Golf Balls Have Dimples For Distance

While it might seem that a perfectly smooth sphere would slice through the air most efficiently, the opposite is true for a golf ball. The secret lies in manipulating airflow. As a smooth ball flies, the air separates from its surface early, creating a large, low-pressure wake behind it that acts like an anchor, producing significant drag. The dimples on a golf ball are a clever aerodynamic trick. They create a thin, chaotic layer of turbulent air that "clings" to the ball's surface for longer. This energized layer of air is able to follow the ball's curve more effectively before separating.

This phenomenon dramatically shrinks the size of the wake, which in turn substantially reduces the pressure drag holding the ball back. This aerodynamic secret wasn't discovered in a wind tunnel, but by accident on the golf course. In the late 19th century, players noticed that their older, scuffed-up gutta-percha balls flew farther and truer than new, smooth ones. Manufacturers caught on, and soon began intentionally adding patterns to their balls. The impact of this evolution is staggering; a modern, dimpled ball will fly roughly twice as far as an identical smooth one when struck with the same force.