Spalding Large Size Golf Balls

Beginning in 1993 a series of patents were granted^1-7 for a large size golf ball that had a diameter of at least 1.70 inches and a weight no greater than 1.62 oz. This golf ball provided a moment of inertia that was greater than a regular size golf ball. The greater moment of inertia resulted in a slower spin rate which contributed to straighter shots, greater efficiency in flight, and less energy loss on impact with the ground. Thus, when using a driver, the ball strikes the ground at an acute angle resulting in increased roll and distance.

To better understand moment of inertia, think of a spinning figure skater who moves her arms in toward her body resulting in faster spin (lower moment of inertia). Then as she mover her arms outward from her body (higher moment of inertia), the spin rate slows down and she stops spinning.

The three different dimple patterns in these patents were the same three dimple patterns from the Spalding trajectory advertisement discussed in my previous post^8-9-10. They were the High Trajectory (Top-Flite XL^II), the Tour Trajectory (Top-Flite Plus II), and the Low Trajectory (Top-Flite II) dimple patterns.

My friend and fellow golf ball collector Werner, has these three golf balls in his collection. I asked him to measure the diameter. He found that all three had diameters less than 1.70 inches.

The 1993 USGA conforming golf ball list¹¹ shows six new Top-Flite Magna golf balls (Table 1). I believe that these golf balls all have the larger diameter of at least 1.70 inches. I believe that the *PLUS and PLUS balls with 422 dimples are the large version of the TOP-Flite Plus II, the *SPALDING and SPALDING balls with 422 dimples are the large version of the Top-Flite II ball, and the *XL and XL balls with 410 dimples are the large version of the Top-Flite XL^II ball.

Table 1 Data from 1993 USGA List

Pole	Seam	# dimples
Top-Flite Magna	*PLUS	422
Top-Flite Magna	*SPALDING	422
Top-Flite Magna	*XL	410
Top-Flite Magna	PLUS	422
Top-Flite Magna	SPALDING	422
Top-Flite Magna	XL	410

The 1994 USGA conforming golf ball list¹⁰ contains a golf ball with Top-Flite Magna on the pole and High Trajectory on the seam (Table 2). This ball has 410 dimples, and is ball #310 in my collection. This golf ball has a measured diameter greater than 1.70 inches and the same dimple pattern as the Top-Flite XL^II ball.

Ball #310

Table 2 Data from 1994 USGA List

Ball #	Pole	Seam	# dimples
	Top-Flite Magna	*High Trajectory	410
	Top-Flite Magna	*Regular	422
	Top-Flite Magna	*Tour	422
310	Top-Flite Magna	High	410
	Top-Flite Magna	Regular	422
	Top-Flite Magna	Tour Trajectory	422
	Top-Flite Magna	Spalding 1.72	422
	Top-Flite Magna	XL 1.72	410

Over the last several months we reported a lot about three Spalding golf ball patterns produced during the early 1990’s. It wasn’t an easy process. We had to rely on the US patent literature which helped us identify the golf ball dimple patterns, the USGA conforming lists which told us the names of golf balls and dates of introduction, some Spalding advertising trajectory information, how to calculate golf ball dimple volumes, and the use of calipers to measure golf ball size. I learned a lot during this time. I am especially grateful for friends and fellow golf ball collectors for their help and encouragement during this process.

References

1. Robert P. Molitor, R. Dennis Nesbitt, Joseph F. Stiefel, Terence Melvin, US 5,273,287, Dec. 28, 1993, filed Nov. 27, 1991.
2. Robert P. Molitor, R. Dennis Nesbitt, Joseph F. Stiefel, Terence Melvin, US 5,482,286, Jan. 9, 1996, filed Jan. 25, 1993.
3. Robert P. Molitor, R. Dennis Nesbitt, Joseph F. Stiefel, Terence Melvin, US 5,503,397, Apr. 2, 1996, filed Dec. 22, 1993.
4. Robert P. Molitor, R. Dennis Nesbitt, Joseph F. Stiefel, Terence Melvin, US 5,569,100, Oct. 29, 1996, filed Oct. 31, 1994.
5. Robert P. Molitor, R. Dennis Nesbitt, Joseph F. Stiefel, Terence Melvin, US 5,766,098, Jun. 16, 1998, filed Sep. 20, 1995.
6. Michael J. Sullivan, John L. Nealon, R. Dennis Nesbit, US 5,588,924, Dec. 31, 1996, filed Aug. 8, 1995.
7. Michael J. Sullivan, John L. Nealon, R. Dennis Nesbit, US 5,507,493, Apr. 16, 1996, filed Mar. 27, 1995.
8. See my earlier post ‘Spalding Golf Balls During the 1990’s’, July 30, 2023 on my website.
9. See my earlier post ‘Spalding Golf Ball Trajectories’, September 7, 2023 on my website.
10. See my earlier post ‘Flight Trajectories’, January 16, 2024 on my website.
11. Visit ‘Supplemental Information, USGA Conforming Golf Ball Lists’ on my home page, March-1993 and March 1994.