Golf throughout history has been a changing sport. Since the first era of golf´s history till now, there has been major breakthroughs all thanks to technology. As golf players might hit a ceiling in their developing potential, technology enhancements has helped these players surpass their own potential. This enables players to get even more interested in the sport and can even attract more amateur players.
Below are going to be the top 5 advancement in golf that was achieved through technology.
Dimples on golf balls
The gold ball has really changed over time. From leather-covered "featheries" to wooden balls, to gutta-percha balls, to what is known as today as the dimple ball. The golf balls prior to the dimple ball were smooth.
The dimple matters on balls reduces drag from the air making it travel further distance. Since the first intentionally dimpled balls, the concept has become a serious science with ball manufacturers putting a lot of effort into development of dimple patterns that provide the most distance, accuracy, and control.
Steel Shafts
Before steel shafts, club shafts were made of hickory (type of wood). These hickory shafts were notoriously brittle and they would commonly break. The steel shafts meant that players could really start swinging hard when they pleased, without worrying that their hickory shaft would break. Also, steel shafts could be manufactured to very tight specifications, and this meant that these clubs would react similarly when swung at the ball.
Graphite Shafts
Steel was a big leap from hickory and graphite was nearly as big a jump from steel. Today, drivers are shafted almost exclusively with graphite composites because their light weight compared with steel helps players generate the maximum club head speed, which directly influences the ball distance traveled.
Metal Woods
Metal headed woods were used sporadically prior to 1979, but that's when the revolution occurred. Golf players used to use wooden head drivers (hence the name Woods). Metal heads have continued to evolve, eventually into titanium and more recently into exotic composites, most likely the next revolution in club head materials.
Computerized Lunch Analysis
Launch analysis was previously reserved for the game's elite. Now it's available for the average player. It allows a player's swing to be measured in every conceivable way and have equipment fitted that perfectly matches the individual's swing characteristics. Things like shaft flex, shaft weighting, length, lie, lost, and other characteristics can be tuned like never before, allowing a player to milk every bit of control, distance, and forgiveness out of his clubs.
