Method of golf ball manufacture employing ultrasonic welding, and resulting golf ball and golf ball components and/or layers

A method of producing a golf ball, the method comprising:

• a. positioning two half shells around a core so that the core is substantially centered relative to the two half shells;
• b. positioning the two half shells with the core between two half shell cavities on respective mold plates;
• c. closing the mold plates to press the two half shells in half shell cavities together;
• d. applying ultrasonic energy to at least one of the respective mold plates to weld the two half-shells together ultrasonically and form a mantle;
• and
• e. forming a cover layer over the mantle by one of compression molding, injection molding, or casting.

A method of producing a golf ball, the method comprising:

• a. positioning two half shells around a core so that the core is substantially centered relative to the two half shells;
• b. positioning the two half shells with the core between two half shell cavities on respective mold plates;
• c. closing the mold plates to press the two half shells in half shell cavities together;
• d. applying ultrasonic energy to at least one of the respective mold plates to weld the two half-shells together ultrasonically and form a mantle;
• and
• e. repeating a. through d. with the mantle instead of the core to form the golf ball with a cover layer.