Nonconforming anti-slice ball

Abstract

A non-conforming golf ball has a plurality of dimples formed on the outer surface of the ball in a predetermined dimple pattern, the outer surface comprising one or more first areas which include a plurality of first dimples which together have a first dimple volume and at least one second area having a dimple volume less that the first dimple volume, the first and second areas being configured to establish a preferred spin axis. The second area may be a band around the equator which has a lower dimple volume or no dimples, with the polar regions have a higher volume of dimples, creating a preferred spin axis through the poles.

1 . A golf ball having an outer surface, an equator and two poles, and a plurality of dimples formed on the outer surface of the ball, the outer surface comprising one or more first areas which include a plurality of first dimples which together have a first dimple volume and at least one second area having a dimple volume less that the first dimple volume, the first and second areas being configured to establish a preferred spin axis such that the golf ball exhibits a Motion of Inertia (MOI) difference of at least 0.100 percent for the golf ball and exhibits a lift coefficient of less than about 0.24 at a Reynolds number of about 120,000 and of less than about 0.18 at a Reynolds number of about 180,000 when the ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis with a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm or greater. 
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.23 at a Reynolds number of about 130,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.22 at a Reynolds number of about 140,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.21 at a Reynolds number of about 150,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.20 at a Reynolds number of about 160,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.19 at a Reynolds number of about 170,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.14 at a Reynolds number of about 120,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.13 at a Reynolds number of about 130,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.12 at a Reynolds number of about 140,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.12 at a Reynolds number of about 150,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.11 at a Reynolds number of about 160,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.11 at a Reynolds number of about 170,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.19 at a Reynolds number of about 180,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second areas define a non-conforming dimple pattern. 
     
     
         15 . A golf ball having an outer surface, an equator and two poles, and a plurality of dimples formed on the outer surface of the ball, the outer surface comprising one or more first areas which include a plurality of first dimples which together have a first dimple volume and at least one second area having a dimple volume less that the first dimple volume, the first and second areas being configured to establish a preferred spin axis at a MOI of at least 0.100 percent for the golf ball and such that that the golf ball and exhibits a lift coefficient of less than about 0.18 over a range of Reynolds number from about 120,000 to about 180,000 when the ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis with a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm or greater. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.16 at a Reynolds number of about 120,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.15 at a Reynolds number of about 130,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.14 at a Reynolds number of about 140,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 17 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.14 at a Reynolds number of about 150,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.13 at a Reynolds number of about 160,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.12 at a Reynolds number of about 170,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is below about 0.12 at a Reynolds number of about 180,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.14 at a Reynolds number of about 120,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         24 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.13 at a Reynolds number of about 130,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         25 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.12 at a Reynolds number of about 140,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         26 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.12 at a Reynolds number of about 150,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         27 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.11 at a Reynolds number of about 160,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         28 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.11 at a Reynolds number of about 170,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         29 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the lift coefficient when the golf ball is spinning around its preferred spin axis is above about 0.19 at a Reynolds number of about 180,000 and a spin rate of about 3,500 rpm. 
     
     
         30 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the first and second areas define a non-conforming dimple pattern. 
     
     
         31 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the MOI difference is in the range of about 0.100 to about 0.500 percent. 
     
     
         32 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the MOI difference is in the range of about 0.200 to about 0.500 percent. 
     
     
         33 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the MOI difference is in the range of about 0.250 to about 0.500 percent. 
     
     
         34 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the MOI difference is greater than about 0.200 percent. 
     
     
         35 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the MOI difference is greater than about 0.300 percent. 
     
     
         36 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the MOI difference is greater than about 0.400 percent. 
     
     
         37 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the MOI difference is calculates as the maximum moment of inertia for the golf ball minus the minimum moment of inertia divided by the maximum moment of inertia. 
     
     
         38 . The golf ball of  claim 37 , wherein the first and second areas being configured to establish a preferred spin axis, and wherein the maximum moment of inertia is achieved when the ball is oriented so that it will spin around its preferred spin axis. 
     
     
         30 . The golf ball of  claim 38 , wherein the minimum moment of inertia is achieved when the ball is in a different orientation than the orientation that causes the ball to spin around its preferred spin axis. 
     
     
         40 . The golf ball of  claim 38 , wherein the orientation that produces spin around the preferred spin axis is the Poles Horizontal (PH) orientation.