The
Rules of Golf, jointly governed by
the R&A and the
USGA,
state in Appendix III that the diameter of a "conforming" golf ball
cannot be any smaller than 1.680 inches (42.67 mm), and the weight of
the ball may not exceed 1.620 ounces (45.93 g). The ball must also have
the basic properties of a spherically symmetrical ball, generally
meaning that the ball itself must be spherical and must have a
symmetrical arrangement of dimples on its surface. Additional rules
direct players and manufacturers to other technical documents published
by the R&A and USGA with additional restrictions, such as radius and
depth of dimples, maximum launch speed from test apparatus (generally
defining the
coefficient of restitution) and maximum total distance when launched from the test equipment.
In general, the governing bodies and their regulations seek to
provide a relatively level playing field and maintain the traditional
form of the game and its equipment, while not completely halting the use
of new technology in equipment design.
Until 1990, it was permissible to use balls of less than 1.68 inches
in diameter in tournaments under the jurisdiction of the R&A, which
differed in its ball specifications rules from those of the USGA.
[10]
This ball was commonly called a "British" ball, while the golf ball
approved by the USGA was simply the "American ball". The smaller
diameter gave the player a distance advantage, especially in high winds,
as the smaller ball created a similarly smaller "wake" behind it.
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