Methods and molds for molding golf balls incorporating a thermoplastic polyurethane cover

A golf ball mold, comprising

• a mold assembly comprising a mold and one or more retractable center vent pins,
• wherein the mold comprises an upper mold cavity and a lower mold cavity, wherein each mold cavity has an arcuate inner surface defining an inverted dimple and fret pattern and collectively create an interior spherical cavity for holding a golf ball subassembly when the upper mold cavity and lower mold cavity are mated together,
• wherein the mold is configured to receive a polymeric material in the interior spherical cavity to mold a cover layer about the subassembly within the mold to form a molded golf ball,
• wherein the retractable center vent pin(s) are configured to secure the subassembly within the mold and be withdrawn from the interior spherical cavity before molding of the cover layer is finished,
• and wherein a portion of the inverted dimple and fret pattern is located within a pole region of each mold cavity and comprises at least one mold cavity center vent extending through an entire thickness of the mold in the pole region and being adapted to eliminate air produced within the interior spherical cavity during molding;
• wherein each mold cavity center vent is sized and shaped to receive a proximal end of one of the retractable center vent pin(s), each retractable center vent pin being configured such that gas exiting the interior spherical cavity through the mold cavity center vent is drawn along an interior channel of the retractable center vent pin and then exhausted from the mold into the atmosphere outside the mold when sufficient suction is applied to an exhaust aperture formed in the retractable center vent pin.