The present invention is a golf ball which comprises dimples having a cross section defined by the superposition of two or more continuous and differentiable functions. Additionally, the dimples preferably have a circular boundary and maintain an axis coincident with the center of the circular boundary.

The present invention provides dimple patterns with octahedral tilings where the dimples are arranged in multiple copies of a first domain and a second domain, and the dimple pattern in the first domain is different than the dimple pattern in the second domain. A majority of dimples are provided having a first plan shape and a first profile shape, and at least one of the domains has a sub-pattern of nearest neighbor dimples having either a plan shape or a profile shape that is different than the majority of dimples.

Golf balls according to the present invention achieve flight symmetry and overall satisfactory flight performance due to a dimple surface volume ratio that is equivalent between opposing hemispheres despite the use of different dimple geometries, different dimple arrangements, and/or different dimple counts on the opposing hemispheres.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a golf ball providing improve play characteristics. The disclosed golf ball includes an outer cover comprising a plurality of divots. The disclosed golf ball further includes a central core comprising one or more lightweight materials, such as aerogel. The combination of the lightweight core and the unique divots enable the golf ball to go farther and straighter when hit by the golfer, thereby providing increased performance.

The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in which the dimples are arranged in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while minimizing or eliminating great circles due to parting lines.

The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in which the dimples are arranged in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while minimizing or eliminating great circles due to parting lines.

The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in which the dimples are arranged in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while minimizing or eliminating great circles due to parting lines.

The presently disclosed subject matter is directed to a golf ball providing improve play characteristics. The disclosed golf ball includes an outer cover comprising a plurality of divots. The disclosed golf ball further includes a central core comprising one or more lightweight materials, such as aerogel. The combination of the lightweight core and the unique divots enable the golf ball to go farther and straighter when hit by the golfer, thereby providing increased performance.

A golf ball of the present disclosure includes an inner ball and a cover layer that covers the outer surface of the inner ball and includes an outer surface with dimples. The inner ball includes an inner layer, which includes an outer surface with a recess, and an inner film that covers only the surface of the recess on the outer surface of the inner layer. The inner layer and the inner film are different colors from each other, and the cover layer is transparent or semi-transparent. Peeling of the film can be suppressed in the golf ball.

A golf ball manufacturing method includes an inner layer molding step of molding an inner layer that includes an outer surface with a recess, an inner film formation step, after the inner layer molding step, of coating the outer surface of the inner layer with inner film paint to form an inner film, an inner film removal step, after the inner film formation step, of removing the inner film except for a portion thereof covering a surface of the recess to obtain an inner ball that includes the inner layer and the inner film, and a cover layer molding step, after the inner film removal step, of molding a cover layer that includes an outer surface with dimples on an outer circumferential side of the inner ball to obtain a golf ball. The inner layer and inner film are different colors, and the cover layer is transparent or semi-transparent.