Golf balls having a low modulus HNP layer and a high modulus HNP layer
View Patent ↗The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core consists of a center and an outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard intermediate core layer. The outer core layer is preferably thin relative to the center and the outer core layer. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a low modulus HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a high modulus HNP composition.
1. 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 consists of:
(a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches and a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C;
(b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater and formed from a high modulus HNP composition, the high modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer having a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi; and
(c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, the low modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl(meth)acrylate copolymer having a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi;
wherein H<I and S<I, and
wherein the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP composition is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition.
2. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein H<S, and wherein S—H=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein S<H, and wherein H—S=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the center has a diameter of from 0.750 inches to 1.500 inches and the center hardness (H) is from 50 Shore C to 60 Shore C; the intermediate core layer surface hardness (I) is from 80 Shore C to 90 Shore C; and the outer core layer has a thickness of from 0.010 inches to 0.150 inches and the outer core layer surface hardness (S) is from 50 Shore C to 60 Shore C.
5. The golf ball of claim 4 , wherein the outer core layer has a thickness of from 0.030 inches to 0.070 inches.
6. 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 consists of:
(a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches, a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C, and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, the low modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl(meth)acrylate copolymer having a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi;
(b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater and formed from a high modulus HNP composition, the high modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer having a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi; and
(c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C;
wherein H<I and S<I, and
wherein the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP composition is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition.
7. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein H<S, and wherein S—H=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
8. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein S<H, and wherein H—S=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
9. The golf ball of claim 6 , wherein the center has a diameter of from 0.750 inches to 1.500 inches and the center hardness (H) is from 50 Shore C to 60 Shore C; the intermediate core layer surface hardness (I) is from 80 Shore C to 90 Shore C; and the outer core layer has a thickness of from 0.010 inches to 0.150 inches and the outer core layer surface hardness (S) is from 50 Shore C to 60 Shore C.
10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the outer core layer has a thickness of from 0.030 inches to 0.070 inches.
11. 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 consists of:
(a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches, a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C, and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, the low modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl(meth)acrylate copolymer having a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi;
(b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater; and
(c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C and formed from a high modulus HNP composition, the high modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer having a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi;
wherein H<I and S<I, and
wherein the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP composition is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition.
12. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein H<S, and wherein S—H=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
13. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein S<H, and wherein H—S=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
14. The golf ball of claim 11 , wherein the center has a diameter of from 0.750 inches to 1.500 inches and the center hardness (H) is from 50 Shore C to 60 Shore C; the intermediate core layer surface hardness (I) is from 80 Shore C to 90 Shore C; and the outer core layer has a thickness of from 0.010 inches to 0.150 inches and the outer core layer surface hardness (S) is from 50 Shore C to 60 Shore C.
15. The golf ball of claim 14 , wherein the outer core layer has a thickness of from 0.030 inches to 0.070 inches.
16. 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 consists of:
(a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.50 inches, a center hardness (H) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C, and formed from a high modulus HNP composition, the high modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer having a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi;
(b) an intermediate core layer having a surface hardness (I) of 40 Shore C or greater; and
(c) an outer core layer having a surface hardness (S) of from 20 Shore C to 70 Shore C and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, the low modulus HNP composition comprising a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl(meth)acrylate copolymer having a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi;
wherein H<I and S<I, and
wherein the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP composition is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition.
17. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein H<S, and wherein S—H=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
18. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein S<H, and wherein H—S=D, where D is an integer from 1 to 22.
19. The golf ball of claim 16 , wherein the center has a diameter of from 0.750 inches to 1.500 inches and the center hardness (H) is from 50 Shore C to 60 Shore C; the intermediate core layer surface hardness (I) is from 80 Shore C to 90 Shore C; and the outer core layer has a thickness of from 0.010 inches to 0.150 inches and the outer core layer surface hardness (S) is from 50 Shore C to 60 Shore C.
20. The golf ball of claim 19 , wherein the outer core layer has a thickness of from 0.030 inches to 0.070 inches.