Drag Force on a Golf Ball in Flight and Its Practical Significance

An experimental method of measuring the aerodynamic drag of a golf ball in free flight under typical playing conditions is described and the results obtained are discussed. The method depends on deriving a curve in which the ‘carry’ of the ball is plotted against initial ball velocity off the tee, so that only these two parameters need to be measured. A main conclusion is that the variation of the drag coefficient with Reynolds number is such as to make the drag vary linearly rather than as the square of the velocity (over the relevant spees), with a consequent advantage to long hitters.