"Peter Dohm" wrote in message
...

I've seen a video of that, but don't recall where. However, I believe
that
you have it backward--the flow detaches earlier (from the non-spinning
golf
ball) and reduces the drag.

I am not quite sure how that might relate to wings and propellers; but I
suspect that they (wings and props) are two radically different, and
possibly opposite, phenomena.

Peter

Ok, now you've done it. You are going to make me look this up...

http://www.fi.edu/wright/again/wings...r/golf-01.html
description and a drawing...

http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question...cs/q0215.shtml
with a little math and some graphs

http://turb.seas.ucla.edu/~jkim/sciam/0197moinbox3.html
plots drag as a function of Reynolds number for a golf ball and a smooth
sphere - a good starting pont if you want to dimple your nosegear strut to
reduce drag - just figure you your own Reynolds number...

That's enough. Didn't find the picture I was looking for. But I see
references to both the reduction in wake and Magnus effect that converts the
spin into lift. Apparently both contribute to the increase in range. (and
the drawings I've seen show the boundry layer staying attached longer as I
thought.)

--
Geoff
The Sea Hawk at Wow Way d0t Com
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