Method of making golf balls

Claim 1

A method of manufacturing a golf ball having dimples in the outer periphery thereof comprising the steps of: (A) selecting a golf ball structure onto the surface of which dimples can be molded; (B) determining the dimple number, dimple diameter and dimple depth by: (a) selecting the number of dimples to be used, the said number of dimples being between 182 and 392; (b) selecting a dimple diameter and dimple depth that satisfy the following relationship: ##EQU2## in which: S=a value of 0 to 1.0 d=average depth of all dimples in inches D=average diameter of all dimples in inches and wherein: a value N is obtained by dividing the exact number of dimples by 100, and x, y, a and b are defined by the following relations as functions of N: when the number of dimples is between 182 and 332: y=0.323-0.0896N+0.0122N.sup.2 x=0.0186-0.00406N+0.000550N.sup.2 a=6.30-3.30N+0.693N.sup.2 b=3.11-1.03N+0.155N.sup.2 and when the number of dimples is between 333 and 392: y=0.287-0.0383N x=0.0162-0.00150N a=4.66-0.500N b=5.00-1.08N (C) making golf ball molds by positioning the selected dimples on the golf ball mold so that the surface of the golf ball made therefrom will have at least 80% of the distances between the closest points of the edges of adjacent dimples less than about 0.065 inches, and at least 55% of the distances between the closest points of the edges of adjacent dimples greater than 0.001 inches the edge of the dimples being defined as the point of intersection of the periphery of the golf ball or its continuation and a tangent to the sidewall of the dimples at a point 0.003 inches below the periphery of the golf ball or its continuation; (D) forming the dimples on the surface of the golf ball by molding a golf ball in the mold; (E) removing the formed golf ball from the mold; and (F) finishing the golf ball.

Claim 2

A method of manufacturing a golf ball having dimples in the outer periphery thereof comprising the steps of: (A) selecting a golf ball structure onto the surface of which dimples can be molded; (B) determining the dimple number, dimple diameter and dimple depth by: (a) selecting the number of dimples to be used, the said number of dimples being between 182 and 392; (b) selecting a dimple diameter and dimple depth that satisfy the following relationship: ##EQU2## in which: S=a value of 0 to 1.0 d=average depth of all dimples in inches D=average diameter of all dimples in inches and wherein: a value N is obtained by dividing the exact number of dimples by 100, and x, y, a and b are defined by the following relations as functions of N: when the number of dimples is between 182 and 332: y=0.323-0.0896N+0.0122N.sup.2 x=0.0186-0.00406N+0.000550N.sup.2 a=6.30-3.30N+0.693N.sup.2 b=3.11-1.03N+0.155N.sup.2 and when the number of dimples is between 333 and 392: y=0.287-0.0383N x=0.0162-0.00150N a=4.66-0.500N b=5.00-1.08N (C) making golf ball molds by positioning the selected dimples on the golf ball mold so that the surface of the golf ball made therefrom will have at least 80% of the distances between the closest points of the edges of adjacent dimples less than about 0.065 inches, and at least 55% of the distances between the closest points of the edges of adjacent dimples greater than 0.001 inches the edge of the dimples being defined as the point of intersection of the periphery of the golf ball or its continuation and a tangent to the sidewall of the dimples at a point 0.003 inches below the periphery of the golf ball or its continuation; (D) forming the dimples on the surface of the golf ball by molding a golf ball in the mold; (E) removing the formed golf ball from the mold; and (F) finishing the golf ball.