Golf balls including at least one modified dimple group are disclosed. The modified dimple group comprises one or more modified dimples forming an axially symmetric pattern about a Correction Area Centroid located on an axis of symmetry at a latitude greater than 0°, where 0° represents the hemispherical pole and 90° represents the equator. The modified dimples can be altered, for example, by changing dimple coverage, dimple diameter, dimple depth, dimple edge angle, dimple volume, dimple cross-sectional shape, and/or dimple plan shape. Such modifications preferably produce a golf ball that flies more consistently regardless of orientation when struck than a corresponding golf ball without such modifications.
1. A golf ball having dimples on the outermost surface thereof, wherein the dimples consist of:
a majority of unmodified dimples having the same edge angle, and
a plurality of modified dimples having an edge angle that is from 1° to 4° different than the edge angle of the unmodified dimples;
wherein the modified dimples are arranged in two or more groups, each group forming an axially symmetric pattern about a different geometric center; and
wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on a non-polar axis of the ball.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 5°.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 15°.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 30°.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 45°.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 50°.
7. A golf ball having dimples on the outermost surface thereof, wherein the dimples consist of:
a majority of unmodified dimples having the same edge angle, and
a plurality of modified dimples having an edge angle that is from 1° to 4° different than the edge angle of the unmodified dimples;
wherein the modified dimples are arranged in six to eight groups, each group forming an axially symmetric pattern about a different geometric center; and
wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on a non-polar axis of the ball.
8. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 5°.
9. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 15°.
10. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 30°.
11. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 45°.
12. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 50°.
13. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the pattern of one group of modified dimples is different from the pattern of another group of modified dimples.
14. A golf ball having dimples on the outermost surface thereof, wherein the dimples consist of:
a majority of unmodified dimples having the same edge angle, and
a plurality of modified dimples having an edge angle that is from 1° to 4° different than the edge angle of the unmodified dimples;
wherein the modified dimples are arranged in two or more groups, each group forming an axially symmetric pattern about a different geometric center;
wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on a non-polar axis of the ball; and
wherein the pattern of one group of modified dimples is different from the pattern of another group of modified dimples.
15. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 5°.
16. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 15°.
17. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 30°.
18. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 45°.
19. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the geometric center of each group of modified dimples is located on an axis of the ball located at a latitude angle of greater than 50°.