Low compression golf ball
Disclosed herein are two-layer and three-layer, low compression golf balls including a low compression single- or dual-layer rubber core and a single cover layer.
1. A three-layer golf ball consisting essentially of:
a dual core having a diameter of from 1.550 inches to 1.600 inches, an overall compression of 30 or less, and consisting of:
a center having a diameter of from 1.300 inches to 1.500 inches, a center hardness of 65 Shore C or less, and formed from a first rubber composition; and
an outer core layer having an outer surface hardness of 85 Shore C or less and formed from a second rubber composition; and
a cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition;
wherein the golf ball has a compression of from 25 to 35.
2. The three-layer golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the center hardness of the center is 60 Shore C or less.
3. The three-layer golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the center hardness of the center is from 50 Shore C to 60 Shore C.
4. The three-layer golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the center has an outer surface hardness of 75 Shore C or less.
5. The three-layer golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the center has an outer surface hardness of from 60 Shore C to 70 Shore C.
6. The three-layer golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the center has a positive hardness gradient wherein the interface hardness of the center (H center interface ) is greater than the center hardness (H center ).
7. The three-layer golf ball of claim 6 , wherein H center interface is at least 10 Shore C units greater than H center .
8. The three-layer golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer core layer has a thickness of from 0.05 inches to 0.200 inches.
9. The three-layer golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition of the cover layer is an ionomer blend composition comprising at least 5 wt % of an ethylene octene copolymer, based on the total weight of the thermoplastic composition.
10. A three-layer golf ball consisting essentially of:
a dual core having a diameter of from 1.550 inches to 1.600 inches, an overall compression of 30 or less, and consisting of:
a center having a diameter of from 1.350 inches to 1.500 inches, a center hardness of 65 Shore C or less, an outer surface hardness of 75 Shore C or less, a positive hardness gradient wherein the interface hardness of the center is greater than the center hardness, and formed from a first rubber composition; and
an outer core layer having a thickness of from 0.050 inches to 0.150 inches, an outer surface hardness of 80 Shore C or less, and formed from a second rubber composition; and
a cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising a first ionomer, a second ionomer, a functionalized polyethylene, and from 3 wt % to 10 wt %, based on the total weight of the thermoplastic composition, of an ethylene octene copolymer;
wherein the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer is greater than the outer surface hardness of the center; and
wherein the golf ball has a compression of from 25 to 35.
11. The three-layer golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the diameter of the center is from 1.360 inches to 1.420 inches.
12. The three-layer golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the center has an SCDI compression of 20 or less.
13. The three-layer golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the interface hardness of the center is at least 10 Shore C units greater than the center hardness.
14. The three-layer golf ball of claim 10 , wherein the dual core has a positive hardness gradient wherein the center hardness of the center is at least 15 Shore C units less than the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer.