Dual cores for golf balls
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a dual core component, an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer. The dual core comprises an interior spherical center component formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof. The dual core also comprises a core layer disposed about the center component, formed from a thermoset material, a thermoplastic material, or combinations thereof. The inner cover layer is comprised of a high acid ionomer or ionomer blend. The outer cover layer is comprised of a soft, very low modulus ionomer or ionomer blend, or a non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer such as polyurethane, polyester or polyesteramide. The present invention golf ball may further comprise an outer core layer that surrounds the dual core. The resulting multi-layered golf ball of the present invention provides for enhanced distance without sacrificing playability or durability when compared to known multi-layer golf balls.
1. A golf ball comprising:
a dual core comprising a center component, and a core layer disposed about said center component, wherein at least one of said center component and said core layer comprises polybutadiene;
an inner cover layer molded on said dual core, the inner cover layer comprising a high acid ionomer including at least 16% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid; and
an outer cover layer molded on said inner cover layer, said outer cover layer comprising a relatively soft polymeric material selected from non-ionomeric elastomers, wherein the non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer is a polyester elastomer or a polyester amide.
2. A golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein said center component comprises a material selected from the group consisting of thermosets, thermoplastics, and combinations thereof.
3. A golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein said core layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of thermosets, thermoplastics, and combinations thereof.
4. A golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the inner cover layer comprises a high acid ionomer resin comprising a copolymer of about 17% to about 25% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid.
5. A golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the inner cover layer comprises a high acid ionomer resin comprising a copolymer of about 18.5% to about 21.5% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid.
6. A golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the inner cover layer has a thickness of about 0.100 to about 0.010 inches and the outer cover layer has a thickness of about 0.010 to about 0.05 inches, the golf ball having an overall diameter of 1.680 inches or more.
7. A golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the inner cover layer has a thickness of about 0.030 to about 0.0375 inches and the outer cover layer has a thickness of about 0.030 to about 0.0375 inches, the golf ball having an overall diameter of 1.680 inches or more.
8. A golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer is a polyester elastomer.
9. A golf ball according to claim 1 , wherein the non-ionomeric thermoplastic elastomer is a polyester amide.
10. A multi-layer golf ball comprising:
a spherical dual core;
an inner cover layer disposed on said spherical dual core to form a spherical intermediate ball, said inner cover layer comprising an ionomeric resin including about 17% to about 25% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid and having a modulus of from about 15,000 to about 70,000 psi; and
an outer cover layer molded on said spherical intermediate ball to form a multi-layer golf ball, the outer cover layer comprising a non-ionomeric thermoplastic selected from the group consisting polyester elastomer, polyester polyurethane and polyester amide, said outer cover layer having a modulus in the range at about 1,000 to about 30,000 psi and having a scuff resistance of 3.0 or less.
11. A golf ball according to claim 10 , wherein said dual core comprises a center component and a core layer disposed about said center component, said center component comprises a material selected from the group consisting of thermosets, thermoplastics, and combinations thereof.
12. A golf ball according to claim 11 , wherein said core layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of thermosets, thermoplastics, and combinations thereof.
13. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 10 wherein the scuff resistance is no more than 2.5.
14. The multi-layer golf ball of claim 10 wherein the scuff resistance is no more than 2.0.
15. A golf ball comprising:
a dual core comprising a center component, and a core layer disposed about said center component, wherein at least one of said center component and said core layer comprises polybutadiene;
an inner cover layer disposed on said dual core, the inner cover layer including a high acid ionomer including at least 16% by weight of an alpha, beta-unsaturated carboxylic acid; and
an outer cover layer formed about said inner cover layer, said outer cover layer comprising a non-ionomeric thermoplastic selected from the group consisting polyester elastomer, polyester polyurethane and polyester amide, said outer cover layer having a modulus in the range of about 1,000 to about 30,000 psi and having a scuff resistance of 3.0 or less.
16. The golf ball of claim 15 wherein the scuff resistance is no more than 2.0.