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A smooth golf ball wouldn't travel through the air like the familiar dimpled version.
Dimples alter the airflow around the ball, reducing aerodynamic drag and helping generate lift when the ball has backspin. This allows a well-struck shot to remain airborne and travel substantially farther.
Manufacturers experiment with different dimple numbers, depths, shapes, and arrangements as part of ball design.
Those tiny indentations are an important part of the equipment's performance.
© United States Golf Association