A golf ball has a golf ball subassembly having one or more subassembly layers, the one or more subassembly layers including at least one marked layer. The golf ball also has a cover layer surrounding the golf ball subassembly. The golf ball further has a marking pattern disposed on the at least one marked layer. The marking pattern has a first portion including a first material configured to be detected by a first detector type and a second portion including a second material configured to be detected by a second detector type.

A golf ball printing system has a plurality of stations and a plurality of station tracks. The plurality of stations have an orienting station, a printing station, and a offloading station, and each of the plurality of station tracks have an orienting station track, a printing station track, and an offloading station track. The golf ball printing system also has a primary track connecting each of the plurality of station tracks and a plurality of shuttles configured to traverse the primary track and the plurality of station tracks. The golf ball printing system further has a control system configured to control the movement of the plurality of shuttles to print a marking on a golf ball on each of the plurality of shuttles at the printing station.

A method and system for determining concentricity of a multiple layer golf ball are disclosed herein. One or more images of a golf ball are generated using an X-ray source, a camera or a digital detector, and an image intensifier. An edge detection algorithm is preferably utilized. The method also includes calculating Y,Z center coordinates of the a best fit diameter or ellipse of the inner edge layer and outer edge layer of the multiple layer golf ball.

The present invention provides a method and kit for the treatment of surfaces, such as the skin surface of a user, to impart hydrophobic characteristics upon the surface. The treatment of surfaces to impart hydrophobicity protects equipment, personnel, and animals from the effects of aqueous solutions such as water, toxic slurries, concrete, acids and bases.

A golf ball sorting system has a ball feeder configured to transport a plurality of golf balls. At least some of the golf balls have a conductive marking pattern that is not visible to an observer because the marking pattern is covered by at least one other layer of the golf ball. A detection system receives the golf balls, inspects the golf balls, and outputs a detection result. A sorting system receives the detection result and sorts the plurality of golf balls based on the detection result to separate the plurality of golf balls into at least three groups, including a first category of golf balls that do not have the marking pattern, a second category of golf balls that have a first type of the marking pattern, and a third category of golf balls that have a second type of the marking pattern.

The present invention surrounds the application of a substance to a sports ball, such as silica silylate, for the purposes of increasing grip and hydrophobicity. Disclosed are inventions surrounding the method, the system, and the apparatus for the treatment of a sports ball or other objects which a user desires to treat with a substance to achieve certain results in relation to the substance applied.