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Dimples. When the surface of the ball is covered with dimples, a thin layer of air next to the ball (aerodynamicists call it the boundary layer) becomes turbulent. Rather than flowing in smooth, continuous layers (a laminar boundary layer), it has a microscopic pattern of fluctuations and randomized flow. Here's the good part: a turbulent boundary layer has better tires. It can better follow the curvature of the ball's profile.
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OMG - this scary bit of actual science may really resolve the question !
But before we jump to that conclusion let's look the watery netherworld to see if it ... err - holds water.
If we start by looking way back to the beginning of this thread we'd see Stan W's post asking if we shouldn't in fact be looking at sharkskin. Maybe he's holding something back ( he is after all reputed to sail faster than the wind

( Methinks after this yarn a well earned Sunday afternoon libation is also warranted )
