Golf Ball History
As in every type of sport over time, the competitors that take part become fitter, stronger and much more skillful. The same can be said for modern golfing equipment which becomes much more techinically sound and better as production processes and materials make for easier useage. Of course the ball was no exception in this continued development. When you look at the modern ball and how it is now produced, the USGA and R&A are looking at the developments in ball technology very closely. The modern golfball is creating a lot of publicity nowadays and even golfs governing bodies are looking to limit the distance balls travel. So, however did the older golfing generation learn to play. Let’s take a look at just how much technology has changed by showing you a history of the golf ball. The wooden ball was believed to be the first ever ball used and is recorded as having been developed in Holland. The ball has come a long way since then. Historic records show that long before the great craftsmen of Scotland were making balls, they were importing wooden balls by the boatload. This goes back to as long ago as the 15th century. These wooden balls were made from hardwood trees such as the elm or beech. These early efforts at developing golfballs had very little aerodynamic properties because they were smooth and more oblong than just a pure round shape. As time went by the Dutch adopted a ball made of white leather which was filled with course cows hair, this was used in a local game of hand tennis. This game was called kaatsen and it is understood that the kaatsen ball later became the inspiration which led the Scottish golfing craftsmen to invent and develop the "feathery" at around about the early 18th century. Can you imagine playing a round of golf today using a ball made from a piece of old leather stuffed with bird feathers? Because that is exactly what the "The first officially recognised balls” were. It was constructed by piecing together a number of small leather patches and stuffing the inside with either goose or chicken feathers. The feathers were compressed and forced in very tightly so that the ball was very firm. The feathers had to be boiled in hot water first to make them easy to manipulate and stuff inside the leather ball casing. Once the ball had been stuffed it was then handsewn and literally hammered into a ball like shape. Even though the ball was relatively hard after it had been given a few coats of paint, it was still relatively delicate and would only last a couple of holes. “A bit like water and the Titleist PRO V1”
In terms of distance this could be hit almost twice as far as a wooden ball with distances of 170 - 200 yards achievable in the very best of conditions. Amazingly these two types of golfball were used for an extended period of time between the 15th and 18th centuries. If you can find one today it would probably be worth a nice few bob. Gutta Percha Ball When you think of trees, it’s the ones that make that clunking sound of ball on wood during your sunday afternoon fourball. However the Gutta Percha ball was actually made from a tree, or should I say the juice from the leaves of a Malaysian tree which produced a latex or liquid rubber solution which was very malleable and could be shaped very easily. This raw material was easy to come by and therefore led to inexpensive golf missiles being produced. These cheap golf balls became a much better option than the fragile feathery as well as being a much stronger ball. Hand Hammered Gutta Ball Instead of having a negative effect on performance, this actually improved the flight of the ball keeping it on a truer line and so the Hand Hammered Gutta was born. To be able to make these new type of golfballs a golfer would take the material made for a normal smooth Gutta Percha and instead of letting it set smooth he/she would hammer small indents with a sharp object. This gave the ball a good round shape but really was the beginning of the dimple patterned ball we all know, love and use today. Bramble Ball The Bramble ball was basically a further advancement in golf ball technology from the Gutta Percha to the Hand Hammered Gutta to the Bramble. The Bramble was still made of the same material but was now produced using a number of different types of ball press which gave the Bramble an even more improved shape as well as a more even pattern across the ball. Just this small change led to a major advancement in performance and golfers were finding that their scoring was becoming significantly lower. Rubber Ball (Haskell) If you know your golf then you must have heard the word Haskell mentioned. Now we were reaching the stars in ball construction, here was the most advanced and game saving peice of equipment the golf world had ever seen was born. The rubber ball was invented by a golfer from the United States, his name was Coburn Haskell and the ball became lovingly known and accepted as the "Haskell” The Haskell was the first ball to use a centre core with rubber wrapped tightly around, it was also the first ball to have an outer cover made of the material known as Balata. The Modern Day Ball As you well know, nowadays there are so many different types of balls with different characteristics. Balls now are anything from a 2 piece ball to a 4 piece ball. I think that one manufacturer is currently looking at a five piece ball, I am sure it will come What do all these pieces to a ball mean and which one is the best for your game?
Check out an article I have written on Golf Ball Technology to learn more about the modern ball and get more information about which is the best for your game. I hope you enjoyed this article and please pass on our website address to your friends and golf buddies. Come back soon because we will be adding new articles and information on a regular basis.
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