A Snapshot on Golf Balls’ History

The history of golf balls is back dated to 1550 where some claim that a John Daly used a wooden ball. That being said, the story goes that 1618 marks the introduction for the first goose feather golf balls wrapped in horse hide.

Today, companies use different types of materials to produce golf balls.  All balls are designed with dimple patterns on the cover which can control many different aspects of your shot including distance, spin control and trajectory. Please see our previous blog titled Your Guide to Purchase Golf Balls to learn more.

The manufacturing process of golf balls include testing requirements provided by the United States Golf Association (USGA). Each ball is checked for measurement and weight and examined in different areas including spherical symmetry, initial velocity and overall distance. If for some reason, the balls fails to meet all aspects of the USGA test, it will be labeled as inadequate and will not proceed with the manufacturing process.

Learning and understanding the concepts of the golf game need commitment in time and efforts. It is crucial that you understand the detail of the game if you are planning to become an expert at golfing. The place to start is the numbers and colors of golf balls.  The number of digits on the golf ball has different meaning:

  • Single-digit is mainly used for identification purposes.

  • Two-digit usually indicates the ball compression rating which relates to the feel of the ball.

  • Three-digit represents the number of dimples on the  ball.

As you develop your approach as a golfer, it is important that you understand what the numbers on the golf balls mean so that you select the best golf ball that suits your style.

David Kennedy