Golf Balls — The Science Behind The Dimples

The dynamics behind the flight of the golf ball offers a fascinating insight into the physical interworkings of air pressure, turbulence, and aerodynamics.

When golf was first played in Scotland, most players played using clumsy golf apparatus, with the first golf clubs and golf balls made of wood.

In 1618 the “Featherie” was introduced. It was a golf ball made of feather. This feather golf ball was handcrafted from goose feathers tightly pressed into a horse or cowhide sphere while still wet. After drying, the leather shrank and the feathers expanded, creating a hardened golf ball.

As this type of golf ball was specially handcrafted, it was usually more expensive than golf clubs, so that only a few privileged people could afford to play golf back then.

After the Featherie golf ball came the Guttie golf ball. This type of golf ball was made from the rubber-like sap of the Gutta tree found in the tropics, and was shaped into a sphere when hot and eventually into a golf ball. As it was made of rubber, the Guttie golf ball could be cheaply produced and easily repaired by reheating and reshaping.

Comparing the two types of golf balls, the Featherie golf ball was said to travel farther than the Guttie golf ball because the Guttie golf ball’s smooth surface prevented it from covering more distance.

With this discovery, the developers of golf balls came up with the “dimpled” golf balls that are so predominant in modern golf nowadays.

The dimples on the golf balls help reduce the aerodynamic drag. Aerodynamic drag normally affects smooth golf balls and slows them down, because when they sail through the air, they leave a pocket of low-pressure air in its stir thus creating a drag.

By applying dimples to the golf ball surface, the pressure differential goes down and the drag force is reduced. These dimples create turbulence in the air surrounding the golf ball, which, in turn, forces the air to clasp the golf ball more closely. By doing so, the air trails the warp created by the golf ball towards the back instead of flowing past it. This results in a smaller wake and lesser drag.

Dimples were first added onto golf ball surfaces back during the gutta percha phase. Coburn Haskell introduced the one-piece rubber cored golf ball encased in a gutta percha sphere. Then in 1905 William Taylor applied the dimple pattern to a Haskell golf ball, thus giving rise to the modern golf ball as we know it today.

After its beginning, dimpled golf balls were officially used in every golf tournament. In 1921, the golf ball took its current form with standard size and weight. Nowadays there is a wide range of golf balls to fit every style, game and condition, with some golf balls offering control, and other golf balls offering distance.

Though a common sight nowadays, the dimpled golf ball is not just a mere element of the sports arena; it is a showcase of physics at work.

Classic Game Room HD - COMPUTER GOLF! for Magnavox Odyssey 2

Classic Game Room HD reviews COMPUTER GOLF! for the Magnavox Odyssey 2 video game console. This early video game from 1978 is similar to Golf on the Atari 2600 but with slight graphical improvements and moderately better controls. It is a fun game to play by yourself and compete for par on the 9-hole golf course, or play with up to four of your friends! Fore! Ha ha, so silly. Fo’ real! Shizzle, you gonna dig da game if yo’ into Maggie O2 sh-t. Straight up, homie cold knock ‘da ballz in ‘da …

Golf Basics - What you Need to Know

The rules in golf are fairly simple if you already know them, however explaining them could take a while. If you are not very familiar with the basics, the first thing you would need to know would be the main objective of the game: you have to hit the ball at the start or at the tee into the hole for every section in the course’s 18 sections or 18 holes.

The hole is located on the green, which is a piece of short and well-maintained grass. Once you are already on the green, you need to use your putter, which is the club that has a slab-like end, instead of your other normal clubs.

Every hole has a specified target number of shots to be done from the tee to the hole. This is called the par. For instance, if you are on a par 5 hole, you would need to get the ball from the tee to the hole in five shots or less. If you were able to do it with exactly the number of shots specified, then your score would be a par. If you did it in one less than the par, your score would be a birdie. If you did it in two less than the par, your score would be an eagle. Three below par would be called an albatross and the best score would be a hole in one, which happens if you were able to get the ball from the tee to the hole in one hit.

On the other hand, if you scored one more than the par then that would be a bogey. Two more than the par would be a double bogey. If you have tried for more that 12 shots, then you forfeit the hole. You would then have to move to the next hole.

Eventually, as you go through the game, there would be various hazards that you would have to deal with. If your ball lands on the rough, which is an area on the course that has long grass, you could find it difficult to move on from that area. There could also be trees on the rough of some courses, which could make them harder to get out of. The worst hazards would be the lakes and the ponds, because if you hit the ball into one, it would cost you the shot you took and another shot as a penalty, which would make it harder to reach par.

Is it legal for kids to drive golf carts?

I know the legal age is 16, but what about the neighborhood sidewalk? My 13 year old is really responsible. We’re going to get him a golf cart and hopefully find a place to legally drive it. Any suggestions?

How long will it take 5 novice golf players to play 9 holes?

The course is par 71 and is 5567metres in length so cut that in half and you get a 9 hole course approximately par 35 and 2000 metres.

2 of us have played golf before and are okayish, while the other 3 have never played.

Legends Golf Safari Resort - 19th Hole Extreme Par 3

Legends Golf Safari Resort in South Africa is a stretch of 18 holes designed by 18 different top golfers, including Padraig Harrington, Colin Montgomerie, KJ Choi, Retief Goosen, Justin Rose, Trevor Immelman and Vijay Singh. The 19th hole is an Extreme Par 3, 830 meters up.

Golf Putting Lesson #31 - Common Mistakes and Fixes

Choose Golf Bags to Enjoy the Game

Golf bags serve many functions during your round of golf. No matter whether you are using a golf stand bag or a golf cart bag the bag needs to make you comfortable while you are practicing or playing your round of golf. In addition, your golf bag can be a statement of style.

A golf bag is an essential piece of equipment. It does not matter your skill level. As a low handicapper or a beginning golfer, your golf bag can make the game more enjoyable for you. Next to your golf clubs, a golf bag is simply the most important piece of golf equipment there is.

As a beginning golfer, there are many options and quite frankly a lot of confusing information about golf bags. Once you actually begin playing golf on the course, then you will need some sort of golf bag of your own to carry your golf clubs as well as all of the other accessories to play your round of golf. However, there are things that you should know before buying a golf bag on impulse or without the correct information.

You first need to understand that there are two types of golf bags available for you to purchase. You will have the option of purchasing a carry bag or a cart bag. Here are a few of the differences:

Carry golf bags or stand bags are bags that are used when you are planning to walk the majority of your rounds of golf. These bags are lightweight and are very versatile. Many players will use a golf carry bag or golf stand bag when they do ride as they play during their round of golf. Cart golf bags are those that you use when walking is not possible (as some golf courses prohibit walking), and riding a golf cart is your option. In addition, some players who do not walk, like these bags because they tend to have more room available through multiple pockets.

When buying a carry golf bag, make sure that you are able to find a comfortable one. Make sure to check the straps to see if it fits comfortably and whether it can be carried easily with a set of golf clubs in it. Even if you are on a restricted budget, do not necessarily purchase the lowest priced golf bags. Comfort is very important in this instance as you will literally be strapped to the bag for many hours. An uncomfortable bag will not only make you miserable on the golf course but in addition the bag can be painful if it rubs you to the point it causes blisters.

A golf cart bag is typically made of heavier material such as leather. In addition, the top of the golf cart bag is usually larger and typically measures approximately nine inches. Due to the size and weight of the bag, it does not make sense to carry a cart bag during your round of golf. Most golfers are not in good enough shape to pull this off and still enjoy it.

Another important thing to consider when purchasing any type of golf bag is its weight. This is one of the most important things to know. A golf bag should be light enough to be carried or carted easily, but sturdy enough to hold your clubs and protect them. Some bags are even water resistant and are rain proofed for the protection of your clubs. Most of these bags have anywhere from five to nine dividers for your clubs as well as additional pockets.

As golf bags are an essential piece of equipment, depending on how you play the game will determine which type of golf bag will best suit your needs.

Golf Fitness Exercises for Women Golfers

Golf fitness exercises can be beneficial for the woman golfer in terms of improving the foundation of the swing, rotation in the backswing, speed development in the downswing, and a consistent finish position. Learn how golf fitness exercises can benefit the woman golfer. Lowering golf scores and making the game more enjoyable.

It is well known in professional golf how integral golf fitness exercises are for success at the highest level of golf. Men on the PGA Tour and women on the LPGA Tour understand the benefits of golf fitness exercises in achieving success. Outside the circles of professional golf many questions exist about golf fitness exercises. Questions such as; what are the best exercises to improve golf fitness levels, are flexibility exercises and stretches better than other forms of golf fitness exercises, and what are the benefits of golf fitness exercises for the woman golfer?

These and many questions surround the topic of golf fitness. This article is to provide some answers for you on the topic of golf fitness exercises for woman. It has been well documented in magazines and television how LPGA women such as Annika Sorenstam utilize golf fitness programs to benefit their play on the golf course. Is there a difference between the LPGA player and the amateur woman golfer in relation to golf fitness training? The answer is no. Yes, the women on the LPGA Tour are the best women golfers in the world, but the physiology of the LPGA player and amateur are the same. The skeletal, muscular, and neural systems are the same. The professional golfer has the same number of muscles in their bodies as the amateur. The woman’s professional golfer has the same skeletal structure as the female amateur, and nervous system as well. Granted the LPGA player has more refined and efficient swing mechanics, but the body is the same.

As a result of the body being the same, the principles and structure of a golf fitness program for any woman is similar. Before discussing the specifics of a golf fitness program for women it is necessary to understand a few important principles. The first principle to understand about a golf fitness program is sports specific. Sports specific is a term describing the type of training utilized in a golf fitness program. Sport specific training simply states the program utilized by the woman athlete is geared towards improving them in their chosen sport.

A second principle closely related to sports specific training is cross specificity training. Cross specificity training is the utilization of exercises to develop the woman golfer in the positions, movements, and actions incorporated in the golf swing. The goal of cross specificity training is a transfer of training effect to the field of competition. Simply stated, a transfer of training effect is the ability of exercises utilized to train the female golfer having a direct benefit on their performance during a round of golf.

For example, golf fitness flexibility exercises will attempt to improve the flexibility within the woman golfer. As the woman golfer improves her flexibility parameters in relation to the golf swing. She may be able to create a bigger shoulder turn, which may increase the distance of her drives. This benefit is an example of a transfer of training effect onto the golf course. In summary, the three principles that assist in the development of a golf fitness program for women are; sports specific, cross specificity training, and transfer of training effect. Many additional principles exist that are used as guidelines in the development of a golf fitness program, but these are three essential ones.

Outside of the guidelines governing the development of a golf fitness program for woman. Specific physical components within the body are needed within the body to execute the golf swing correctly. Remember, it is the body performing the biomechanics of the golf swing. In order for the golf swing to be executed correctly and efficiently certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power are required. These are the actual physical components within the woman golfer a golf specific fitness program looks to develop and enhance in relation to the golf swing.

The golf swing requires the body to move through a long range of motion for an efficient movement to occur. Much of this is contingent upon the ability of the core to coil and uncoil during the swing. In order for these two biomechanical actions to occur efficiently, the development of proper flexibility in the core is necessary.

We utilize flexibility exercises that are cross-specific to the movements in the golf swing to develop flexibility. The majority of these flexibility exercises are rotational and dynamic.

The golf swing is a dynamic movement, indicating that the body is in constant motion. It is crucial to develop a range of motion for the swing in a dynamic rather than a static (not moving) method. The goal of these exercises is to create a range of motion in the core for the golf swing. Flexibility is the first physical component requiring development within the woman golfer.

One needs to maintain, dynamically, a stable body throughout the entire swing. We have all hit balls at the range and know what happens when we do not stay balanced during the swing. Improving the balance and stabilization capabilities of the core translates into a better golf swing. Better Balance equals a Better Swing. Even subtle movements are consistency killers; thus we need to develop and maintain balance for a consistent swing.

Balance is connected to the efficiency of the nervous system and strength of the muscular system working together. The development of greater balance in the core and swing is the result of two types of specific exercise. The first challenges the nervous system creating greater efficiency. The second are exercises that create increased strength in the core. The combination of these two types of exercises permit for the body to maintain posture, promote efficient weight transfer, and create power in the swing. The result is a more consistent, accurate, and powerful swing. This is the second component included with a golf fitness program for women

Remember that the golf swing is a repetitive movement. The mechanics of the swing repeat with each stroke. This process can be repeated hundreds of times in a round of golf. Ever go to the range and hit two buckets of balls? At some point the body starts to tire, and shots scatter.

Proper endurance training enables us to repeat a sound swing. We produce this through a series of exercises developing endurance in the entire body. This nets us a consistent swing through eighteen holes. Increasing endurance leads to lower scores. This is the third physical component of the golf fitness program for women.

Club head speed is a function of power. The more power generated by the body, the greater speed at which a club head impacts the ball. More power to the ball equals longer drives. Developing higher levels of power within the muscular system of the body is achieved through the implementation of power exercises. These types of exercise assist in creating higher power outputs of the muscles involved in the golf swing. Power training is the final component found in a golf fitness program for women.

In summary a golf fitness program for the LPGA or amateur woman golfer is relatively the same. Golf fitness exercises for the woman golfer are sports specific. The exercises contained within the golf fitness program are cross-specific to the movements, positions, and requirements of the golf swing. The exercises within a woman’s golf fitness program induce a transfer of training effect onto the golf course. The golf swing requires certain levels of flexibility, balance, strength, endurance, and power to execute correctly. A golf fitness program for women will look to enhance these physical components of the body. The end result is an improved golf swing equating to lower scores and more enjoyment on the golf course.

Sean Cochran is one of the most recognized golf fitness instructors in the world today. He travels the PGA Tour regularly working with professional golfers, most notably Masters and PGA Champion Phil Mickelson. To learn more about Sean and his golf fitness programs go to http://www.seancochran.com

Golf Pro Golf Product Shopping

Everybody needs to learn from somewhere how to play the game of golf. At any golf course in the world, you can find a professional golfer who is paid to provide tips on techniques and equipment. You can typically find him on the golf course or in the Pro Shop. The Golf Pro is the one person at the golf course who would truly be able to tell you about Golf Pro Golf Product shopping items would be a good pick for you.

When you enter the Pro Shop, you see a wide assortment of balls in one corner of the Pro Shop, with training aids, golf bags, gloves, balls, apparel and an enormous selection of golf clubs to choose from. You feel ready to start your Golf Pro Golf Product Shopping. The equipment is very exciting and you are itching to get started.

Some of these golf clubs can be purchased separately, and some are combined in sets to give a person a complete set of golf clubs with one purchase required. When making Golf Pro Golf Product shopping selections, you need to know the basics about the game of golf, and have a good idea of what you already own.

If you are new to golfing, you might not have anything, and are there to purchase something to hit the ball with. Any type of equipment, in your inexperienced eyes, would be a good choice for golfing equipment. Through the eyes of the Golf Pro, however, is a totally different view.

He wants you to schedule a few days of instruction with him so that he can get a good idea on what your form, posture, hitting strength and accuracy are before he makes a recommendation on what equipment you will need to buy. Only after this review your Golf Pro Golf Product shopping spree can begin.

After a few days of Golf Pro instruction, you feel very professional. You have listened very carefully to all of the tips, and learned some techniques on ball placement, golf course hole par values, and scorekeeping. You spent several hours on the driving range, letting the Golf Pro bask in your improvement on driving a golf ball 250 yards in most cases. You feel very ready to start your Golf Pro Golf Product shopping tour.

The Golf Pro sees that you are committed to learning the golf sport and thinks you might be a good player to add to a foursome that just lost a member. With practice, he also knows that it is quite possible to become good enough to enter the Spring Amateur Classic that is scheduled in about 7 months. To begin your Golf Pro Golf Product shopping tour, he takes measurements of your height and arm length.

The Golf Pro recommends a custom made golf club set that would give you every tool that you needed to play an occasional round of golf. The cost of this set is quite a bit lower than more professional grade models, but you understand why he did not recommend those. You simply are not ready for them, and would scuff them up quite badly when you played on the exquisitely landscaped course outside.

Green Golfer

Golf tips to improve your golf game