I have been asked many times to explain why a dart flight is sometimes dimpled …My answer is usually in relation to a golf ball. Although I’m still unsure of the full effects from 8ft rather than 350ft, the physical explanation of it is quite interesting. Golf balls were once smooth, but it was discovered that a used golf ball would travel further than one that was new. The scuffs and marks were clearly making an effect that improved the game. I also watched an episode of Myth Busters that employed this theory on cars… they covered a car in smooth clay and drove it around analyzing gas mileage. They then took the same car with the same amount of clay and made the car dimpled like a golf ball. Amazingly, the dimpled car had received noticeably better gas milage. But why?
Let us get physical, Its all about the drag baby!!
The answer lies in air flow. When a ball is hit or in our case a dart is thrown, the surface area creates a certain amount of drag where the air behind the object creates a pocket of pressure. This vortex of air in turn can lift the object. As you can see, a dimpled object allows for adhesion of the air flow to the ball that creates a smaller vortex behind it. This smaller stream of air means that it pulls less and thus flies farther with less effort due to less resistance. If your curiosity is peaked, then google why variable surface golf balls are outlawed by the PGA. I think it would be a good reason for a fantastic new flight style.
By physical definition a dimpled flight should be both more stable and require less force to be thrown due to less resistance and increased surface area for airflow and reduced drag due to air wake. Below are the equations to find these physical characters of your dart flight. A slow-motion camera on your phone can reveal a lot about these forces and a lot more. Again, the verdict is still out on the amount of change a dimpled flight may cause in an 8ft span but the physics is there.
SHOOT WELL!
Josh Foster
Horizon Darts / Laserdarts
800-542-3278