Golf ball with improved flight performance

• US 7,491,137 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2007
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Dalton, Jeffrey L., Aoyama, Steven, Bissonnette, Laurent C.
• Primary Examiner(s): GORDEN, RAEANN
• Application Number:
  US11/907,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20080153630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 473378-385
• US Class Current: 473/378
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00065 located around the pole or the equator
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0012 Dimple profile, i.e. cross-sectional view
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/002 Specified dimple diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00215 Volume ratio
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0026 Balata
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0077 Physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/008 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0083 Weight; Mass
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0089 Coefficient of drag
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/009 Coefficient of lift
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0096 Spin rate

Abstract

A golf ball with aerodynamic coefficient magnitude and aerodynamic force angle, resulting in improved flight performance, such as increased carry and flight consistency regardless of ball orientation. In particular, the present invention is directed to a golf ball having increased flight distance as defined by a set of aerodynamic requirements at certain spin ratios and Reynolds Numbers, and more particularly the golf ball has a low lift coefficient at a high Reynolds Number.

Claims

1. A golf ball with a plurality of dimples having an aerodynamic coefficient magnitude defined by C_mag=√

(C_L²+C_D²) and a percent deviation C_mag=|(C_mag1−

C_mag2)|/((C_mag1+C_mag2)/2)*100, wherein C_L is a lift coefficient and C_D is a drag coefficient, wherein C_mag1=C_mag for a first orientation and C_mag2=C_mag for a second orientation, and wherein percent deviation C_mag is about 3 percent or less over a Reynolds Number range of about 69000 to about 230000.

2. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the first orientation is a pole over pole orientation.

3. The golf ball of claim 2, wherein the second orientation is a poles horizontal orientation.

4. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the range of spin ratio is about 0.85 to about 0284.

5. The golf ball of claim 1, wherein the golf ball has an aerodynamic force angle defined by Angle=tan⁻

1(C_L/C_D), and wherein first aerodynamic force angle of about 31 degrees to about 35 degrees at a Reynolds number of about 230000 and a spin ratio of about 0.085.

6. The golf ball of claim 5, wherein the golf ball has a second aerodynamic force angle of about 40 degrees to about 44 degrees at a Reynolds number of about 69000 and a spin ratio of about 0.284.

7. A golf ball with a plurality of dimples having an aerodynamic coefficient magnitude defined by C_mag=√

(C_L²+C_D²), an aerodynamic force angle defined by Angle=tan<sup>−

1</sup>(C_L/C_D), and a percent deviation C_mag=|(C_mag1−

C_mag2)|/((C_mag1+C_mag2)/2)*100, wherein C_L is a lift coefficient and C_D is a drag coefficient, wherein C_mag1=C_mag for a first orientation and C_mag2=C_mag for a second orientation, wherein percent deviation C_mag is about 6 percent or less at a Reynolds Number of about 69000 and a spin ratio of about 0.284.

8. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein the first orientation is a pole over pole orientation and the second orientation is a poles horizontal orientation.

9. The golf ball of claim 7, further comprising a first aerodynamic force angle of about 40 degrees to about 44 degrees at a Reynolds number of about 69000 and a spin ratio of about 0.284.

10. The golf ball of claim 9, further comprising a second aerodynamic force angle of about 41 degrees to about 45 degrees at a Reynolds number of about 92000 and a spin ratio of about 0.213.

11. The golf ball of claim 7, wherein percent deviation C_mag is about 3 percent or less at a Reynolds Number of about 69000 and a spin ratio of about 0.284.

12. The golf ball of claim 11, wherein percent deviation C_mag is about 3 percent or less over a Reynolds Number range of about 69000 to about 230000 and a spin ratio range of about 0.284 to 0.085.

13. A golf ball with a plurality of dimples having an aerodynamic coefficient magnitude defined by C_mag=√

(C_L²+C_D²) and a percent deviation C_mag=|(C_mag1−

C_mag2)|/((C_mag1+C_mag2)/2)*100, wherein C_L is a lift coefficient and C_D is a drag coefficient, wherein C_mag1=C_mag for a first orientation and C_mag2=C_mag for second orientation, and wherein percent deviation C_mag is about 3 percent or less at a Reynolds Number of about 230000 and a spin ratio of about 0.085.

14. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the first orientation is a pole over pole orientation.

15. The golf ball of claim 14, wherein the second orientation is a poles horizontal orientation.

16. The golf ball of claim 13, wherein the golf ball has an aerodynamic force angle defined by Angle=tan⁻

1(C_L/C_D), and wherein a first aerodynamic force angle is from about 31 to about 35 at a Reynolds Number of about 230000 and a spin ratio of about 0.085.

17. The golf ball of claim 16, wherein percent deviation C_mag is about 3 percent or less at a Reynolds Number of about 207000 and a spin ratio of about 0.095.

18. The golf ball of claim 17, wherein a second aerodynamic force angle is from about 34 to about 38 at a Reynolds Number of about 207000 and a spin ratio of about 0.095.

19. The golf ball of claim 18, wherein percent deviation C_mag is about 3 percent or less at a Reynolds Number of about 184000 and a spin ratio of about 0.106.

20. The golf ball of claim 19, wherein a third aerodynamic force angle is from about 35 to about 39 at a Reynolds Number of about 184000 and a spin ratio of about 0.106.