Why Does A Golf Ball Have Dimples?

The dimples on a golf ball are there to create turbulence in the boundary layer of air around the ball.

This turbulence reduces drag on the ball and consequently increases its range and accuracy.

Dimples also reduce the tendency of a spinning golf ball to balloon or lift off from the ground by helping to keep it “stuck” to its trajectory.

Lastly dimples help maintain spin compared to a perfectly smooth sphere by redirecting airflow as the ball rotates.

 Golf balls typically have between 336 and 500 dimples (there is no standard number).

The vast majority have symmetric dimples—identical ones arranged in regular repeating patterns over the entire surface of the ball.

Some manufacturers produce balls with curious asymmetric dimples or dimples in irregular or unique patterns.

It is generally believed that these balls do not perform as well as those with regular dimple patterns but they may offer a psychological advantage to the player using them.

What Happens When You Remove The Dimples From A Golf Ball?

You improve the aerodynamics of the ball which makes it travel farther.

The dimples on a golf ball cause turbulence in the air as the ball moves through it.

This turbulence creates tiny vortices (mini-tornados) that grip the air and create more drag on the ball. This drag slows down the ball and causes it to lose energy.

The removal of the dimples smooths out the surface of the ball which eliminates these vortices and reduces drag.

This means that less energy is required to move the ball through the air and it travels farther as a result.

What Are The Dimples On A Golf Ball Called?

Dimples on golf balls are called turbulators.

They were originally added to increase the lift of the ball off the ground which would provide more distance for players. The wings on a Boeing 787 plane work in a similar way.

The indentations or dimples on a golf ball are there for a purpose – to make the ball fly further.

The dimples help to create turbulence around the golf ball as it moves through the air. This turbulence creates a low-pressure area on the top of the golf ball and a high-pressure area on the bottom of the golf ball.

This difference in pressure creates lift which helps to keep the golf ball in the air for longer.