About Top-Flight:
Evolution of Golf Balls – Overview
Top-Flite Golf began in 1895 as a part of A.G. Spalding & Bros. and has evolved into a major subsidiary of Callaway Golf, the largest golf company in the world. Since our inception in North America, we have been a technological pioneer in the golfing industry. The evolution of golf balls started more than 100 years ago, when we began manufacturing the world's first rubber core golf ball. Since then, we've architected nearly every major innovation of the modern golf ball. Top-Flite understands the game. And our history proves it.
Evolution of Golf Balls – The Beginning
1895 – Spalding becomes the first American company to make golf balls. The Wizard is the first rubber core-built golf ball with a crack-resistant cover that incorporates a distinctive bramble raised-dot pattern. The same year, Harry Vardon notches the first of his six British Open victories playing the Wizard.
Evolution of Golf Balls – 1900-1950
1903 – The Wizard evolves, becoming the first golf ball to utilize a soft Balata cover.
1909 – Spalding introduces the Domino Dimple, the first modern golf ball with dimples, redefining the aerodynamic principles of lift. It is made available in various sizes and weights so players can match their playing style.
1915 – The Spalding Dot is the first golf ball to use compression ratings as a means of determining ball hardness.
1930 – Spalding introduces the first wound Balata ball with a liquid center, named the Kro-Flite. Its construction changes players' expectations of distance and control.
Evolution of Golf Balls – 1950-1999
1968 – The Spalding Executive is the first two-piece performance ball, the most consistent and durable golf ball to date. Its unique construction allows it to stay "in round" far longer than other softer Balata covered balls.
1971 – After three years of research and development, Spalding introduces the first Top-Flite golf ball. Its Surlyn cover provides a variety of performance-enhancements, including distance, earning the reputation as "the longest balls."
1979 – The new Top-Flite XL is the first ball manufactured with color to be impregnated directly into the golf ball cover. It is offered in white, orange, and yellow.
1986 – The Tour Edition is the first two-piece Zynthane-covered ball to be teed up on the PGA Tour.
1993 – The Top-Flite Magna is the first oversized golf ball, aerodynamically designed to reduce hooks and slices.
1996 – The Strata Tour, Top-Flite's first multi-layer golf ball, is an instant success on the PGA Tour. Its sister ball, the Strata Advance, is introduced later this year as a slightly longer version.
Evolution of Golf Balls – 2000-Present
2001 – The Strata Tour Ultimate is introduced as the first ball with a Tungsten Energy Core. The four-piece ball creates a high transfer of energy from the inner core to the cover, making it longer off the driver, more accurate off the irons, and truer off the putter.
2002 – The Strata Tour Ace redefines four-piece technology. Its new high-coverage dimple pattern produces staggering length, while the shear resistant urethane cover provides exceptional spin and accuracy. In addition, the traditional identification numbers on each ball are replaced with playing card suits.
2003 – Top-Flite introduces its longest and softest two-piece golf ball to date – the Top-Flite Infinity. Its soft Infusion core is the largest ever created, providing soft feel with big distance. The lonomer cover is the thinnest available, providing maximum energy transfer.
Evolution of Golf Balls – Top-Flite Today
2006 – Top-Flite introduces the D2, featuring a unique proprietary Dimple In Dimple™ aerodynamic pattern that maximizes control and distance for a wide range of swing speeds, resulting in one of longest and softest ball in the Top-Flite arsenal.
2008 – Top-Flite unveils two more revolutionary golf balls featuring Dimple In Dimple™ Aerodynamics. The Freak, Top-Flite's longest golf ball ever, and the Gamer, the most advanced golf ball in the line with 3-piece construction.