The present invention provides methods for producing molded golf balls and the resultant balls. The methods of this invention involve producing foamed polyurethane covers and these methods help reduce dimple distortions and other surface imperfections. These golf balls contain an inner core and outer foamed polyurethane cover. One or more intermediate layers can be disposed between the core and cover. In one embodiment, a castable liquid polyurethane composition containing a foaming agent is dispensed into mold cavities, which are then pressed together to form a foam cover for the ball.

The present invention provides methods for producing molded golf balls and the resultant balls. The methods of this invention involve producing foamed polyurethane covers and these methods help reduce dimple distortions and other surface imperfections. These golf balls contain an inner core and outer foamed polyurethane cover. One or more intermediate layers can be disposed between the core and cover. In one embodiment, a castable liquid polyurethane composition containing a foaming agent is dispensed into mold cavities, which are then pressed together to form a foam cover for the ball.

A golf ball with embedded electronics to allow proximity to be tracked and to monitor golfer performance is disclosed. The golf ball comprises a processor connected to an accelerometer, communications circuitry, a spin detector, and memory, wherein the processor stores accelerometer data from the accelerometer and rotation data regarding rotation of the spin detector in the memory. The processor converts the data regarding the rotation of the spin detector into a rotation speed and a rotation direction, said rotation speed determined by a frequency of the data, and said rotation direction determined by a magnitude of the data. The communications circuitry is configured to communicate the accelerometer data, the rotation direction, and the rotation speed to a central interrogator for analysis of a golfer's performance.

A golf ball according to the present invention includes: a module including an electronic circuit and its power source; a protective layer that surrounds an outer periphery of the module and is formed from a material having a Shore D hardness of at least 60; a core that surrounds an outer periphery of the protective layer; and a cover that surrounds an outer periphery of the core. A weight may be arranged on a surface of the protective layer. A difference between a value MOImax of the moment of inertia in a direction in which the moment of inertia of the golf ball is maximum and a value MOImin of the moment of inertia in a direction in which the moment of inertia of the golf ball is minimum is at most 1.0 g.Math.cm.sup.2.

Multi-layered golf balls containing a dual-core structure are provided. The core structure includes an inner core (center) made from a foam or metal-containing composition, or it has a hollow shell construction, and the outer core layer is made of a thermoplastic composition. Preferably, the thermoplastic composition comprises: a) ethylene acid copolymer, b) plasticizer, and c) cation source. A fatty acid ester such as ethyl oleate is preferably used as the plasticizer. The core assembly preferably has a positive hardness gradient extending across the entire assembly. The core structure and resulting ball have relatively good resiliency at given compressions.

The present invention generally relates to golf balls having an internal skeletal structure that can be self-supporting. The golf ball preferably contains a spherical hollow inner core that is gas or liquid-filled. The ball further comprises an outer shell skeletal structure having a spherical shape and containing apertures that form hollow compartments. In one version, the skeletal structure supports itself and the space inside and around the skeletal structure is hollow. In another embodiment, the space is solid, for example, it may be foam-filled. In yet another version, the hollow space is filled with liquid. Multi-piece golf balls having outer cores, inner covers, and intermediate layers can be made.

The present invention provides a novel golf ball construction including a layer having a design based on a minimal surface. The layer is defined by an envelope shape having an outer boundary and an inner boundary, and consists of a minimal surface and an interstitial space, the minimal surface and interstitial space being bounded by the envelope shape. The minimal surface is a single continuous surface which does not intersect itself and has zero mean curvature.

The present invention provides a novel golf ball construction including a layer having a design based on a minimal surface. The layer is defined by an envelope shape having an outer boundary and an inner boundary, and consists of a minimal surface and an interstitial space, the minimal surface and interstitial space being bounded by the envelope shape. The minimal surface is a single continuous surface which does not intersect itself and has zero mean curvature.

A golf ball according to an aspect of the present invention is a golf ball having a large number of dimples, a surface of the golf ball is covered with a plurality of virtual flat surfaces each having a triangular shape, one or more dimples are arranged so as to correspond to each of the virtual flat surfaces, and an edge of each dimple is formed in a linear shape. Each dimple may have a triangular pyramid shape or a triangular frustum shape.

To provide a golf ball that can prevent considerable decrease in carry distance of a driver shot when it rains and also can more reliably prevent adhesion of dirt, etc. to the surface of the golf ball. The golf ball of the present invention includes a core, a cover that is provided on an outer side of the core and is provided with dimples, and an outermost layer that is formed on an outer side of the cover and made of a material having a contact angle of 90 or more, a dynamic contact angle of 85 or less and an adhesive force of 130 N or less. The material for forming the outermost layer includes a urethane coating material with a water repellent additive.