Golf ball

Abstract

The invention provides a golf ball having a solid core, a cover of at least one layer, and a plurality of dimples on a surface of an outermost layer of the cover. The dimples number at least 250 but not more than 500, and have a volume ratio (VR) of from 1.20 to 1.60%. The outermost cover layer has a surface hardness, expressed as the Shore D hardness, of from 58 to 75. The ball has a deflection, when compressed under a final load of 1,275 N (130 kgf) from an initial load state of 98 N (10 kgf), of from 4.0 to 6.0 mm. This golf ball is able to substantially reduce the distance traveled by the ball when struck at a high head speed, while at the same time holding down the decrease in distance when struck at a low head speed.

1 . A golf ball comprising a solid core, a cover of at least one layer, and a plurality of dimples on a surface of an outermost layer of the cover, wherein the dimples number at least 250 but not more than 500 and have a volume ratio (VR) of from 1.20 to 1.60%, the outermost cover layer has a surface hardness, expressed as the Shore D hardness, of from 58 to 75, and the ball has a deflection, when compressed under a final load of 1,275 N (130 kgf) from an initial load state of 98 N (10 kgf), of from 4.0 to 6.0 mm. 
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball, under the conditions of a head speed of 54 m/s, a ball initial velocity of 78.0±0.5 m/s, a launch angle of 9.7±0.5° and an initial backspin rate of 2,700±100 rpm, has a total distance of not more than 290 yards. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball has a ratio of total distance traveled when struck at a head speed of 54 m/s to total distance traveled when struck at a head speed of 35 m/s (HS54/HS35) of from 1.30 to 1.50. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the dimple volume ratio and the deflection satisfy the relationship expressed by the formula:
   4×VR+deflection=9.0 to 11.0.