High launch and low launching golf balls

[SavvySwede]

I see all the time ball manufacturers talk about how one ball models somehow launches higher or lower than some other model. I can understand how dimple pattern and spin could effect peak trajectory but I doubt such things could effect the initial launch angle all that much. The only way I could imagine launch angle changing between models would be if one model had a tendency to slide up the face of the club more to slightly change its relationship to the COG of the club after impact. Is there something I am missing?

[iacas]

I see all the time ball manufacturers talk about how one ball models somehow launches higher or lower than some other model. I can understand how dimple pattern and spin could effect peak trajectory but I doubt such things could effect the initial launch angle all that much. The only way I could imagine launch angle changing between models would be if one model had a tendency to slide up the face of the club more to slightly change its relationship to the COG of the club after impact. Is there something I am missing?

You're missing that it has next to nothing to do with the dimples and more to do with the cover formulation and how much the ball will deform.

[SavvySwede]

Quote:

Originally Posted by SavvySwede

I see all the time ball manufacturers talk about how one ball models somehow launches higher or lower than some other model. I can understand how dimple pattern and spin could effect peak trajectory but I doubt such things could effect the initial launch angle all that much. The only way I could imagine launch angle changing between models would be if one model had a tendency to slide up the face of the club more to slightly change its relationship to the COG of the club after impact. Is there something I am missing?

You're missing that it has next to nothing to do with the dimples and more to do with the cover formulation and how much the ball will deform.

I'm guessing more deformation=higher launch then? Generally speaking

[iacas]

I'm guessing more deformation=higher launch then? Generally speaking

I believe…

1. Higher deformation = launches (relatively) closer to face angle.

2. Softer cover = launches (relatively) closer to path.

Range balls (firm covers) launch higher than Pro V1, for example.

[1badbadger]

I'm guessing more deformation=higher launch then? Generally speaking

Correct.  A lower compression ball will launch higher with less spin than a higher compression/firmer ball.

Bigger diameter and shallower depth dimples create a higher trajectory.  Smaller diameter and deeper depth dimples will create a low trajectory.

[saevel25]

Correct.  A lower compression ball will launch higher with less spin than a higher compression/firmer ball.

Bigger diameter and shallower depth dimples create a higher trajectory.  Smaller diameter and deeper depth dimples will create a low trajectory.

Do you know by how much?

I know that the cover on the ball matters a lot as well. A Urethane covered ball will spin more off the driver than a non-Urethane ball.

[iacas]

Correct.  A lower compression ball will launch higher with less spin than a higher compression/firmer ball.

Bigger diameter and shallower depth dimples create a higher trajectory.  Smaller diameter and deeper depth dimples will create a low trajectory.

That chart is somewhat confusing, because the cover material matters. Are they measuring deformation or compression? The chart says nothing about the compression rating: you can deform a ball more with a higher swing speed, too.

That said, the more a ball deforms the closer it launches to face (the loft in this case). That's why drivers are 85-90% face angle while a 9I is as low as about 70% face angle.

[RussUK]

You're missing that it has next to nothing to do with the dimples and more to do with the cover formulation and how much the ball will deform.

I was always under the impression that dimple pattern/number affected base trajectories aerodynamically?

I see taglines on from the likes of Dunlop saying things like "402 dimple pattern for a penatrating ball flight". Dimple pattern more for the stability of the ball?

[iacas]

I was always under the impression that dimple pattern/number affected base trajectories aerodynamically?

I see taglines on from the likes of Dunlop saying things like "402 dimple pattern for a penatrating ball flight". Dimple pattern more for the stability of the ball?

Not sure why you quoted me on that, but dimple patterns don't really affect the launch conditions of the ball, but do affect the flight of the ball, of course. You could build a ball that, with the same RPM, climbs higher or lower than another ball with the same exact launch conditions.

[1badbadger]

 

 

Do you know by how much?

 

I know that the cover on the ball matters a lot as well. A Urethane covered ball will spin more off the driver than a non-Urethane ball.

 

That chart is somewhat confusing, because the cover material matters. Are they measuring deformation or compression? The chart says nothing about the compression rating: you can deform a ball more with a higher swing speed, too.

 

That said, the more a ball deforms the closer it launches to face (the loft in this case). That's why drivers are 85-90% face angle while a 9I is as low as about 70% face angle.

This chart on dimples might be less confusing:

iacas is right...cover material matter as well, as does cover thickness:  

• Thicker covers produce less ball speed and more spin.  
• Thinner covers produce more ball speed and less spin.  
• A softer cover creates higher spin and less ball speed.  

One important aspect to this is that the trade-off between backspin and ball speed is not 1:1. How firm the cover is has a much bigger effect on spin than it does on ball speed.  The thickness has a bigger effect on ball speed than it does on spin.  Making a thinner, softer cover that is still durable is one thing engineers and golf ball designers are always working on.