A golf ball has a lower drag than conventional golf balls due to the arrangement of dimples on the outer surface of the golf ball, which arrangement produces a correspondingly lower percentage of outer surface area that is covered by the dimples. In particular, dimple coverage area may be less than 70%, and more specifically between about 18.6% and about 60.8%, of the outer surface area. Various combinations of dimple characteristics can be combined to produce the low dimple coverage, low drag golf ball, such as the number of dimples, pattern and spacing of dimples, dimple diameter, dimple depth, and dimple shape. The dimple characteristics can be selected so that the golf ball meets the requirements of the United States Golf Association and other golf organizations.

A golf ball has a large number of dimples 10 on a surface thereof. The dimples 10 include a plurality of small dimples 10S each having an area of less than 8.0 mm.sup.2, and a plurality of large dimples 10L each having an area of equal to or greater than 8.0 mm.sup.2. A ratio PS of a sum of areas of all the small dimples 10S to a surface area of a phantom sphere of the golf ball is less than 2.0%. A ratio PL of a sum of areas of all the large dimples 10L to the surface area of the phantom sphere is equal to or greater than 79.0%. A degree G of uniformity of areas of the large dimples 10L is equal to or less than 1.15.

The present invention provides a golf ball having an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples covering greater than 70 percent of the outer surface, wherein at least 20 percent of the dimples incorporate directional surface texturing therein. The directional surface texturing preferably comprises substantially parallel channels or protrusions formed within the dimples.

The present invention provides a golf ball having an outer surface comprising a plurality of dimples covering greater than 70 percent of the outer surface, wherein at least 20 percent of the dimples incorporate directional surface texturing therein. The directional surface texturing preferably comprises substantially parallel channels or protrusions formed within the dimples.

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

The present invention is directed to golf balls having improved aerodynamic performance due, at least in part, to the alteration of the dimple surfaces. In particular, the present invention relates to a golf ball that includes at least a portion of its dimples having circular perimeters and dimple profiles having a concentric groove on the surface of the dimple. The golf ball dimples of the present invention provide golf ball surfaces having unique appearances, while maintaining ideal aerodynamic characteristics.

A golf ball has a large number of dimples 10 on a surface thereof. The dimples 10 include a plurality of small dimples 10S each having an area of less than 8.0 mm.sup.2, and a plurality of large dimples 10L each having an area of equal to or greater than 8.0 mm.sup.2. A ratio PS of a sum of areas of all the small dimples 10S to a surface area of a phantom sphere of the golf ball is less than 2.0%. The number NL of the large dimples 10L is equal to or greater than 250 but less than 450. The number NL of the large dimples 10L and a degree G of uniformity of areas of the large dimples 10L satisfy the following mathematical formula (II):
G<0.0032.Math.NL+0.26(II).

A unique method of embedding an RFID chip into the core of a golf ball and using it in the application of a limited flight range ball for use in a range setup that can receive and monitor RFID signals is disclosed herein. The density of the core material is adjusted in relation to the mass of the RFID chip. The golf ball with an embedded RFID chip conforms to a mass limitation of the USGA.

A golf ball 2 has a large number of dimples 8 on a surface thereof. A trajectory of the golf ball 2 is divided into first to fourth segments. An average CD1 of drag coefficients CD and an average CL1 of lift coefficients CL in the first segment are equal to or less than 0.225 and 0.180, respectively. An average CD2 of drag coefficients CD and an average CL2 of lift coefficients CL in the second segment are equal to or less than 0.250 and 0.220, respectively. An average CD3 of drag coefficients CD and an average CL3 of lift coefficients CL in the third segment are equal to or greater than 0.260 and 0.220, respectively. An average CD4 of drag coefficients CD and an average CL4 of lift coefficients CL in the fourth segment are equal to or greater than 0.250 and 0.200, respectively.

A sports ball comprising an inner core with a plurality of nubs on its exterior surface, and an outer shell comprising two hemispheres that surround the inner core such that the plurality of nubs contact the inner surfaces of the outer shell's inner cavity. The outer core can comprise a cross-linked closed-cell foam such that the sports ball can be more durable and softer than conventional balls normally used for the same sport.