JP2017153931A - Golf ball - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a golf ball capable of improving hitting accuracy of putting by improving the surface of the golf ball.SOLUTION: A substantially-spherical golf ball 1 includes a plurality of dimples 2 receding from a spherical surface to a central side of the sphere. The golf ball includes a plurality of putt strike points 3 that form a part of the spherical surface of the golf ball 1 as a non-dimple area, the circumference of which is surrounded by the plurality of dimples 2, and that has no dimples 2. A minimum diameter of each putt strike point 3 is defined as 5 mm or more. The golf ball 1 includes the putt strike points 3 at a plurality of parts on the surface, and the respective putt strike points 3 are equally distributed on the golf ball surface at equal intervals.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a golf ball.

When golf began to play, the surface of the golf ball was composed only of a spherical surface.
In modern golf, a device for extending a flight distance by providing a plurality of depressions, that is, dimples, on the surface of a golf ball has been devised (Patent Document 1).

For nonlinear objects such as balls, the influence of air resistance on the flight distance is extremely large. If there are multiple dimples or dimples on the surface of the ball, the point where the air flow separates from the surface of the ball can be shifted to the back of the ball compared to the case without dimples. Fewer than balls without dimples. As a result, the drag is reduced. Dimples also have the effect of imparting moderate lift.
The dimple arrangement and dimensions are still being researched day by day (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

Japanese Patent No. 3988099 Japanese Patent No. 4337957

When playing on the golf course (hereinafter referred to as fairway) until the ball is placed on the putting green, the advantage of earning the flying distance of the ball by dimples as described above is utilized. On the other hand, when aiming at the cup on the putting green (hereinafter referred to as green), a putter may hit the corner (edge) of the dimple and hit the ball in a direction different from the aimed direction.
However, attention has been paid to improving the dimples to improve the flight distance on the fairway, and selection of putter face materials and personal putting techniques have been proposed. There is no idea of improving the control of putting in the field.
The present invention is intended to provide a golf ball that is easy to control and suppresses the influence of dimples when approaching the cup.

The present invention provides a golf ball having the following configuration for a golf ball having a substantially spherical surface and having a plurality of dimples retreating from the spherical surface toward the center of the sphere.
That is, at least one place on the surface is provided with a pad hitting portion, the pad hitting portion is a region surrounded by the plurality of dimples and not provided with dimples, and the pad hitting portion is This is an area where the minimum diameter is larger than 4 mm.
Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a golf ball in which the pad hitting portion is a part of the spherical surface.
Further, in the present invention, each of the dimples is a depression provided in the spherical surface, and the pad hitting portions are provided at a plurality of locations on the surface, and the plurality of pad hitting portions are between each other. A golf ball arranged with one or a plurality of the dimples interposed therebetween can be provided.
Furthermore, in the present invention, the plurality of pad hitting points, which are at least a part of the pad hitting points, are provided on at least one great circle on the surface, and the pads on the great circle It was possible to provide a golf ball in which the hit points for use were arranged at substantially equal intervals.
The great circle refers to a cut circle (imaginary circle) that is formed when cut by a plane passing through the center of a spherical surface.
Furthermore, in the present invention, one great circle on the surface is defined as a first great circle, and one of the great circles orthogonal to the first great circle is defined as a second great circle. One or a plurality of pad hitting points that are arranged at each of the intersections of the first great circle and the second great circle and are part of the pad hitting points that are not arranged at the intersections, One or a plurality of pad hitting points which are other part of the pad hitting points which are arranged on the first great circle and not arranged at the intersection are arranged on the second great circle. Could provide a golf ball.
Furthermore, in the present invention, in a golf ball having a substantially spherical surface and provided with a plurality of dimples retreating from the spherical surface toward the center of the spherical surface, the surface has a pad hitting portion, and the pad hitting portion. Is a region not provided with the dimple that forms part of the spherical surface, and the pad hitting point is formed along at least two great circles intersecting on the surface. Each of the annular streaks which are annular regions and formed by the pad hitting points could provide a golf ball having a thickness larger than 4 mm.

In the present invention, a player who aims at the cup by putting in the green can hit a hitting portion for putting, that is, an area where no dimple is provided. For this reason, it is possible to avoid the conventional problem that the accuracy of the launch direction is impaired due to the face of the putter coming into contact with the edge of the dimple.
Furthermore, in the present invention, the size of the pad hitting points is limited, and the pad hitting points are arranged at substantially equal intervals on one great circle of the spherical golf balls, in particular, the spherical golf balls. The first great circle is designated as the first great circle, the great circle perpendicular to the first great circle is designated as the second great circle, and the pad hitting portions are arranged on the first great circle and the second great circle, respectively. By placing some pad hitting points at each of the two intersections of the first and second great circles, the pad hitting points can be biased while obtaining the above-mentioned effect upon putting. The distribution with suppressed was secured. That is, it is possible to suppress the dimples from being biased due to the presence of the hitting portion for the pad, and to suppress the influence on the flight distance and the flight direction in the play on the fairway. In addition, as a secondary effect, the above-described contrivance for suppressing the deviation of the pad hitting portion makes it possible to ensure the symmetry of the dimple distribution, and the width that can be used as an official ball of a golf ball. Spread.

(A) is explanatory drawing about arrangement | positioning of the hit point part for a pad which shows the approximate front of the golf ball based on this invention, (B) is explanatory drawing of the state which looked at the golf ball of (A), (C) is (A) ) Is an explanatory view showing a substantially developed state of the golf ball surface, and FIG. 8D is a schematic front view of a partly cutaway main portion of the golf ball of FIG. FIG. 1B is an explanatory view in which a part of the golf ball shown in FIG. 1B is cut out and enlarged, and FIG. (A) is a partially cutout plan view of the golf ball surface near the pad hitting point, (B) is a partially cutout plan view of the golf ball surface showing another embodiment of the pad hitting point, (C) is a partially cut-away plan view of the surface of a golf ball showing still another embodiment of the pad hitting portion, and (D) is a golf ball showing still another embodiment of the pad hitting portion. The partial notch expansion | deployment top view of the surface. (A) is a partially cut-out plan view of a golf ball surface showing another embodiment of the pad hitting portion, and (B) is a golf ball surface showing still another embodiment of the pad hitting portion. FIG. (A) is a partially cutout plan view of a golf ball surface showing still another embodiment of the pad hitting portion, and (B) shows the arrangement of the pad hitting portion on the golf ball surface of (A). Explanatory drawing, (C) is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of arrangement | positioning of (B), (D) is a partially notch expansion | deployment of the golf ball surface which shows the further embodiment of the said hitting part for pads Plan view. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the said pad hitting part, (B) is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the said pad hitting part, (C) is the said pad hitting point. An explanatory view showing still another embodiment of the pad portion, (D) is an explanatory view showing still another embodiment of the pad hitting portion, and (E) is another embodiment of the pad hitting portion. Explanatory drawing which shows the form. (A) is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the pad hitting part surface, (B) is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the pad hitting part surface, (C) is the pad hitting part surface. (D) is explanatory drawing which shows still another embodiment of the pad hitting point surface, (E) is still another embodiment of the pad hitting point surface. Explanatory drawing which shows a form, (F) is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the pad spot part surface, (G) is explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the pad spot part surface, (H) ) Is an explanatory view showing still another embodiment of the surface of the pad hitting part, (I) is an explanatory view showing still another embodiment of the surface of the pad hitting part, and (J) is a pad hitting part. Explanatory drawing which shows other embodiment of the surface. (A) is an overall side view of the golf ball testing apparatus according to the present invention, (B) is a plan view of the putting mat of the apparatus shown in (A), (C) is a front view of the hammer of the experimental apparatus, (D) (C) is a bottom view showing the tip surface (striking surface) of the hammer of (C), (E) is a schematic perspective view of the golf ball to be tested. (A) is an enlarged side view of the main part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 (A), (B) is a rear view of (A), (C) is an enlarged side view of the main part showing the operating state of the apparatus of (A), (D) is a rear view of (C). (A) is a partially cut schematic cross-sectional view of a known golf ball, (B) is a partially cut schematic cross-sectional view showing a state in which the golf ball of (A) has been processed for experiment, and (C) is an experiment. Therefore, (B) is a partially cut schematic cross-sectional view obtained by further processing the golf ball, (D) is a partially cut schematic cross-sectional view obtained by subjecting the golf ball of (A) to other processing, and (E). FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway schematic cross-sectional view of the golf ball of (A) further processed for experiment, and (F) is a partially cutaway schematic cross-sectional view of the golf ball as a product according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
An embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG.
(Basic configuration of golf ball 1)
As shown in FIG. 1A, the golf ball 1 is a substantially spherical body, and the golf ball 1 has a diameter r (maximum diameter) of 42 mm or more. In this example, the diameter of the golf ball 1 is 42.67 mm. However, such numerical values can be changed within a range that does not affect the target play. In particular, when used as an official ball in official play, the golf ball preferably has a diameter r of 42.67 mm.
A golf ball having a well-known configuration can be adopted except that the golf ball has the pad hitting portion 3.
For example, the golf ball can be implemented by using a one-piece, two-piece, three-piece, four-piece, five-piece or other known structure or a known material.
The golf ball 1 includes a plurality of dimples 2 and a pad hitting portion 3 on the surface.
In order to avoid complication of the drawings, all the dimples 2 are omitted in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2A, and only a part of the dimples 2 are shown in FIG.
Further, in FIG. 1 (B), a hidden pad dot portion 3 is drawn through a dashed-dotted line. In FIG. 1D and FIG. 2B, only the dimple 1 that appears as a contour line is drawn, and the dimple on the front side is omitted.
The configuration of each part of the golf ball 1 will be described in order.

(Dimple 2)
As shown in FIGS. 1D and 2B, each of the dimples 2 retreats from the surface of the sphere formed by the golf ball 1, that is, from the spherical surface exhibited by the golf ball surface toward the center of the sphere.
The dimple 2 is a depression provided on the surface of the golf ball 1. Moreover, in this example, the edge of the dimple 2 that is a depression is circular and particularly a perfect circle. The inside of the depression that the dimple 2 exhibits is a so-called wok type that has a concave curved surface as a whole.
The diameter (diameter) of each dimple 2 is preferably 3 mm or more and 5 mm or less. The depth of each dimple 2 is preferably 0.1 mm or more and 2 mm or less. In this example, the diameter of each dimple 2 is 3.3 mm. Further, here, a plurality of dimples having the same shape and size are illustrated. However, the above dimensional ranges of the dimple 2 are merely examples, and those outside the numerical range are not excluded as long as they do not impair the accuracy of putting out the pad and do not affect the play on the fairway.
A plurality of dimples 2 are provided on the surface of the golf ball 1, and a part of the dimples 2 surrounds the pad hitting portion 3.

(Pattling point 3 for putting)
As shown in FIGS. 1A, 1 </ b> B, and 1 </ b> D, the pad hitting portion 3 forms a part of the spherical surface exhibited by the golf ball 1. If the area where the dimple 2 is provided on the surface of the golf ball 1 is a dimple area, the pad hitting portion 3 is a non-dimple area where no dimple is provided.
The pad hitting part 3 is also an area formed by a plurality of dimples 2 surrounding the pad hitting part 3.
In this example, a plurality of pad hitting parts 3 are distributed on the surface of the golf ball 1 as shown in FIGS.
On the surface of the golf ball 1, the area other than the pad hitting spot 3, that is, the dimple area is preferably wider than the total area of the pad hitting spot 3.
In particular, it is preferable that the pad hitting part 3 has a minimum diameter larger than 4 mm. That is, for the region that is the pad hitting point portion 3, the width in each direction passing through the apex p described later is set to be larger than 4 mm.

2A and 2B, the diameter of the outline n of the pad hitting point 3 projected perpendicularly to the contact surface k (virtual plane) in contact with the apex p of the pad hitting point 3, that is, The diameter of the contour line n on the projected contact surface k is called the plane diameter r1 of the pad hitting point 3.
The minimum diameter of the pad hitting part 3 is the smallest one of the plane diameters r1.
Note that the contour line n on the contact surface k is referred to as a projected contour line n as necessary.
On the other hand, in order to distinguish it from the plane diameter r1, a golf ball which is a sphere passing through the apex p of the pad hitting point 3 between the ribs, with the contour m on the surface of the golf ball 1 of the pad hitting point 3 being the saddle. The length r2 in each direction along the surface of the ball 1 is referred to as a curved surface diameter r2 of the pad hitting point 3. Assuming that the top p of the hitting part for the pad is formed by cutting the layer at the contour line m on the assumption that the surface of the golf ball is formed of a non-deformable layer (virtual layer) having a uniform thickness, When the cut-off layer is placed on a horizontal plane with its convex side up, it means the highest position, that is, the highest position.
2A and 2B, an arrow s (virtual line) indicates a normal to the tangent plane k, that is, a normal at the apex p.
When the golf ball diameter r (FIG. 1 (A)) is set to 42.67 mm, the curved surface diameter r2 is the smallest diameter in the area of the pad hitting point 3 even if it is the smallest of the planar diameters r1. In the present invention, the minimum diameter in the region of the pad hitting point 3 is the minimum of the plane diameters r1.
Further, the contour shape of the pad hitting point 3 is not limited to a specific shape, but the developed shape of the pad hitting point 3 on the plane is particularly preferably circular or polygonal.
1A to 1C are examples in which each pad hitting portion 3 is a perfect circle.
As described above, the pad hitting portion 3 has a width, that is, a plane diameter r1, projected onto the contact surface k between the contour lines m in each direction passing through the apex p and along the surface of the golf ball 1 is larger than 4 mm. In this example where the contour m of the pad hitting point 3 is a perfect circle, the diameter of the projected contour n (circle) projected onto the contact surface k of the pad hitting point 3 is larger than 4 mm. (FIG. 3A). Further, it is preferable that the curved surface diameter r2 of the outline m of the pad hitting point 3 does not exceed 1/2 of the circumference (entire circumference) of the golf ball 1.
When the pad hitting portion 3 is a perfect circle as described above, the plane diameter r1 is more preferably 7 mm or more, and particularly preferably the plane diameter r1 is 10 mm or more.
In particular, the pad hitting portion 3 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C has a plane diameter r1 of 10.67 mm.
In addition, here, the plurality of pad hitting portions 3 are all the same in shape and size.

A golf ball 1 shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C and FIG. 3A includes pad hitting portions 3 at six locations on the surface. As shown by two-dot chain lines in FIGS. 1A and 1B, one great circle on the surface of the golf ball 1 that is a sphere is defined as a first great circle d1 (virtual circle), and a great circle that is orthogonal to the first great circle d2. One of these is a second great circle d2 (virtual circle), and two of the hitting portions 3 for putting are arranged at two intersections of the first great circle d1 and the second great circle d2 on the surface of the golf ball 1. The other four pad hitting points 3 are arranged at positions on the first great circle d2 and the second great circle d2 that are equidistant from the intersections on the surface of the golf ball 1, respectively. In particular, as shown in FIG. 1B, this example assumes a third great circle d3 (virtual circle) that is orthogonal to both the first great circle d2 and the second great circle d2. The remaining pad hitting portions 3 are arranged at the intersections of the first great circle d2 and the second great circle d2 with respect to d3.
Moreover, it is preferable to arrange each pad hitting point 3 so that the top p of the pad hitting point 3 is located on the great circle to which the pad hitting point 3 belongs. In particular, the pad hitting points 3 arranged at the intersections of the great circles d1, d2, d3 are preferably arranged so that the apex p coincides with the intersections. However, if the area of each pad hitting part 3 is on the great circle, the top p of each pad hitting part 3 may be arranged at a position deviating from the great circle.
FIG. 1C shows a state where the surface of the golf ball 1 is developed into a plane. As shown in FIG. 1C, each pad hitting portion 3 has an apex of an equilateral triangle. In the plane, the angle of each vertex of the equilateral triangle is 60 degrees. However, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, when the pad hitting portion 3 is arranged on a spherical surface, each apex angle of the triangle is 90 degrees. And one triangle occupies 1/8 of the surface of the golf ball 1, which is a spherical surface. In the example shown in FIG. 1 (C), each of the vertices of the triangle (not the direct apex p described above but each of the three apexes of the triangle) has three pad hitting points 3 in a line. A plurality of arranged dimples form sides of the triangle. However, in order to avoid complication of the drawing, in FIG. 1C, the dimples surrounded by the row of dimples, that is, the dimples inside the triangles, are represented by one of the triangles (surrounding the F plane) as a representative. All the dimples are shown, and the dimple 2 inside the triangle is drawn with respect to a triangle that defines a surface other than the F surface. FIG. 1C shows an arrangement called eight-sided octahedron arrangement in which eight regular triangles are combined on a spherical surface, and an arrangement having three symmetry axes that arrange dimples 2 and divide the ball left and right symmetrically.
The pad hitting part 3 is No. 1-No. 6 in order to make the positional relationship easy to understand, in FIG. 1 and No. 5 and No. 6 is duplicated. In addition, each of the triangles having the respective pad hitting portions 3 as vertices (not directly pointing to the apex p as described above) has the surface of the golf ball 1 as A surface to H surface 8 shown in FIG. It draws in one area. However, in FIG. 1 and No. 2 and No. A surface surrounded by the pad hitting part 3 of No. 6; 1 and No. 4 and no. The G plane surrounded by the pad hitting part 3 of 6 is omitted.

In this embodiment, the pad hitting portion 3 is a spherical surface having no depression, that is, a recess. In other words, the non-dimple region, which is the pad hitting point portion 3, is implemented as a shape that is not subjected to modeling except for the entire surface thereof being a spherical surface. In addition, the present invention can be carried out by applying modeling other than dimples to the pad hitting portion 3. Specifically, the pad hitting portion 3 can be implemented by providing a complete spherical surface with no depression, that is, a recess, or by providing a recess having a depth of 0.3 mm or less and a diameter of 0.9 mm or less. That is, the pad hitting part 3 may be provided with a plurality of recesses having a depth of 0.3 mm or less and a diameter of 0.9 mm or less, such as a satin surface. The pad hitting portion 3 may be any as long as it does not include the dimple 2 in the region. Even if a recess not corresponding to the dimple 2 is provided, a region having a minimum diameter larger than 4 mm is defined as the pad hitting portion 3. can do. This is because, unlike the dimple 2, the concave portion in the above-mentioned size range is considered not to significantly impair the accuracy of the ball launch direction due to contact between the putter and the edge of the concave portion. When the recessed portion having the above-mentioned size range is provided in the pad hitting point portion 3, it is arranged so as not to hit the dimple 2 beyond the area of the pad hitting point portion 3.
In addition to the above, for example, the groove 4 shown in FIGS. 7A to 7J can be provided in the region of the pad hitting portion 3. The groove 4 has a thickness of 1 mm or less on the surface of the golf ball 1. However, the thickness of the groove 4 may deviate from the above numerical value as long as it does not hinder the effect of the pad hitting part 3 in putting.
Each groove 4 illustrated in FIG. 7 will be specifically described. Each drawing in FIG. 7 shows the inside of the pad hitting portion 3 in a state where the surface of the spherical golf ball 1 is developed into a plane.
As shown in FIG. 7 (A), a rectangular groove 4 can be provided in the non-dimple region which is the pad hitting point 3. The groove 4 can have an arrow shape shown in FIG. 7D, an ellipse shown in FIG. 7E, a home base shape shown in FIG. 7F, or a star shape shown in FIG. Further, the groove 4 may be a cross shape which is a concave polygon dodecagon as shown in FIG. In addition to the illustrated example, the groove 4 may be implemented as a perfect circle, an ellipse other than an ellipse, a square, a rectangle, a triangle, or a regular pentagon. Moreover, it can implement also as what provides the said some groove | channel 4 in the area | region of the pad hitting part 3. As shown in FIG. 7C, the present invention can be implemented by providing another groove 4 in a region surrounded by one groove 4. In the example of FIG. 7C, each groove 4 has a triangular shape, but each groove 4 can be implemented as a quadrilateral or more polygon, circle, ellipse, or other ellipse. Further, as shown in FIG. 7 (J), the outer groove 4 and the inner groove 4 may have different shapes. In the example shown in FIG. 7J, the outer groove 4 has a pentagonal shape and the inner groove 4 has a circle. In the example shown in FIG. 7 (J), the outer groove 4 may have a shape other than a pentagon, and the inner groove 4 may have a shape other than a circle. Moreover, the groove | channel 4 can be implemented not only as what is provided in the pad hitting part 3 double as shown to FIG.7 (C) and FIG.7 (J), but also as what is provided in multiple | multiplex of more than triple. Further, the plurality of grooves 4 can be implemented even if they do not adopt the inclusion relationship illustrated in FIG. 7C or FIG. FIG. 7B illustrates an example in which the grooves 4 having two or more shapes are distributed. That is, in the example shown in FIG. 7B, in the pad hitting part 3, four concave hexagons as concave polygons are arranged in different directions and one double circle is arranged. . The four concave hexagons are distributed around the double circle so as to surround the double circle.
As shown in FIGS. 7 (A) to (G) and FIGS. 7 (I) and (J), each groove 4 may be annularly closed. However, as shown in FIG. It can implement also as what exhibits shapes other than cyclic | annular form provided with. In the example shown in FIG. 7 (H), four grooves 4 extending in an arc are arranged so that the convex sides formed by the arc face each other. In the example of FIG. 7 (H), the number of the grooves 4 is not limited to the four illustrated, and may be three or less or five or more. Moreover, the groove | channel 4 may exhibit shapes other than an arc.
Although illustration is omitted, the present invention can also be implemented by providing a groove on the edge of the pad hitting point 3 and defining the outline of the pad hitting point 3 by the groove.

(Handling of golf ball 1 in green)
After placing the golf ball 1 on the green, the player can put the ball on the marked place and put it. Therefore, the ball may be placed on the green so that the putting point 3 faces the putter face to be launched. That is, the player places the ball in a direction in which the normal line (in the direction opposite to the arrow s in FIGS. 2A and 2B) can move the putter's face and hit the apex p of the putting point 3 for putting. Just put it in.
More specifically, at the time of putting, the putter is shaken so that the face (surface) of the putter matches the contact surface k shown in FIGS. Just hit it.
Assume that the contact surface k shown in FIG. 2B is the face of the putter at the time of putting. By setting the diameter of the hitting portion 3 for putting, that is, the plane diameter r1, to be larger than 4 mm, particularly 5 mm or more, It can be seen that contact with the edge of the dimple 2 around the pad hitting point 3 can be avoided even in consideration of deformation due to elasticity or the elasticity of the golf ball 1.
This point will be described more specifically.

FIG. 2B shows an enlarged top view of a 42.67 mm diameter golf ball in which each dimple 2 has a diameter of 3.3 mm and the pad hitting point has a planar diameter r1 of 10.67 mm.
Assuming that the surface diameter r1 of the pad hitting portion 3 is smaller than 3.3 mm, which is the same as the diameter of the dimple 2, when the contact surface k is regarded as a putter face, deformation due to the elasticity of the putter face or the elasticity of the golf ball 1 2B, it is difficult to secure a non-dimple region having a diameter corresponding to one dimple from FIG. 2B, and the dimple around the pad hitting portion 3 with a slight inclination of the face with respect to the normal s. It can be seen that it is difficult to avoid contact of the face with the edge of 2. On the other hand, when the curved surface diameter r2 (FIG. 2) of the pad hitting portion 3 exceeds 1/2 of the circumference of the golf ball 1 that is a spherical surface, the putter hitting portion 3 is hidden behind the putter on the spherical surface of the ball. A part is generated, and no matter how it is hit, there is no possibility of contact with the face of the putter, and only the dimple area is eroded.
In particular, if the curved surface diameter r2 of the pad hitting portion 3 exceeds 20 mm, the dimple 2 having a diameter of about 3 mm will set five or more non-dimple regions along the spherical surface of the ball, and the surface of the golf ball 1 If the pad hitting points 3 are arranged at the above six locations to ensure symmetry, the non-dimple region occupying the six locations will be extremely large.
In view of the above points, the present invention has the above-mentioned diameter in order to prevent the putter from hitting the edge of the dimple 2 and hitting in the direction different from the cup due to the presence of the dimple 2 at the impact point of the putter on the golf ball surface. The hitting portion 3 for putter was provided on the golf ball 1 as a non-dimple region of r1. On the other hand, the present invention satisfies the requirement that the dimple region does not need to be reduced more than necessary.

(Example of change)
As an example of the above-described polygon other than the perfect circle shown in FIG. 3A in the outline shape of the pad hitting point 3, the pad hitting point 3 is an outline in which the rectangle shown in FIG. It may be a shape.
Further, the contour shape developed on the plane of the pad hitting part 3 is an ellipse or other ellipse, triangle, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon or more polygon, arrow or other polygon, and a curve and a straight line are combined. It can be implemented as a graphic. Moreover, although the thing with a rectangular outline was illustrated as the pad hitting part 3 in FIG.3 (B), it can implement also as what has a square outline. Of course, in the case where the outline of the pad hitting part 3 is a polygon, the outline is not limited to a regular polygon, and is not limited to the rectangle but includes a polygon other than the regular polygon.
When the contour m of the pad hitting point 3 is not a perfect circle, the minimum diameter of the pad hitting point 3 is set to be larger than 4 mm in each direction on the contact surface k passing through the apex p as described above. This means that the width between the projected contours n is larger than 4 mm, and the width between the projected contours n is larger than 4 mm in any direction on the tangent surface k passing through the apex p. That is.
When the outline m of the pad hitting point 3 is not a perfect circle, the length between the outlines m in each direction along the surface of the golf ball 1 passing through the apex p is set to 1 of the circumference of the spherical surface. / 2 means that the length between contour lines m does not exceed 1/2 of the circumference of the spherical surface in any direction along the spherical surface of the ball passing through the apex p. This means that the maximum curved surface diameter r2 does not exceed 1/2 of the circumference of one golf ball.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the shape developed on the plane of the edge itself of the dimple 2 immediately surrounding the pad hitting point 3 surrounding the pad hitting point 3 is one figure such as a circle or a quadrangle. In the case of matching with the part, the outline of the pad hitting point part 3 is assumed to be imitated by the figure to which the edge of the dimple 2 belongs. Therefore, when the figure is a perfect circle shown in FIG. 3A, the plane diameter r1 of the perfect circle is larger than 4 mm as described above, and the circumference 1 of the circumference of the golf ball 1 with respect to the curved surface diameter r2 of the true circle is set. / 2 shall not be exceeded. When the figure is a rectangle shown in FIG. 4B, the width projected on the contact surface k in any direction on the contact surface k passing through the vertex p, that is, the direction exemplified by a part of the arrow, that is, the plane diameter r1 Is larger than 4 mm, and the length in any direction along the spherical surface of the golf ball 1 passing through the apex p, that is, the curved surface diameter r2, does not exceed 1/2 of the circumference of the golf ball 1. It is.
Further, when the shape of the dimple surrounding the pad hitting portion is the same as the shape of the other dimples, the shape of the mouth of each dimple 2 surrounding the pad hitting portion 3 is, for example, as shown in FIGS. In the case of a circle (perfect circle) like the other dimples 2, the minimum width portion t that is the shortest distance between the dimples 2 that directly surround the pad hitting point 3 is the boundary line between the pad hitting point 3 and the dimple region, that is, the pad. A portion of the outline m of the hitting point portion 3 (virtual line) and an arc portion which is an edge on the side in contact with the pad hitting point portion 3 among the edges sandwiched between the minimum width portions t of the individual dimples 2 Let e be a part of the contour m of the pad hitting point 3.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the form of the nearest dimple 2 that defines the pad hitting point 3 is shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B and FIGS. 4A and 4B. It can be a composite of what is shown in In FIGS. 3C, 4 </ b> D, and FIGS. 4A and 4B, the dark area is the pad hitting portion 3.
Also in the examples shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the length between the projected contour lines n in each direction on the tangent surface k passing through the apex p partially indicated by the arrows in the drawings, that is, the plane diameter r1 is set. It shall be larger than 4 mm. In the examples shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, the length between the contour lines m in each direction on the spherical surface passing through the apex p indicated by an arrow in the drawing, that is, the curved surface diameter r2 in each direction. Is preferably not more than ½ of the circumference of the golf ball 1. In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, it is preferable that the plane diameter r1 in each direction passing through the apex p is greater than 4 mm and does not exceed 20 mm. Furthermore, it is preferable that the planar diameter r1 is 7 mm or more and the curved surface diameter r2 is 20 mm or less, and particularly that the planar diameter r1 is 10 mm or more and the curved surface diameter r2 is 20 mm or less.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the pad hitting portion 3 can be formed as a cross shape. In other words, the pad hitting portion 3 can be implemented by adopting a shape in which two vertical and horizontal strip-shaped non-dimple regions intersect.
In the example shown in FIG. 5B, each pad hitting part 3 is arranged so that at least one of the center lines of the pad hitting part 3 presenting a cross coincides with the great circle to which the pad hitting part 3 belongs. To do. In addition, any of the center lines indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 5C can be arranged and implemented so as not to coincide with the great circle to which the pad hitting point portion 3 belongs.
In the example of FIG. 5C, the center line forms an angle of 45 degrees with respect to both great circles d1 and d2 in the projection onto the tangent surface k. However, the center line is not limited to the 45 degrees, and the center line can be implemented with respect to the great circles d1 and d2 at 90 degrees or other angles other than the 45 degrees.
The arrangement change from FIG. 5 (B) to FIG. 5 (C) is not limited to the case where the pad hitting part 3 is formed in the above-mentioned cross shape, but when the pad hitting part 3 has a contour of another shape. Is also applicable. For example, when the pad hitting part 3 has the rectangular outline shown in FIG. 3B, the pad hitting part 3 has a long side or a short side of the rectangle parallel to at least one of the great circles. It is also possible to arrange the pad hitting part 3 so that one of the diagonal lines of the rectangle coincides with the great circle.
In addition, the cross-shaped pad hitting portion 3 has a shape in which two center lines (FIG. 5C) are orthogonal to each other, but in addition, both straight portions intersect at an angle other than 90 degrees. It can also be implemented.
In the example shown in FIGS. 5 (A) and 5 (B), the four end portions j of the cross that the pad hitting portion 3 exhibits are:
It was rounded, i.e. arcuate. In addition, the end j of the cross may be a straight line without roundness. That is, the outline of the pad hitting part 3 can be implemented as a dodecagon that is a concave polygon.
In each figure, u indicates a convex portion of the pad hitting point portion 3 that extends radially in four directions around the crossing point of the pad hitting point portion 3.

In FIG. 5 (B), r21 indicates the smallest curved surface diameter r2 of the pad hitting point portion 3, that is, the minimum curved surface diameter, and r22 indicates the largest curved surface diameter r2 of the pad hitting point portion 3, that is, the maximum curved surface diameter. Indicates. Moreover, w1 of FIG. 5 (B) has shown the width | variety of the said convex-shaped part u except the said arc-shaped edge part j. That is, w1 in FIG. 5B indicates the width between the side edges v obtained by projecting the convex portion u onto the contact surface k at the apex p of the pad hitting point 3. Hereinafter, the width w1 is referred to as the thickness w1 of the convex portion u as necessary. In the example shown in FIG. 5B, the thickness w1 is preferably larger than 4 mm. As a matter of course, the minimum plane diameter r11 obtained by projecting the minimum curved surface diameter r21 onto the contact surface k, that is, the minimum diameter is larger than the thickness w1.
With respect to the golf ball 1 having a diameter of 42.67 mm, in the example of FIG. 5B, the minimum planar diameter r11 of the pad hitting point 3 is larger than 4 mm, and the maximum curved surface diameter r22 of the pad hitting point 3 is It is preferable to be smaller than 1/4 of the circumference (of a great circle).
In particular, it is preferable that the maximum curved surface diameter r22 of the pad hitting point 3 is smaller than 32.9 mm, and the thickness w1 is less than or equal to half of the maximum planar diameter r12 projected onto the contact surface k. However, for example, if the same arrangement as in FIG. 5C is adopted with respect to the great circles d1 and d2, the maximum curved surface diameter r22 can be implemented even if it exceeds 1/4 of the circumference. When the shape of the pad hitting part 3 is as shown in FIGS. 5B and 5C, one of the end j of the pad hitting part 3 and another pad adjacent to the pad hitting part 3 are used. It is preferable that at least one dimple 2 is interposed between the end j of the hit point 3. However, as shown in FIG. 6 (E), the end j is connected, that is, the pad hitting part 3 continues along the entire circumference of each of the three great circles d1, d2, d3 orthogonal to each other. One non-dimple region may be formed. The pad hitting portion 3 shown in FIG. 6 (E) is composed of three annular portions along the great circles d1, d2, and d3. However, the pad hitting portion 3 can be formed by two annular portions orthogonal to each other.
Each of the above-described annular portions does not have to be a complete ring, and may have a portion where the dimple 2 is interrupted. For example, the annular portion may be C-shaped with one discontinuous portion, or may have two or more discontinuous portions.

As described above, the polygon that can be the outline of the pad hitting point 3 includes not only a convex polygon but also a concave polygon, and also includes a concave polygon other than the cross shape shown in FIG.
Including the examples of FIGS. 5B and 5C, the pad hitting part 3 is formed in a cross shape as described above, so that the maximum curved surface diameter of the cross is secured large, for example, a square, a rectangle, a regular pentagon, a regular hexagon. Compared to a convex polygon such as a square, erosion of the exclusive range of the dimple region by the pad hitting portion 3 on the surface of the golf ball 1 can be suppressed.
Then, by putting the golf ball 1 on the green so that one of the center lines of the cross (the dotted line in FIG. 5C) is horizontal, including the examples of FIGS. Further, it is possible to perform the putting without the influence of the dimple 2 by making use of the maximum diameter of the pad hitting point portion 3 which is a non-dimple region.
Specifically, it is the dimple 2 located right and left of the impact point (sweet spot) of the putter face that has a large effect on the launching direction of the putting. The influence of the dimple 2 at the position on the launch direction is not great. This is because the putter face is horizontally long and the width is larger than the height. Therefore, by placing the golf ball 1 on the green so that the maximum diameter portion of the pad hitting spot portion 3 formed in a cross shape extends in the left-right lateral direction, it is sufficient to make a hitting point for the head of the laterally long putter. The width can be secured in the horizontal direction. Therefore, even if the pad hitting points 2 are formed in a cross shape in consideration of the symmetry of the arrangement of the pad hitting points 3 on the surface of the ball, the necessary non-dimples can be sufficiently secured. For this reason, the cross-shaped pad hitting part 2 does not require a large reduction in the occupied area of the dimple area as compared to the pad hitting part 3 having the same maximum curved surface diameter and the contour of the convex polygon. is there.
For the pad hitting points 3 arranged at the intersections of the first and second great circles d1 and d2, it is preferable that the intersection point of the cross coincides with the intersection point of the two great circles d1 and d2. Is not to be excluded.
Further, as shown in FIG. 5A, the contour of the dimple 2 immediately adjacent to the pad hitting point 3 is adjusted so that the pad hitting point 3 is defined to have a precise concave polygonal cross shape. As shown in D), the nearest dimple 2 may have the same shape as the other dimples 2, and the dimple 2 may be arranged in a substantially cross shape. Also in the case shown in FIG. 5D, the length in the direction of each arrow passing through the apex p is the curved surface diameter r2, and each of the planar diameters r1 in each direction in which the curved surface diameter r2 is projected onto the contact surface k is greater than 4 mm. It may be in the range.

FIG. 6A shows a modified example of the cross-shaped pad hitting portion 3. In the pad hitting portion 3 shown in FIG. 6A, the tip j of the convex portion u is a side extending linearly in the thickness direction of the convex portion u in the developed state of the surface of the golf ball 1. Each corner j1 formed by the tip j and the pair of side edges v is rounded. In addition, the corner j1 may be implemented without any roundness. The pad hitting part 3 shown in FIG. 6 (A) is a combination of the form having the circular outline shown in FIG. 1 (A) and the form of the cross, and the convex part u of the cross. The valley between them, that is, the concave portion x of the pad hitting point 3 forms an arc centered on the apex p. In the example shown in FIG. 6A, the diameter of the arc of the golf ball 1 along the spherical surface of the golf ball 1 represented by the concave portion x is the minimum curved surface diameter r21, and the diameter of the arc projected onto the contact surface k is the minimum plane diameter r11. is there. 6A, in the pair of convex portions u positioned opposite to each other across the cross intersection portion of the pad hitting portion 3 shown in FIG. 6A, the angle j1 that is opposed to each other across the apex p and forms a pair. The length along the spherical surface in between is the maximum curved surface diameter r22. In the example of FIG. 6A, the thickness w1 of the convex portion u in the pad hitting point 3 is particularly larger than 4 mm, and the maximum curved surface diameter r22 of the pad hitting point 3 does not exceed 20 mm. Is preferred.
In FIG. 6A, r23 indicates the curved surface diameter r2 along the extending direction of the great circle to which the cross belongs, and does not coincide with the maximum curved surface diameter r22 in this example.
The pad hitting portion 3 can be implemented by not combining the circular contour shown in FIG. 6A with the crossing portion of the cross, and the concave portion x forming an L-shaped corner.

Further, the thickness w1 of the above-described convex portion u is substantially constant from the base to the tip of the convex portion u. In addition, as shown in FIG. 6B, the convex portion u may be tapered such that the thickness w1 gradually decreases from the base side toward the tip of the convex portion. When the convex portion u is tapered, the side v of the convex portion u may extend linearly in a state of being developed on a plane, or the side v may be curved as shown in FIG. It may be extended. 6B, w2 indicates the width of the end j of the convex portion u, and in FIGS. 6B and 6C, w3 indicates the width between the side edges v at the base k of the convex portion. ing. 6B and 6C, the width w2 is 1 mm to 4.9 mm, the width w3 is greater than 4 mm and does not exceed 15 mm, and the maximum curved surface diameter r22 does not exceed 20 mm. preferable.
6 (B) and 6 (C) also show the case where the circular contour is combined with the crossed portion as in FIG. 6 (A), but the present invention can also be implemented without combining the circular contour.
FIG. 6D shows an example in which the aforementioned discontinuous portion is provided in the annular line formed by the pad hitting point 3 in FIG. 6E described above. In the example of FIG. 6D, the discontinuous portion is provided at the intersection of the great circles of FIG. In FIG. 6 (D), w0 indicates the thickness of the streak of each pad hitting part 3. The thickness w0 is preferably greater than 4 mm and does not exceed 15 mm. In addition, the width of the interrupted portion along the curved surface of the golf ball 1 at the interrupted portion in FIG. 6D is preferably set to be approximately the same as the thickness w0. However, the thickness w0 and the width of the discontinuous portion can be set to a size other than the above range as long as both the accuracy improvement of the pad and the suppression of the dimple erosion can be achieved. The thickness w0 is constant in the examples shown in FIGS. 6D and 6E. However, the thickness w0 may be different in each part in the direction in which the line extends within the range of the numerical values. In this case, the thickness w0 is the largest. The thickness w <b> 0 of the portion where is small is assumed to be larger than 4 mm.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, all the pad hitting portions 3 have the same shape and dimensions. In addition, the plurality of pad hitting portions 3 can be configured with a plurality of different shapes and different dimensions. In the case where the plurality of bat hitting points 3 are configured with a plurality of different shapes and sizes, the pair of pad hitting points 3 located at point-symmetric positions with respect to the center of the sphere of the golf ball 1 have the same shape and size. It is preferable to make it.

The pad hitting part 3 eliminates the green play problem of suppressing the influence of the dimple 2 in putting and the fairway play problem of ensuring the flight distance of the first hit by the driver. It is preferable to provide in 6 places shown to (B). That is, in two great circles that are orthogonal to each other, it is preferable to arrange four pad putting points at equal intervals on each great circle.
However, it is also possible to provide the pad hitting points 3 at five or more places on each great circle and to have seven or more bat hitting spot parts 3 as a whole. Further, when it is not necessary to consider the influence on the play on the fairway, the pad hitting portion 3 may be provided only at one place on the surface of the golf ball 1. In addition, the pad hitting portions 3 can be provided at two, three, four, or five locations on the surface of the golf ball 1. When the pad hitting points 3 are provided at two locations on the surface 1 of the golf ball 1, the pad hitting points 3 are positioned on the opposite sides with respect to the center of the ball formed by the golf ball 1, that is, a point symmetric with respect to the center. It is preferable to arrange | position to. Further, when the pad hitting portions 3 are provided at three, four, or five locations on the surface of the golf ball 1, each pad is spaced apart on one large circle (imaginary line) on the surface of the golf ball 1 at equal intervals. It is preferable to arrange the use spot portion 3. However, as long as the control of the pad can be improved by eliminating the influence of the dimples, the arrangement may be performed at any number of arrangement places or arrangement numbers other than the above arrangement places or arrangement numbers.
In addition, the pad hitting points 3 can be provided at 7 to 18 locations on the surface of the golf ball 1. The placement of the pad hitting points 3 can be carried out even if they are arranged at substantially equal intervals as described above in order to suppress the influence on the flight distance and launch direction by a club such as a driver on a fairway, When it is not necessary to consider the influence, the present invention can be implemented as an unevenly arranged arrangement.
In each of the above-described embodiments, the pad hitting portion 3 forms a part of the spherical surface of a golf ball that is generally a sphere. The pad hitting point 3 is not limited to the one that completely matches the spherical surface formed by the golf ball as long as contact between the putter and the dimples can be avoided at the time of putting. Can be implemented as other spherical surfaces or convex curved surfaces.
In addition, the pad hitting portion 3 can be implemented as a flat surface without dimples. When the pad hitting point 3 is a flat surface, it is preferable that the pad hitting point 3 that defines the pad hitting point 3 as a dimple region, that is, the pad hitting point 3 is rounded.

The shape of the dimple 2 is not limited to that shown in the figure, that is, the mouth has a perfect circle outline, but is an ellipse, other ellipse, other curvilinear shape, polygon, or a combined outline of straight lines and curves. It can implement as what was provided. When the outline of the dimple 2 is a polygon, it can be implemented as a hexagon, a pentagon or less polygon, or a heptagon or more polygon.
Further, the plurality of dimples described above are all of the same shape and size. In addition, the plurality of dimples can be implemented as ones having different shapes and sizes.
For example, a plurality of types of dimples having different calibers may be provided on the surface of the golf ball, or a plurality of types of dimples having different depths may be provided on the surface of the golf ball.

  In addition, the shape of the depression that the dimple 2 exhibits may be a wok type having a concave curved surface as a whole, or a frying pan type with a flat bottom. For example, a double dimple shape with a dimple 2 in the concave dimple and another indentation can increase the dimple volume without increasing the dimple diameter, so even if the ball speed drops later in the flight It doesn't fall straight and can extend the flight distance. By making the dimple 2 a double radius called a double radius and having two different curved surfaces (double radius) having different curvatures, the trajectory of the ball can be raised and the flight distance can be increased. However, the dimple 2 may be implemented as a single radius. Also, the dimple 2 is called a discrete dimple, and the cross-sectional shape is composed of a straight line and a curved surface, so that drag is reduced and buoyancy is increased compared to normal dimples. Can be further stabilized and a flight distance can be obtained.

Further, the arrangement and distribution of the plurality of dimples 2 on the surface of the golf ball 1 are not limited to those shown in FIG. 1C, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, FIG. 5A, and FIG. It can be implemented by adopting or distribution. For example, a 12-sided polygonal array in which a spherical surface is combined with 12 regular pentagons and has 10 symmetry axes that divide the ball left and right as viewed from the dimple array, The regular icosahedron design is evolved to adopt a 60-hedron arrangement that forms a dimple arrangement by allocating 60-hedrons on a spherical surface, and a hexagonal close-packed arrangement in which six circles are arranged around one circle and dimples 2 are laid throughout the ball. Can be implemented. However, the above arrangement is an example, and the arrangement other than that exemplified for the dimple 2 is not limited as long as it does not inhibit the formation of the pad hitting portion 3.
Moreover, if the influence of the dimple at the time of putting can be avoided, it is not limited to the arrangement position and the number of arrangement of the pad hitting points 3 shown in FIGS. 1 (A) to 1 (C). It is possible to carry out by placing the pad hitting portions 3 at the vertices of the pentagon and the vertices of the triangles of the icosahedron arrangement and the icosahedron arrangement.
In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5A and 5D, a space is provided between the adjacent dimples 2. However, it is possible to carry out without providing such a space. It is.

(Experiment)
In order to confirm the effect of the pad hitting portion 3, an experiment apparatus shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 was prepared and an experiment was performed.
As the experimental apparatus, a commercially available putter mat c for putter practice laid on the floor and a putting apparatus f manufactured by the inventor as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B were used.
The putter mat c looks like green, and the golf ball 1 hit by the putting device f is rolled on the putter mat c, and the distance b from the right end c3 of the putter mat c of the golf ball 1 after rolling a predetermined distance a. Was measured.
The predetermined distance a is defined as the end c1 of the putter mat c on the side where the golf ball 1 is hit by the putting device f, the end c2 of the end of the putter mat that is the cup side, that is, the rolling destination, and the end c2 from the start c1 side. This is defined by providing c4 on the putter mat c for stopping the golf ball 1 in the middle of the process. The distance that the golf ball 1 hit by the putting device f rolls to the hit c4 was set to 2000 mm as the predetermined distance a.
C5 in FIG. 8B indicates a mark for aligning the position where the golf ball 1 is placed when putting with the putting device f, that is, the center position of the golf ball 1.

As shown in FIG. 8A, the putting device f is produced by fixing a commercially available hammer f3 to a commercially available caster f2 and attaching the caster f2 to the kitchen rack f1. Although the putting device f is omitted in FIG. 8 (B), it is installed on the start end c1 side of the putter mat c as shown in FIG. 8 (A).
The kitchen rack f1 is a metal shelf such as kitchen storage. The kitchen rack f1 itself does not have a caster like a kitchen wagon at its leg.
The caster f2 includes a wheel f21 and a bearing part f22 on which the wheel f21 is rotatably supported. The hammer f3 was fixed to one place on the outer periphery of the wheel f21 using a jig f5.
As shown in FIGS. 9A to 9D, the jig f5 includes a U-shaped shaft f51 having a male screw at the end, a seat plate f52 passed through both ends of the shaft f51, and the shaft f51. And a nut f53 having a female screw threadedly engaged with the male screw. The shaft f51 is passed through the wheel portion of the wheel f21, and the handle f32 of the hammer f3 and the spacer f4 are arranged inside the U-shape of the shaft f51 together with the tire portion of the wheel f21, and the wheel f21 outer periphery and the seat plate f52 are arranged. The hammer f3 was fixed to the wheel f21 by sandwiching the handle f32 of the hammer f3 and the spacer f4 and tightening the nut f53. As the spacer f4, a bundle of sticky notes (paper pieces) was used.

The above-mentioned bearing portion f22 of the caster f2 was attached to the lowermost shelf portion of the kitchen rack f1 so that the wheel f21 and the hammer f3 were not in contact with the floor, that is, positioned above the floor.
9A and 9B, the end of the jig f5 or the nut f53 is hooked on the shelf portion of the kitchen rack f1 to hold the head f31 of the hammer f3 in a lifted state. A hook f6 is provided.
The hook f6 is a J-shaped shaft, and is rotatably attached to the kitchen rack f1, as indicated by an arrow in FIG. 9B. As shown in FIGS. 9C and 9D, by rotating the hook f6, the end of the jig f5 or the nut f53 that has been hooked is released. With this release, the hammer f3 can rotate the wheel f21 by its own weight and swing the head f31 down to the golf ball c on the putter mat c. The hook f6 holds the head f31 of the hammer f3 at a constant height, and the hammer f31 can be released by rotating the hook f1 with the fingertip as described above. For this reason, no matter who conducts the experiment, the putting conditions other than the golf ball 1 can be made constant.
The weight of the head f31 (metal part) of the hammer f3 is 450 g, the weight of the mounting part of the head f31 such as the handle f32 is 203 g, and the weight of the entire hammer f3 including the mounting part is as follows. 653 g.
The outer diameter of the wheel f21 of the caster f2 is 125 mm, and the distance h from the central axis of the wheel f21 to which the hammer f3 is fixed to the center of gravity of the head f31 of the hammer f3 is 93 mm (FIG. 9A). ).
The hammer f3 hits the golf ball by swinging the handle f32 about 90 degrees so that the handle f32 is almost horizontal (FIG. 9C) from a state where the handle f32 is raised substantially vertically (FIG. 9A). .

The experiment described above has been devised to make the conditions other than the golf ball to be compared at the time of batting as constant as possible by using the illustrated putting device f. In other words, in the experiment, the hammer f3 is regarded as a putter, the wheel f21 is rotated using the moment due to the weight of the hammer f21, the hammer f3 is swung down, and the golf ball 1 is hit. Using the putting device f, one golf ball 1 was put a plurality of times, and the variation of the distance b from the right end c3 of the putter mat c was examined. The number of putting times was 20 times.
At the time of the above putting, as shown in FIG. 8D, the impact marker f34, which is a pressure sensitive paper, is pasted on the striking surface f33 of the hammer f3, and the dimension of the discoloration range of the impact marker f34 after the 20th putting is examined. It was. Specifically, the maximum diameter of the discolored portion of the impact marker was achieved with a circular ruler. That is, the smallest circle of the circular ruler where the discolored portion of the impact marker f34 does not protrude was confirmed.

The following experiments 1 to 6 were performed using the experimental apparatus shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 described above.
In Experiments 1 and 2, as a comparative example, putting was performed 20 times with two known general golf balls 1 shown in FIG. 10A, and the distance b was examined.
Each of the golf balls 1 used in Experiment 1 and Experiment 2 is not modified. In other words, as shown in FIG. 10 (A), the golf ball 1 that is the subject of Experiments 1 and 2 is the entire core 10 of the golf ball 1 covered with the cover 11 having the dimples 2.
Specifically, CHROME SOFT ball (trade name) of Callaway Golf Co., Ltd. (Shirokanedai 5-12-7 MG Shirokanedai Building, Minato-ku, Tokyo) was used as the golf ball 1 of Experiment 1.
As Golbourg 1 of Experiment 2, KIRA KLENOT (Kira Kureno / registered trademark) of Casco Co., Ltd. (Shiki 5412, Kagawa Prefecture) was used. KIRA KLENOT has the above-mentioned wok-type dimple 2.

As Experiment 3, 1 of the following Experiment 3 and 2 of Experiment 3 were performed.
In Experiment 3-1, as shown in FIG. 10B, the golf ball 1 in which a part of the cover 11 was removed by 4 mm in diameter for one dimple was put 20 times and the distance b was examined. In the golf ball 1 shown in FIG. 10B, the part of the cover 11 cut out is substantially flat.
In Experiment 3-2, as shown in FIG. 10 (C), the edge of the cut portion of the cover 11 of the golf ball 1 shown in FIG. 10 (B) is filed with a rotary tool (minirouter) to be almost flat, and 6 mm A diameter pad portion 31 for pseudo pad was formed. Putting hitting the pseudo pad hitting point 32 with the hammer f3 was performed 20 times, and the distance b was examined.
Titleist (registered trademark) V1 (REFINISHED) of Axinenet Japan, Inc. (2-11-3 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, A-PLACE Aoyama) was used as the golf ball 1 for remodeling in Experiment 3 above.

In Experiment 4, for KIRA KLENOT in the conventional golf ball 1 shown in FIG. 10A, one dimple having a diameter of 5 mm was placed with a water-based acrylic resin joint seal 5 as shown in FIG. 10D. It was buried flat and cured, that is, allowed to elapse for 24 hours, to obtain a pseudo pad hitting point 32. As the joint seal 5, a joint seal (product number HJ-137) of Cemedine Co., Ltd. (Gate City Osaki East Tower, 1-11-2 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo) was used.
The KIRA KLENOT used in Experiment 2 was used as the golf ball 1 modified in Experiment 4.

In Experiment 5, a surface cover 11 provided with dimples from HX-TOUR (trade name) of Callaway Golf Co., Ltd. (MG-12-5-7 Shirokanedai Minato-ku, Tokyo) as a commercially available golf ball 1 (FIG. 10). (E) (dotted line) was peeled off, and the above apparatus was used for putting a ball having a spherical surface as a whole without dimples.
The golf ball 1 used for the modification in Experiment 10 is the above-mentioned CHROME SOFT ball.
With respect to the golf ball in FIG. 10E, the predetermined distance a is set to 1700 mm because the cover 11 is completely peeled off and is difficult to roll on the putter mat c.
In any of the above-described experiments, the strength of hitting the golf ball 1 with the putting device f is set to reach the predetermined distance a. However, even if there is no hit c4, It does not greatly exceed the predetermined distance a. Therefore, when the hit c4 is arranged, even if it hits the hit c4, it does not rebound greatly, and the golf ball 1 that hits the hit c4 stays near the hit c4.

In Experiment 6, all golf balls were unified with the above-mentioned KIRA KLENOT, and the following Experiment 6-1 and Experiment 6-2 were performed.
In Experiment 6-1, all conditions were the same as in Experiment 1 except that the golf ball was KIRA KLENOT. In Experiment 6-2, the same method as in Experiment 3-2 was used, that is, the cover 11 of the golf ball 1 was cut by 5 mm in diameter, and the edge of the cut portion was filed with a rotary tool (minirouter) to be almost flat. A 7 mm diameter pseudo pad hitting point 31 was formed. Putting hitting the pseudo pad hitting point 32 with the hammer f3 was performed 20 times, and the distance b was examined. Regarding Experiment 2-2, the golf ball is KIRA KLENOT, and the conditions other than the diameter of the pseudo pad hitting point 32 are the same as in Experiment 3-2.

Table 1 shows the results of Experiment 1, Table 2 shows Experiment 2, Table 3 shows Experiment 3, Table 4 shows Experiment 4, Table 5 shows Experiment 5, and Table 6 shows the result of Experiment 6.
As shown in Table 1, the maximum distance b of the golf ball 1 from the right end c3 of the putter mat c was recorded 110 mm at the third and fifth times of Experiment 1, and the minimum distance b of 87 mm was recorded at the 19th time. . In the putting of Experiment 1, the difference between the maximum value 110 mm and the minimum value 87 mm of the distance b was 23 mm.
Further, as shown in Table 2, the maximum distance b of Experiment 4 in Experiment 2 was recorded as 178 mm, and the minimum distance b of 13th and 18th times was recorded as 43 mm. In the putting in Experiment 2, the difference between the maximum value 178 mm and the minimum value 43 mm of the distance b was 135 mm.

As shown in Table 3, the maximum distance b of 110 mm was recorded in the second and sixteenth times of Experiment 3, and the minimum distance b of 70 mm was recorded in the eleventh time. The difference between the maximum value 110 mm and the minimum value 70 mm of the distance b in the putting of Experiment 3 was 40 mm.
Then, as shown in Table 3, the maximum distance b of 109 mm was recorded in the second 20 of Experiment 3, and the minimum distance b of 106 mm was recorded in the third and eighth times. The difference between the maximum value 109 mm and the minimum value 106 mm of the distance b was only 3 mm in the putting of Experiment 3-2.
As shown in Table 4, the maximum distance b of 112 mm was recorded at the 12th and 15th times of Experiment 4, and the minimum distance b of 105 mm was recorded at the first time. In the putting in Experiment 4, the difference between the maximum value 112 mm and the minimum value 105 mm of the distance b was only 7 mm.
As shown in Table 5, the maximum distance b of 89 mm was recorded in the fourth, sixth, and ninth times of Experiment 5, and the minimum distance b of 83 mm was recorded in the 13th to 15th and 17th times. In the putting of Experiment 5, the difference between the maximum value 89 mm and the minimum value 83 mm of the distance b was only 6 mm.
In the experiment 5, as described above, the predetermined distance a is set to 1700 mm, and the conditions are different from those of other experiments. Therefore, the ratio is 2000 mm / 1700 mm of the predetermined distance a as the maximum value of the distance b. It can be seen that even if the minimum difference of 6 mm is multiplied, the difference is only about 7 mm.
As shown in Table 6, the maximum distance b of 178 mm was recorded in the first four times of Experiment 6, and the minimum distance b of 43 mm was recorded in the thirteenth and eighteenth times. The difference between the maximum value 178 mm and the minimum value 43 mm of the distance b in the putting of 1 in Experiment 6 was 135 mm.
As shown in Table 6, the maximum distance b of 122 mm was recorded in the second and eighth rounds of Experiment 6, and the minimum distance b of 106 mm was recorded the second time. The difference between the maximum value 122 mm and the minimum value 106 mm of the distance b in the putting of Experiment 6-2 was as small as 16 mm.

In Experiment 3-2 and Experiment 4, the maximum diameter of the discoloration range of the impact marker f34 after putting did not exceed 4 mm. As shown in FIG. 8 (E), a cross index 6 is drawn as a marking by coloring or printing on the golf ball 1, and the golf ball 1 so that the mark c and the center of the cross coincide with each other when viewed in plan. Was placed on the putter mat c to obtain a discoloration range not exceeding 4 mm. Although not described, the inventor has confirmed that the discoloration range of the impact marker f34 does not exceed 7 mm even when the golf ball 1 is aligned without drawing the index 6.
In addition, when the impact marker was attached to the golf ball 1 used in Experiment 5 and the discoloration range was observed, the maximum diameter did not exceed 4 mm. In the golf ball 1 used in Experiment 5, the cover 11 is completely removed as shown in FIG. 10E, and the diameter of the golf ball 1 is slightly smaller than 42.67 mm. For this reason, the diameter of the color change range of the impact marker attached to the curved surface can be regarded as the curved surface diameter r2, but at this size, it can be regarded as the planar diameter r1.
As shown in FIG. 10 (F), the golf ball 1 as an embodiment of the present invention forms a hitting portion for a pad that forms a spherical surface together with the dimple 2 on the cover 11 of the golf ball 1. FIGS. 10D and 10E are formed as substitutes or pseudo-practical products for the above-mentioned experiment in the application stage that has not been commercialized. The above good results are obtained in FIGS. 10 (D) and 10 (E), and the product of FIG. 10 (F) can have good results similar to or better than those in FIGS. 10 (D) and (E). it can.
In each figure of FIG. 10, hatching to be attached to the drawing is omitted in order to avoid complexity.

  From the above experimental results, it can be seen that the minimum diameter of the pad hitting part 3 is preferably 5 mm or more, particularly 6 mm or more, and more preferably 7 mm or more. The experimental result shows that the color change range can be kept within 4 mm by the addition of the index. On the other hand, even when there is no index, the maximum discoloration range of the impact marker is 7 mm. Therefore, if the reliance does not depend on the index, the minimum diameter of the pad hitting part 3 is preferably 7 mm. In addition, although a stable putt can be reproduced with an experimental device, in consideration of a person with little golf experience, the larger the pad hitting part 4 is, the larger the putt part 4 for the putt is within the range that does not affect the flight distance on the fairway. Accuracy can be improved reliably. From this point of view, as described above, the pad hitting points 4 have a plane diameter r1 of 8 mm, particularly 10 mm or more, and approximately 6 putt hitting points 3 are distributed almost uniformly on the surface of the golf ball 1. It is preferable that the hit point portion 3 curved surface diameter r2 is 20 mm or less.

(Summary)
In the present invention, the golf ball 1 that is a substantially spherical body includes a plurality of dimples 2 that retreat from the surface of the sphere toward the center of the sphere, and is surrounded by the plurality of dimples 2 and the dimple 2. A plurality of pad hitting points 3 that form a part of the spherical surface of the golf ball 1 as a non-dimple region that does not include a pad, and each of the pad hitting points 3 has a plane diameter r1 larger than 4 mm, and is curved. It is preferable that the diameter r2 does not exceed 1/2 of the circumference of the golf ball 1.
The pad hitting portions 3 are evenly distributed on the golf ball surface at equal intervals.
Most preferably, the golf ball 1 is provided with pad hitting points 3 at six locations on the surface, and takes the arrangement shown in FIG. That is, one great circle on the surface of the golf ball 1 that is a sphere is a first great circle d1 (virtual circle), and one of the great circles orthogonal to the first great circle d2 is a second great circle d2 (virtual circle). Two of the pad hitting points 3 are arranged at the two intersections of the first great circle d1 and the second great circle d2 on the surface of the golf ball 1, and the other four pad hitting points 3 are golf balls, respectively. A positional relationship is adopted in which the balls 1 are arranged at positions on the first great circle d2 and the second great circle d2 that are equidistant from the intersections on the surface of the ball 1 (intermediate point between the intersections).
In addition to the above, the pad hitting part 3 is an annular region formed by at least two streaks formed along each of at least two great circles orthogonal to each other on the surface. Each of the streaks preferably has a width in a direction orthogonal to the direction of the streaks extending on the spherical surface, that is, a thickness of the streaks larger than 4 mm.
According to the present invention, it is possible to increase the accuracy of the putting in the green without impeding the effect of the dimple 2 in the play on the fairway more than necessary.

Therefore, the present invention can provide a golf ball that can be easily controlled when it is not desired to remove the short pad. That is, by providing a place where there is no dimple in the specific arrangement on the surface of the golf ball 1 as the pad hitting part 3, the player who does not want to remove the short putt in the game or hobby golf, When the golf ball comes into contact, the dimples provided on the surface of the golf ball, that is, the influence of the unevenness of the frying pan type or the wok type provided on the spherical surface of the golf ball is suppressed by how the golf ball is placed on the green. be able to.
The putting that approaches the cup on the green usually uses a putter, but the putting point portion 3 for the putting may be used for the putting performed using another club.
As described above, the present invention provides the golf ball 1 with a surface form that can reduce the influence of the dimples 2 on the surface of the golf ball 1 in putting as much as possible by placing the golf ball 1 in green.
In particular, the present invention relates to golf balls used in official competitions and golf courses using official balls of golf balls defined by USGA (American Golf Association), R & A (British Golf Association), JGA (Japan Golf Association), etc. This is a new creation and proposal for the shape and structure of the surface.
The golf ball according to the present invention is implemented as a certified ball in accordance with the regulations of the above-mentioned golf associations, and does not exclude implementation as a golf ball used for non-certified competition or practice.

  For official balls that can be used in official matches, USGA (US Golf Association) and R & A (British Golf Association) established a symmetry rule that prohibits special flight characteristics for the ball in 1981. Seeking symmetry. In other words, regarding the difference in the average value of each group when compared with the swing robot from two directions where the seam, which is the seam of the mold at the time of golf ball manufacture, was made horizontal and vertical, the carry time was 4.0 yards and the flight time was 0 .It is set within 4 seconds. When the golf ball 1 according to the present invention is used as a certified ball, the dimple 2 and the pad hitting portion 3 are used for the golf ball so that the difference in the average value is 4.0 yards in carry and the flight time is within 0.4 seconds. What is necessary is just to arrange | position to 1 surface.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Golf ball 2 Dimple 3 Pad hitting part 4 Groove 11 (Golf ball) cover d1 1st great circle (virtual circle)
d2 Second great circle (virtual circle)
e Arc part (of dimple) k Tangential surface (virtual surface)
m (contour line of the pad hitting part 3) n projected contour line (of the contour line m) apex (of the pad hitting part 3) r diameter (of the golf ball 1) r1 (planar diameter of the pad hitting part 3) r2 Curved surface diameter (of the pad hitting part 3) r21 Minimum curved surface diameter of the pad hitting part 3 r22 Maximum curved surface diameter t (of the pad hitting part 3) Minimum width part (between the dimples 1)

Claims (6)

In the golf ball having a plurality of dimples having a substantially spherical surface and retreating from the spherical surface toward the center of the sphere,
At least one place on the surface is provided with a pad hitting portion,
The pad hitting portion is a region that is surrounded by the plurality of dimples and does not have dimples,
The pad hitting portion is a golf ball which is a region having a minimum diameter larger than 4 mm.   The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the pad hitting portion is a part of the spherical surface. Each of the dimples is a depression provided in the spherical surface,
The pad hitting part is provided at a plurality of locations on the surface,
The golf ball according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of pad hitting portions are arranged with one or more dimples interposed therebetween.   The plurality of pad hitting points, which are at least a part of the pad hitting points, are arranged on one large circle of the surface at substantially equal intervals. The golf ball described. One great circle on the surface is a first great circle, and one of the great circles orthogonal to the first great circle is a second great circle,
Two of the pad hitting points are arranged at intersections of the first great circle and the second great circle,
One or a plurality of pad hitting points which are part of the pad hitting points not arranged at the intersection are arranged on the first great circle, and among the pad hitting points not arranged at the intersection The golf ball according to claim 3, wherein the one or more pad hitting portions which are other parts of the golf ball are arranged on the second great circle. In a golf ball having a plurality of dimples having a substantially spherical surface and retreating from the spherical surface toward the center of the spherical surface,
A pad hitting portion is provided on the surface,
The pad hitting portion is a region that does not include the dimple that forms part of the spherical surface,
The pad hitting portion is an annular region of at least two lines formed along each of at least two great circles intersecting on the surface,
Each of the annular streaks formed by the pad hitting portions is a golf ball having a thickness larger than 4 mm.

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