A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer. The core defines at least one depression along its outer surface. The cover layer provides at least one aperture that extends through the cover layer to the core. The aperture of the cover is aligned with the depression of the core. The cover may be a single layer or it may include multiple layers. The aperture(s) may be spherical or non-spherical, and the portion of the aperture that extends to the next inner layer may be the same or different shape as the outer portion of the aperture.
1. A golf ball comprising:
a core defining a plurality of depressions along an outer surface of said core; and
a cover layer disposed about said core, said cover layer defining a plurality of apertures extending through said cover layer to said core.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said apertures defined by said cover layer overlies at least one of said depressions defined by said core.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein all of said apertures overlie all of said depressions.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , further comprising:
a mantle layer disposed between said core and said cover, said mantle layer defining a plurality of apertures.
5. The golf ball of claim 4 , wherein at least one of said apertures defined in said mantle layer is aligned with at least one of said apertures in said cover layer.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein each of said apertures has a depth in the range of from about 0.002 inches to about 0.140 inches.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein each of said apertures has a span in the range of from about 0.025 inches to about 0.25 inches.
8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein said cover layer comprises an ionomeric material.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein said cover layer comprises a polyurethane material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyurea, polyurethane/polyurea and polyurethane/ionomer or combinations thereof.
10. A golf ball comprising:
a core defining at least one depression along an outer surface of said core; and
a cover layer disposed about said core, said cover layer defining at least one aperture extending through said cover layer to the core, wherein the aperture of the cover is aligned with the depression of the core.
11. The golf ball of claim 10 , further comprising:
a mantle layer disposed between said core and said cover, said mantle layer defining an aperture aligned with the aperture of the cover layer and the depression of the cover.
12. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein each of said apertures has a depth in the range of from about 0.002 inches to about 0.140 inches.
13. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein each of said apertures has a span in the range of from about 0.025 inches to about 0.25 inches.
14. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein said cover layer comprises an ionomeric material.
15. The golf ball of claim 10 , wherein said cover layer comprises a polyurethane material.
16. A golf ball comprising:
a core;
at least one intermediate layer disposed about said core, said intermediate layer defining at least one aperture extending through said intermediate layer to the core; and
an outer cover layer disposed about said intermediate layer, said outer cover layer defining at least one aperture extending through said cover layer and aligned with the aperture of the intermediate layer.
17. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein each of said apertures has a depth in the range of from about 0.002 inches to about 0.140 inches.
18. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein each of said apertures has a span in the range of from about 0.025 inches to about 0.25 inches.
19. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein said cover layer comprises an ionomeric material.
20. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein said cover layer comprises a polyurethane material.