Golf ball with improved symmetry

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a substantially seamless design and a plurality of modified dimples, which synergistically improve the golf ball's symmetric flight performance. The modified dimples may be altered in any number of ways including, but not limited to, by means of changing dimple coverage, dimple diameter, dimple depth, dimple edge angle, dimple volume, dimple cross-sectional shape, and dimple plan shape. All such modifications are designed to produce golf balls wherein dimples positioned around the equator are balanced by dimples at the poles and elsewhere, thereby resulting in a ball that flies consistently regardless of orientation.

1 . A golf ball comprising:
 a substantially seamless appearance;   a generally spherical surface;   a plurality of dimples formed on the surface; and   a subset of modified dimples located between about 0° to about 45° latitude;   
       wherein the subset of dimples is selected from the group consisting of
   (i) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple depth;   (ii) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple diameter;   (iii) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple edge angle;   (iv) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple volume;   (v) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple cross-sectional shape; and   (vi) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple plan shape.   
 
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of claim, wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple depth, and wherein the dimple depth is reduced or increased by at least about 5%. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the dimple depth is reduced or increased by at least about 10%. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the dimple depth is reduced or increased by at least about 15%. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple diameter, and wherein the dimple diameter is reduced or increased by at least about 3%. 
     
     
         6 . The golf bail of  claim 5 , wherein the dimple diameter is reduced or increased by at least about 10%. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 5 , wherein the dimple diameter is reduced or increased by at least about 15%. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple edge angle, and wherein the dimple edge angle is reduced or increased by about 1-3°. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple Volume, and wherein the dimple volume is reduced or increased by at least about 9%. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the dimple volume is reduced or increased by at least about 27%. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the dimple volume is reduced or increased by at least about 39%. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 9 , wherein the dimple volume is reduced by about 100%. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple cross-sectional shape, and wherein the cross-sectional shape is selected from the group consisting of circular, catenary, elliptical, and conical shapes. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple p,an shape, and wherein the plan shape is selected from the group consisting of circular, polygonal, oval, and irregular shapes. 
     
     
         15 . A golf ball comprising:
 a substantially seamless appearance;   a generally spherical surface;   a plurality of dimples formed on the surface; and   a subset of modified dimples located between about 30° to about 65° latitude;   
       wherein the subset of dimples is selected from the group consisting of
   (i) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple depth;   (ii) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple diameter;   (iii) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple edge angle;   (iv) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple volume;   (v) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple cross-sectional shape; and   (vi) modified dimples comprising a modified dimple plan shape.   
 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple depth, and wherein the dimple depth is reduced or increased by at least about 5%. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the dimple depth is reduced or increased by at least about 10%. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the dimple depth is reduced or increased by at least about 15%. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple diameter, and wherein the dimple diameter is reduced or increased by at least about 3%. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the dimple diameter is reduced or increased by at least about 10%. 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the dimple diameter is reduced or increased by at least about 15%. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple edge angle, and wherein the dimple edge angle is reduced or increased by about 1-3°. 
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple volume, and wherein the dimple volume is reduced or increased by at least about 9%. 
     
     
         24 . The golf ball of  claim 23 , wherein the dimple volume is reduced or increased by at least about 27%. 
     
     
         25 . The golf ball of  claim 23 , wherein the dimple volume is reduced or increased by at least about 39%. 
     
     
         26 . The golf ball of  claim 23 , wherein the dimple volume is reduced by about 100%. 
     
     
         27 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple cross-sectional shape, and wherein the cross-sectional shape is selected from the group consisting of circular, catenary, elliptical and conical shapes. 
     
     
         28 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the subset of dimples is modified dimples comprising a modified dimple plan shape, and wherein the plan shape is selected from the group consisting of circular, polygonal oval, and irregular shapes.