Constitution of Canada and Golf ball: Difference between pages

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{{citations|date=April 2008}}
{{Canadian politics}}
The '''Constitution of Canada''' is the supreme law in [[Canada]]; the country's [[constitution]] is an amalgamation of codified [[Act of Parliament|act]]s and [[uncodified constitution|uncodified]] traditions and [[constitutional convention (political custom)|convention]]s. It outlines Canada's [[system of government]], as well as the [[civil rights]] of all Canadian citizens.


[[Image:Golfball.jpg|thumb|right|260px|A golf ball next to a hole]]
The composition of the Constitution of Canada is defined in subsection 52(2) of the [[Constitution Act, 1982]] as consisting of the [[Canada Act 1982]] (including the Constitution Act, 1982), all acts and orders referred to in the schedule (including the [[Constitution Act, 1867]], formerly the British North America Act), and any amendments to these documents.<ref>See [[list of Canadian constitutional documents]] for details.</ref> The [[Supreme Court of Canada]] held that the list is not exhaustive and includes unwritten doctrines as well.<ref>''[[New Brunswick Broadcasting Co. v. Nova Scotia (Speaker of the House of Assembly)|New Brunswick Broadcasting Co. v. Nova Scotia]]'' [1993] 1 S.C.R. 319</ref>
A '''golf ball''' is a [[ball]] designed to be used in the game of [[golf]].


A regulation golf ball weighs no more than 1.620 [[ounces|oz]] (45.93 [[gram]]s), with a diameter over 1.680 [[inches|in]] (42.67 [[millimetre|mm]]), and is symmetrically [[spherical]] in shape. Like [[Golf club (equipment)|golf clubs]], golf balls are subject to testing and approval by the [[Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews]] and the [[United States Golf Association]], and those that do not conform with regulations may not be used in competitions ''(Rule 5-1 — also see [[rules of golf]])''.
== History of the Constitution ==
{{main|Constitutional history of Canada}}
[[Image:Fathers of Canadian Confederation.jpg|thumb|left|300px|right|A painting depicting negotiations that would lead to the enactment of the [[Constitution Act, 1867|British North America Act, 1867]]]]
The first semblance of a Constitution for Canada was the [[Royal Proclamation of 1763]]. The Act renamed Canada "The Province of Quebec" and redefined its borders and established a British-appointed colonial government. The proclamation was considered the ''de facto'' constitution of Quebec until 1774 when the British government passed the [[Quebec Act]] of 1774 which set out many procedures of governance in the area of Quebec. It extended the boundaries of the colony and adopted the British criminal code among other things.


==History==
The colony of Canada received its first full constitution in the [[Constitutional Act of 1791]] which established much of the composition of the government. This was later superseded by the [[British North America Act]] in 1867 which established the Dominion of Canada.


[[Wood]]en ballsare nce and big like black balls! were used until the early 17th century, when the ''featherie'' ball was invented. This added a new and exciting feature to the game of golf. A featherie is a hand sewn leather pouch stuffed with [[goose]] [[feather]]s and coated with paint. The feathers in the ball were enough to fill a top hat. They were boiled and put in the cowhide bag. As it cooled, the feathers would expand and the hide would shrink, making a compact ball. Due to its superior flight characteristics, the featherie remained the standard ball for more than two centuries. However, an experienced ball maker could only make a few balls in one day, so they were expensive. A single ball would cost between 2 [[Shilling (United Kingdom)|shillings]] and sixpence and 5 shillings, which is the equivalent of around 10 to 20 US dollars today <ref>http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewcook.html Kevin Cook, former editor-in-chief of Golf Magazine interviewed by Golf Club Atlas</ref>. Also, it was hard to make a perfectly spherical ball, and because of that, the ball often flew irregularly. When playing in wet weather, the stiches in the ball would rot, and the ball would split open after hitting a hard surface.
In 1931, the British Parliament passed the [[Statute of Westminster, 1931]] (22 Geo. V, c.4 (UK)). This Act gave all dominion countries equal legislative authority with the United Kingdom. This was followed up in 1982, when the British Parliament passed the '''[[Canada Act 1982|Canada Act, 1982]]''' ([UK] 1982, c.11) giving up all remaining constitutional and legislative authority over Canada. The enactment of the Canada Act is often referred to in Canada as the 'patriation' of the constitution and it was largely due to the work of [[Pierre Trudeau|Pierre Elliot Trudeau]], the [[Prime Minister of Canada]] at the time.


In 1848, the Rev. Dr. Robert Adams (or [[Robert Adam Paterson]])<ref>Sources conflict as to the exact name.</ref> invented the [[gutta-percha]] ball (or ''guttie''). The gutta was created from dried sap of a Sapodilla Tree. The sap had a rubber-like feel and could be made round by heating and shaping it while hot. Accidentally, it was discovered that defects in the sphere could provide a ball with a truer flight than a pure sphere. Thus, makers started creating intentional defects in the surface to have a more consistent ball flight. Because gutties were cheaper to produce and could be manufactured with textured surfaces to improve their aerodynamic qualities, they replaced feather balls completely within a few years.
With the introduction of the Canada Act and the accompanying Charter, much of Constitutional law in Canada has changed. The Canada Act has entrenched many constitutional conventions and has made amendments significantly more difficult (see [[Amendments to the Constitution of Canada|amendment formula]]). The Charter has shifted the focus of the Constitution to individual and collective rights of the inhabitants of Canada. Before the enactment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 1982, civil rights and liberties had no solid constitutional protection in Canada. Whenever one level of government passed a law that seemed oppressive to civil rights and liberties, Canadian constitutional lawyers had to argue creatively, such as by saying that the oppressive law violates division of federal and provincial powers or by citing some other technical flaw that had little to do with the concept of civil rights and liberties.{{fact|date=December 2007}} Since 1982, however, the Charter has become the most often cited part of the Constitution and has thus far solidified the protection of rights for people in Canada.


In the 20th century, multi-layer balls were developed, first as wound balls consisting of a solid or liquid-filled core wound with a layer of rubber thread and a thin outer shell. This idea was first discovered by Coburn Haskell of Cleveland, Ohio in 1898. Haskell had driven to nearby Akron to keep a golf date with Bertram Work, then superintendent of B.F. Goodrich. While he waited for Work at the plant, Haskell idly wound a long rubber thread into a ball. When he bounced the ball, it flew almost to the ceiling. Work suggested Haskell put a cover on the creation, and that was the birth of the 20th century golf ball. The design allowed manufacturers to fine-tune the length, spin and "feel" characteristics of balls. Wound balls were especially valued for their soft feel.
==Constitution Act, 1867==
{{main|Constitution Act, 1867}}
This was an Act of the British Parliament, originally called the British North America Act 1867,
that created the Dominion of Canada out of three separate provinces in British North America ([[Province of Canada]], [[New Brunswick]], and [[Nova Scotia]]) and allowed for subsequent provinces and colonies to join this union in the future. It outlined Canada's system of government, which combines Britain's Westminster model of parliamentary government with division of sovereignty ([[Canadian federalism|federalism]]). Although it is one of many ''[[British North America Acts]]'' to come, it is still the most famous of these and is understood to be the document of Canadian Confederation (i.e. union of provinces and colonies in British North America). With the patriation of the Constitution in 1982, this Act was renamed ''Constitution Act, 1867''. In recent years, the Constitution Act, 1867 has mainly served as the basis on which the division of powers between the provinces and federal government have been analyzed.


They usually consist of a two-, three-, or four-layer design, (named either a two-piece, three-piece, or four-piece ball) consisting of various synthetic materials like surlyn or [[urethane]] blends. They come in a great variety of playing characteristics to suit the needs of golfers of different abilities.
==Constitution Act, 1982 Wiener ==
{{seealso|Constitution Act, 1982}}
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Ouellet approaches to sign the Constitution.jpg|thumb|left|300px|The [[Constitution Act, 1982]], which included the [[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]], was brought into force by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth II]] in [[Ottawa]] on [[April 17]], [[1982]].]] -->
Endorsed by all the provincial governments except Quebec's, this was an Act by the Canadian Parliament requesting full political independence from Britain. Part V of this Act created a constitution-amending formula that did not require an Act by the British Parliament. Further, Part I of this Act is the [[Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms]] which outlines the civil rights and liberties of every citizen in Canada, such as freedom of expression, of religion, and of mobility. Part II deals with the rights of Canada's Aboriginal peoples.


==Regulations==
===Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms===
The current regulations mandated by [[the R&A]] and the [[USGA]] state that diameter of the golf ball cannot be any smaller than 1.680 inches. The maximum velocity of the ball may not exceed 250 feet per second under test conditions and the weight of the ball may not exceed 1.620 ounces.
{{seealso|Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms}}
As noted above, this is Part I of the Constitution Act, 1982. The Charter is the constitutional guarantee of collective and individual rights. It is a relatively short document and written in plain language in order to ensure accessibility to the average citizen. It is said that it is the part of the constitution that has the greatest impact on Canadians' day-to-day lives, and has been the fastest developing area of constitutional law for many years.


Until 1990 it was permissible to use balls of no less than 1.62 inches in diameter in tournaments under the jurisdiction of the R&A<ref>http://golf.about.com/cs/historyofgolf/p/timeline1990.htm</ref>.
===Amending formula ===
{{seealso|Amendments to the Constitution of Canada}}
With the Constitution Act, 1982, amendments to the constitution must be done in accordance with Part V of the Constitution Act, 1982 which provides for five different amending formulas. Amendments can be brought forward under section 46(1) by any province or either level of the federal government. The general formula is set out in section 38(1), known as the "7/50 formula", requires: (a) assent from both the House of Commons and the Senate; (b) the approval of two-thirds of the provincial legislatures (at least seven provinces), representing at least 50% of the population (effectively, this would include at least Quebec or Ontario, as they are the most populous provinces). This formula specifically applies to amendments related to the proportionate representation in Parliament, powers, selection, and composition of the Senate, the Supreme Court and the addition of provinces or territories.
The other amendment formulas are for exceptional cases as provided by in the Act:
*In the case of an amendment related to the [[Monarchy in Canada|Office of the Queen]], the number of senators, the use of either official language (subject to section 43), the amending formula, or the composition of the Supreme Court, the amendment must be adopted by unanimous consent of all the provinces in accordance with section 41.
*However, in the case of an amendment related to provincial boundaries or the use of an official language within a province alone, the amendment must be passed by the legislatures affected by the amendment (section 43).
*In the case of an amendment that affects the federal government alone, the amendment does not need approval of the provinces (section 44). The same applies to amendments affecting the provincial government alone (section 45).


==Aerodynamics==
===Vandalism of the paper proclamation===
When a golf ball is hit, the impact which lasts less than a [[1 E-3 s|millisecond]], determines the ball’s [[velocity]], launch [[angle]] and [[rotation|spin]] rate, all of which influence its [[trajectory]] (and its behavior when it hits the ground).
In 1983, Toronto artist [[Peter Greyson]] entered Ottawa's National Archives (known today as [[Library and Archives Canada]]) and poured red paint over a copy of the proclamation of the 1982 constitutional amendment. He said he was displeased with the federal government's decision to allow U.S. missile testing in Canada, and had wanted to "graphically illustrate to Canadians" how wrong the government was. A grapefruit-sized stain still remains on the original document. Specialists opted to leave most of the paint intact fearing attempts at removing it would only do further damage.<ref>[http://archives.cbc.ca/IDC-1-73-331-1747-10/on_this_day/politics_economy/greyson_protest Missile Protestor defaces Constitution - "On This Day" - CBC Archives<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>


A ball moving through air experiences two major aerodynamic forces, [[Lift (force)|lift]] and [[drag (physics)|drag]]. Dimpled balls fly farther than non-dimpled balls due to the combination of two effects:
== Sources of the Constitution ==
{{see|List of Canadian constitutional documents}}


Firstly, the dimples delay separation of the [[boundary layer]] from the ball. Early separation, as seen on a smooth sphere, causes significant wake turbulence, the principal cause of drag. The separation delay caused by the dimples therefore reduces this wake turbulence, and hence the drag.
There are three general methods of constitutional entrenchment:


Secondly, [[backspin]] generates lift by deforming the airflow around the ball, in a similar manner to an airplane [[wing]]. This is called the [[Magnus effect]]. Backspin is imparted in almost every shot due to the golf club's loft (i.e. angle between the clubface and a vertical plane). A backspinning ball experiences an upward lift force which makes it fly higher and longer than a ball without spin.[http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/golf.html] Sidespin occurs when the clubface is not aligned perpendicularly to the direction of [[Golf#The golf swing|swing]], leading to a lift force that makes the ball curve to one side or the other. Unfortunately the dimples magnify this effect as well as the more desirable upward lift derived from pure backspin. (Some dimple designs are claimed to reduce sidespin effects.)
* 1. Specific mention as a constitutional document in section 52(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982, such as the Constitution Act, 1867.
* 2. Constitutional entrenchment of an otherwise statutory English, British, or Canadian document because of subject matter provisions in the amending formula of the Constitution Act, 1982, such as provisions with regard to the monarchy in the English [[Bill of Rights 1689]] or the [[Act of Settlement 1701]]. English and British statutes are part of Canadian law because of the Colonial Laws Validity Act, 1865, section 129 of the Constitution Act, 1867, and the [[Statute of Westminster 1931]]. Those laws then became entrenched when the amending formula was made part of the constitution.
* 3. Reference by an entrenched document, such as the Preamble of the Constitution Act, 1867's entrenchment of written and unwritten principles from the constitution of the United Kingdom or the [[Constitution Act, 1982]]'s reference of the [[Proclamation of 1763]].


In order to keep the aerodynamics optimal, the ball needs to be clean. Golfers can wash their balls manually, but there are also mechanical [[ball washer]]s available.
=== Unwritten sources ===
The existence of an unwritten constitution was reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in ''[[Reference re Secession of Quebec]]''.
<blockquote>
''The Constitution is more than a written text. It embraces the entire global system of rules and principles which govern the exercise of constitutional authority. A superficial reading of selected provisions of the written constitutional enactment, without more, may be misleading.''
</blockquote>


==Design==
In practice, there have been three sources of unwritten constitutional law:
[[Image:Two similar icosahedron golf ball designs.jpg|450px|thumb|These two balls are disclosed in {{US patent|4560168}}. These two balls are easily made with a two-piece mold. Since there is no dimple located on any of the slash-dotted circles (one is marked red), the mold can be two [[hemispheres]].]]


Dimples first became a feature of golf balls when a certain Taylor patented a dimple design in 1908. Other types of patterned covers were in use at about the same time, including one called a "mesh" and another named the "bramble", but the dimple became the dominant design due to "the superiority of the dimpled cover in flight".<ref>{{cite book
'''Conventions:''' [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|Constitutional convention]]s form part of the Constitution, but they are not legally enforceable. They include the existence of the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Cabinet, the fact that the Governor General is required to give assent to Bills, and the requirement that the Prime Minister call an election upon losing a vote of non-confidence.
| last = Feldman
| first = David
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = When Do Fish Sleep? And Other Imponderables of Everyday Life
| publisher = Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc.
| date = 1989
| location =
| pages = 46
| url =
| doi =
| id =
| isbn = 0-06-016161-2 }}</ref>


Most golf balls on sale today have about 250 &ndash; 450 dimples. There were a few balls having over 500 dimples before. The record holder was a ball with 1,070 dimples &mdash; 414 larger ones (in four different sizes) and 656 pinhead-sized ones. All brands of balls, except one, have even-numbered dimples. The only odd-numbered ball on the market is a ball with 333 dimples, called the Srixon AD333.
'''Royal Prerogative:''' Reserve powers of the [[Monarchy in Canada|Canadian Crown]]; being remnants of the powers once held by the British Crown, reduced over time by the Parliamentary system. Primarily, these are the [[Order-in-Council|Orders-in-Council]] which give the Government the authority to declare war, conclude treaties, issue passports, make appointments, make regulations, incorporate, and receive lands that escheat to the Crown.


Officially sanctioned balls are designed to be as [[symmetry|symmetrical]] as possible. This symmetry is the result of a dispute that stemmed from the Polara, a ball sold in the late 1970s that had six rows of normal dimples on its equator but very shallow dimples elsewhere. This asymmetrical design helped the ball self-adjust its [[spin (physics)|spin]]-axis during the flight. The USGA refused to sanction it for tournament play and, in 1981, changed the rules to ban aerodynamic asymmetrical balls. Polara's producer sued the USGA and the association paid US$1.375 million in a 1985 out-of-court settlement.
'''Unwritten Principles:''' Principles that are incorporated into the Canadian Constitution by reference from the preamble of the ''Constitution Act, 1867''. Unlike conventions, they are legally binding. Amongst the recognized Constitutional principles are federalism, democracy, constitutionalism and the [[rule of law]], and respect for minorities.<ref>these were identified in [[Reference re Secession of Quebec]] [1998] 2 S.C.R. 217</ref> Other principles include [[responsible government]], [[judicial independence]] and an [[Implied Bill of Rights]]. In one case, the ''[[Provincial Judges Reference]]'' (1997), it was found a law can be held invalid for contradicting unwritten principles, in this case judicial independence.


Golf equipment maker [[Callaway]] has introduced a ball with hexagonal dimples to increase the dimpled area on a golf ball, as hexagons tesselate unlike circles.
== External links ==
{{wikibookspar||Canadian Constitutional Law}}
{{wikisourcepar|British North America Act 1867}}
{{wikisourcepar|Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms}}


The [[United States Patent and Trademark Office]]'s [[patent]] [[database]] is a good source of past dimple designs. Most designs are based on [[Platonic solid]]s such as [[icosahedron]].
* [http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/const/index.html Full text of the Constitution]
* [http://www.canadiana.org/citm/ Canada in the Making] - a comprehensive history of the Canadian Constitution with digitized primary sources.
* [http://www.charterofrights.ca/language.php Fundamental Freedoms: The Charter of Rights and Freedoms] - Charter of Rights and Freedoms website with video, audio and the Charter in over 20 languages
* [http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/Proposals/MeechLake.html Meech Lake Accord, 1987]
* [http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/Proposals/CharlottetownConsensus.html Charlottetown Accord, 1992]
* [http://www.solon.org/Constitutions/Canada/English/Proposals/charlottetown-res.html Results of Referendum on the Charlottetown Accord, 1992]
* [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-73-1092/politics_economy/Patriation/ CBC Digital Archives - Charting the Future: Canada's New Constitution]
* [http://archives.cbc.ca/IDD-1-73-394/politics_economy/constitution_debate_1/ CBC Digital Archives - Canada's Constitutional Debate: What Makes a Nation?]


Golf balls are usually white, but are available in other high visibility colours , which helps with finding the ball when lost or when playing in frosty conditions. As well as bearing the makers name or logo, balls are usually printed with numbers or other symbols to help players identify their ball.
==References==
{{reflist}}


==See also==
==Selection==
There are many types of golf balls on the market, and customers often face a difficult decision. Golf balls are divided into two categories: recreational and advanced balls. Recreational balls are oriented toward the ordinary golfer, who generally have low swing speeds (80&nbsp; miles per hour or lower) and lose golf balls on the course easily. These balls are made of two layers, with the cover firmer than the core. Their low compression and side spin reduction characteristics suit the lower swing speeds of average golfers quite well. Furthermore, they generally have lower prices than the advanced balls.
*[[Law of Canada]].
*[[Canadian Bill of Rights]].


Advanced balls are made of multiple layers (three or more), with a soft cover and firm core. They induce a greater amount of spin from lofted shots (wedges especially), as well as a sensation of softness in the hands in short-range shots. However, these balls require a much greater swing speed that only the physically strong players could carry out to compress at impact. If the compression of a golf ball does not match a golfer's swing speed, either the lack of compression or over-compression will occur, resulting in loss of distance. There are also many brands and colors to choose from, with colored balls and better brands generally being more expensive, making an individual's choice more difficult.
{{Constitution of Canada}}

{{Canada topics}}
==Trick Balls==
A number of designs of novelty ball have been introduced over the years, mainly as practical jokes for the amusement of fellow golfers, but also as "cheater" balls that do not conform to the [[Rules of Golf]]. All of these are banned in sanctioned games, but can be amusing in informal play:

* ''Breakaway'' balls are brittle and hollow, and shatter into many small pieces when hit.
* ''Exploding'' balls are similar, but employ a small explosive device that disintegrates the ball when hit. Many courses have banned these as the charge can damage the turf, the player's club or even cause injury, leading manufacturers to develop the breakaway.
* ''Stallers'' are far softer than a normal golf ball, allowing them to be compressed far more easily and are given greater backspin when hit. Both of these give the ball a huge amount of lift, making shots climb very high into the air with very little distance travelled over the ground. In the right conditions, such a ball may travel backwards along its flight path or even perform a loop-the-loop.
* ''Sponge'' balls are softer still; they are generally used as indoor or backyard practice balls, but some are deceptively similar in appearance to a normal ball. Such a ball will travel less than a quarter of the distance of a normal golf ball.
* ''Wobblers'' have a center of mass that is not in the exact center of the ball or is loose within the ball. When putted, the ball will move unpredictably off the intended line.
* ''Floaters'' are less dense than a regulation golf ball so when hit into a water hazard, they bob on the surface when a normal ball would sink.
* ''Super-distance'' balls have deeper dimples and are heavier than allowed by regulation, which allows them first to maintain momentum and second to maintain a thicker "envelope" of still air around them which reduces turbulence and wind resistance. Marketers of these balls generally advertise a 12-yard gain on most distance shots.

==Used and refurbished golf balls==
Used golf balls are golf balls that have been played, most likely hit into a water hazard, then retrieved, cleaned up and resold. Used golf balls comes in different gradings - one well-accepted standard is:[http://www.lostgolfballs.com/info-exec/display/grading_scale]

{| class="wikitable"
|-
|-
| '''AAAAA (1st Quality)'''
| '''AAAA (2nd Quality)'''
| '''AAA (3rd Quality)'''
| '''AA (4th Quality)'''
|-
| Highest quality ball in the marketplace. Like new, perfect to very near perfect. A "One Hit Wonder" Ball.
| Very slightly blemished balls. May have minor imperfections.
| Slightly scuffed or blemished balls that may have minor discoloration.
| Appropriate for range and green practice. Survived a round of golf.
|}

Refinished, sometimes called reconditioned or refurbished, golf balls are different than used. Refinished golf balls may look new, but do not meet the manufacturer's original requirements. In the processing procedure, the golf ball is stripped of its original surface paint and reprinted with the original markings, then a new clear/coat is applied.

==Radio Location==
Golf balls with embedded radio transmitters to allow lost balls to be located were first introduced in 1973, only to be rapidly banned for use in competition<ref>http://www.ruleshistory.com/clubs.html History of the rules of golf</ref><ref>http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3782730.html US Patent 3782730</ref>. More recently [[RFID]] [[transponder]]s have been used for this purpose. This technology can be found in some computerized [[driving range]]s. In this format, each ball used at the range has its own unique transponder code. When dispensed, the range registers each dispensed ball to the player, who then hits them towards targets in the range. When the player hits a ball into a target, they receive distance and accuracy information calculated by the computer.

==World records==

[[Jason Zuback]] broke the world ball speed record on an episode of Sports Science with a golf ball speed of 328 km/h (204 mph){{Fact|date=February 2008}}. The previous record of 302 km/h (188 mph) was held by [[José Ramón Areitio]], a [[Jai Alai]] player{{Fact|date=February 2008}}.

==External links==
* [http://www.lostgolfballs.com/info-exec/display/best_ball_for_me Selecting the best ball that fits you]
* [http://www.kidzworld.com/site/p1147.htm Golf Ball Dimples - How Many?] (an article for children)
* [http://www.golfball-guide.de/museum.htm Online golf ball museum with more than 1000 different golf balls]
* [http://wings.avkids.com/Book/Sports/instructor/golf-01.html Golf ball aerodynamics]
* [http://www.golfballselector.com/howItWorks/faq.php Player performance factors and playing conditions to consider in selecting an appropriate golf ball]
* [http://www.golfjoy.com/golf_physics/dynamics.asp Flight Dynamics of Golf Balls]
* [http://www.knetgolf.com/catalog.aspx?n=How+To+Buy+Balls Choose the proper golf ball for your game]

=== History ===
* [http://www.thedesignshop.com/history.htm The evolution of the golf ball]
* [http://www.golfeurope.com/almanac/history/golf_ball.htm A history of the golf ball]
* [http://www.taylor-hobson.com/dimpled-golf%20-ball.html Evolution of the Dimpled Golf Ball]
* [http://www.lostgolfballs.com/info-exec/display/grading_scale Grading of a Recycled Golf Ball]
* [http://www.golfball-guide.de/index.html All about Golf Balls]
* [http://library.thinkquest.org/10556/english/high/history/hist05.htm History of the golf ball at The Golf Course]
* [http://www.knetgolf.com/HowWeGrade.aspx Learn how golf balls are graded by the worlds most trusted recycled golf ball company]
* [http://www.mailordergolf.com/golf-articles/golfball-dimples.php Why do golf balls have dimples?]

== Footnotes ==
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Constitution of Canada| ]]
[[Category:Golf equipment]]
[[Category:Constitutions|Canada]]
[[Category:Balls]]


[[de:Verfassung von Kanada]]
[[cs:Golfový míček]]
[[da:Golfbold]]
[[es:Constitución de Canadá]]
[[fr:Constitution du Canada]]
[[de:Physik des Golfballs]]
[[he:חוקת קנדה]]
[[es:Bola de golf]]
[[nl:Canadese Grondwet]]
[[fr:Balle de golf]]
[[nl:Golfbal]]
[[pl:Konstytucja Kanady]]
[[no:Golfball]]
[[pt:Constituição do Canadá]]
[[nn:Golfball]]
[[pl:Piłka golfowa]]
[[sr:Голф лоптица]]

Revision as of 00:32, 13 October 2008

A golf ball next to a hole

A golf ball is a ball designed to be used in the game of golf.

A regulation golf ball weighs no more than 1.620 oz (45.93 grams), with a diameter over 1.680 in (42.67 mm), and is symmetrically spherical in shape. Like golf clubs, golf balls are subject to testing and approval by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the United States Golf Association, and those that do not conform with regulations may not be used in competitions (Rule 5-1 — also see rules of golf).

History

Wooden ballsare nce and big like black balls! were used until the early 17th century, when the featherie ball was invented. This added a new and exciting feature to the game of golf. A featherie is a hand sewn leather pouch stuffed with goose feathers and coated with paint. The feathers in the ball were enough to fill a top hat. They were boiled and put in the cowhide bag. As it cooled, the feathers would expand and the hide would shrink, making a compact ball. Due to its superior flight characteristics, the featherie remained the standard ball for more than two centuries. However, an experienced ball maker could only make a few balls in one day, so they were expensive. A single ball would cost between 2 shillings and sixpence and 5 shillings, which is the equivalent of around 10 to 20 US dollars today [1]. Also, it was hard to make a perfectly spherical ball, and because of that, the ball often flew irregularly. When playing in wet weather, the stiches in the ball would rot, and the ball would split open after hitting a hard surface.

In 1848, the Rev. Dr. Robert Adams (or Robert Adam Paterson)[2] invented the gutta-percha ball (or guttie). The gutta was created from dried sap of a Sapodilla Tree. The sap had a rubber-like feel and could be made round by heating and shaping it while hot. Accidentally, it was discovered that defects in the sphere could provide a ball with a truer flight than a pure sphere. Thus, makers started creating intentional defects in the surface to have a more consistent ball flight. Because gutties were cheaper to produce and could be manufactured with textured surfaces to improve their aerodynamic qualities, they replaced feather balls completely within a few years.

In the 20th century, multi-layer balls were developed, first as wound balls consisting of a solid or liquid-filled core wound with a layer of rubber thread and a thin outer shell. This idea was first discovered by Coburn Haskell of Cleveland, Ohio in 1898. Haskell had driven to nearby Akron to keep a golf date with Bertram Work, then superintendent of B.F. Goodrich. While he waited for Work at the plant, Haskell idly wound a long rubber thread into a ball. When he bounced the ball, it flew almost to the ceiling. Work suggested Haskell put a cover on the creation, and that was the birth of the 20th century golf ball. The design allowed manufacturers to fine-tune the length, spin and "feel" characteristics of balls. Wound balls were especially valued for their soft feel.

They usually consist of a two-, three-, or four-layer design, (named either a two-piece, three-piece, or four-piece ball) consisting of various synthetic materials like surlyn or urethane blends. They come in a great variety of playing characteristics to suit the needs of golfers of different abilities.

Regulations

The current regulations mandated by the R&A and the USGA state that diameter of the golf ball cannot be any smaller than 1.680 inches. The maximum velocity of the ball may not exceed 250 feet per second under test conditions and the weight of the ball may not exceed 1.620 ounces.

Until 1990 it was permissible to use balls of no less than 1.62 inches in diameter in tournaments under the jurisdiction of the R&A[3].

Aerodynamics

When a golf ball is hit, the impact which lasts less than a millisecond, determines the ball’s velocity, launch angle and spin rate, all of which influence its trajectory (and its behavior when it hits the ground).

A ball moving through air experiences two major aerodynamic forces, lift and drag. Dimpled balls fly farther than non-dimpled balls due to the combination of two effects:

Firstly, the dimples delay separation of the boundary layer from the ball. Early separation, as seen on a smooth sphere, causes significant wake turbulence, the principal cause of drag. The separation delay caused by the dimples therefore reduces this wake turbulence, and hence the drag.

Secondly, backspin generates lift by deforming the airflow around the ball, in a similar manner to an airplane wing. This is called the Magnus effect. Backspin is imparted in almost every shot due to the golf club's loft (i.e. angle between the clubface and a vertical plane). A backspinning ball experiences an upward lift force which makes it fly higher and longer than a ball without spin.[1] Sidespin occurs when the clubface is not aligned perpendicularly to the direction of swing, leading to a lift force that makes the ball curve to one side or the other. Unfortunately the dimples magnify this effect as well as the more desirable upward lift derived from pure backspin. (Some dimple designs are claimed to reduce sidespin effects.)

In order to keep the aerodynamics optimal, the ball needs to be clean. Golfers can wash their balls manually, but there are also mechanical ball washers available.

Design

These two balls are disclosed in U.S. patent 4,560,168. These two balls are easily made with a two-piece mold. Since there is no dimple located on any of the slash-dotted circles (one is marked red), the mold can be two hemispheres.

Dimples first became a feature of golf balls when a certain Taylor patented a dimple design in 1908. Other types of patterned covers were in use at about the same time, including one called a "mesh" and another named the "bramble", but the dimple became the dominant design due to "the superiority of the dimpled cover in flight".[4]

Most golf balls on sale today have about 250 – 450 dimples. There were a few balls having over 500 dimples before. The record holder was a ball with 1,070 dimples — 414 larger ones (in four different sizes) and 656 pinhead-sized ones. All brands of balls, except one, have even-numbered dimples. The only odd-numbered ball on the market is a ball with 333 dimples, called the Srixon AD333.

Officially sanctioned balls are designed to be as symmetrical as possible. This symmetry is the result of a dispute that stemmed from the Polara, a ball sold in the late 1970s that had six rows of normal dimples on its equator but very shallow dimples elsewhere. This asymmetrical design helped the ball self-adjust its spin-axis during the flight. The USGA refused to sanction it for tournament play and, in 1981, changed the rules to ban aerodynamic asymmetrical balls. Polara's producer sued the USGA and the association paid US$1.375 million in a 1985 out-of-court settlement.

Golf equipment maker Callaway has introduced a ball with hexagonal dimples to increase the dimpled area on a golf ball, as hexagons tesselate unlike circles.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office's patent database is a good source of past dimple designs. Most designs are based on Platonic solids such as icosahedron.

Golf balls are usually white, but are available in other high visibility colours , which helps with finding the ball when lost or when playing in frosty conditions. As well as bearing the makers name or logo, balls are usually printed with numbers or other symbols to help players identify their ball.

Selection

There are many types of golf balls on the market, and customers often face a difficult decision. Golf balls are divided into two categories: recreational and advanced balls. Recreational balls are oriented toward the ordinary golfer, who generally have low swing speeds (80  miles per hour or lower) and lose golf balls on the course easily. These balls are made of two layers, with the cover firmer than the core. Their low compression and side spin reduction characteristics suit the lower swing speeds of average golfers quite well. Furthermore, they generally have lower prices than the advanced balls.

Advanced balls are made of multiple layers (three or more), with a soft cover and firm core. They induce a greater amount of spin from lofted shots (wedges especially), as well as a sensation of softness in the hands in short-range shots. However, these balls require a much greater swing speed that only the physically strong players could carry out to compress at impact. If the compression of a golf ball does not match a golfer's swing speed, either the lack of compression or over-compression will occur, resulting in loss of distance. There are also many brands and colors to choose from, with colored balls and better brands generally being more expensive, making an individual's choice more difficult.

Trick Balls

A number of designs of novelty ball have been introduced over the years, mainly as practical jokes for the amusement of fellow golfers, but also as "cheater" balls that do not conform to the Rules of Golf. All of these are banned in sanctioned games, but can be amusing in informal play:

  • Breakaway balls are brittle and hollow, and shatter into many small pieces when hit.
  • Exploding balls are similar, but employ a small explosive device that disintegrates the ball when hit. Many courses have banned these as the charge can damage the turf, the player's club or even cause injury, leading manufacturers to develop the breakaway.
  • Stallers are far softer than a normal golf ball, allowing them to be compressed far more easily and are given greater backspin when hit. Both of these give the ball a huge amount of lift, making shots climb very high into the air with very little distance travelled over the ground. In the right conditions, such a ball may travel backwards along its flight path or even perform a loop-the-loop.
  • Sponge balls are softer still; they are generally used as indoor or backyard practice balls, but some are deceptively similar in appearance to a normal ball. Such a ball will travel less than a quarter of the distance of a normal golf ball.
  • Wobblers have a center of mass that is not in the exact center of the ball or is loose within the ball. When putted, the ball will move unpredictably off the intended line.
  • Floaters are less dense than a regulation golf ball so when hit into a water hazard, they bob on the surface when a normal ball would sink.
  • Super-distance balls have deeper dimples and are heavier than allowed by regulation, which allows them first to maintain momentum and second to maintain a thicker "envelope" of still air around them which reduces turbulence and wind resistance. Marketers of these balls generally advertise a 12-yard gain on most distance shots.

Used and refurbished golf balls

Used golf balls are golf balls that have been played, most likely hit into a water hazard, then retrieved, cleaned up and resold. Used golf balls comes in different gradings - one well-accepted standard is:[2]

AAAAA (1st Quality) AAAA (2nd Quality) AAA (3rd Quality) AA (4th Quality)
Highest quality ball in the marketplace. Like new, perfect to very near perfect. A "One Hit Wonder" Ball. Very slightly blemished balls. May have minor imperfections. Slightly scuffed or blemished balls that may have minor discoloration. Appropriate for range and green practice. Survived a round of golf.

Refinished, sometimes called reconditioned or refurbished, golf balls are different than used. Refinished golf balls may look new, but do not meet the manufacturer's original requirements. In the processing procedure, the golf ball is stripped of its original surface paint and reprinted with the original markings, then a new clear/coat is applied.

Radio Location

Golf balls with embedded radio transmitters to allow lost balls to be located were first introduced in 1973, only to be rapidly banned for use in competition[5][6]. More recently RFID transponders have been used for this purpose. This technology can be found in some computerized driving ranges. In this format, each ball used at the range has its own unique transponder code. When dispensed, the range registers each dispensed ball to the player, who then hits them towards targets in the range. When the player hits a ball into a target, they receive distance and accuracy information calculated by the computer.

World records

Jason Zuback broke the world ball speed record on an episode of Sports Science with a golf ball speed of 328 km/h (204 mph)[citation needed]. The previous record of 302 km/h (188 mph) was held by José Ramón Areitio, a Jai Alai player[citation needed].

External links

History

Footnotes

  1. ^ http://www.golfclubatlas.com/interviewcook.html Kevin Cook, former editor-in-chief of Golf Magazine interviewed by Golf Club Atlas
  2. ^ Sources conflict as to the exact name.
  3. ^ http://golf.about.com/cs/historyofgolf/p/timeline1990.htm
  4. ^ Feldman, David (1989). When Do Fish Sleep? And Other Imponderables of Everyday Life. Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc. p. 46. ISBN 0-06-016161-2. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ http://www.ruleshistory.com/clubs.html History of the rules of golf
  6. ^ http://www.freepatentsonline.com/3782730.html US Patent 3782730
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