Why A Golf Ball Actually Flies Through The Air


Not accounting for weather conditions there are a few things that influence how high and far a golf ball will fly.

The first thing is the spin of the ball.

A ball must spin to be able to fly through the air. The spin rate is measured in "rpm" or revolutions per minute.

A driver, because of it's lower degree of angle on it's face will produce less spin than a wedge which has a a higher lofted face. A driver may have a 10 degree loft while a wedge may have a 60 degree loft. The wedge will produce much more spin on a ball than a driver will. This is why the ball gets in the air much quicker with a wedge than with a driver.

As the balls spins faster it creates less pressure on top of the ball than under it. This creates lift. As the balls slows down the lift is decreased until the ball eventuallly looses lift and height and gravity takes over. Just like an airplane wing.

The spin of the ball has to be clockwise. If struck properly, the ball actually spins towards you as it flies through the air. If you top the ball, and produce a counter clockwsie spin, or the ball spins away from you, the normal result is that the ball falls to the ground much quicker.

Another factor are the dimples on the ball.

The dimples on a golf ball have everything to do with the areodynamics of the ball. The dimples create a restless boundry of air around the ball, technically called lift. Larger dimples creates more turbulance which produces less lift. Flatter dimples create a smoother flow of air over the ball and thus more lift.

For example the Maxfli 432 dimple pattern is made up of 12 pentagons and 20 triangles based on a icosidodecahedron. Six circles define the pattern and generally this pattern stands for distance and control in a ball.

The Maxfli 408 dimple pattern consists of 6 squares and 8 hexagons based on a octahedron. This is a "crossover" dimple pattern and some of the patterns have the contour of a ball while others have the contour of a saucer. This dimple size, contours and allocation on the ball, contribute to a good distance ball.

The Maxfli 402 dimple pattern (Noodle), has 20 triangles, 30 squares, and 12 pentagons based on a rhombicosidodecahedron. This pattern provides excellent flight qualities. Many weekend golfers use the Noodle because it gives them a better trajectory, better lift!

Read more articles by this author, about this and other subjects, here.

About The Author

Bob Power has been an Internet entrepreneur for longer than he would like to remember. He is currently on a voyage of learning, thanks to his readers, who have asked him to answer questions about topics they want more information on. You can see some of the surprising, and at times exciting results, and variety of topics and paths this has taken him on, or to contact Bob Power please click here.

These articles may be reproduced exactly as shown above. No revisions or changes are permitted.


MORE RESOURCES:

USA TODAY

This week in golf, at a glance
USA TODAY
The Northern Trust Open is next week at Riviera in Los Angeles, followed by the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Ariz. Course: Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Composite Course (6505 yards, par 73).
Golf GlanceWashington Post
Tiger Ready For PebbleESPN
On the Tee: Pebble Beach National Pro-AmCBSSports.com
Atlanta Journal Constitution -San Jose Mercury News
all 361 news articles »


Austin American-Statesman

Five things we learned from the Waste Management Open
Yahoo! Sports (blog)
Nobody has time to sit down and watch four rounds of golf each week -- unless, of course, you watch TV for a living, and if that's the case, please email us your number. So in an effort to condense the tournament coverage for you into a few quick hits, ...
WM Phoenix Open enjoys a successful 2012Tucson Citizen
Golf news and notes, Feb. 3San Francisco Chronicle
Record attendance at the Waste Management Phoenix Openbettor.com (blog)
Austin American-Statesman -Salt Lake Tribune -Arizona Daily Star
all 980 news articles »


Cleveland News - Fox 8

Golfer Injured by Golf Club: A Fan's Take
Yahoo! Sports
Contributor Network 6 hours, 6 minutes ago One of the things I have always liked about golf is that it is a non-violent game. You ride the caddy up and down the green; shoot the breeze with your friends, play your holes and go home smiling.
Man Impaled By Golf Club: Clay Carpenter Faces Leg AmputationHuffington Post
Golf Course Brawl Could Cost Man His LegCleveland News - Fox 8
Golf club brawl severely injures manUPI.com
New York Post -Fox News
all 38 news articles »


Scotsman

Sport - Golf:Commercialbank Qatar Master
FOXSports.com
Gusts of 35mph meant less than three hours' play was possible on the second day of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters in Doha - and the second leg of the European Tour's Middle East swing has now been cut to 54 holes. American John Daly was among those ...
GALLERY: Golf's strangest & most obscure trophiesScottish Daily Record
Golf: Paul Lawrie back in world top 50 after second win in QatarScotsman
Paul Lawrie Wins Golf's Qatar Masters in Doha for First Time in 13 YearsBloomberg
UPI.com -Golf Monthly -Irish Independent
all 374 news articles »


Longboat Observer

PDGA: Disc Golf's Charleston Ice Bowl Will Take Place February 11
Yahoo! Sports
This PDGA sanctioned C-Tier tournament is a part of the SCDGO Points Series and will begin on Saturday, February 11, with a check-in at 8:30 am, followed by two rounds starting at 10:00 am The event will be played at the Tidal Creek Disc Golf Course in ...
PHOTO GALLERY: Ice Bowl Disc Golf TournamentLongboat Observer

all 2 news articles »


USA TODAY

Top-ranked Yani Tseng ready to get season, new swing into action in Australia
Washington Post
“We have a good field this week and a great golf course. “The course is not long but you need to be very focused. Every shot. If you just miss-focus on one shot, you can get in big trouble. This week will be like a major course. You need to be smart, ...
World leader Tseng sets sights on more powerSydney Morning Herald
Australian Women's Open Golf 2012ABC Online
Tseng turns her focus to Open hat-trickBrisbane Times
ESPN -Bangkok Post -San Francisco Chronicle
all 227 news articles »


Bradenton Herald

Haney's latest: Crocs Golf with Hank Haney
GolfDigest.com (blog)
Hank Haney's entrepeneurial spirit does not end with the March release of his book, "The Big Miss: My Years Coaching Tiger Woods," or his golf academies. Haney is now in the golf shoe business. Crocs Golf with Hank Haney will begin its rollout on March ...
Crocs™ Golf with Hank Haney Named “Best New Product” at 2012 PGA Merchandise ShowBusiness Wire (press release)
Crocs' Preston Is Part Of The Award-winning New Crocs Golf With Hank Haney ...TheStreet.com (press release)
Crocs(TM) Golf with Hank Haney Named "Best New Product" at 2012 PGA ...MarketWatch (press release)
4-traders (press release)
all 9 news articles »


PGA Museum of Golf Speaker Series presenting Metropolitan PGA HOF member Jimmy ...
TCPalm
Metropolitan PGA Section Hall of Fame member Jimmy Wright will be the featured speaker in the PGA Museum of Golf Speaker Series at PGA Village in Port St. Lucie on Feb. 16 at 5:30 pm PORT ST. LUCIE — Metropolitan PGA Section Hall of Fame Member Jimmy ...

and more »


Marco Island City Council approves two mini-golf courses on first reading
Marconews
By CHERYL FERRARA MARCO ISLAND — If two miniature golf courses pass second reading, residents will not need to drive to East Naples to play putt-putt golf. On Monday, Marco Island City Council heard first readings on two mini-golf concessions to be ...

and more »


Golf outing raises funds for Susan G. Komen
NBC2 News
On Tuesday, 342 women will play golf for the fundraiser. Most of the money raised stays in Southwest Florida. "Breast cancer programs, health, education screening," said Janssens. They serve the underserved women of our community.

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2006