Golf balls including at least one modified dimple group are disclosed. The modified dimple group comprises one or more modified dimples forming an axially symmetric pattern about a Correction Area Centroid located on an axis of symmetry at a latitude greater than 0, where 0 represents the hemispherical pole and 90 represents the equator. The modified dimples can be altered, for example, by changing dimple coverage, dimple diameter, dimple depth, dimple edge angle, dimple volume, dimple cross-sectional shape, and/or dimple plan shape. Optionally, the dimples have a catenary cross-sectional shape and the modified dimples are altered by changing the shape factor and/or chord depth. Such modifications preferably produce a golf ball that flies more consistently regardless of orientation when struck than a corresponding golf ball without such modifications.

The present invention concerns a golf ball having dimples with a cross-sectional profile comprising a conical top portion and a non-conical bottom portion. More particularly, the profiles of the present invention are defined by three independent parameters: dimple diameter (D.sub.D), edge angle (.sub.EDGE), and saucer ratio (S.sub.r). These parameters fully define the dimple shape and allow for greater flexibility in constructing a dimple profile versus conventional spherical dimples. Further, conical dimples provide a unique dimple cross-section which is visually distinct.

The present invention is directed to a golf ball having a non-planar parting line on its spherical surface. The plurality of dimples located adjacent to the parting line consists of a first portion of dimples, each dimple of the first portion having a wave relief distance of from 0.001 inches and 0.005 inches, and a second portion of dimples, each dimple of the second portion having a wave relief distance of greater than 0.008 inches, where wave relief distance is measured as the shortest distance from the average dimple diameter of the dimple to the parting line.

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 present invention is directed to golf balls having improved aesthetics and desirable aerodynamic properties due, at least in part, to the novel shape of the dimples on the surface thereof. In particular, the present invention is directed to a golf ball that includes at least a portion of its dimples having a shape obtained from the intersection of a toroid and a sphere. The resulting curve of intersection represents the dimple perimeter and the intersecting portion of the surface of the toroid represents the dimple surface shape.

A golf ball has a plurality of dimples 12 and a land 14 on a surface thereof. The golf ball further has a large number of minute projections 18 formed on surfaces of the dimples 12 and the land 14. The minute projections 18 are exposed on the surface of the golf ball. The surface of the golf ball has an arithmetic average height Sa of not less than 0.5 m and not greater than 30 m. The surface of the golf ball has a maximum height Sz of not less than 5 m and not greater than 200 m.

A golf ball has a plurality of dimples 12 and a land 14 on a surface thereof. The golf ball further has a large number of minute projections 18 formed on surfaces of the dimples 12 and the land 14. The surface of the golf ball has an arithmetic average height Sa of not less than 0.5 m and not greater than 30 m. An average value Hav of heights H of the minute projections 18 is not less than 0.5 m and not greater than 50 m. A ratio Pp of a sum of areas of all the minute projections 18 to a surface area of a phantom sphere of the golf ball is not less than 7%. An average value Dav of diameters D of the minute projections 18 is not less than 5 m and not greater than 50 m.

A golf ball has a main body 12 and a paint layer 10 positioned outside the main body 12. The main body 12 has a plurality of minute projections 18 on a surface thereof. The paint layer 10 has a thickness Tp of not less than 5 m and not greater than 30 m. Each minute projection 18 is embedded in the paint layer 10. An average value Hav of heights H of the minute projections 18 is not less than 0.5 m and not greater than 80% of the thickness Tp. A ratio Pp of a sum of areas of all the minute projections 18 to a surface area of a phantom sphere of the golf ball is not less than 7%. An average value Dav of diameters D of the minute projections 18 is not less than 5 m and not greater than 50 m.

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.

In a golf ball having a two-layer core consisting of an inner core layer and an outer core layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed primarily of a base rubber, the diameter of the inner core layer is at least 21 mm, the intermediate layer and cover are each formed primarily of a resin material, the overall core has a specific hardness profile, the inner core layer has a higher specific gravity than the outer core layer, and the sphere consisting of the core encased by the intermediate layer has a higher surface hardness than the ball. This golf ball has a high initial velocity at impact while holding down the spin rate on full shots with a driver or long iron, enabling a good distance to be achieved. The ball also has a good controllability in the short game.