Most people, who have ever played the game, have probably never given much thought to the golf balls. However, the game has been around for centuries and they have changed dramatically throughout the years. The diameter and the weight of them are regulated and they are tested to make sure they fall within the guidelines.
When the game first began, they were made of wood. During the 17th century a new ball was designed that gave them a much better flight. This new design was created with a leather pouch and goose feathers. They were then painted to make them easier to see.
Enough feathers to fill a hat were boiled down and then placed in the leather pocket. As these feathers would cool they would distend. The wet leather pocket would shrink up around the feathers making for a very hard and compact ball. Any openings in the leather would be sewn up with stitches.
This type was used for a couple of centuries but it they did have their problems. It took some time to make these so only a few could be made in a days time. This caused them to come at a very high cost. Also, if they were hit to hard on a hard surface, they would split open.
Finally, in the mid 1800s a newer design was created. They used the dried sap from a tree which had a rubbery texture. They found it could be shaped when it was hot and accidentally found out that the defects created during the shaping gave the sphere a longer flight. So they began to make the spheres with the dimpling by hammering the defects in.
Later on a more rubberized substance was used and then put into a cover to keep it from having much of a bounce. However, the golf balls of today are created with several layers of synthetic substances. They are then distinguished by the number of layers they have. They come in a variety of characteristics to please every player.
When the game first began, they were made of wood. During the 17th century a new ball was designed that gave them a much better flight. This new design was created with a leather pouch and goose feathers. They were then painted to make them easier to see.
Enough feathers to fill a hat were boiled down and then placed in the leather pocket. As these feathers would cool they would distend. The wet leather pocket would shrink up around the feathers making for a very hard and compact ball. Any openings in the leather would be sewn up with stitches.
This type was used for a couple of centuries but it they did have their problems. It took some time to make these so only a few could be made in a days time. This caused them to come at a very high cost. Also, if they were hit to hard on a hard surface, they would split open.
Finally, in the mid 1800s a newer design was created. They used the dried sap from a tree which had a rubbery texture. They found it could be shaped when it was hot and accidentally found out that the defects created during the shaping gave the sphere a longer flight. So they began to make the spheres with the dimpling by hammering the defects in.
Later on a more rubberized substance was used and then put into a cover to keep it from having much of a bounce. However, the golf balls of today are created with several layers of synthetic substances. They are then distinguished by the number of layers they have. They come in a variety of characteristics to please every player.
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