Golf ball with improved flight performance
View Patent ↗A golf ball is provided that has improved aerodynamic efficiency, resulting in increased flight distance for golfers of all swing speeds, and more particularly for golfers possessing very high swing speeds, such as those who can launch the balls at an initial speed greater than 160 miles per hour and more particularly at initial ball speed of about 170 miles per hour or higher. The golf ball of the present invention combines lower dimple count with multiple dimple sizes to provide higher dimple coverage and improved aerodynamic characteristics.
1. A golf ball having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises less than about 370 dimples covering at least about 80% of the outer surface of the golf ball and wherein the dimples comprise at least two sizes and the golf ball does not have a great circle that does not intersect any dimple, wherein the ratio of C L at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C L at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.730.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball comprises less than 350 dimples.
3. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the golf ball comprises less than 340 dimples.
4. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein the golf ball comprises about 250 dimples.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the dimples are circular.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the dimples cover at least about 83% of the surface of the ball.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the dimples comprise at least four sizes.
8. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the dimples comprise at least six sizes.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of C L at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C L at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.725.
10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the ratio of C L at Re 180,000 and SR 0.110 to C L at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.700.
11. A golf ball having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises less than about 370 dimples covering at least about 80% of the outer surface of the golf ball and wherein the dimples comprise at least two sizes and the golf ball does not have a great circle that does not intersect any dimple, wherein the ratio of C D at Re 180,000 and SR of0.110 to C D at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is 0.797.
12. A golf ball having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises less than about 370 dimples covering at least about 80% of the outer surface of the golf ball and wherein the dimples comprise at least two sizes and the golf ball does not have a great circle that does not intersect any dimple, wherein the ratio of C MAG at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C MAG at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.780.
13. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the ratio of C MAG at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C MAG at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is at most 0.760.
14. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the golf ball comprises less than 350 dimples.
15. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the golf ball comprises less than 340 dimples.
16. The golf ball of claim 15 , wherein the golf ball comprises about 250 dimples.
17. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the dimples are circular.
18. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the dimples cover at least about 83% of the surface of the ball.
19. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the dimples comprise at least four sizes.
20. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the dimples comprise at least six sizes.
21. A golf ball having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises less than about 370 dimples covering at least about 80% of the outer surface of the golf ball and wherein the dimples comprise at least two sizes and the golf ball does not have a great circle that does not intersect any dimple, wherein the ratio of C L at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C L at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is 0.832.
22. A golf ball having an outer surface, wherein the outer surface comprises less than about 370 dimples covering at least about 80% of the outer surface of the golf ball and wherein the dimples comprise at least two sizes and the golf ball does not have a great circle that does not intersect any dimple, wherein the ratio of C D at Re 180,000 and SR of 0.110 to C D at Re 70,000 and SR of 0.188 is 0.841.