Binks Forest Golf Club

Posts Tagged ‘Golf balls’

Golf balls come in many types to match various types of golfers. One aspect of a golf ball’s design is compression, which is a measurement of the density of the ball itself.

History

Over the years, the golf ball has been made from different materials. Early in golf’s history, the inside was made from feathers. Then in the mid-19th century, tree sap became a main ingredient for the ball’s core.

The measurement of “compression” came about in the 20th century, when manufacturers began using wound rubber cores.

The measurements generally range from 70 to 110, but may be as low as in the 30s, with the lower the number representing a much softer ball and thus easier to compress.

Function

The purpose of compression is to absorb energy from the golf swing and provide the best combination of distance and feel for the player. The force from the club face upon impact causes the ball to deform. A “softer” ball, one with a lower compression rating, will compress more easily than a “hard” ball with a higher compression rating.

Benefits

When a golfer’s swing type and speed are matched to the right compression rating, the greatest possible energy is transferred from the club head to the ball. Generally, a slower swing speed will necessitate a lower compression rating, so the ball will absorb as much of the swing’s energy as possible.

Alternately, a high swing speed (like that of a professional) will naturally create a great deal of energy, therefore necessitating a higher compression rating to ensure the ball does not overly compress and waste energy from the swing.

Combining Compression with COR

Coefficient of Restitution, or COR, is a measurement of how quickly the golf club’s face will rebound when striking the ball. This measurement, combined with the right compressions, will yield greater distance for the golfer. The measurement is determined by the percentage of the ball’s initial speed to the club head’s speed at impact. Read the rest of this entry »

The Wilson Sporting Goods Co. has had a long association with professional golf, dating back to the corporation’s origins in 1914, when the Ashland Manufacturing Co. became the Thomas E. Wilson Co.

In less than 10 years, golfing legend Gene Sarazen joined the Wilson Advisory Staff, and soon Wilson clubs were being used by some of the top golfers in the world.

But it wasn’t until the 1950s that Wilson introduced a golf ball, and since then, its golf ball, too, has become a key part of the game and a product used around the globe.

Origins

For its first 40 or so years, Wilson concentrated on making golf clubs. Top pros and weekend duffers were using an ever-expanding variety of Wilson clubs.

But as golf exploded in popularity in the 1950s, due in large part to beloved superstar Arnold Palmer, Wilson seized the opportunity to create a golf ball bearing the Wilson name.

In 1954, the Wilson Staff ball made its debut, and the company claims it has been used by more Masters and U.S. Open champions than any other ball since then.

The Middle Years

Throughout its history, Wilson has supplied golf’s top professionals with equipment, starting with Sarazen and including Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, Payne Stewart, Nick Faldo and Padraig Harrington. In 1970, PepsiCo purchased Wilson Sporting Goods, but Wilson continued to research and develop better balls and clubs.

The 1983 introduction of the Wilson Staff Ultra golf ball saw advance sales exceed those of any previous Wilson golf ball.

Developments in the 21st Century

To help with both marketing and improving performance for its customers, Wilson continued to seek out ways to distinguish its golf balls from those of competitors such as Titleist, Top-Flite, Callaway, Nike and others. For example, the Wilson Staff True ball was marketed as the only perfectly balanced golf ball in the world and was immediately a top seller when it hit the market in 2002.

The Wilson Staff Zip ball, introduced in 2008, boasted a three-piece, zero-compression core—the only such ball on the market. The Zip ball was awarded the Silver Medal in “Golf Digest” magazine’s 2009 Hot List. Read the rest of this entry »