ABSTRACT
Golf ball dimple arrangements are one of the most visible and challenging distribution of points on a sphere. The number of dimples and their spherical arrangement influence the flight and landing characteristics of balls. Some designs maximize land areas while others minimize it. Ball design is highly competitive as shown by the more than 300 patents issued by the US Patent and Trademark Office. This does count patents for surface coverings, coatings, or core make up. This chapter shows the basic designs sports ball designers are using. Spherical platonics are favored as base references and ways to meet association standards for uniform performance. Most designs attempt to maximize the number of symmetries (face, vertex, edge). Sphere packing, symmetry, and manufacturing must work together; examples show how icosahedral, octahedral, and tetrahedral designs have evolved.
