Especially for leisure golfers, the actual putting of the ball is one of the most frustrating parts of the game. The number of strokes can add up considerably if things don’t go your way. That is why Thomas Kennedy III, owner of Chemical Innovative Solutions Inc, decided to make the sport more dependent on skill than luck. To this end, Kennedy focused on the relationship between the ball and the grass, which is a crucial factor on the green.  

Using a hydrophilic coating on the golf ball affects the surface-to-surface interaction between the ball and grass. The coating increases the surface energy of the ball. On dry grass, the coating absorbs water, slowing the ball down. For wet grass, the grip of the green is lowered allowing the ball to roll further.

The coating, which was first presented during the ACS Spring Meeting last March, consists of amorphous silica, clay particles, fast-exfoliating polyacrylic acid and molecular sieves. The sieves have been tuned to absorb only water-sized molecules. Furthermore,Kennedy ensured that the coating does not affect the rest the aerodynamic properties of the ball, so the long-distance air-borne strokes don’t get distorted. All ain all, the perfect ball to hit a par.  

Some question whether this is a new form of cheating. On the contrary, according to Kennedy. He points out that this coated ball simply confirms the golfer’s qualities, creating a fairer and more equal match.