Golf Ball Dimples Explained
How Many Dimples on a Golf Ball?
The average golf ball will have between 300-500 dimples. The depth of these dimples averages .01 inches.
If you do a quick Google search, you’re going to see the same 300-500 dimples statistic on most golf blog articles and you’ll also notice many of them mention 336 dimples. Why 336? This seems like too specific of a number right?
This 336 dimple number likely came about from studying the actual number of dimples on many different golf balls.
For example, TaylorMade manufactures their golf ball to have 322 dimples while Callaway golf ball has 332 dimples.
Titleist, which is considered the best golf ball by majority vote, has 352 dimples on its golf ball.
Titleist is the most played golf ball on the PGA Tour and it produces some of the best performances from tee to green. It’s a great ball for hitting longer drives but also has the touch around greens when you need backspin.
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How Does Dimple Depth Affect Golf Ball Flight?
Engineers who study aerodynamics and how dimples affect golf ball flight have noticed that the slightest change in dimple depth (0.001) can have a drastic effect on the ball flight performance metrics and how far the golf ball flies.
These golf ball scientists study things like launch angle, ball speed, spin rate to analyze how the ball flies through the air and how dimple patterns and dimple depth effect these statistics.
When a golf club makes contact with a golf ball, this impact is usually for 1/2000 of a second. But that contact created can impact the direction the golf ball flies based on the angle of the clubface, the launch / loft, as well as swing path.
How far the golf ball flies and the trajectory of the golf ball is largely determined by the dimple pattern of the golf ball.
This is one explanation why we have so many different golf balls on the market from various brands and why these golf balls all perform differently! As you saw above the dimple count differs from Titleist to TaylorMade to Callaway as well as the makeup of the ball material inside the golf ball core.
Golf Ball Dimples Reduce Drag
You might be wondering why golf ball dimples are a cup like shape. These indents, when the golf ball is in flight, help disrupt the air flow around the golf ball, reducing drag. This allows the golf ball to cut through the air better and fly farther as a result.
Golf ball scientists study the effect of dimple patterns to learn the optimal pattern that reduces drag and helps the golf ball achieve its best ball flight.
If a golf ball had zero dimples on it, then it would travel about half as far as the golf ball with dimples. Crazy right?
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Golf Ball Dimples Effect Lift
In addition to drag, golf ball engineers also pay attention to lift and how the dimple pattern affects it.
The lift of a golf ball is also largely effected to golf ball dimple depth. Lift is created when there is a difference in air pressure above and below the golf ball.
As the golf ball spins, the air pressure below the ball is higher than on top of the ball. This is what causes the golf ball to rise in the air.
When golfers are attempting to lower their ball flight, reducing spin is the answer. You can either opt to play a lower spinning golf ball or you can adjust your golf swing to hit the golf ball with a lower launch angle and spin rate.
Same can be said with trying to increase how high you hit your drives. You can play a higher spin rated golf ball or adjust your swing mechanics to get more launch from the club.
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