Thick inner cover multi-layer golf ball
View Patent ↗A golf ball including a core having a compression of about 50 or less and a COR of 0.800 or greater, a thermoset polyurea cover having a hardness of 64 Shore D or less and a thickness of 0.02 inches to 0.1 inches, and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer having a thickness of 0.110 inches or greater and comprising a partially- or fully-neutralized ionomer. A combination of the core and the intermediate layer has a compression of 60 or greater and the golf ball has a COR of 0.805 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s and greater than 0.75 when measured at an incoming velocity of 160 ft/s.
1. A golf ball comprising:
a core having a compression of 50 or less and a coefficient of restitution of 0.800 or greater;
an outer cover comprising a crosslinked diene rubber composition, the cover having a hardness of 64 Shore D or less and a thickness of 0.02 inches to 0.1 inches; and
an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer having a thickness of 0.11 inches or greater and comprising a partially- or fully-neutralized ionomer;
wherein the crosslinked diene rubber composition comprises a polybutadiene rubber having a cis-structure of at least 95%, a molecular weight of greater than about 400,000, a Mooney viscosity of greater than 50, and a polydispersity of no greater than about 2, and a combination of the core and the intermediate layer has a compression of about 60 or greater and the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of 0.805 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s and greater than 0.75 when measured at an incoming velocity of 160 ft/s.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the combination of the core and the intermediate layer has a compression of 70 to 100, and the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of 0.805 to 0.820 when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s and a compression of 75 to 105.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has a compression of 80 or greater.
4. The golf ball of claim 3 , wherein the golf ball has a compression of 90 or greater.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has a diameter of 0.5 inches to 1.4 inches and a compression of 45 or less; and the intermediate layer has a flexural modulus of 50,000 psi to 150,000 psi and a thickness of 0.12 inches or greater.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a center and at least one outer core layer.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has a diameter of 0.8 inches to 1.3 inches and the intermediate layer has a flexural modulus of 50,000 psi to 150,000 psi and a thickness of 0.17 inches or greater.
8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the golf ball further comprises an inner cover layer disposed between the outer cover layer and the intermediate layer.
9. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness of 55 Shore D to 70 Shore D.
10. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein a combination of the intermediate layer and the core has a coefficient of restitution of 0.810 to 0.820 when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s.
11. A golf ball comprising:
a core having a compression of 50 or less and a coefficient of restitution of 0.800 or greater;
an outer cover comprising a crosslinked diene rubber composition, the cover having a hardness of 64 Shore D or less and a thickness of 0.02 inches to 0.1 inches; and
an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer having a thickness of 0.11 inches or greater and comprising a fully-neutralized thermoplastic material comprising a highly-neutralized thermoplastic material comprising an ethylene, α,β-ethylenically unsaturated C 3-8 carboxylic acid copolymer(s), a fatty acid salt, and a sufficient amount of a cation source to increase the level of neutralization of all the acid moieties to 100%;
wherein the crosslinked diene rubber composition comprises a polybutadiene rubber having a cis-structure of at least 95%, a molecular weight of greater than about 400,000, a Mooney viscosity of greater than 50, and a polydispersity of no greater than about 2, and a combination of the core and the intermediate layer has a compression of 60 or greater and the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of 0.805 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s and greater than 0.75 when measured at an incoming velocity of 160 ft/s.
12. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the core has a diameter of 0.5 inches to 1.4 inches and a compression of 45 or less; and the intermediate layer has a flexural modulus of 50,000 psi to 150,000 psi and a thickness of about 0.12 inches or greater.
13. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the core has a diameter of 0.8 inches to 1.4 inches.
14. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the core comprises a center and at least one outer core layer.
15. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein a combination of the core and the intermediate layer has a compression of 70 to 100, and the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of 0.805 to 0.820 when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s and a compression of 75 to 105.
16. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the golf ball has a compression of 80 or greater.
17. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the golf ball has a compression of 90 or greater.
18. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the core has a diameter of 0.8 inches to 1.3 inches and the intermediate layer has a flexural modulus of 50,000 psi to 150,000 psi and a thickness of 0.17 inches or greater.
19. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the golf ball further comprises an inner cover layer disposed between the outer cover layer and the intermediate layer.
20. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the intermediate layer has a hardness of 55 Shore D to 70 Shore D.