The Golden History Of The Golf Ball

The golf ball has a long and proud history, the first games of golf were played in the 1500's. Golf was then played using wooden sticks called clubs and round wooden balls.

The history of golf started in Scotland. The technology that we enjoy today was not available then, our golfing forefathers had to make use of the resources that were available to them. Wood was plentiful. A game of golf then was enjoyed with wooden clubs and balls. Club and ball were very heavy, the ball didn't travel much further than 100 yards. The front nine holes on a golf course could last for some time.

The "featherie", a ball made from cowhide and goose feathers, was invented in the 1600's. This first milestone in the history of golf ball was achieved by forming the golf ball through wet leather and feather. Wet cowhide and goose feathers were easy to shape and mold into golf balls, these where then painted and sold. The new golf ball was expensive, it did travel faster and farther after all. The wooden ball was now obsolete.

The stage was then set for the for the next stage in golf ball history. The creation of the Gutta Percha (the gutty ball). Made from the rubber like sap of the Sapodilla tree. Balls were shaped by heating the rubber like sap, it was discovered that these balls traveled further the more uneven they were. Indentations were then pounded into the balls with a hammer. The idea of dimpled golf balls was born. The game of golf was still an expensive sport, until a metal press was designed, that enabled the manufacturing of golf balls making them a great deal less expensive.

A golf ball then consisted of a hard solid core, surrounded by high - tension rubber the ball was completed by the Gutta Percha cover. The Gutta Percha ball worked well and was the standard pattern for many years.

The history of golf ball continued to evolve in design, advanced by the two - piece and three - piece balls. New materials like titanium, balata coverings and silicone many other components helped in making the golf ball an extremely efficient tool in the game. Advancement in golf balls makes it possible for a golfer to use spin on his shots.

The United States Golf Association put weight and size regulations into effect in the 1900's.

The regulations are:
* The weight of a golf ball could not exceed the maximum of 1,629 ounces.
* The diameter of the golf ball could be no less than 1,680 ounces.
* The golf ball must be designed with properties of a spherically symmetrical ball.
* The maximum velocity level of a golf ball was 250 feet per second

So the next time you step onto your favorite course for a round of golf, remember the history of the golf ball.
The technological advancements are a amazing!

Article Source: http://www.dummiesguideto.com

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