Faculty Sponsor(s)
Michael Crosser
Location
Jereld R. Nicholson Library: Grand Avenue
Subject Area
Physics/Applied Physics
Description
There are many golf balls on the market today with varying dimple sizes, shapes, and distribution. These proprietary differences are all designed to reduce drag on the balls during flight. There are limited published studies comparing how varying the dimples affects the reduction of drag. An experiment was developed in which golf balls were pulled through a water tank to measure the drag force acting on each ball. The water was chosen to allow for testing at slower velocities. A range of dimple patterns were tested and compared to determine which pattern has the lowest associated drag coefficient.
Recommended Citation
Seeley, James M. and Crosser, Michael S., "Drag Coefficients of Varying Dimple Patterns" (2018). Linfield University Student Symposium: A Celebration of Scholarship and Creative Achievement. Event. Submission 38.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/symposium/2018/all/38
Drag Coefficients of Varying Dimple Patterns
Jereld R. Nicholson Library: Grand Avenue
There are many golf balls on the market today with varying dimple sizes, shapes, and distribution. These proprietary differences are all designed to reduce drag on the balls during flight. There are limited published studies comparing how varying the dimples affects the reduction of drag. An experiment was developed in which golf balls were pulled through a water tank to measure the drag force acting on each ball. The water was chosen to allow for testing at slower velocities. A range of dimple patterns were tested and compared to determine which pattern has the lowest associated drag coefficient.
