solid rubber core and a long-lasting thermoplastic (ionomer resin) shell. To make a spherical, the rubber begins as a hard block that must be heated and compacted. A smaller solid rubber or liquid-filled core with rubber thread coiled around it under tension, and...

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