Written By: Radha Seth

Everything happens for a reason, so does the appearance of dimples on the golf balls. Surprisingly the dimples on a golf ball don’t have to do anything with its appearance and design. It all boils down to the functionality of the game. The peculiar design of a golf ball makes both the ardent and beginner golfers wonder that why do golf balls have got protrusions etched onto them.

Why are golf balls dimpled?

The dimples on a golf ball cause friction between the air and the ball, thereby proffering better control over the trajectory (Curve of the golf ball; right to left) of the golf shot. These protrusions help the golfer control his shot in a plethora of ways. Be it sidespin, i.e. a slice or a hook shot, the dimples help the golf ball in having a higher trajectory, which would make the ball stay in the air for longer periods of time. Thus, the dimples play a major role in shaping the curve of the trajectory either up, down, right, or left.

How the dimples make the ball stay up in the air for longer periods?

Dimples on a golf ball cause friction between the ball and the air. This friction between the air and the ball reduces the drag thereby making it float feasibly through the air. Moreover, the air pressure below the ball is greater than the pressure above it. Which adds to the smooth flight of a ball.

When did golf balls get dimples?

The invention of a golf ball was completely accidental. In the 1800s golf balls were known as gutties, that had a plane and smooth surface. They had a much slower and lower trajectory than the golf balls. 

The discovery took place in a peculiar way when golfers noticed that a rugged ball had a more consistent flight than the news ones. After observing the consistency in ball flight, manufacturers deliberately started etching balls, that came to be known as dimples. 

In 1905, another manufacturer William Taylor registered a patent for the pattern of dimples on a golf ball. Furthermore, as golf technology, advanced dimple patterns transmogrified and were thoroughly tested to find an optimal design for a consistent distance and control.