Golf Ball Flight Principles

Golf ball aerodynamics and physics that are used today to design golf ball performance characteristics are far more technical than I could possibly understand. The basics of golf ball flight however will always be the same and is not all that complicated to understand. The golf ball will always be round, it will always have some kind of dimples or bumps on it, it will be launched with spin and it will fly through the air.

Dimple design can impact flight characteristics, including spin rate.

Here is what happens from impact on: Once the ball is impacted, it is deformed somewhat. When it leaves the clubface in a deformed state, it is different aerodynamically until it regains its perfectly round shape. Once it is round, moving in a forward direction and spinning backward (back spin), it assumes its normal aerodynamic properties. As air smashes into the front of the ball, the dimples trap air into them and drag more of the air up and over the top of the ball than what passes underneath the ball. This creates a low-pressure area on top of the ball. Low pressure on top of something (like an airplane wing) creates lift. As the ball is spinning through the air at a certain forward speed, a low-pressure area is formed behind the ball that introduces a drag component. While all this is going on, the earth’s center of gravity is pulling down on the ball because it has a weight component.

The weight of the ball is pulling it to earth; the lift, drag and air around the ball create friction that wants to slow down its spin rate and also its forward speed. All three of these components of lift, drag and weight coupled with the balls spin rate and initial velocity, create the trajectory or shape of the balls flight. You should see now that the golf balls dimple design can change the drag, lift and overall flight characteristics including the spin rate. Try out different balls and find out which one works best for you.

Golf Ball Flight Principles

Click here to get Ralph’s Insider Emails

Back to Article Discussions

Article Discussion

  • 12:55PM - Mar 17, 2008RE: Golf Ball Flight Principles

    #39
    Report This

    Jack Butler, the golf ball “bounce test” has absolutely no bearing whatsoever on any performance variable of the golf ball.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 11:17AM - Mar 17, 2008RE: Golf Ball Flight Principles

    #38
    Report This

    Ralph,

    Is comparing how high 2 golf balls rebound when dropped side by side onto a concrete floor a valid way to determine which will be the longer playing?

    Respond

    Quote

  • 10:56AM - Mar 12, 2008RE: Golf Ball Flight Principles

    #37
    Report This

    beans, you are probably a good candidate for a softer ball. This however does not necessarily mean it will go farther, only that it will probably feel better to you. However, by experimenting, you will most likely find a ball that will gain you some distance. Forget about the loft thing with your irons and fairways as this will not provide the kind of help you need. You should look at driver loft so that your trajectory is correct which will be a big factor in increased driving distance. The most success I have had with slow swingers is with seniors who are losing distance and want to get some of it back. Mostly at this stage of their golfing careers they are smooth swingers who basically always keep the ball in play. So, I usually recommend increasing the length of their driver by 1” and possible going ½” longer on the irons. You leave the head weight alone and only lengthen the clubs if you are modifying your present clubs. It is best to build or buy a new set at the new lengths, but first, find out if they work for you by using a launch monitor. This will allow you to gain some swing speed and usually results in about 10 more yards with the driver and 5 or 6 with the irons. Not a lot of distance but every little bit helps.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 12:26PM - Mar 11, 2008RE: Golf Ball Flight Principles

    #36
    Report This

    Mr. Maltby,

    Do you know of any golf ball, or have tested that would help a very slow swinger gane more distance.

    Would slow swings be better off with weaker lofts on irons and drivers? Can you give me an examlpe off someone you have fitted before. Thanks

    Respond

    Quote

  • 11:59AM - Mar 10, 2008RE: Golf Ball Flight Principles

    #35
    Report This

    winston, you basically select a ball for hardness (compression) based on your own preference and feel. You also select the ball based on the distance you hit it and the trajectory you are shooting for. It seems strange, but you are much better off playing the more expensive balls because they all around perform best.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 9:57AM - Mar 10, 2008RE: Golf Ball Flight Principles

    #34
    Report This

    Ralph,

    With that being said about compression. What about a tour professional that has a 120 mpg driver swing speed, would compression come into the picture then?

    Do tour pros prefer 4 piece over a 3 piece ball? Should players with 50 mpg drivers speeds play these balls.

    Your comments are appreciated.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 4:14PM - Aug 7, 2007RE: Golf Ball Flight Principles

    #33
    Report This

    Tony, the compression of a golf ball is simply a number denoting how hard it is when measured statically in a golf ball compression gauge. Compression alone as a number can not tell you how far a ball will travel even with varying golfer head speeds. Compression is a design variable, just like cover material, cover thickness, construction type, etc. These and a few other design variables all help to determine a golf balls initial velocity. Initial velocity is basically coefficient of restitution but measured differently. Compression is also selected by the ball manufacturer to give the golfer a certain feel. So, compression is used to create specific brand characteristics that hopefully most golfers will prefer and ultimately buy that ball. For years, a sort of “urban myth” has perpetuated itself around a golf balls compression. First, it was the drop test. Golfers spread the word that you definitely want to play with the golf ball that will bounce the highest when dropped on a hard surface from the golfer’s nose height. Then for years you heard that all golfers, both men and women, should always play with the highest compression ball available because independent testing shows that they will go the farthest. Next, you always heard that women definitely needed to play with softer compression balls than the men played because they did not hit it hard enough to use a higher compression ball and would lose distance. Even though this compression thing was basically not true, most women really preferred the softer ball and they played it because it felt a lot better to them. Finally, a few years back (and still some today) the buzz was to play the new softer compression balls and for men to even select a ladies ball and play it because these type balls would generate far greater distance. Well, this wasn’t exactly true either. So, how do you select a ball that performs the best for you? You should basically select a ball whether hard or soft that feels good to you (even when putting) and check it out in a launch monitor to see how well it fits your swing. It sounds strange I know, but a ball fitting in a launch monitor using the driver that you would normally use and teed to your normal height will tell you which ball goes the farthest and flies on the best trajectory with you combination of swing and equipment. It’s that simple.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 12:17PM - Aug 7, 2007RE: Golf Ball Flight Principles

    #32
    Report This

    • Tony

    • Tony
    • Guest

    Can a ball’s compression be too hard causing loss of distance? I have a driver swingspeed around 100mph. I recently tried a ball with a 98 compression in hot weather and seemed to lose distance. In general, what ball compression is best for my swingspeed? Also in colder weather, should I drop down to a lower compression ball for better performance?

    Respond

    Quote

  • 2:37PM - Jul 22, 2007RE: Golf Ball Flight Principles

    #31
    Report This

    Jim, this is not the way to correct a fade. Modern day advertising has created the myth that you can miracuously alter ball flight by moving a couple screws around and shift or add weight. The amount of weight would be much greater than you think to have any effect that you would see. OK, on to your problem. First, simply adding weight to increase swingweight will change the playability of your driver wherever you put the weight. It will cause the shaft to flex more changing ball flight somewhat (try adding it in the middle and low and see what happens, it may help). The two best ways to reduce a slice tendency in a driver (without changing your swing) is to either close the face angle or try a more tip weak (soft tip) shaft. The only easy way to close the face angle on a graphite shafted driver is to replace the head or get another driver. This is the best way to help your problem. A weaker tip shaft can also help some or changing to a softer overall flex shaft if the current shaft is too stiff for your swing speed.

    Respond

    Quote

  • 2:21PM - Jul 21, 2007RE: Golf Ball Flight Principles

    #30
    Report This

    • Jim C

    • Jim C
    • Guest

    I have a Titleist 983K driver which needs to be replaced eventually but I want to experiment with lead tape to correct an almost permanent fade. My question is: Where do I put the tape? Near the hosel or out on the end?

    Respond

    Quote

Post Comment