Buoyant, high coefficient of restitution (CoR) golf ball having a reduced flight distance yet the perceived flight trajectory of regular distance high CoR golf balls
Golf ball having CoR of at least 0.810, specific gravity SG B of less than 1.00 g/cc, and initial velocity of at least 250 ft/s and comprising a first layer L 1 , a second layer L 2 surrounding L 1 , and a third layer L 3 surrounding L 2 . L 1 is formed from at least one highly neutralized polymer and has first specific gravity SG 1 ; L 2 is formed from at least one partially neutralized polymer and has second specific gravity SG 2 ; and L 3 is formed from at least one of a thermoset or thermoplastic composition and has third specific gravity SG 3 . At least two of SG 1 , SG 2 , and SG 3 is less than 1.13 g/cc. SG 1 may be less than 1.13 g/cc, or less than 1.0 g/cc. The thermoset or thermoplastic composition may comprise polyurethane(s), polyurea(s), polyurethane(s)/polyurea(s) hybrids, and/or ionomers such as at least partially neutralized polymers and/or HNPs.
1. A golf ball comprising:
a first layer L 1 formed from at least one highly neutralized polymer and having a first specific gravity SG 1 of from 0.95 g/cc to 0.99 g/cc;
a second layer L 2 surrounding L 1 and being formed of at least one partially neutralized polymer and having a second specific gravity SG 2 ; and
a third layer L 3 surrounding L 2 and being formed from at least one of a thermoset or thermoplastic composition and having a third specific gravity SG 3 ;
wherein SG 1 is less than or equal to SG 3 and SG 3 is 1.13 g/cc or less; and
wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution (CoR) of at least 0.810, a specific gravity SG B of less than 1.00 g/cc, and an initial velocity of at least 250 ft/s.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball CoR is greater than 0.810.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein a ΔSG between each of SG 1 , SG 2 , and SG 3 is no greater than 0.50.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein a ΔSG between each of SG 1 , SG 2 , and SG 3 is from 0.05 to 0.30.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein a ΔSG between each of SG 1 , SG 2 , and SG 3 is up to 0.20.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein SG 2 is less than 1.00 g/cc.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the initial velocity is at least about 253 ft/s.
8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the initial velocity is greater than 254 ft/s.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein L 2 has a CoR of least 0.810; and the finished golf ball has a CoR of at least 0.810.
10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein a ΔSG between SG 1 and SG B is less than 0.17.
11. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has a diameter of 1.70 inches or greater, wherein the at least one highly neutralized polymer of first layer L 1 is foamed, and first layer L 1 has a diameter of 1.30 inches or greater.
12. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein L 3 has a thickness that is greater than a thickness of L 2 .
13. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the SG 2 is less than 1.0 g/cc and greater than SG 1 .
14. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the thermoset or thermoplastic composition is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane(s), polyurea(s), polyurethane(s)/polyurea(s) hybrids, ionomers, and combinations thereof.
15. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the highly neutralized polymer is blended with an ionomer of ethylene acid acrylate terpolymer and the partially neutralized polymer is a blend of ionomers.
16. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the difference in Shore C hardness between a center of L 1 and an outer surface of L 1 is from 0 to 5 hardness points.
17. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein L 1 comprises a core having a diameter of at least 1.7 inches, L 2 comprises an inner cover layer; and L 3 comprises an outer cover layer; wherein the golf ball has a diameter of greater than 1.80 inches.
18. A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core has an overall diameter of from 1.40 inches to 1.60 inches and comprises a center L 1 and an outer core layer L 2 ,
L 1 having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches, a surface hardness of 65 Shore C or greater, a center hardness (H), and formed from at least one highly neutralized polymer composition having a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer wherein at least 80% of the acid groups of the acid copolymer are neutralized; and having a first specific gravity SG 1 ;
L 2 surrounding L 1 and being formed of at least one partially neutralized polymer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 90 Shore C and formed from a partially neutralized polymer composition, the partially neutralized polymer composition having a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprising a partially neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer wherein 40% to 100% of the acid groups of the acid copolymer are neutralized; and having a second specific gravity SG 2 ; and
a third layer L 3 surrounding L 2 and formed from at least one polyurethane and having a third specific gravity SG 3 ;
wherein S−H=D , where D is an integer from 1 to 22, and
wherein the material hardness of the highly neutralized composition used to form L 1 is less than the material hardness of the partially neutralized composition used to form L 2 ; and
wherein SG 1 is from 0.95 g/cc to 0.99 g/cc and less than or equal to SG 3 ; and wherein SG 3 is 1.13 g/cc or less; and
wherein the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution (CoR) of at least 0.810, a specific gravity SG B of less than 1.00 g/cc and an initial velocity of at least 250 ft/s.