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Golf ball having reduced side spin

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-04-23
DOOT THOMAS A
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The present invention relates to a golf ball having one or more grooves in its spherical outer surface. Each groove has a sufficient width and depth dimension so that when the ball is airborne a ball-related laminar air flow is achieved in each groove, thereby generating a resistance to side spin of the ball. Each groove acts as a miniature air vane that has a turbine-like resistance to the side spin force. The turbine-like resistance exerts a breaking action to reduce the side spin and minimize the ball slice or hook (depending on the direction of the side spin).
[0005]The action of the groove in the golf ball surface is somewhat similar to the action of the fletches or vanes on an in-flight arrow. In each case the vane reacts to a disturbing force to stabilize the in-flight object (golf ball or arrow). In the case of the arrow the vane reacts to the disturbing force to produce stabilizing spinning motion of the arrow around the arrow axis. In the case of the golf ball the vane (groove) reacts to the side spin force so as to absorb the side spin energy, thereby reducing the undesired side spin.

Problems solved by technology

Side spin of a golf ball is undesired because it causes the ball to take a curved path after it leaves the club face, so that the ball goes off course from the direction intended by the golfer.

Method used

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  • Golf ball having reduced side spin
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Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0014]Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a conventional golf ball 10 after being struck by a golf club, so that the ball is moving in a left to right direction in an ascending path, designated by numeral 12. The ball is shown in cross section to illustrate the ball internal structure. The ball includes an inner spherical core 12 having a center 16, and an outer cover 18 molded onto the core. The outer spherical surface 20 of the cover is covered with small dimples 21.

[0015]The ball can have a diameter of 1.68 inch, as required by the U.S. Golf Association. Each dimple 21 can typically be a circular depression having a diameter 23 of about 0.13 inch and a depth 25 of about 0.010 inch. Cover 18 may have a thickness on the order of 0.1 inch. The ball interacts with the stagnant air in the path of the ball to form an air separation point 22 in front of the ball, an air attachment zone 24 downstream from air separation point 22, and a turbulent wake area W downstream from air attachment...

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Abstract

A golf ball has one or more grooves in the ball surface. When the ball is initially struck by a golf club at an oblique angle the ball can have an undesired side spin. Each groove in the ball surface interacts with the air stream to absorb some of the side spin energy. The grooves act like miniature turbine blades, or the vanes on an in-flight arrow, to decelerate side spin velocity so as to reduce the tendency of the ball to hook or slice.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to golf balls, and particularly to a golf ball having reduced side spin. Side spin is a spin generated around the golf ball center in a plane oblique to the flight path of the ball. Side spin is produced when the face of the golf club strikes the ball at an oblique angle to the path of the club. The present invention relates to a golf ball that is constructed to oppose side spin forces generated by the oblique angle striking force of the club face.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0002]Side spin of a golf ball is undesired because it causes the ball to take a curved path after it leaves the club face, so that the ball goes off course from the direction intended by the golfer. With a right-handed golfer a curvature to the right is termed a slice, and a curvature to the left is termed a hook.[0003]U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,011, issued to M. J. Sullivan et al on May 9, 2006 discloses a golf ball designed to have a relatively low spin rate, with an ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A63B37/12
CPCA63B37/0004A63B37/0011A63B37/0019A63B37/0096A63B37/14A63B37/0012A63B37/0074A63B37/0077
Inventor DOOT, THOMAS A.
Owner DOOT THOMAS A
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