Low lift golf ball

Abstract

A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas, a first group of areas containing a plurality of first dimples and a second group of areas containing a plurality of second dimples, each area of the second group abutting one or more areas of the first group, the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions being configured such that the golf ball is spherically symmetrical as defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Symmetry Rules, and such that the golf ball exhibits a negative inflection in drag coefficient (CD) during the flight of the golf ball.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas, a first group of areas containing a plurality of first dimples and a second group of areas containing a plurality of second dimples, each area of the second group abutting one or more areas of the first group, the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions being configured such that the golf ball is spherically symmetrical as defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Symmetry Rules, and such that the golf ball exhibits a negative inflection in drag coefficient (CD) during the flight of the golf ball. 
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions are configured such that the golf ball exhibits a CD of between about 0.250 and about 0.270 at the time of impact. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions are configured such that the golf ball exhibits a CD of between about 0.280 and about 0.290 at about 1 second after impact. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions are configured such that the golf ball exhibits a CD of between about 0.290 and about 0.300 at about 2 seconds after impact. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 3 , wherein the first and second groups of areas and dimple shapes and dimensions are configured such that the golf ball exhibits a CD of between about 0.310 and about 0.320 at about 3 seconds after impact. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the areas in the first group are of different shape from the areas in the second group. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the areas are arranged to form a spherical polyhedron. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the areas of the first group are triangular and the areas of the second group are square. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the areas together form a cuboctahedral shape. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 9  wherein the first dimples are of deeper depth than the second dimples. 
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 9  wherein each triangular shape area borders at least one square shape area. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein some of the dimples are spherical and some are truncated. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein each area contains the same number of dimples. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface has a total of 504 dimples or less. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the dimples in each area are of at least two different sizes. 
     
     
         16 . A golf ball having a plurality of dimples formed on its outer surface, the outer surface of the golf ball being divided into plural areas comprising dimples such that the golf ball is spherically symmetrical as defined by the United States Golf Association (USGA) Symmetry Rules, the plural areas configured such that the golf ball exhibits a negative inflection in drag coefficient (CD) during the flight of the golf ball. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of claim  28 , wherein the plural areas are configured such that the golf ball exhibits a CD of between about 0.250 and about 0.270 at the time of impact. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of claim  29 , wherein the plural areas are configured such that the golf ball exhibits a CD of between about 0.280 and about 0.290 at about 1 second after impact. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of claim  30 , wherein the plural areas are configured such that the golf ball exhibits a CD of between about 0.290 and about 0.300 at about 2 seconds after impact. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of claim  31 , wherein the plural areas are configured such that the golf ball exhibits a CD of between about 0.310 and about 0.320 at about 3 seconds after impact.