Producing a feathery was a time consuming process that required considerable expertise. The craf

tsmen themselves vied with each other for the contracts from the richest patrons of the game and were often scathing about the results their competitors achieved. To produce a feathery, a piece of leather had 

to be cut in three pieces, softened with alum and water, and then sewn together leaving a small hole into which feathers were pressed until the ball was hard. The feather ball period was the longest period of stability in the history of the golf ball. The feathery ball period latest from as early as the 14th Century or as late as the 16th Century and was produced until the early 1850’s. Each "feathery" was staffed with more than a top-hatful of feathers.