Gutta Percha Smooth Golf Ball c1840

    GUTTA1
    10 Items
    ¥4900
    Japan; 3-5 Days Global; 5-10 Days

    The Gutta Percha Smooth Golf Ball, dating back to around 1840, represents a landmark moment in the evolution of the golf ball. As the first widely used golf ball, it helped bring the sport to a broader audience. Crafted by artisans from the resin of the Sapodilla tree, native to Malaysia, the Gutta Percha ball was a game-changer for players of its time. This smooth ball was the original version, featuring no markings or dimples. However, players soon discovered that the ball's flight was affected by any surface imperfections. This realization led to the development of the Hammered Ball (c.1860) with a scratched surface, followed by the Bramble Ball (c.1890) with its distinctive dimple pattern, a precursor to the dimple designs used on modern golf balls.

    Dr Robert Paterson invented the Gutta Percha ball in 1845.  He found some chunks of rubber in his luggage from India, and he used them to make a golf ball.  He found that this rubber could be readily moulded, and it was hard and durable. 
    The Gutta Percha ball was the first major development in the evolution of the golf ball as it made golf attainable for the masses. The ball was made from the resin of the Sapodilla tree indigenous to Malaysia and originally imported for use in dentistry. When heated in hot water, the resin was found to become very soft and easy to shape.

    Later balls also had patterns that could affect the flight of the ball. The modern ball has a dimple pattern which was a follow on from the Gutta Percha period. The Smooth Ball was the first example of the Gutta Percha ball, it had no marks or dimples. This ball is a close resemblance to an authentic Gutta Percha and is playable. Handmade in St Andrews, Scotland

    10 Items

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