by Writerbob

Created on: April 04, 2007   Last Updated: May 06, 2007

Though pleasing to the eyes, unless there is a dirt clod the size of Mt. Fuji stuck to it, whether a golf ball is clean or not has remarkably little effect on the outcome of the shots of most golfers. Now this may be heretical to the OCD types that open up new sleeves of Titlests on the first tee of every round, and painstakingly cleanse them at each successive wash station. If taken to heart, this argument might even undermine the billion-dollar new golf ball business entirely. But in the vein of experimentation, try this theory out the next time you play, and you may be shocked at the results.

Before describing how to test this claim, a brief explanation of what happens after impact of a golf ball might be in order. The total of force applied to the trajectory plane of the ball is the straight or horizontal vector, and any sidespin vector (left-to-right for a slice or right bearing shot, and right-to-left for a hook or left bearing shot).

A perfect golf shot is normally that which has a maximum horizontal vector and minimum sidespin. But for most of us human golfers (PGA professionals are a different species, I have determined), there will always be an unpredictable amount of sidespin applied to the ball. Since dirt fills up the dimples (concave spaces) on a golf ball, and the dimples are there to increase stability, a dirty ball will have an erratic spin, and statistically this erratic movement will be more likely to cancel out the coherent sidespin movement, thereby lessening the effect of slices or hooks.

So in a few words, a dirty ball will tend to go straighter because the effect of sidespin will be lessened. here's how to test this claim. Muddy up six balls (hopefully you only use that many a round), and then when dried lightly clear the surfaces so the dirt isn't clumped on it. Play your round with these balls, and only remove visible clods from the surface - do not use the cleaning stations. Check your score at the end of the round. You may be shocked to find that you will come in 2-3 shots lesser than your norm. While this is not a guarantee, it at least makes for a fun experiment!

Many things in life are counter-intuitive. Clean golf balls are one of those things that seem to make since, but experience proves otherwise. The only way you'll ever know is to test it.

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