Golf Information


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:

Kansas City Star

GOLF - Creamer aims for back-to-back majors
San Francisco Chronicle
"I enjoy links golf," she said. "It's a nice change to come out, put your five layers on and play in your rain gear. It makes golf a little bit more ...
Shin, Inkster take early lead at British OpenAtlanta Journal Constitution
Thompson playing the role of an old proBoston Globe
Sierra Golf birdie & bogey, holes-in-ones and charity tournamentsReno Gazette-Journal
Newnan Times-Herald -Pro Golf Now (blog) -Examiner.com
all 497 news articles »


Times LIVE

You can't see the golf course for the trees
The Olympian
But what Sahalee lacks in length it more than makes up for with the hundreds of firs on the golf course designed by Ted Robinson, creating a tunnel effect ...
The Senior Open's top 10 contenders | GolfSeattle Times
Sahalee firm and fast for 1st round of Sr. OpenUSA Today
U.S. Senior Open In Seattle Welcomes Native Son Fred Couples HomeBleacher Report
HeraldNet -Hilton Head Monthly -Cybergolf National
all 242 news articles »



Modesto Bee

Third Annual Jim Boeheim Golf Classic
SUAthletics.com
The Third Annual Jim Boeheim Golf Classic at the Shenendoah Golf Club at Turning Stone Resort and Casino, presented by Metro Mattress, is scheduled for July ...
Syracuse's Jim Boeheim talks up driving skills during shootaround with NASCAR ...USA Today
Once And For All We Will Know The Greatest Golfer In Syracuse HistoryTroy Nunes is an Absolute Magician (blog)
Boeheim Classic supports foundationUtica Observer Dispatch
ESPN (blog) -WBNG-TV -The Associated Press
all 136 news articles »


The Guardian

Golf Power Rankings 2010
Nascarbet (blog)
There are different Americans in the PGA Golf through the tour. Among all the different American players few PGA golf players are selected and rated as the ...
Underdog Story: Why Unknown Major Champions Are Good For GolfBleacher Report
Golf analyst Feherty tees up citizenship, WoodsSioux Falls Argus Leader
Quick 18: Tiger, Phil on top; Westwood, Europe trending upPGA Tour
The Desert Sun -Sports Business Journal (subscription) -MediaPost Publications
all 41 news articles »


Callaway Golf Q2 edges past view
Reuters
July 28 (Reuters) - Callaway Golf Co (ELY.N) reported a quarterly profit that edged past market expectations on slightly improved sales but said the ...
Callaway Golf Company Announces Second Quarter and First Half 2010 ResultsMarketWatch (press release)
Callaway Golf Company Q2 Profit Rises - Quick FactsRTT News
Callaway Golf moving its assembly operation to MexicoExaminer.com
North County Times -PR Newswire (press release) -San Diego 6
all 44 news articles »


Irish Times

Golf-Clarke's Ryder Cup hopes boosted by bright start in Ireland
Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Darren Clarke carded a five-under-par 66 in the Irish Open first round on Thursday to maintain the good form that could land him a surprise spot in the ...
3 Irish Open 2010 European Tour golf tournament at Killarney GolfFront Page Reader (blog)
Co-leader Rock disqualified for making scorecard error at the Irish OpenThe Canadian Press
Golf dilemma for sports fansThe Kerryman
Belfast Newsletter -BetUs.com -Belfast Telegraph
all 241 news articles »


Volkswagen Posts Biggest Quarterly Profit in Two Years on Golf, A5 Demand
Bloomberg
... Financial Officer Hans Dieter Poetsch said today on a conference call, citing demand for the Golf compact, VW's best-selling model, and the Tiguan SUV. ...

and more »


Mississippi Press (blog)

Mobile teen golfer shots historic round
Mississippi Press (blog)
(GM Andrews Staff Photographer)Bobby Wyatt hits his second shot on the 17th fairway as he fires a course record 57 in the second round in the Alabama Golf ...
Alabama Golf Recruit Shoots a 57 in State TournamentRoll 'Bama Roll
Alabama amateur makes golf historybettor.com (blog)
UA golf signee likely set world recordSelma Times-Journal
MaxPreps -Orlando Sentinel -BamaMag.com (subscription)
all 182 news articles »


Google News

home | site map
© 2007