Mathematics of Golf: The Golf Ball and Golf Club

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Golf is an activity enjoyed by people of every age. Everything from the dimples on ball to the angle of the club and the momentum of the swing to the layout of the course golf uses mathematics. Golf has so many aspects that I could have used for this paper, but do to lack of time I choose to focus on specifically the golf ball and golf club. These two items are essential for the game of golf and have also changed the most.
The golf ball is designed in a way that always it to float through the air with the least amount of resistance. In the beginning of the game the golf ball used was smooth. As the game became more popular people were always looking for ways to improve their golf game. In 1905 the patent for what looks most like the current golf ball design was introduced. The ball was introduced with small dimples covering the surface of the golf ball. These dimples were strategically designed to reduce drag and increase distance that the ball could travel. The formula (listed below) gives the mathematics behind how big the dimples should be and amount there should be.

The equation were “sum Vs of volumes of dimple spaces each defined below a plane circumscribed by the dimple edge to the volume of an imaginary sphere on the assumption that no dimples are on the golf ball surface is calculated according to” the equation listed above. R is the radius of the golf ball and the amount of dimples is based on a relationship of ratios. One researcher at the University of Maryland was able to “apply complicated mathematical algorithms and advance supercomputers to finally understand the airflow around a golf ball from a mathematical standpoint”(McPhee). Before this companies that made golf balls went of a trial and error basis. It ...

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...r golfers to swing the club. The formulas used to create these golf club heads are held close to the companies have patented them. Golf clubs both irons and woods use math to gage the distance that each club will produce. It is also on the golfer to learn these different distances and the way that these clubs are different.
Golf will continue to be a sport enjoyed by everyone as math makes it easier for individual of all strengths to play. Golf balls have technologically evolved to further distances and reduce drag. Golf clubs have evolved to allow the golfer to have more choices and chose the club that works best for them. Both golf balls and golf clubs use mathematical equations that are patented and used to create new technologies in golf to improve golfers games. Since the beginning of time people have used math in golf and will continue to use math in golf.

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