A Look At How Golf Balls Evolved
April 21st, 2009 Senior Golf
Golf Balls were not always made the same way that they are today, as they have gone through many changes throughout the years. During the earliest part of the 17th century, they were actually made of goose feathers and cowhide. The cowhide was used as the outer hull and the feathers were used as the stuffing. The process used in making these “featherie” balls was long and somewhat difficult. Because of this, they were also quite expensive.
The next innovation in golf balls came in 1848, when the “guttie” ball was invented by Dr. Robert Adams. It was made from the sap of the Sapodilla tree. When heated the sap could be shaped and molded. It was noticed accidentally that an irregular ball flew better than a true spherical ball; therefore, they were intentionally made with discrepancies to make sure the flight of the balls would be true. Every golf club in the country converted to these balls very quickly as they were much cheaper and easier to make than the previous ones.
In the last century, golf balls were made with multiple layers, consisting of a liquid center, a rubber thread wound tight over it and having a cover put on it to make our modern ball. The country club hills of today have slowly played a part in refining the design to what it is today. Nowadays, they are made as 2, 3 or 4 layered balls, and materials like surlyn or urethane are used to form the layers. The dimples on these balls make it possible for them to be hit farther than plain balls because of the lift and drag effect on them.
Golf balls used in regulation play have to weigh less than 1.62 ounces and have a diameter of 1.68 inches. All of them have to have a completely spherical shape as required by the US Golf Association. This does not mean that other sizes do not exist, but they are not used in regulation play. There are two types of balls that are available in the golf store these days, the recreational and advanced. The recreational balls are generally two layered balls that are cheaper to manufacture. The advanced balls provide more spin power to the user and are made with more than 3 layers.
No Responses to “A Look At How Golf Balls Evolved”
No comments yet
