Mold for making golf balls and methods for using it

A method for forming a portion of a golf ball, the method comprising:

• preparing a mold configured for use in preparing a portion of a golf ball from a ball material, wherein the mold comprises porous metal having a porosity between about 5% and about 50% by volume, wherein the mold has an exterior space having an exterior pressure and an interior space having an interior pressure, the mold further comprising a vacuum device configured to reduce the exterior pressure to a value less than the interior pressure;
• using the vacuum device to reduce the exterior pressure below the interior pressure sufficient to increase flow of gas through the porous metal from the interior space to the exterior space;
• and
• placing the ball material into the mold to form the portion so that gas flows from the interior space to the exterior space.

A method for forming a portion of a golf ball, the method comprising:

• preparing a mold configured for use in preparing a portion of a golf ball from a ball material, wherein the mold comprises porous metal having a porosity between about 5% and about 50% by volume, wherein the mold has an exterior space having an exterior pressure and an interior space having an interior pressure, the mold further comprising a pressurizing device configured to increase the exterior pressure to a value greater than the interior pressure;
• placing the ball material into the mold to form the portion;
• and
• using the pressurizing device to increase the exterior pressure above the interior pressure to a value sufficient to improve release of the portion from the mold.