Acushnet Company

Antonio U DeSimas

Michael J Sullivan

Derek A Ladd

Edmund A Hebert

Samuel A Pasqua, Jr

Laurent C Bissonnette

David A Bulpett

Douglas E Jones

Laurent C Bissonette

A golf ball is provided having a modified density gradient among the inner layers to produce a desired high or low moment of inertia and controlled spin rate is disclosed. The golf ball has three or more inner layers in addition to a cover, and the density of the inner layers is selected such that the layers inside the cover have a density progression from the core to the cover or from the cover to the core.

Variable density core golf balls

The present invention is directed to an improved golf ball displaying the desired spin profile and having a generally rigid, thermoset polybutadiene outer core surrounding a relatively soft, low compression inner core. In general, this golf ball has an inner core and at least one outer core layer surrounding the inner core. The inner core has a hardness less than a hardness of the outer core and a specific gravity less than or equal to the outer core specific gravity. Overall the inner core compression and outer core are formulated to provide a combined overall core compression of greater than about 50, preferably greater than about 70. A cover layer is provided to surround and to cover the outer core layer.

Multi-layer core golf ball

The present invention is directed towards a multi-layered core golf ball that comprises a center, a cover and at least two core layers formed around the center to create an inner ball, wherein the outermost core layer is relatively stiff and hard relative to the center.

Multi-layered core golf ball

The present invention is directed to an improved golf ball displaying the desired spin profile and having a generally rigid, thermoset polybutadiene outer core surrounding a relatively soft, low compression inner core. In general, this golf ball has an inner core and at least one outer core layer surrounding the inner core.

The present invention is directed to golf balls comprising a fluid-filled center surrounded by an outer core, wherein the outer core comprises a layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and a layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition. The present invention is not limited by which outer core layer is formed from the relatively soft HNP composition and which layer is formed from the relatively hard HNP composition, so long as both layers are present in the outer core of the golf ball. Relatively soft HNP compositions of the present invention have a Shore D hardness of 55 or less and comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer. Relatively hard HNP compositions of the present invention have a Shore D hardness of 45 or greater and comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer. The material hardness of the relatively soft HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the relatively hard HNP composition.

Golf balls having two or more core layers formed from HNP compositions

The present invention is directed to golf balls comprising a fluid-filled center surrounded by an outer core, wherein the outer core comprises a layer formed from a low modulus HNP composition and a layer formed from a high modulus HNP composition. The present invention is not limited by which outer core layer is formed from the low modulus HNP composition and which layer is formed from the high modulus HNP composition, so long as both layers are present in the outer core of the golf ball. Low modulus HNP compositions of the present invention comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer having a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi. High modulus HNP compositions of the present invention comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer having a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi.

Golf balls having a low modulus HNP layer and a high modulus HNP layer

The present invention is directed to an improved golf ball displaying the desired spin profile and having a generally rigid, thermoset polybutadiene outer core surrounding a relatively soft, low compression inner core. In general, this golf ball has an inner core and at least one outer core layer surrounding the inner core. The inner core has a hardness less than a hardness of the outer core and a specific gravity less than or equal to the outer core specific gravity. Overall the inner core compression and outer core are formulated to provide a combined overall core compression of greater than about 50, preferably greater than about 70. A cover layer is provided to surround and to cover the outer core layer. A moisture barrier layer is provided between the outer core layer and the cover layer to protect the inner and outer cores from degradation due to exposure to water. The moisture vapor transmission rate of the moisture barrier layer is selected to be less than the moisture vapor transmission rate of the cover layer.

A high CoR golf ball having predetermined moment of inertia is provided. A portion of the golf ball preferably contains substantially no filler, which contributes to the increased resilience of the ball. In accordance to one aspect of the invention, the portion with substantially no filler is an intermediate layer of the ball, and preferably is the outer core layer of the ball. The remaining portions of the ball preferably contribute to the moment of inertia of the ball. To craft a low moment of inertia ball, the innermost core should have a high specific gravity. Additionally, the outermost layers of the ball may have a low specific gravity. Conversely, to craft a high moment of inertia ball, the ball should have a thin dense layer positioned radially outward from its centroid radius. Additionally, the innermost core may have a low specific gravity. To craft a mid range moment of inertia ball, the ball may comprise a high specific gravity inner core and a thin dense layer. Preferably, the portion with substantially no filler is relatively larger than other portions of the ball.

Golf ball

A golf ball comprising a core comprising a highly-neutralized thermoplastic polymer formed from a copolymer of ethylene and an &#x3b1;,&#x3b2;-unsaturated carboxylic acid, a salt of an organic acid, and sufficient cation source to filly-neutralize the acid groups of the copolymer; an outer cover layer; and an inner cover layer disposed between the center and the outer cover layer, the inner cover layer having a specific gravity of 2.5 g/cc or greater; wherein the core has an outer diameter of 1.58 inches or greater and a coefficient of restitution of 0.805 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s.

Fully-neutralized ionomers for use in golf ball having a large core and a thin, dense layer

The present invention is directed towards a multi-layered core golf ball that comprises a thermoplastic inner casing layer molded between two core layers to create a faster golf ball with less spin, by designing a ball that has more of the stored energy of the core released at impact. One inner casing layer and/or an outer core layer is comprised of a partially or fully neutralized ionomer.

The present invention relates to golf ball components and golf balls comprising high levels of pre-vulcanized or pre-crosslinked materials, as well as methods of making same. The pre-vulcanized or pre-crosslinked materials are typically thermoset materials that are fragmented or ground into a powder, exposed to high pressure, high temperature sintering ('HPHTS') and molded into the desired shape.

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East Providence, RI, United States of America

Antonio U DeSimas