GOLF BALL INCLUDING A LONG-CHAIN BRANCHED NEODYMIUM-CATALYZED POLYBUTADIENE COMPONENT
The invention is directed to a golf ball comprising a long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 content of at least about 96% and a solution viscosity of less than 165 mPa·s, wherein the overall golf ball comprises a COR of at least about 0.780 and an Atti compression of from about 25 to about 120. The invention is also directed to a golf ball comprising a core, a cover and optionally an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover; wherein at least one of said core, cover and intermediate layer comprises a polybutadiene composition comprising a long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 content of at least about 96% and a solution viscosity of less than 165 mPa·s. In another embodiment, the golf ball comprises a core, a cover and optionally an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover; wherein said core comprises a polybutadiene composition comprising a long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 content of at least about 96% and a solution viscosity of less than 165 mPa·s.
1 . A golf ball comprising a long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 content of at least about 96% and a solution viscosity of less than 165 mPa·s,
wherein the overall golf ball comprises a COR of at least about 0.780 and an Atti compression of from about 25 to about 120.
2 . The golf ball of claim 1 , comprising the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of at least about 5 wt %.
3 . The golf ball of claim 1 , comprising the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of at least about 10 wt %.
4 . The golf ball of claim 1 , comprising the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of at least about 15 wt %.
5 . The golf ball of claim 1 , comprising the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of from about 2 wt % to about 5 wt % or greater.
6 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the COR is at least about 0.791.
7 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the COR is at least about 0.797.
8 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the COR is at least about 0.803.
9 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the solution viscosity of the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene is less than 155 mPa·s.
10 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the solution viscosity of the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene is less than 145 mPa·s.
11 . The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the solution viscosity of the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene is less than 115 mPa·s.
12 . A golf ball comprising:
a core, a cover and optionally an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover;
wherein at least one of said core, cover and intermediate layer comprises a polybutadiene composition comprising a long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 content of at least about 96% and a solution viscosity of less than 165 mPa·s.
13 . The golf ball of claim 12 , the at least one of said core, cover and intermediate layer comprising the polybutadiene composition in an amount of at least about 5 wt %.
14 . The golf ball of claim 12 , the polybutadiene composition comprising the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of at least about 5 wt %.
15 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the at least one of said core, cover and intermediate layer comprises the polybutadiene composition in an amount of at least about 5 wt % and wherein the polybutadiene composition comprises the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of at least about 5 wt %.
16 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the core, cover and intermediate layer comprises the polybutadiene composition in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 95 wt %.
17 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the core, cover and intermediate layer comprises the polybutadiene composition in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 85 wt %.
18 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the core, cover and intermediate layer comprises the polybutadiene composition in an amount of up to about 100 wt %.
19 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the polybutadiene composition of the at least one of the core, intermediate layer and cover comprises the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 95 wt %.
20 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the polybutadiene composition of the at least one of the core, intermediate layer and cover comprises the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 85 wt %.
21 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the polybutadiene composition of the at least one of the core, intermediate layer and cover comprises the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of up to about 100 wt %.
22 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the COR is at least about 0.791.
23 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the COR is at least about 0.797.
24 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the COR is at least about 0.803.
25 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the solution viscosity of the polybutadiene composition is less than 155 mPa·s.
26 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the solution viscosity of the polybutadiene composition is less than 145 mPa·s.
27 . The golf ball of claim 12 , wherein the solution viscosity of the polybutadiene composition is less than 115 mPa·s.
28 . A golf ball comprising:
a core, a cover and optionally an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover;
wherein said core comprises a polybutadiene composition comprising a long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene having a cis-1,4 content of at least about 96% and a solution viscosity of less than 165 mPa·s.
29 . The golf ball of claim 28 , said core, cover and intermediate layer comprising the polybutadiene composition in an amount of at least about 5 wt %.
30 . The golf ball of claim 28 , the polybutadiene composition comprising the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of at least about 5 wt %.
31 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein said core comprises the polybutadiene composition in an amount of at least about 5 wt % and wherein the polybutadiene composition comprises the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of at least about 5 wt %.
32 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein the core comprises the polybutadiene composition in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 95 wt %.
33 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein the core comprises the polybutadiene composition in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 85 wt %.
34 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein the core comprises the polybutadiene composition in an amount of up to about 100 wt %.
35 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein the polybutadiene composition of the core comprises the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of from about 5 wt % to about 95 wt %.
36 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein the polybutadiene composition of the core comprises the long-chain branched neodymium-catalyzed polybutadiene in an amount of from about 10 wt % to about 85 wt %.
37 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein the COR is at least about 0.791.
38 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein the COR is at least about 0.797.
39 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein the COR is at least about 0.803.
40 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein the solution viscosity of the polybutadiene composition is less than 155 mPa·s.
41 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein the solution viscosity of the polybutadiene composition is less than 145 mPa·s.
42 . The golf ball of claim 28 , wherein the solution viscosity of the polybutadiene composition is less than 115 mPa·s.