Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core having an outer surface, an intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover layer surrounding the intermediate layer, which defines an outermost portion of the ball. The outer surface of the core includes a plurality of polygonal protrusions aligned on a common sphere and a plurality of grooves that extend radially inward from the sphere and respectively separate and define each of the polygonal protrusions. The intermediate layer has a radially inward facing surface that is bonded to the outer surface of the core across the entire outer surface.

Abstract: A golf ball includes a core and a cover surrounding the core. The cover includes a first hemispherical half and a second hemispherical half that define a seam line therebetween and along an outer surface of the cover. The seam line is non-planar and includes an integral number of cycles of a repeating wave that oscillates along the outer surface of the cover. Each cycle of the repeating wave has a 2? radian phase, and an intermediate section is interleaved within the repeating wave at phase angles that are integral multiples of ?. Each intermediate section has a straight surface profile along the outer spherical surface.

Abstract: A thermoplastic multi-layer golf ball has a core center having a diameter from about 5 mm to about 18 mm, including a first thermoplastic material having a first flexural modulus of up to about 15,000 psi, and having a specific gravity of at least about 1.5 g/cm3; a core layer outward from the core center that has a thickness of at least about 10 mm and includes a second thermoplastic material having a second flexural modulus of up to about 32,000 psi; and a cover including a third thermoplastic material having a third flexural modulus of up to about 5,000 psi. The second flexural modulus is greater than the first flexural modulus, the first flexural modulus is greater than the third flexural modulus, and the specific gravity of the core center is greater than the specific gravity of the core layer and greater than the specific gravity of the cover.

Abstract: A method of forming a coating layer on a golf ball includes spraying a first quantity of a coating composition onto the golf ball to form a partially-coated golf ball that has a first pole disposed in a top position, a second pole disposed in a bottom position, a diameter extending between the first and second poles, and an axis of rotation perpendicular to the diameter. After spraying the first quantity, the method includes rotating the partially-coated golf ball about the axis to translate the first and second poles such that the first pole is disposed in the bottom position and the second pole is disposed in the top position. After rotating, the method includes spraying a second quantity of the composition onto the partially-coated golf ball to form the coating layer on the golf ball. An apparatus for forming the coating layer on the golf ball is also disclosed.

Abstract: A golf ball having certain relationships and values of its initial velocities at various club head speeds is provided. The golf ball may achieve an initial velocity of at least about 173 mph at a club head speed of about 125 mph, therefore achieving an increased total shot distance. The golf ball has multiple layers making up its core, and the golf ball may be a four piece golf ball.

Abstract: A golf ball having certain relationships and values of its initial velocities at various club head speeds is provided. The golf ball may achieve an initial velocity of at least about 173 mph at a club head speed of about 125 mph, therefore achieving an increased total shot distance. The golf ball has multiple layers making up its core, and the golf ball may be a four piece golf ball.

Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of highly neutralized polymer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The cover is a two layer cover, with a hard inner cover and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer cover. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as feel and sound.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core formed from an ionomer, an intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover surrounding the intermediate layer. The core has a material hardness measured on the JIS-C scale of from about 34 to about 70, and has an outer surface that includes a plurality of land portions aligned on a common sphere, and a plurality of grooves separating the respective land portions and extending radially inward from the sphere. The common sphere has a diameter of from about 22 mm to about 32 mm. The intermediate layer is formed from a rubber material and has a radial thickness measured from the common sphere of from about 4.0 mm to about 9.0 mm. Additionally, the core has a 10-130 kg compression deformation of from about 3.5 to about 5.5 mm.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core formed from an ionomer, an intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover surrounding the intermediate layer. The core has a material hardness measured on the JIS-C scale of from about 34 to about 70, and has an outer surface that includes a plurality of land portions aligned on a common sphere, and a plurality of grooves separating the respective land portions and extending radially inward from the sphere. The common sphere has a diameter of from about 22 mm to about 32 mm. The intermediate layer is formed from a rubber material and has a radial thickness measured from the common sphere of from about 4.0 mm to about 9.0 mm. Additionally, the core has a 10-130 kg compression deformation of from about 3.5 to about 5.5 mm.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core formed from an ionomer, an intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover surrounding the intermediate layer. The core has a material hardness measured on the JIS-C scale of from about 34 to about 70, and has an outer surface that includes a plurality of land portions aligned on a common sphere, and a plurality of grooves separating the respective land portions and extending radially inward from the sphere. The plurality of grooves includes both a first set of grooves, and a second set of grooves that are perpendicular to each other. The intermediate layer is formed from a rubber material and has a radial thickness measured from the common sphere of from about 4.0 mm to about 9.0 mm. Additionally, the core has a 10-130 kg compression deformation of from about 3.5 to about 5.5 mm.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core having an outer surface, an intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover layer surrounding the intermediate layer, which defines an outermost portion of the ball. The outer surface of the core includes a plurality of polygonal protrusions aligned on a common sphere and a plurality of grooves that extend radially inward from the sphere and respectively separate and define each of the polygonal protrusions. The intermediate layer has a radially inward facing surface that is bonded to the outer surface of the core across the entire outer surface.

Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of highly neutralized polymer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The cover is a two layer cover, with a hard inner cover and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer cover. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as feel and sound.

Abstract: A golf ball having certain relationships and values of its initial velocities at various club head speeds is provided. The golf ball has a typical initial velocity at a low club head speed, but an increased initial velocity at a high club head speed. Therefore, the golf ball may be advantageously used by both amateur golfers having lower swing speeds and professional golfers having high swing speeds. The golf ball may also achieve an initial velocity of at least about 173 mph at a club head speed of about 125 mph, therefore achieving an increased total shot distance.

Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of a blend of highly neutralized polymers and a low flexural modulus ionomer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The inner core has a specified relationship of coefficients of restitution of the various layers of the ball. The cover is a single layer ionomer cover, and may be made from a blend of different grades of the ionomer. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as backspin off the irons, feel, and sound.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core having an outer surface, and intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover surrounding the intermediate layer. The intermediate layer defines a radially inward facing surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core, and the cover defines the outermost surface of ball. The outer surface of the core includes a plurality of polygonal land portions aligned on a common sphere. The outer surface of the core further defines a first plurality of annular grooves disposed about a first axis, a second plurality of annular grooves disposed about a second axis, and a third plurality of annular grooves disposed about a third axis. The first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are mutually orthogonal, and each groove respectively extends from the common sphere and is concave relative to the core.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core, an intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover layer surrounding the intermediate layer. The core defines an outer surface that includes a plurality of polygonal land potions substantially aligned on a common sphere, which has a diameter of between 22 mm and 32 mm. The intermediate layer has a radially inward-facing surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core, and has a radial thickness of between 4 mm and 9 mm. The outer surface of the core defines a first set of annular grooves disposed about a first axis, and a second set of annular grooves disposed about a second axis. Each of the first and second set of annular grooves extend radially inward from the common sphere, and the first axis and the second axis are orthogonal.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core, and intermediate layer, and a cover. The core has an outer surface that includes a plurality of depressions extending from a spherical land portion. Each depression has a maximum depth relative to the spherical land portion of between 0.15 mm and 2.0 mm. The intermediate layer surrounds the core and has a radially inward surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core. The cover layer surrounds the intermediate layer and defines an outermost portion of ball.

Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of highly neutralized polymer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The cover is a two layer cover, with a hard inner cover and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer cover. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as feel and sound.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core, and intermediate layer, and a cover. The core has an outer surface that includes a plurality of protrusions extending from a spherical land portion. Each protrusion has a maximum height relative to the spherical land portion of between 0.15 mm and 2.0 mm. The intermediate layer surrounds the core and has a radially outward surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core. The cover layer surrounds the intermediate layer and defines an outermost portion of ball.

Abstract: A multi-layer golf ball includes a core, and intermediate layer, and a cover. The core has an outer surface that includes a plurality of protrusions extending from a spherical land portion. Each protrusion has a maximum height relative to the spherical land portion of between 0.15 mm and 2.0 mm. The intermediate layer surrounds the core and has a radially outward surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core. The cover layer surrounds the intermediate layer and defines an outermost portion of ball.