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, and particularly the superposition of a catenary function and a Witch of Agnesi function. Additionally, the dimples preferably have a circular boundary and maintain an axis coincident with the center of the circular boundary.

The present invention is directed to golf balls having surface textures with unique appearances and improved aerodynamic characteristics due, at least in part, to the use of curvilinear dimple plan shapes. In particular, the present invention is directed to a golf ball that includes at least a portion of its dimples having a plan shape defined by a number of convex or concave arcs that are derived from the vertices of a regular n-sided polygon, for example, an equilateral triangle or square.

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.

A golf ball core for use in a multi-piece golf ball includes a solid sphere and between 100 and 300 spaced polygonal protrusions extending from the solid sphere in a radially outward direction. The sphere is substantially formed from an ionomeric material, and has a diameter (D) of between 24 mm and 32 mm. The polygonal protrusions extend from the sphere by a maximum distance of between 0.15 mm and 1.0 mm.

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.

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 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 a golf ball which comprises dimples having a cross section defined by the superposition of two or more continuous and differentiable functions, and particularly the superposition of a catenary function and a Witch of Agnesi function. Additionally, the dimples preferably have a circular boundary and maintain an axis coincident with the center of the circular boundary.

The present invention is directed to golf balls having improved aerodynamic performance due, at least in part, to the selection of the plan shapes of the dimples thereon. In particular, the present invention is directed to a golf ball that includes at least a portion of its dimples having a plan shape defined by low frequency periodic functions along a closed simple path. In addition, the present invention provides methods for designing dimples having a plan shape defined by a low frequency periodic function along a closed simple path.

A golf ball 2 includes a core 4, a mid layer 6, a cover 8, and dimples 10. A Shore C hardness Hmc of the mid layer 6 is greater than a Shore C hardness Hs at a surface of the core 4. A Shore D hardness He of the cover 8 is less than a Shore D hardness Hm of the mid layer 6. Peak values and orders of maximum peaks of data constellations of the golf ball 2 are calculated. A minimum value of the peak values is not less than 95 mm. A minimum value of the orders is not less than 27, and a maximum value of the orders is not greater than 37. An average of the orders is not less than 30 and not greater than 34.