In a golf ball colored other than white, the color tone thereof as represented in accordance with the CIELAB color system has an L value of not less than 80, an a value of -30 to +30, and a b value of -30 to +30. The golf ball is preferably colored blue, green, pink, yellow, or orange. Usually, the cover layer of the golf ball is colored in order to color the golf ball. The golf ball does not cause a golfer to feel mental or visual incompatibility while addressing the ball, looks white as viewed from a distance, but looks other than white as viewed at close range to thereby distinguish itself from other balls. Also, the golf ball has improved fashionable features as compared with conventional color balls.

A new and improved golf ball/fluorescent object locator includes a UV light source assembly. A rigid support member is connected to the UV light source assembly and extends upward and rearward from the UV light source assembly. A handle member is connected to the rigid support member, for permitting the UV light source assembly to be controlled by a person holding the handle member. The UV light source assembly includes a housing connected to the rigid support member, a battery assembly housed within the housing, a UV source powered by the battery assembly and housed within the housing, and a UV transparent lens structure, attached to the housing at a bottom portion of the housing, for permitting UV light to pass from the UV source to outside the UV light source assembly to below the UV light source assembly. The battery assembly may include rechargeable batteries. A reflector assembly is positioned above and behind the UV source and reflects UV light through the UV transparent lens structure to outside the UV light source assembly. The rigid support member extends downward and forward from the handle member toward the UV light source assembly at a first predetermined angle. The rigid support member extends upward and rearward from the UV light source assembly toward the handle member at a second predetermined angle. The first predetermined angle and the second predetermined angle are equal to each other and are equal to approximately 135 degrees.

The lazer ball is a foamed ball or projectile which glows under particular lighting conditions and which can be fired through a standard air gun, such as a paint ball gun. The lazer ball can be prepared from any suitable foam material which is capable of being molded or extruded into a spherical shape, is compressible when pressure is applied to it and can return to its original shape when pressure is released. Other properties of the lazer ball include a density of between about 11.0 to about 15.0 pcf, a skin thickness of between about 0.015 and about 0.025" and a shore "A" durometer of between about 35.0 and 45.0. A preferred foam material is an integral skin urethane foam system. Standard foam systems may require chemical modification in order to meet the required surface properties.

A golf ball locating apparatus and a method of applying a reflective coating to the golf ball. The apparatus involves a handheld apparatus which locates a wayward golf ball and identifies its relative position to the handheld apparatus. The handheld apparatus is structured in two preferred embodiments: the first is a handheld apparatus that fits into a user's pocket; the second is a shaft arrangement which has two extendable wings to form a "T" shape. The pocket sized embodiment has a forward facing window to direct a beam from the apparatus. The beam of radiation reacts with a clear coating on the golf ball and is sensed by the apparatus which then illustrates, via a display, the relative location of the golf ball. The "T" embodiment has antennas embedded into the wings which emit a field which are disturbed by the coating on the golf ball; lights associated with the antennas are illuminated to show the operator which antenna is in the closest proximity to the golf ball. The coating on the golf-ball is applied through a variety of techniques and preferably covers the entirety of the golf ball. One methodology uses an impregnated cloth to wipe the golf ball immediately prior to placing the ball in-play. This assures a coating on the golf ball during each play.

The present invention relates to a methods and apparatus for monitoring objects, such as golf balls, in flight. The methods include providing a plurality of cameras with different orientations with respect to the object's flight path. For example, two cameras can be located downstream of the object's initial position on either side of the flight path and a plurality of other cameras can be located upstream of the object's initial position on one side of the flight path. With such an arrangement, data in three-dimensions can be obtained on the object. Furthermore, the methods can include providing an object with a material for emitting light when excited. For example, a phosphorescent material can be used to provide an object with high contrast as compared to a background that the object is imaged against. With such materials, the methods can include filtering so that the cameras use only light emitted by the object to form images of the object that will be analyzed. The present invention also relates to apparatus incorporating the components used in these methods.