Knowledge HUB : A Golf Ball

A small hard ball used in playing golf; dimpled to reduce wind resistance.

A golf ball is a ball designed for use in the game of golf.

An appendix to the "Rules of Golf" defines that a golf ball must not weigh less than 45.93 grams, that its diameter must not be less than 42.67 mm, and that its shape may not differ significantly from a symmetric sphere. Like golf clubs, golf balls are subject to testing and approval by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the United States Golf Association, and those that do not conform with the regulations may not be used in competitions (Rule 5-1).

Golf Ball Dimples - How Many?

A golf ball usually has anywhere from 330 to 500 dimples - depending on which company designs the ball. The dimples help the ball travel further and higher.

Dimples first appeared on golf balls more than 100 years ago when golfers discovered that balls which had been scratched or roughed up traveled further than smooth balls. "Dimples are what gives a golf ball lift. They create two layers of air going around the ball. The top layer is going faster than the bottom layer which creates turbulence. This reduces the drag and allows the ball to travel further than a smooth ball.

Different companies have designed golf balls with different numbers of dimples to allow the ball to travel further. This is quite a science and involves weeks of testing and retesting. Companies can even design golf balls to suit the swing of individual golfers. So a ball used by Tiger Woods might have a completely different dimple pattern than one used by David Duvall. The ideal ball will usually have between 380 and 432 dimples.