Golf ball with negative hardness gradient core
View Patent ↗A golf ball comprising a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core, the single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface, the single layer core further comprising an inner core region disposed about the geometric center and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, an outer core region adjacent the outer core surface and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, and an intermediate core region disposed between the inner and outer core regions. The single layer core has a first hardness disposed within the inner core region, a second hardness disposed within the outer core region, and a third hardness disposed within the intermediate core region, wherein the first hardness and second hardness are greater than the third hardness and a hardness of the outer surface is substantially the same as or lower than a hardness of the geometric center.
1. A golf ball comprising:
a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core;
said single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface;
the single layer core further comprising an inner core region disposed about the geometric center and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, an outer core region adjacent the outer core surface and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, and an intermediate core region disposed between the inner and outer core regions;
the single layer core having a first hardness disposed within the inner core region, a second hardness disposed within the outer core region, and a third hardness disposed within the intermediate core region,
wherein the first hardness and second hardness are greater than the third hardness and a hardness of the outer surface is substantially the same as or lower than a hardness of the geometric center.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the single layer core has a diameter of from about 30 mm to about 42 mm.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of inner core region is about 2 mm or lower and the outer core region has a thickness of about 2 mm or lower.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first hardness and second hardness are greater than the third hardness by about 20 Shore C or lower.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the hardness of the outer surface is lower than the hardness of the geometric center by up to about 22 Shore C.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the hardness of the outer surface is lower than the hardness of the geometric center by up to about 13 Shore D.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first hardness and second hardness are greater than the third hardness by about 15 Shore D or lower.
8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first hardness and the second hardness are greater than the third hardness by about 10 Shore D or lower.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the peroxide is present in an amount of from about 0.5 phr to about 2.0 phr.
10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the antioxidant is present in an amount of from about 0.1 phr to about 2.0 phr.
11. The golf ball of claim 1 , further comprising at least a second cover layer disposed between the single core layer and the cover layer.
12. A golf ball comprising:
a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core;
said single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface;
the single layer core further comprising an inner core region disposed about the geometric center and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, an outer core region adjacent the outer core surface having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, and an intermediate core region disposed between the inner and outer core regions;
the single layer core having a first hardness disposed within the inner core region, a second hardness disposed within the outer core region, and a third hardness disposed within the intermediate core region,
wherein the first hardness and second hardness are greater than the third hardness by about 20 Shore C or lower, and a hardness of the outer surface is substantially the same as or lower than a hardness of the geometric center.
13. A golf ball comprising:
a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core;
said single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface;
the single layer core further comprising an inner core region disposed about the geometric center and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, an outer core region adjacent the outer core surface and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, and an intermediate core region disposed between the inner and outer core regions;
the single layer core having a first hardness disposed within the inner core region, a second hardness disposed within the outer core region, and a third hardness disposed within the intermediate core region,
wherein the first hardness is from about 60 Shore C to about 85 Shore C, the second hardness is from about 60 Shore C to about 85 Shore C, and the third hardness is from about 40 Shore C to about 75 Shore C, and, the first hardness and second hardness are greater than the third hardness, and
wherein a hardness of the outer surface is substantially the same as or lower than a hardness of the geometric center by up to about 22 Shore C.
14. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the first hardness is from about 62 to 84 Shore C, the second hardness is from about 62 Shore C to about 84 Shore C, and the third hardness is from about 44 Shore C to about 74 Shore C.
15. The golf ball of claim 13 , wherein the first hardness is from about 63 Shore C to about 83 Shore C, the second hardness is from about 63 Shore C to about 83 Shore C, and the third hardness is from about 45 Shore C to about 72 Shore C.
16. A golf ball comprising:
a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core;
said single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface;
the single layer core further comprising an inner core region disposed about the geometric center and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, an outer core region adjacent the outer core surface and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, and an intermediate core region disposed between the inner and outer core regions;
the single layer core having a first hardness disposed within the inner core region, a second hardness disposed within the outer core region, and a third hardness disposed within the intermediate core region,
wherein the first hardness and second hardness are greater than the third hardness by about 13 Shore D or lower, and a hardness of the outer surface is substantially the same as or lower than a hardness of the geometric center.
17. A golf ball comprising:
a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core;
said single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface;
the single layer core further comprising an inner core region disposed about the geometric center and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, an outer core region adjacent the outer core surface and having a thickness of about 5 mm or lower, and an intermediate core region disposed between the inner and outer core regions;
the single layer core having a first hardness disposed within the inner core region, a second hardness disposed within the outer core region, and a third hardness disposed within the intermediate core region,
wherein the first hardness is from about 30 Shore D to about 45 Shore D, the second hardness is from about 30 Shore D to about 45 Shore D, and the third hardness is from about 20 Shore D to about 38 Shore D, and the first hardness hardness and the second hardness are greater than the third hardness, and
wherein a hardness of the outer surface is substantially the same as or lower than a hardness of the geometric center by up to about 13 Shore D.
18. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein the first hardness is from about 33 Shore D to about 44 Shore D, the second hardness is from about 33 Shore D to about 44 Shore D, and the third hardness is from about 22 Shore D to about 36 Shore D.
19. The golf ball of claim 17 , wherein the first hardness is from about 35 Shore D to about 43 Shore D, the second hardness is from about 35 Shore D to about 43 Shore D, and the third hardness is from about 23 Shore D to about 35 Shore D.