Golf is an activity enjoyed by people of all ages. Everything from the dimples on the ball to the angle of the club, from the momentum of the swing to the layout of the golf course, uses mathematics. Golf has so many aspects that I could have used for this article, but due to lack of time I chose to focus specifically on the golf ball and club. These two elements are essential to the game of golf and are also the ones that have changed the most. The golf ball is designed in such a way that it always floats in the air with minimal resistance. At the beginning of the game the ball used was smooth. As the game became more popular, people were always looking for ways to improve their golf game. In 1905, the patent was introduced for what most closely resembles the current golf ball design. The ball had small dimples that covered the surface of the golf ball. These dimples were strategically designed to reduce drag and increase the distance the ball could travel. The formula (listed below) provides the math behind the size and quantity of dimples. The equation was "sum V of the volumes of the dimple spaces, each defined under a plane circumscribed from the edge of the dimple to the volume of an imaginary sphere under the assumption that there are no dimples on the surface of the golf ball, is calculated according to the equation listed above. the flow of air around a golf ball from a mathematical point of view” (McPhee). Before this, companies that produced golf balls proceeded by trial and error golfers swing the club. The formulas used to create these golf club heads are kept close to the companies that patented them. Golf clubs, both irons and woods, use mathematics to evaluate the distance that each bat will produce. It is also up to the golfer to learn these different distances and how these clubs are different. Golf will continue to be a sport enjoyed by all as mathematics makes it easier for individuals of all strengths to play. Golf balls have evolved technologically to reach longer distances and reduce drag. Golf clubs have evolved to allow the golfer to have more choices and choose the club that works best for him. Both golf balls and golf clubs use proprietary mathematical equations used to create new technologies in golf to improve golfers' game. Since the beginning of time people have used mathematics in golf and will continue to use it in golf.
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