Multi-layer golf ball
View Patent ↗Multi-piece golf balls having a multi-layered solid core and multi-layered cover are provided.
1. A golf ball consisting essentially of:
an inner core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a diameter of 1.2 inches or greater, a center hardness (H center ) of 60 Shore C or greater, and an outer surface hardness (H center surface ) of 80 Shore C or greater;
an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H intermediate core material ) of 83 Shore C or greater;
an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition having a material hardness (H outer core material ) of 35 Shore D or greater;
an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H inner cover material ) of 95 Shore C or less; and
an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, and copolymers and blends thereof;
wherein a core structure consisting of the inner core layer, the intermediate core layer, and the outer core layer has a diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.55 inches.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H intermediate core material is greater than H outer core material .
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the thermoplastic composition of the intermediate core layer is a partially neutralized ionomer composition comprising an ethylene acid copolymer having acid groups such that the amount of neutralized acid groups is less than 80%.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the highly neutralized polymer composition of the outer core layer is an ionomer composition comprising an ethylene acid copolymer having acid groups such that the amount of neutralized acid groups is 80% or greater.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate core layer has a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.070 inches.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H intermediate core material is 87 Shore C or greater.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface hardness of the intermediate core layer is greater than the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer.
8. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the outer surface hardness of the intermediate core layer is 87 Shore C or greater and the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer is 85 Shore C or greater.
9. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the difference between the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer and the center hardness of the inner core layer is at least 20 Shore C units.
10. The golf ball of claim 7 , wherein the difference between the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer and the center hardness of the inner core layer is at least 25 Shore C units.
11. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H intermediate core material is greater than H inner cover material and H intermediate core material is 86 Shore C or greater and H inner cover material is from 84 Shore C to 92 Shore C.
12. A golf ball consisting essentially of:
an inner core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a diameter of from 1.100 inches to 1.400 inches, a center hardness (H center ) of from 50 Shore C to 75 Shore C, and an outer surface hardness (H center surface ) of from 60 Shore C to 85 Shore C;
an intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H intermediate core material ) of 83 Shore C or greater;
an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition and having an outer surface hardness (H outer core surface ) of from 70 Shore C to 95 Shore C;
an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition having a material hardness (H inner cover material ) of from 80 Shore C to 95 Shore C; and
an outer cover layer formed from a composition selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, and copolymers and blends thereof.
13. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the material hardness of the intermediate core layer composition is greater than the material hardness of the outer core layer composition.
14. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the thermoplastic composition of the intermediate core layer is a partially neutralized ionomer composition comprising an ethylene acid copolymer having acid groups such that the amount of neutralized acid groups is less than 80%.
15. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the highly neutralized polymer composition of the outer core layer is an ionomer composition comprising an ethylene acid copolymer having acid groups such that the amount of neutralized acid groups is 80% or greater.
16. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the intermediate core layer has a thickness of from 0.015 inches to 0.070 inches.
17. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein H intermediate core material is 87 Shore C or greater.
18. The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the outer surface hardness of the intermediate core layer is greater than the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer.
19. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein the outer surface hardness of the intermediate core layer is 87 Shore C or greater and the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer is 85 Shore C or greater.
20. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the difference between the outer surface hardness of the outer core layer and the center hardness of the inner core layer is at least 20 Shore C units.