Demonstration Golf Ball

This golf ball was made by Spalding in the early 1960s to demonstrate the importance of dimples on the surface of a golf ball. When gutta percha balls superseded featheries from the 1850s onwards, they were initially made with smooth surfaces like billiard balls. Players discovered that as the balls became cut and damaged they flew better. People were then employed to score the balls with a chisel or similar tool.

The dimple ball was patented in 1905 and all modern golf balls have dimples (commonly 300-500). When a ball is hit, spin is imparted and it whirls rapidly as it flies. As the ball rushes through the air, a vacuum forms behind the ball creating a drag. Dimples create tiny air pockets which means the air clings slightly longer thereby reducing drag.

Spalding made a number of 1.62" golf balls without dimples and distributed them to dealers as a promotional tool. Players were allowed to hit them and experience how difficult smooth balls are to control.