Nanotech golf balls
By Peter Rojas 
posted November 20th 2004 12:51PM
posted November 20th 2004 12:51PM
We're sorely tempted to file this one as yet another attempt to cash in on the hype surrounding nanotechnology, but
a company called NanoDynamics says they have a new golf ball made out of nanomaterials that can supposedly correct its
own flight path in midair and shouldn't wobble or break as much during putts. Nice, but could you just get cracking on
a robot that hits the ball for us?
[Thanks, Mike]
If anyone's interested in stories about robot golfers, Of course you are! There's an episode of X-minus 1 (old timey science fiction radio program) called "Open Warfare" that you might be able to track down on a file sharing network of your choice if you try hard enough.
Or we could just sit in the bar and lie about making a hole-in-one.
Peter - I am the CEO of the company you mentioned. First, your skepticism is understandable - a lot of pretenders are out there in the nanotechnology space. However, if anyone takes the time to investigate NanoDynamics and the background of the people involved, it will become instantly clear that this is a legitimate nanomaterials company with extensive intellectual property, commercial experience, and business acumen. The golf ball is an interesting product that was actually invented and patented by four guys who were trying to improve their golf game and understood something about the physics of golf. They approached us about combining their patented approach with our expertise in materials and manufacturing and, after about a year of development, the first prototypes were produced. The crux of the technology is a hollow metal core made with advanced materials that can withstand the high speed impact of the club head and achieve higher energy transfer into the ball itself. By moving the mass of the ball away from the center and towards the perimeter, the spin rate is reduced and the projected results are decreased hook and slice off the tee. There are lots of other positive implications of this type of ball construction and lots of potential variations on the theme, but, to the point - it is real, not hype. Anyone interested in further information can visit the website - www.ndmxgolf.com - which will be updated regularly.
Nanodynamics' work is actually as what the CEO stated, it is in the field of nanotechnology and very advanced for the upcoming revolution involving nanotechnology. The second object of your comment on Nanodynamic's nanotechnologically enhanced golf balls is that robotics and nanotechnology are separate fields. The future of nanotechnology will bring on the advent of nanotechnology used in robotics, but robotics needs to advance to that level first. Good comment. Future information check the Nanotechnology Foresight Institute involving Nanotechnology
We could just lie about making a hole-in-one, or like some of us have got one.