Britannica Sources used in this answer

Why do golf balls have dimples?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

differential manometer, Torricellian barometer, and siphon — fluid mechanics Figure 1: Schematic representations of (A) a differential manometer, (B) a Torricellian barometer, and (C) a siphon.

In the context of fluid mechanics, golf balls feature dimples to encourage turbulence in the boundary layer of the air flowing around the ball.1

When a ball moves through the air, the boundary layer can separate from the rear surface, creating a wake of eddies that results in significant drag. By introducing dimples, the surface of the ball promotes a transition to turbulent flow within the boundary layer. This turbulence allows the boundary layer to remain attached to the sphere's surface for a longer distance before separating, which shifts the separation point backward.12

This shift results in smaller wake eddies and a dramatic reduction in the drag coefficient, enabling the golf ball to travel significantly farther than a smooth ball would under the same conditions.1