Golf ball having a generally spherical surface and comprising a plurality of dimples separated by a land area formed on the ball surface, wherein the plurality of dimples includes at least one non-spherical dimple having a non-axially symmetric plan shape and a defined point of maximum dimple depth, wherein: (i) each dimple cross-section of the non-spherical dimple consists of two arcs, each arc extending from the defined point of maximum dimple depth to a point at the land area of the golf ball; and (ii) every point on the perimeter of the non-spherical dimple is located at a radial angle, , about a unit circle, where 02, and the edge angle value of the non-spherical dimple at any given point on the perimeter is defined by the solution of an edge angle function f(), wherein f() is a non-periodic, continuous, differentiable function.

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.

A golf ball 2 includes a main body 4 and a paint layer 6 positioned outside the main body 4. The main body 4 includes a spherical core 8, a mid layer 10 positioned outside the core 8, and a cover 12 positioned outside the mid layer 10. An indentation depth, measured when the paint layer 6 in a cross-section along a plane passing through a central point of the golf ball 2 is pressed by a force of 30 mgf in a direction perpendicular to the cross-section, is not less than 300 nm and not greater than 3000 nm. The paint layer 6 preferably has a thickness of not less than 5 m and not greater than 50 m.

A golf ball includes a land portion, and a plurality of dimples configured to be recessed from the land portion. Each of the plurality of dimples includes a circular bottom face, a circular opening configured to have a larger diameter than the bottom face, and a side face configured to connect the bottom face and the opening. The side face is configured to be linearly inclined so that the diameter of each of the plurality of dimples increases from the bottom face toward the opening. The diameter of the bottom face is 0.45 mm or more and 0.60 mm or less.

In a golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, the intermediate layer-encased sphere has a higher surface hardness than the ball. The core hardness profile in the ball is designed such that the core surface has a Shore C hardness value which is at least 28 higher than the Shore C hardness value at the core center, and the surface areas A to F calculated from hardness differences between positions located at specific distances in the core and differences between the specific distances satisfy a specific formula. This golf ball has an excellent flight performance when struck by skilled amateur golfers and professionals, and also has a good controllability on shots with an iron.

A golf ball for amateur golfers is endowed with both an excellent flight when hit by golfers whose head speed is not very high and a soft yet good feel at impact. The ball has a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover. The core is formed primarily of a base rubber and the intermediate layer is formed so as to be thicker than the envelope layer and the cover. The respective surface hardnesses of the core, envelope layer-encased sphere, intermediate layer-encased sphere and ball satisfy a specific relationship. The core hardness profile is designed such that the surface areas A to F calculated from hardness differences between positions located at specific distances in the core and differences between the specific distances satisfy a specific formula.

A golf ball including a spherical body, first regions, and second regions. The spherical body includes a core layer and a cover layer made from a synthetic resin covering the core layer. Dimples are formed in a surface of the cover layer. First regions that are electrically conductive are formed on a surface of the spherical body. The first regions are formed on a spherical surface having a center of the spherical body as a center. The first regions are positioned at six vertices of an imaginary regular hexahedron such that the vertices are positioned on the surface of the spherical body and, thus, six of the first regions are formed. The second regions are formed in areas of the surface other than where the first regions are formed. The second regions have a radio wave reflectance lower than that of the first regions.

The present invention relates to golf balls having improved packing efficiency and aerodynamic characteristics and a high degree of dimple interdigitation. In particular, the present invention relates to a golf ball including at least a portion of dimples having a plan shape defined by low frequency periodic functions having high amplitudes. The present invention is also directed to methods of developing the dimple plan shape geometries, as well as methods of making the finished golf balls with the inventive dimple patterns applied thereto.

The present invention provides golf balls having a non-straight flight trajectory due, at least in part, to a dimple pattern wherein the dimples on the opposing sides of the ball have at least one design feature that is different.

A golf ball dimple pattern based on a square dipyramid is disclosed. In one specific aspect, the present disclosure provides for a square dipyramid dimple configuration including dimples having a catenary cross-sectional profile, and a combination of dimples having a circular plan shape and dimples having an elliptical plan shape.