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What makes golf
balls soar as they do

It's a curious thing, and worthy of 'Who Knew?'

By Diego Vasquez
Mar 13, 2008

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Golfers spend a great deal of time trying to figure out how to make their little white balls fly farther. Perhaps the answer is in understanding more about the mechanics of the balls themselves, like what forms their cores, how the script is stamped on, and where they are made.

That’s what Marshall Brain, a former N.C. State computer science professor, sets out to reveal tonight at 9 p.m. in the premiere episode of “Who Knew? With Marshall Brain” on National Geographic Channel. It’s one of several new series premiering over the next few months as the network readies its largest slate of original programming ever this year.

Each episode of “Who Knew?” focuses on the product design and manufacturing of three common objects like fire extinguishers or handguns. In addition to demystifying the golf ball tonight, including a trip to the Titleist ball factory in Massachusetts, Brain will explain fireworks and boats.

“Who Knew?” is one of more than a half dozen new specials and series this year on NGC, which saw strong ad sales revenue and ratings growth last year. The network, available in nearly 70 million households, saw its upfront take soar more than 40 percent over the previous year while its primetime average in total viewers, adults 18-49 and 25-54s all jumped 20 percent, according to Nielsen.

This year the network has more than 350 hours of original programming, up slightly over 336 last year. Much of it focuses on the theme of discovery. In addition to “Who Knew?,” other programs include “Herod’s Lost Tomb,” “Baby Mammoth Autopsy” and “Blue Whale Mystery.”

A look at this week’s top TV draws
THURSDAY, MARCH 13
Time	Network	Program	Description
7 p.m.	ESPN2	“College Basketball” (S)	The ACC kicks off its tourney tonight with first-round action.
8 p.m.	CBS	“Survivor” (R)	While one contestant tries to recover from an injury, another goes down in pain.
8 p.m.	CW	“Smallville” (D)	A roadie for the band OneRepublic chews kryptonite gum and develops super powers.
9 p.m.	ABC	“Lost” (D)	Desmond and Sayid meet the captain of the freighter.
9 p.m.	truTV	“Smoking Gun Presents: World’s Dumbest Criminals” (R)	First of a two-part look at wannabe criminals who just aren’t that smart.
10 p.m.	ABC	“Eli Stone” (D)	Taylor tries to make it work with Eli by arranging a real-life George Michael performance.
10 p.m.	MTV	“Randy Jackson Presents: America’s Best Dance Crew” (R)	The final four groups perform to the tunes of Broadway musicals.
FRIDAY, MARCH 14
Time	Network	Program	Description
8 p.m.	Fox	“The Return of Jezebel James” (C)	Series premiere. Parker Posey stars as a single children’s book editor who wants kids.
8 p.m.	ESPN Classic	“Boxing” (S)	A re-airing of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s first pro fight from 1996.
9 p.m.	Lifetime	“Your Mama Don’t Dance” (R)	The first mother-son team is bounced, leaving eight teams to perform.
9:30 p.m.	HBO	“In Treatment” (D)	Paul tries to deal with the fact that Kate and Rosie have been keeping secrets from him.
10 p.m.	History Channel	“Battle 360” (N)	The Enterprise suffers damage in the 1942 Battle of Guadalcanal.
10 p.m.	Univision	“Nuestra Belleza Latina” (R)	Can the reality show/beauty competition continue to bring in viewers?
SATURDAY, MARCH 15
Time	Network	Program	Description
11:30 a.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	Championship game of Conference USA, won a year ago by Memphis.
2:30 p.m.	NBC	“PGA Golf” (S)	Third-round coverage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, live from Orlando.
6 p.m.	ABC	“College Basketball” (S)	The Pac-10 title game, which Oregon won last year.
8 p.m.	Fox	“Cops” (R)	Cops in Kansas City try to track down an elderly parolee on the run.
9 p.m.	ESPN	“College Basketball” (S)	The Big East championship game, live from Madison Square Garden. Georgetown took the title last year.
11:30 p.m.	NBC	“Saturday Night Live” (C)	Jonah Hill hosts, Janet Jackson performs. Keep your clothes on, Janet.
SUNDAY, MARCH 16
Time	Network	Program	Description
1 p.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	The SEC tourney title game, which Florida won last year. Probably not this time, however.
2:30 p.m.	NBC	“PGA Golf” (S)	The final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, which Vijay Singh won last year.
3:30 p.m.	CBS	“College Basketball” (S)	The Big Ten title game from Indianapolis, won a year ago by Ohio State.
6 p.m.	CBS	“NCAA Basketball Championship Selection Show” (S)	Fill out your brackets: The 65-team field is revealed.
8 p.m.	ABC	“Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (R)	Ty helps a family who turned their garage into a teen community center.
9:30 p.m.	Fox	“Unhitched” (C)	Gator and Freddy hang out with nannies and Kate sees her ex at a child’s birthday party.
10 p.m.	FX	“Dirt” (D)	Don digs up some dirt on a politician who used to be an actress.
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.