This study investigates the aerodynamic stability of golf balls by analyzing the combined effects of surface dimples and spin using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). While the individual contributions of dimples to drag reduction and spin to Magnus lift are well-documented, their interaction remains less explored. We compared smooth and dimpled spheres under varying rotational frequencies and flow velocities. The results demonstrate that dimples significantly enhance the generalized stretching velocity near the surface (peaking at 150 s^(-1)), promoting a turbulent boundary layer that delays separation. Furthermore, pressure distribution analysis reveals that dimples fragment high-pressure stagnation regions into localized patches, preventing the formation of coherent large-scale wake structures observed in smooth spheres. These findings confirm that surface texturing, in synergy with rotation, improves flight stability by suppressing wake coherence.

Ruoshi Hong. Aerodynamic Stability of Golf Balls: The Interplay of Surface Textures and Spin via CFD Analysis. International Journal of Frontiers in Engineering Technology (2026), Vol. 8, Issue 2: 8-13. https://doi.org/10.25236/IJFET.2026.080202.

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