Golf Balls - How They Have 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.

Today, to be considered regulation golf balls, the balls need to be completely spherical in shape. This is a requirement of the US Golf Association. They must also be 1.62 ounces or less in weight. There are other sizes of balls that are available; however, those balls are never used in regulation play. The two types of balls in existence are the recreational ball and the advanced balls. Balls that are used for recreational play are most often made with two layers, while the advanced balls are made with three layers. The advanced balls are more expensive and have more spinning power.

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