A Look At How Golf Balls Evolved
Golf Balls were not always made the same way that they are today, as they have gone through many changes throughout the years. During the earliest part of the 17th century, they were actually made of goose feathers and cowhide. The cowhide was used as the outer hull and the feathers were used as the stuffing. The process used in making these “featherie” balls was long and somewhat difficult. Because of this, they were also quite expensive.
The next innovation in golf balls came in 1848, when the “guttie” ball was invented by Dr. Robert Adams. It was made from the sap of the Sapodilla tree. When heated the sap could be shaped and molded. It was noticed accidentally that an irregular ball flew better than a true spherical ball; therefore, they were intentionally made with discrepancies to make sure the flight of the balls would be true. Every golf club in the country converted to these balls very quickly as they were much cheaper and easier to make than the previous ones.
In the last century, golf balls were made with multiple layers, consisting of a liquid center, a rubber thread wound tight over it and having a cover put on it to make our modern ball. The country club hills of today have slowly played a part in refining the design to what it is today. Nowadays, they are made as 2, 3 or 4 layered balls, and materials like surlyn or urethane are used to form the layers. The dimples on these balls make it possible for them to be hit farther than plain balls because of the lift and drag effect on them.
There are two different types of golf balls that can be purchased in a golf store. One is the recreational ball and the other is the advanced ball. These balls differ in how they are made. The recreational ball is less expensive, do not have as much spinning power and are made only using 2 layers. The advanced ball, however, is made with 3 layers, is more expensive and has a much better spin.
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