n a day. An acceptable drive with such a ball was from 150 to 175 yards. They became useless when wet. These "featheries" were standard until about 1848 when the gutta-percha ball arrived on the scene. Gutta-percha is the dried gum of the Malaysian sapodilla tree. This material when heated takes on the consistency of putty and can be rolled into a solid ball. These balls were first rolled by hand but later were formed in a metal mold. At first these balls had smooth surfaces. The "guttie" balls had two drawbacks; they sometimes broke into pieces as some modern solid balls have been known to do and they did not fly as well as the feather balls. As these balls were used, their surfaces became roughened and in this condition they flew much better than the smoother balls. Soon gutties were being molded with rough surfaces. Experience showed that a rough surface on a ball had a marked effect on its aerodynamic characteristics. REMOVE THE DIMPLES AND COMPAREIt is an interesting experiment to remove the dimples on a modern ball using sandpaper, give it several coats of white spray lacquer so that it becomes quite smooth, and then compare its aerodynamic characteristics on the practice tee with a similar ball with its dimples intact. You will be surprised at the much greater distance achieved with the dimpled ball. THE EXPERIENCES OF P. G. TAITThe first serious thinking concerning the aerodynamics of golf balls appears to have been done, starting in 1887, by the British scientist P. G. Tait. Professor Tait held a chair of Natural Philosophy at Edinburgh University, Scotland. Natural Philosophy was the name then used for what is now known as Physics. Golf was his favorite recreation. Professor Tait showed through his studies the importance of spin on the flight of a golf ball. He relates that in his youth he was taught that "all spin is detrimental" and he practiced assiduously to master the art of hitting a ball almost free of spin. After he ha...
