When did the golf ball become common?
These balls continued to be used even after the introduction of the featherie golf ball in 1618 because they were less expensive, thus becoming known as the ‘common’ ball. They were used up until the early 18th century.
When did they stop using small golf balls in majors?
The R&A took the first step in 1974, when it decided the small ball could no longer be used in the British Open. That meant that golf's major championships, at least, were all played with the same size golf balls from 1974 onward.
How much did golf balls cost in the past?
These balls apparently continued in use for decades, referred to as 'common' balls at 2 shillings, half the price of the best golf balls, from late 16th century until early 18th century.
Why is the golf ball called a British ball?
"British ball" or "British Open ball" was the term for it most commonly used by American golfers and fans because those golfers typically only encountered the ball during the Open Championship. To golfers playing under R&A rules, it was simply the "small ball."
Are British golf balls smaller?
In 1952, there were two sizes of the ball standardized: the smaller British ball had to be bigger than 1.62 inches in diameter and weigh less than 1.62 ounces whereas the larger American ball was to be no less than 1.68 inches in diameter and had to also weight less than 1.62 ounces.
When did the golf ball change?
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.
When did the golf ball get bigger?
Golf Ball Size Finally Standardized in 1990 The difference in minimum golf ball diameter was one of the last major disagreements between the R&A and USGA that was codified in the rules. The R&A took the first step in 1974, when it decided the small ball could no longer be used in the British Open.
Do smaller golf balls go further?
A diameter difference of 0.06 inches may not seem like much. Still, many American players tended to choose the smaller ball when they traveled across the Atlantic to play in the British Open. The smaller ball worked better in the wind and gave players a little more distance, reportedly.
What is the smallest golf ball?
The USGA's minimum golf ball diameter was 1.68 inches, while the R&A's minimum golf ball diameter was 1.62 inches. The larger ball played in USGA-governed areas became known as the “American Ball”. The smaller ball known as the “Small Ball” or “British Ball” was an option for golfers playing under R&A rules.
What did the original golf ball look like?
In 1618 the 'Featherie' golf ball was introduced, which was made similar to the hairy golf balls but with goose or chicken feathers. Since the featherie golf ball was filled with feathers it was able to be stuffed more full than the hairy, making it harder thus able to fly farther.
When did golf balls get dimples?
In 1905, an English manufacturer named William Taylor registered a patent for a golf ball dimple design. Before long, all golf balls featured dimples that would be more or less recognizable today.
How many golf balls fit in a 747?
At three cubic inches per ball, a 747 could hold 10,368,000 balls. However, spheres do not fit perfectly together.
What is smaller than a golf ball?
For comparison, we have only compared the sports that use round (spherical) balls. The smallest? A squash ball is just a little smaller than the golf ball. At the other end of the scale, the largest is the basketball.
What is the longest golf ball for seniors?
What are the longest golf balls for seniors?Callaway Supersoft. $30.95. ... Mizuno RB566 golf ball. $21.99. ... Srixon Soft Feel Ball. $22.97. ... Reduced Price. Wilson Duo Soft+ golf ball. ... TaylorMade Soft Response 2022 Golf Ball. $32.12. ... Vice Drive golf ball. $19.99. ... Volvik Vivid golf ball. $29.99. View. ... Bridgestone e6 golf ball. $24.99. View.More items...•
What is the longest golf ball off the tee?
Longest Golf Balls: Titleist Velocity The longest golf ball is the Titleist Velocity. This is a two piece ball that is built completely for distance and low ball spin from the tee.
Which golf ball flies the farthest?
We discovered that the Titleist Velocity Golf Balls are the undisputed champs as far as distance golf balls go. Golf balls should prioritize essential factors such as spin, control, and feel.
When did golf balls get dimples?
In 1905, an English manufacturer named William Taylor registered a patent for a golf ball dimple design. Before long, all golf balls featured dimples that would be more or less recognizable today.
How far did old 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.
What was the liquid in old golf balls?
For decades, the wound rubber ball consisted of a liquid-filled or solid round core that was wound with a layer of rubber thread into a larger round inner core and then covered with a thin outer shell made of balatá sap.
What is the oldest golf ball?
Lying in a 'dusty' corner of a museum in Stirling is one of the most important artefacts in sporting history. It is an old ball with the identical construction to later feathery golf balls. It has been dated to 1514-1570 making it the oldest of its type in the world.
When did golf balls become standard size?
Finally, on Jan. 1, 1990, the rules regarding golf ball size became uniform across the entire golf world when the R&A adopted the 1.68-inch minimum standard. It was only then that the terms small ball, British ball and American ball became obsolete. Ever since, we have only had golf balls. Equipment Rules.
When did the R&A ban the British ball?
A year later, beginning in 1974 , the R&A began a very slow retreat on the topic of ball size when it barred the use of the British ball in the British Open. From that point, only the American ball was "legal" in the British Open — but the small ball remained an option for all other golfers under R&A rules.
What is the difference between the R&A and USGA golf balls?
Once upon a time, the USGA and the R&A, the two governing bodies of golf, had different rules concerning the sizes of golf balls. The USGA's mandated minimum size was ever-so-slightly larger than the R&A's mandated minimum size. So the USGA's ball was sometimes called the big ball, and the R&A's the small ball.
What is the USGA ball called?
So the USGA's ball was sometimes called the big ball, and the R&A's the small ball. More often, they were simply referred to as the American ball and the British ball.
When did the rules of golf come together?
The two governing bodies came together in the early 1950s to create a single, standardized version of the Rules of Golf. And they did, with one notable exception: they still disagreed about golf ball size. So the American ball continued to be slightly larger than the British ball.
Is the British ball bigger than the American ball?
It certainly did matter: The smaller British ball flew a bit farther and a bit straighter than the larger American ball. The British ball was illegal under the USGA's rules, but the American ball was legal under R&A rules: The British ball was smaller than the USGA's minimum size, but the American ball was larger than the R&A's minimum.
When was golf invented?
By many accounts it is presumed that the earliest games of golf were played with a wooden ball in the 14th century. It’s been refuted that wooden balls were never used in links golf in Scotland, but instead they were used in early games that were similar to golf.
Where did the hairy golf ball come from?
Hairy Golf Balls. From 1486 through 1618, the Scottish received and used the hairy golf ball imported from the Netherlands. The hairy golf ball was a hand-sewn round leather ball filled with cows’ hair or straw. In 1554 the hairy golf ball was being produced in Scotland by the “cordiners and gouff ball makers of North Leith.”.
What sap is used to make Haskel golf balls?
Thus bringing the modern look of the golf ball that we’ve become accustom to. The balata sap initially used to make Haskel golf balls had a tendency to get indents on it as it was relatively soft.
Why is a featherie golf ball harder to fly?
Since the featherie golf ball was filled with feathers it was able to be stuffed more full than the hairy, making it harder thus able to fly farther. To make a featherie, the feathers and leather would be shaped while wet. Upon drying the leather shrank and feathers expanded creating the desired hardness for the ball.
How many stages of evolution are there in golf?
The modern golf ball has undergone a few transformations to get to where it is today. The origins of the golf ball can be traced to five distinct stages of evolution. From a wooden ball in the 14th century to the modern rubber core balls, discover the history behind the golf ball.
Who invented the Gutta Percha ball?
In 1848 Dr. Robert Adams Paterson invented the Gutta-Percha ball, or Guttie. The guttie was made by using dried sap from the Malaysian Sapodilla tree. The sap had a rubber-like quality to it and upon heating could be formed into a sphere.
Who was the first golfer?
Golf’s first professional, Allan Robertson, was considered the premier ball and club maker of his time, in the early 1800s. In 1835, at age 14, Tom Morris (later known as Old Tom Morris & the Grandfather of Golf) began working under Robertson at St. Andrews.
Modern Golf Balls
To this day golf ball designs still follow a similar formula to Haskell’s rubber golf ball design. Modern golf balls feature a variety of different designs in terms of construction, core, cover, and dimples.
Conforming Golf Balls
When it comes to golf ball designs manufacturers have free rain in terms of design features, the Rules of Golf do however have set standards that all legal golf balls need to conform to. These standards include that a golf ball cannot be smaller than 1.680 inches in diameter and the weight of the golf ball can’t exceed 1.620 ounces.
Final Thoughts
There is no doubt that the history of the golf ball is fascinating and it is hard to imagine how difficult it must have been to play with a feathered stuffed leather golf ball.
When did golf balls start having dimples?
The mesh, reverse mesh and Bramble designs gave way to the dimple pattern first used in 1908 . Learn more about Golf Ball Dimples and the Dimple Effect.
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 ...
What was the most popular design of the Gutta Percha era golf ball?
Golf truly became the sport for the masses. "The Bramble" design, with its minute bulges resembling a Brambleberry, became the most popular design of the Gutta Percha era golf ball.
What is a feathery golf ball?
Basically, the feathery was a leather sack filled with boiled goose feathers, then stitched up and painted.
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.
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.
Who broke the world record for the fastest golf ball?
Canadian long drive champion Jason Zuback broke the world ball speed record on an episode of Sport Science with a golf ball speed of 328 km/h (204 mph). The previous record of 302 km/h (188 mph) was held by José Ramón Areitio, a Jai Alai player.
How big is a golf ball?
The Rules of Golf, jointly governed by the R&A and the USGA, state in Appendix III that the diameter of a "conforming" golf ball cannot be any smaller than 1.680 inches (42.67 mm), and the weight of the ball may not exceed 1.620 ounces (45.93 g). The ball must also have the basic properties of a spherically symmetrical ball, generally meaning that the ball itself must be spherical and must have a symmetrical arrangement of dimples on its surface. Additional rules direct players and manufacturers to other technical documents published by the R&A and USGA with additional restrictions, such as radius and depth of dimples, maximum launch speed from test apparatus (generally defining the coefficient of restitution) and maximum total distance when launched from the test equipment.
How does impact affect golf ball?
When a golf ball is hit, the impact, which lasts less than a millisecond, determines the ball's velocity, launch angle and spin rate, all of which influence its trajectory and its behavior when it hits the ground.
What is the summary of Finegolf based on?
FineGolf would like to recognise that this summary article is based on Nick Park’s brilliant series of articles on the history of the ball in the 1980s published in Golf Monthly.
Who called for a ball that demands and responds to greater skill and variety of stroke?
Bernard Darwin in 1920 called for “a ball that demands and responds to greater skill and variety of stroke.” We will see how the implementation of these guiding principles was frustrated at every turn.
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.
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, ...
How far did John Gibson drive?
In 1786, a controlled test in Glasgow recorded an average distance of 193 yards and 1 foot from 5 drives by John Gibson, ranging from 182 to 201 yards. The ‘official’ feathery record was set in 1836 at 361 yards by Samuel Messieux from Hole O’Cross green into Hell Bunker at St Andrews, wind assisted.
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.
James the Hogan Fan
On the subject of lost, old-timey golf balls, I found this guy today in our course's bucket:
RSinSG
I hit a few when I first started playing (1967 or so) and they went equally as crappy as the larger ball.
BIG STU
Played them some back in the day. My old man had a Pro friend somewhere in the UK and got all kinds of "English" balls sent over. Titleists , Penfolds, Slazengers, Dunlop 65s and even Spalding Dots. Sold the heck out of them. Those balls would go like stink on the sun dried Carolina fairways in those days.
bigdane
In the "old"days (the 1960s) the European standard size was 1.62", and the American 1.68". For some reason or another, today's standard is 1.68".
Foozle
Living and playing in Scotland, I grew up with the 1.62. My perspective is therefore the other way round to others here as I can clearly remember making the change to 1.68 - I am guessing in the early '80s? My main recollection was how much bigger the 1.68 looked at address! It felt quite daunting to hit one!
BIG STU
Catchy I know up until a few years ago there were different equipment rules in Asia versus the US and Europe. I know some drivers were non conforming in the USA and GB but were ok for comp in Asia tour events. Balls I am not so sure of on size.
BIG STU
I absolutely have no problem with it for the average recreational golfer if it enhances their fun and keeps them enjoying the game. Back when we had the golf shop we built a lot of the non conforming So Long drivers and sold a lot of Bandit balls. LOl we also had a run in with E-Bay over the PRGR hybrids.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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, ...
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 ...
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.
Beginnings of The Big Ball and Small Ball
- So, in effect, there were two different golf ball sizes around the world: the slightly larger American ball in places governed by the USGA, and the slightly smaller British ball in places govered by the R&A. The two governing bodies came together in the early 1950s to create a single, standardized version of the Rules of Golf. And they did, with one notable exception: they still disagreed about …
Difference Performances in American, British Balls
- That meant that when American golfers traveled to an R&A territory for competition — for the British Open, for example — Americans (and everyone else) had a choice of which ball to use. And most American golfers in the British Open chose to foresake the American ball and play with the small ball. Of course, British golfers had that choice all along, and with very few exceptions chos…
The End of The British Ball
- A year later, beginning in 1974, the R&A began a very slow retreat on the topic of ball size when it barred the use of the British ball in the British Open. From that point, only the American ball was "legal" in the British Open — but the small ball remained an option for all other golfers under R&A rules. Finally, on Jan. 1, 1990, the rules regard...