# Dimples

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dimples/171454>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 27, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dimples/171454 "2003-04-27T05:47:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![MrBoy1967](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@MrBoy1967](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrBoy1967)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dimples/171454/1 "2003-04-27T05:47:21Z")

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I have seen science shows describing why golf balls are dimpled-the rotation of the ball combined with the dimples improves the driving distance, etc.

Similarly, some advanced submersibles emit a thin sheen of air bubbles to reduce drag and improve fuel efficiency and speed.

So, my car was just hammered in a BIG hailstorm, but I suffered no glass damage. Are those dimples going to help me out any, or do I really need the rotation (see golf-ball, above) to get aerodynamic benefits?

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dimples/171454/2 "2003-04-27T07:57:04Z")

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WAG: [The dimples help with a golf ball,](http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/sci_update.cfm?DocID=23) being a spherical object, but in terms of a car, already designed to be as aerodynamic as possible – no, I can’t seen beating up the metal being a help over a hinderance. 🙂

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**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dimples/171454/3 "2003-04-27T07:59:42Z")

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[Simpsons]These are aaah… SPEED HOLES! They make the car go faster…[/Simpsons]

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**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dimples/171454/4 "2003-04-27T13:15:16Z")

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Did your idea come from this [comic?](http://www.uclick.com/client/spi/cl/2003/04/26/index.html)

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**Author:** ![MrBoy1967](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@MrBoy1967](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrBoy1967)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2003, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dimples/171454/5 "2003-04-27T23:56:39Z")

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While I have seen several comics, including the one you linked to, the idea came from having my Volvo pounded by golfball+ sized hail in a storm on April 5. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to either live with a mauled car or spending the $2500+ insurance check on repairs, and dealing with the hassle of having a rental for a while.

PS-just to make it more fun, my car had been at the dealership for some maintenance work, so I had a loaner when the storm hit. It got pounded even worse.