Embodiments of golf balls and methods to manufacture golf balls are generally described herein. In one example, a golf ball may include a plurality of round dimples and a plurality of non-round dimples. Each round dimple may have a dimple diameter, and each non-round dimple may have a dimple diagonal. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.

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 a periodic cosine function mapped along a circular closed path. In addition, the present invention provides methods for designing dimples having a plan shape defined by a periodic cosine function mapped along a circular closed path.

This invention provides sports ball having asymmetrical traction and/or asymmetrical surface structure. The asymmetrical traction is useful for differentially controlling ball spin and trajectory height as the ball is projected from a pitching machine. The asymmetrical surface structure is useful for differentially controlling the lateral component of the ball's trajectory. Optionally, the ball is a pitching machine ball. The method also provides a method of projecting the ball from a pitching machine.

This invention provides sports ball having asymmetrical traction and/or asymmetrical surface structure. The asymmetrical traction is useful for differentially controlling ball spin and trajectory height as the ball is projected from a pitching machine. The asymmetrical surface structure is useful for differentially controlling the lateral component of the ball's trajectory. Optionally, the ball is a pitching machine ball. The method also provides a method of projecting the ball from a pitching machine.

An antimicrobial sportsball includes a ball carcass having an interior cavity and an antimicrobial ball cover, covering the ball carcass. The antimicrobial ball cover contains and releases antimicrobial agent to the ball surface and the environment. The ball carcass includes an inflatable bladder adapted to be inflated into a designated size and shape and a cushion layer covering the inflatable wound or lined bladder, so as to provide additional cushioning effect and form channels.

An arrow golf system has a bow having a bowstring, an arrow having a shaft with a ball on one end with a fletching and a string nock on an opposite end, a starting location, a finishing location, and a capturing apparatus at the finishing location. A player shoots the arrow from the starting location with the bow, to a second location closer to the finishing location, retrieves the arrow at the second location, and shoots the arrow toward the capturing apparatus from the second location.

The present disclosure involves systems for applying finishing treatment to balls. The system includes an arm that transports at least one ball through a plurality of stations. A first station includes a first actuator, which permits introduction of a ball into the arm. A second station includes a buffer, which buffs the surface of the ball and rotates the ball in place relative to the arm, a spray nozzle configured to apply treatment to the ball, and a camera configured to capture images of the ball. A third station includes an inspection camera that captures inspection images of the ball and a rotating plate configured to rotate the ball in place relative to the arm. A fourth station includes a second actuator, which ejects the ball from the arm.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel golf ball having excellent spin performance on approach shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film composed of at least one layer and formed on a surface of the golf ball body, wherein a base resin constituting an outermost layer of the paint film is a polyurethane obtained by a reaction between (A) a polyol composition and (B) a polyisocyanate composition, and a loss modulus (E″) at the temperature of −50° C. obtained by measuring a dynamic viscoelasticity of the polyurethane is 1.00×10.sup.8 Pa or more.

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 a low frequency periodic function mapped along a simple closed path. In addition, the present invention provides methods for designing dimples having a plan shape defined by a low frequency periodic function mapped along a simple closed path.

Training balls are presented including: a solid sphere defining a first hemisphere having a first surface and a second hemisphere having a second surface; a tactile feature positioned along the first surface and substantially centered with the first hemisphere, where the tactile feature includes: a center portion having a closed geometric shape; and a continuous grooved border encompassing the center portion; a first grooved feature positioned along the second surface, where the first grooved feature includes a first body segment; a second grooved feature positioned along the second surface, where the second grooved feature includes a second body segment, where the first body segment and the second body segment are substantially parallel, and where the first grooved feature and the second grooved feature are substantially centered with and solely upon the second hemisphere along the second surface.