| The Dimple Period actually began way back in the early 1900's with the introduction of inverted Dimple balls. These early dimple balls were manufactured at the same time as the bramble period and represent the closest link to todays golf balls. The Dimple Pattern was found to help with the control of ball trajectories with aerodynamic spin, it allowed players to put backspin on a shot, nearly stopping the ball dead on the green. |
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| These early dimple balls are scarce even more so than brambles due to the fact at the time the raised dimples on the brambles was the professionals choice. And as today, whatever the professionals played with the golfing public wanted the same ball, hence less of these balls are recovered than brambles.
Although scarcer than brambles they rarely fetch the same price at auction - this I believe is due to the normality of its looks in comparison to mesh balls and brambles. A very good condition early dimple ball from the 1900's is likely to fetch about .-. at auction. |
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| Although the inverted dimple was to become the standard it was discarded at the end of 1910, as mesh and unusual patterned balls took over. The dimple was then revived in the 1940's as the patents expired on the early dimple designs and the ball began to look the same as we know it today.
The modern ball of today is held in check by the ruling bodies of the game: the R & A and the USGA.
If there were no rules or monitoring of ball characteristics, ball makers would undoubtedly develop even longer carrying balls.
If the skill level required to play golf was enhanced by the ball alone the game would lose much of its competitive equality. |
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| The 1900's |
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| The 1940's |
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| The 1960's and 1970's |
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