Dimples reduce golf ball drag. When a ball gets hit, it slows down. Golf balls travel through the air at around 120 mph, and the humidity and pressure in the air act immediately to slow the ball down. Less surface area on a golf ball means less airflow. The golf ball’s dimples impact the air molecules that alter its flight. Dimples make molecules roll and bounce, creating turbulence on the ball’s surface. A smooth golf ball will fly less distance since its surface is more air-sensitive. In the early days of golf, smooth feather-filled balls were used, and players didn’t realize a non-smooth ball would go farther until they were scratched and misshaped.