Golf Ball’s Inner Beauty
Until last year, most pros preferred using “wound” balls that had a small center tightly wrapped by elastic strands and a polymer casing. But the Pro V1 and other new balls use a big solid rubber core and a thin outside cover.
Titleist Pro V1: Most popular on tour in 2001.
* Inner core: Resilient rubber.
* Outer casing: Speed-enhancing, spin-controlling ionomer.
* Cover: High-performance urethane elastomer.
Titleist Tour Distance SF: Wound ball used by most pros before 2001.
* Inner core: Thermoplastic liquid-filled center.
* Outer casing: High-energy elastic windings.
* Cover: Soft polymer alloy blend.
Driving the Distance
* Club head causes spring effect.
* Ball is compacted on impact.
* Ball expands as it launches off club face.
History of the Golf Ball
* 1400s-1850s: Earliest balls are covered with stitched leather and stuffed with feathers; they later give way to “gutta-percha” balls made from the latex produced by a tree found in Malaysia.
* 1850s-1930s: Balls made mostly with rubber are developed and dramatically change the game. The dimple pattern on the ball’s casing is introduced in 1908.
1930s-Today:
* The ball’s size and weight are standardized in 1932 by the U.S. Golf Assn. Modern balls, some wound inside and others with solid cores, are developed with improved rubber, new plastics and other specialized materials.
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Researched by MARK HAFER/Los Angeles Times
Source: Titleist