Multilayer golf ball

1. A golf ball having a diameter and being comprised of a core and a cover, wherein the core is further comprised of a fluid mass at the center of the ball, and a first, solid, non-wound layer surrounding the fluid mass, wherein the first layer comprises a copolymer or terpolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being neutralized at least 80% by a salt of an organic acid or a suitable base of the organic acid, and a less hydrophilic cation source, and wherein the cover comprises polyurethane, polyurea, or a polyurea/polyurethane hybrid.

2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first layer acid being neutralized by contacting one or more acid polymer(s) with an organic acid or a metal salt of an organic acid and a sufficient amount of a less hydrophilic cation source such that at least 90% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

3. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein about 100% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

4. The golf ball of claim 2 , wherein the acid polymer is partially neutralized prior to contacting with the less hydrophilic cation source.

5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the less hydrophilic cation source is selected from metal ions and compounds of potassium, cesium, calcium, barium, manganese, copper, zinc, and tin; silicone, silane, and silicate derivatives and complex ligands; and metal ions and compounds of rare earth elements.

6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has a thickness of about 0.04 to 0.56 inches.

7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball further comprises a second layer encompassing the first layer.

8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first layer further comprises polybutadiene.

9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the fluid mass is a gas, liquid, gel, paste or a combination thereof.

10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the specific gravity of the fluid mass is about 1.3 to 1.55.

11. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the viscosity of the fluid mass is about 100 to 1500 cps.

12. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises an inner cover layer and a thin outer cover layer, wherein the outer cover layer comprises a thermoset material formed from a castable, reactive liquid and the inner cover layer comprises a high flexural modulus material.

13. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has a COR of at least 0.8.

14. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has a Shore C of 45 to 90.

15. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has a compression of 87 or less.

16. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the first layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of 8 g-mil/100 in 2 /day or less.

17. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the first layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of 2 g-mil/100 in 2 /day or less.

18. A golf ball having a diameter and being comprised of a core and a cover, wherein the core is further comprised of a fluid mass at the center of the ball, a shell encompassing the fluid mass, and a first, solid, non-wound mantle layer surrounding the shell, wherein the first mantle layer comprises a copolymer or terpolymer of ethylene and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being neutralized at least 80% by a salt of an organic acid or a suitable base of the organic acid, and a less hydrophilic cation source, and wherein the cover comprises polyurethane, polyurea, or a polyurea/polyurethane hybrid.

19. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein the polymer composition acid being neutralized by contacting one or more acid polymer(s) with an organic acid or a metal salt of an organic acid and a sufficient amount of a less hydrophilic cation source such that at least 90% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

20. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein about 100% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

21. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the acid polymer is partially neutralized prior to contacting with the less hydrophilic cation source.

22. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein the less hydrophilic cation source is selected from metal ions and compounds of potassium, cesium, calcium, barium, manganese, copper, zinc, and tin; silicone, silane, and silicate derivatives and complex ligands; and metal ions and compounds of rare earth elements.

23. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein the first mantle layer has a thickness of about 0.04 to 0.35 inches.

24. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein the first mantle layer further comprises polybutadiene.

25. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein the fluid mass is a gas, liquid, gel, paste or a combination thereof.

26. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein the specific gravity of the fluid mass is about 1.3 to 1.55.

27. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein the viscosity of the fluid mass is about 100 to 1500 cps.

28. The golf ball of claim 18 , where the golf ball has a rate of spin decay of at least 10% of the initial spin rate over the entire ball flight.

29. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein the first layer has a Shore C of 45 to 90.

30. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein the core has a compression of 87 or less.

31. The golf ball of claim 18 , wherein the first layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of 8 g-mil/100 in 2 /day or less.

32. The golf ball of claim 31 , wherein the first layer has a moisture vapor transmission rate of 2 g-mil/100 in 2 /day or less.

33. A golf ball having a diameter and being comprised of a core and a cover, wherein the core is further comprised of a fluid mass at the center of the ball, and a first, solid, non-wound mantle layer surrounding the fluid mass, wherein the first mantle layer comprises a copolymer or terpolymer of ethylene and an α, β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being neutralized at least 80% by a salt of an organic acid or a suitable base of the organic acid and a less hydrophilic cation source, and wherein the cover comprises polyurethane, polyurea, or a polyurea/polyurethane hybrid, wherein the rate of spin decay is at least 10% of an initial spin rate of the golf ball over the entire ball flight.

34. The golf ball of claim 33 , wherein the polymer composition acid being neutralized by contacting one or more acid polymer(s) with an organic acid or a metal salt of an organic acid and a sufficient amount of a less hydrophilic cation source such that at least 90% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

35. The golf ball of claim 34 , wherein about 100% of all acid functionalities present in the polymer composition are neutralized.

36. The golf ball of claim 34 , wherein the acid polymer is partially neutralized prior to contacting with the less hydrophilic cation source.

37. The golf ball of claim 33 , wherein the less hydrophilic cation source is selected from metal ions and compounds of potassium, cesium, calcium, barium, manganese, copper, zinc, and tin; silicone, silane, and silicate derivatives and complex ligands; and metal ions and compounds of rare earth elements.

38. The golf ball of claim 33 , wherein the first mantle layer has a thickness of about 0.04 to 0.56 inches.

39. The golf ball of claim 33 , wherein the first mantle layer further comprises polybutadiene.

40. The golf ball of claim 33 , wherein the golf ball further comprises a shell encompassing the fluid mass.

41. The golf ball of claim 33 , wherein the fluid mass is a gas, liquid, gel, paste or a combination thereof.

42. The golf ball of claim 33 , wherein the specific gravity of the fluid mass is about 1.3 to 1.55.

43. The golf ball of claim 33 , wherein the viscosity of the fluid mass is about 100 to 1500 cps.

44. The golf ball of claim 33 , wherein the cover comprises an inner cover layer and a thin outer cover layer, wherein the outer cover layer comprises a thermoset material formed from a castable, reactive liquid and the inner cover layer comprises a high flexural modulus material.

45. The golf ball of claim 33 , where the golf ball has a rate of spin decay of at least 15% of the initial spin rate over the entire ball flight.