Do More Dimples On A Golf Ball Make It Better? (The Truth)

The design of a golf ball, particularly the design of the dimples on a golf ball, drastically affects the aerodynamics of the ball. The dimples on a golf ball are of utmost importance, but there are many varieties of golf balls on the market with varying amounts of dimples and dimple designs, so which is best? Do more dimples on a golf ball make it better?

Contents show

The number of golf ball dimples is less important than the shape and depth of the dimples. The number of dimples can affect drag, so it is important to not have too many dimples. Between 330 and 400 dimples is the optimum number. More dimples mean more focussed control over the ball trajectory.

The dimples on a golf ball will directly affect the way the ball performs. Golf ball manufacturers produce balls with varying numbers of dimples and varying dimple designs, so how do you know which is best? Let’s find out!

Are More Dimples On A Golf Ball Better?

The number of dimples that are on a golf ball may seem random, and it may even seem inconsequential, but the truth is that the dimples on a golf ball are very intentionally designed and placed, and the number of dimples on a golf ball is carefully determined.

More dimples being on a golf ball are not necessarily better. The number of dimples that are on a golf ball is less important than the dimensions of the dimples themselves. Too many dimples mean more drag, and too few dimples mean an unpredictable flight trajectory. The number of dimples is important, but it is vital to not have too many.

How many dimples a golf ball has is specifically determined by the gold ball manufacturer, with the intent of affecting certain characteristics of the ball while in flight.

The dimples on the ball directly affect the aerodynamic of the ball, and so the number of dimples on a golf ball is important.

Generally speaking, there are usually between 300 – 500 dimples on a golf ball, but is it better to use a ball with more or fewer dimples?

The number of dimples on a golf ball affects the drag of the ball. This means that if you prefer a golf ball to move a little more slowly through the air to compensate for a specific swing or hit style, then the highest number of dimples you can find will be the way to go.

Having a lower number of dimples will result in less drag, and so the ball with move more quickly through the air, being slowed down less by the air around it. If you prefer a fastball, then choosing one with a lower number of dimples is a better option for you.

Do Dimples Make A Golf Ball Fly Farther?

Dimples that are on a golf ball are specifically and intentionally designed to alter the aerodynamic properties of the ball while in the air. Part of this is the distance that the ball travels.

Dimples do make a golf ball fly farther. Without dimples, golf balls do not spin well and have too much drag while in flight to travel a long distance. Golf balls with dimples have been proven to travel at least 160 yards farther than smooth golf balls.

The dimples that are made on the surface of a golf ball during manufacture are purposefully designed to affect the ball in flight, including how far or how short the ball will travel after being hit.

The reason why dimples affect the distance the ball can go is because the dimples on the surface of the ball cause the ball to spin in the air.

This backspin motion creates a low-pressure zone behind and underneath the ball while in flight, effectively pushing the ball upwards, which translates to longer air-time.

If the ball can remain in the air for longer, it has a better chance of covering a greater distance. The more well-designed the dimples on the ball are, the better the ball spins, the farther the ball will go.

This principle is known as lift, and the more lift a ball has due to its rotation in the air, the greater distance it can travel before hitting the ground. For this reason, dimples do make a golf ball fly farther.

Do More Dimples Mean More Spin?

If the spin of a golf ball in flight is so vital for its performance, how do the dimples of the ball affect its spin? Is it better to use a golf ball with more dimples? Do more dimples mean more spin?

More dimples do not always translate to more spin. The number of dimples on a ball affects the drag of the ball, not necessarily the spin. The spin of the ball is affected by the depth of the dimples. Shallower dimples mean more spin.

The way the dimples on a golf ball are shaped and laid out is more important than the actual number of dimples on the ball.

The number of dimples affects the drag placed on the ball in the air, but the design of the dimples affects how the ball responds to the air moving around it while in flight.

It has been proven that the depth of the dimples on a golf ball is the biggest contributing factor to how the ball spins while in flight.

If the golf ball has deep dimples, it spins less while in the air than if it were to have shallow dimples. This also means that the size of the dimples is important for how the ball spins.

If a golf ball has larger dimples, it can be made to be more shallow. This directly means that for a golf ball to spin faster, it should have fewer large dimples rather than more small dimples.

For this reason, more dimples do not always mean more spin. The opposite is true; in fact, more dimples may mean less spin.

Large, shallow dimples are the key to the fastest spin for a golf ball in flight.

Which Golf Balls Have The Most Dimples?

If the number of dimples that are on a golf ball can affect the way the ball moves through the air, having more dimples may be beneficial for some players. Which golf balls have the most dimples?

The golf ball with the most dimples is the Dimple 1070. This golf ball has 1,070 dimples. However, these balls can not be used in any competitions as they are not regulation-grade balls. The regulation golf ball with the most dimples is the Mizuno RB 566, with 566 dimples.

Having the most number of dimples on a golf ball is a very specific requirement and not one that is sought after by many players.

That being said, it is important to note that the number of dimples on a golf ball does directly affect its aerodynamics and flight trajectory, so it is an important factor to consider.

The number of dimples that are on a golf ball is unregulated, which means that manufacturers can use as many dimples as they like for their golf balls.

However, the pattern of the dimples is regulated, and the regulation states that the dimples on a golf ball must be uniform.

For this reason, the Dimplet 1070 is not a regulation ball and can not be used in regulated competitions. Although this ball has the most dimples of any golf ball, 1,070 to be exact, not all of the dimples are the same size.

The Dimple 1070 has 414 large dimples and 656 small dimples, making it a non-regulation golf ball.

The Mizuno RB 566 is a regulation ball that has 566 micro-dimples, which are more dimples than any other regulation golf ball.

The Mizuno RB 566 ball is said to have exceptionally prolonged flight and a very good launch elevation.

How Many Dimples Are On A Professional Golf Ball?

There is a very large variety of golf balls, and each of them is designed with particular dimple numbers and patterns, but how many dimples are on the balls that professionals use?

The players on the PGA Tour in 2020 all used a golf ball that had between 322 and 376 dimples. This is quite a narrow margin, as the number of dimples on a golf ball can range anywhere from 300 to well over 500 dimples.

This means that professionally used golf balls are of a specific variety, and all pro players prefer a specific type of golf ball with a particular type of dimples.

The reason why professional golf players may tend to use a golf ball with this range of dimples is that these players are able to fully control the ball when playing.

Less experienced players may prefer slower-moving balls or balls with less spin, but the pros are able to fully utilize these features to their advantage.

For this reason, professional golf players use golf balls with this range of dimples because they provide the best launch height, the greatest ball loft, the best ball backspin, and the most controllable ball flight.

What Is The Optimal Number Of Dimples On A Golf Ball?

There is such a wide range of dimples used for golf balls. Some have many, and others have few, but what is the optimal number of dimples on a golf ball?

The truth is that there is not an optimal number for dimples on a golf ball. There is an optimum range that has a good balance of drag and lift, but there is no one number that is superior.

The number of dimples that are on a golf ball is not the most important aspect of the dimples. The shape, depth, size, and edge angles of the dimples are more important than the actual number of dimples.

It is possible to have too few dimples, which results in a golf ball that is too smooth, making it very unpredictable in flight and not travel very far in the air, and it is possible to have too many dimples, which significantly slows the golf ball down and reduces spin.

The optimum range of the number of dimples on a golf ball is from 320 – 450 dimples. Less than 320 dimples and more than 450 dimples make the ball very difficult to control and may lead to an inferior ball when compared to others in the same class.

How Do Dimple Patterns Affect A Golf Ball?

The number of dimples that are on a golf ball is a factor, but what about the pattern of the dimples and how they are shaped? How do dimples patterns affect a golf ball?

The pattern of the dimples is the most important aspect of a golf ball’s aerodynamics. The pattern dictates trajectory, ball spin, flight stability, distance, drag, lift, ball speed, and launch height.

The depth and size of the dimples determine the spin of the ball, which in turn determines how much lift the ball has in the air.

The layout of the dimples helps to determine the trajectory and stability of the golf ball when in flight, how much drag the ball experiences, and the launch height of the ball when hit.

All of these are factors that directly impact the performance of a golf ball and can make the difference between the player using it, winning or losing.

It is vital that the manufacturer spends the time and effort to properly assess the effects of the dimples on the golf balls that they produce to properly understand how they affect the movements of the ball on the course.

The dimple pattern on a golf ball can also make a ball susceptible to collecting debris such as mud or sand, which can negatively affect the performance of the ball as well.

This means that every minute aspect of the dimples on a golf ball plays a significant part in how the ball can be used and how effective it is in the sport.

Conclusion

The dimples on a golf ball are crucial. They determine all of the major aerodynamic properties of a golf ball, which ultimately determines how well the ball performs during a game.

More dimples on a golf ball do not necessarily make the ball better, but rather the way the balls are laid out and how they are designed.

The best golf balls have the right balance of size, depth, and number of dimples to properly adjust for the lift and drag of the ball in the air to optimize the performance of the ball.

The most effective way to find the right dimple pattern for you is to try out as many varieties of golf balls that you can.

Take your time, find the right golf ball for you according to its dimple pattern, and watch how it significantly improves your game right from day one!