Golf ball

Abstract

The invention provides a golf ball having a core, a cover of at least one layer formed over the core, and a plurality of dimples on a surface of an outer layer of the cover. The ball has a coat of paint at the dimples, and non-dimple areas of the ball surface lack a coat of paint, leaving the outer cover layer exposed. The outer cover layer is formed of a material having a material hardness (Shore D) of less than 60. The dimples have a surface coverage (SR) of from 70 to 85%. The golf ball of the invention has outstanding spin characteristics.

1 . A golf ball comprising a core, a cover of at least one layer formed over the core, and a plurality of dimples on a surface of an outer layer of the cover, wherein the ball has a coat of paint at the dimples and non-dimple areas (land areas) of the ball surface lack a coat of paint, leaving the outer cover layer exposed, the outer cover layer is formed of a material having a material hardness (Shore D) of less than 60, and the dimples have a surface coverage (SR) of from 70 to 85%. 
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cover layer is composed of polyurethane or polyurea. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the polyurethane or polyurea which forms the outer cover layer is a thermoplastic polyurethane or a thermoplastic polyurea. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the material which forms the outer cover layer has a material hardness (Shore D) of 58 or less. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the land areas are places where, after a coat of paint was formed over the entire ball, the outer cover layer was then exposed by removing the paint coat. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 5 , wherein the outer cover layer was exposed by surface grinding to remove the paint coat at the land areas. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer cover layer is of a color other than white.