Spiral Dimples

[iacas]

Check it out . Make sure you read enough to get to the part about how lift and drag work on a golf ball.

[Q.Q.Quillume]

[firstcut]

Very cool. Be interesting to see if it actually improves anything or not.

[tonyy]

Looks pretty sweet. They should call it the Hurricane. haha

[Q.Q.Quillume]

Looks pretty sweet. They should call it the Hurricane. haha

Don't hurricanes (well, at least in the northern hemisphere) rotate counter-clockwise?

[Long_Ball_Bogey]

It'll be interesting to see how they work around the paintfill issue. Seems to me that it would be difficult to keep the spirals defined enough to really make a difference. --LBB

[907golfer12]

Don't hurricanes (well, at least in the northern hemisphere) rotate counter-clockwise?

Aren't these going counter-clockwise?

[iacas]

It'll be interesting to see how they work around the paintfill issue. Seems to me that it would be difficult to keep the spirals defined enough to really make a difference. --LBB

There's paint on the golf ball now. You know how thin that layer is? My understanding is that it's really, really, really thin.

[firstcut]

There's paint on the golf ball now. You know how thin that layer is? My understanding is that it's really, really, really thin.

I think he's referring to this from the article:

"However, in reality small dimples are not always very effective in decreasing drag and increasing lift. This results at least in part from the susceptibility of small dimples to paint flooding. Paint flooding occurs when the paint coat on the golf ball partially fills the small dimples, and consequently decreases their aerodynamic effectiveness." I guess if the paint could fill a small dimple it could conceivably fill the tail end of a spiral as well? I learned A LOT from that article. Very cool.

[iacas]

I think he's referring to this from the article:

Indeed he probably is; I only skimmed it.

[Long_Ball_Bogey]

Indeed he probably is; I only skimmed it.

Yes, that's what I was referring to. I suppose a deeper dimple design could make it work, though. I'm really hoping to see this one in action--if only from an aerodynamic test standpoint. --LBB

[M2R]

My impression was that the main point of these patterns is wrapped up in the statement below. The end goal, greater manufacturing tolerances and improved consumer durability.

The un-dimpled land surface, therefore, remains robust to prevent premature wear and tear.

The following clue appears earlier in the article referring to how conventional dimpled ball designs strive to minimize this land surface.

In arranging the dimples, an attempt is made to minimize the space between dimples, because such space does not improve aerodynamic performance of the ball.

[jamesgoodchild]

I suppose they could always press the spirals into the ball AFTER they paint it. They might even be able to mill it in as well.

[rudygu]

That looks really cool. Let's hope Jack Nicklaus doesn't find out about it

[Q.Q.Quillume]

Aren't these going counter-clockwise?

Oops. You're right. Sorry . . .

[907golfer12]

Oops. You're right. Sorry . . .

Haha it's okay, someone forgot their directions.

[JessN16]

Indeed he probably is; I only skimmed it.

Do it like Volvik does their golf balls. Ever seen those? The "white" ball is suspended inside a clear outer poly coat, and then the poly coat gets the dimples. I play Volvik balls and like them very much.

Nothing looks like them on a golf course, either. Not only can I easily tell my ball from those of my partners, it seems to stand out a little better from its surroundings. The upshot here is there is no paint on the outer coat of a Volvik (other than the label markings). Jess

[Petden]

The whole concept is interesting. Now bringing it back to real life, I'm not sure if this will make a huge difference (or any at all) in the flight path of the ball. Possibly, a great player might benifit from this theory when they are shapping a shot, however, I dont think the "average Joe" will benifit any.