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 dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of a center having a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, and an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 Shore C or greater and formed from a high modulus HNP composition. Low modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi. High modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi. The modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition. The cover consists of an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition.
1. A golf ball consisting essentially of:
(a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.30 inches, a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater, 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 at least 80% of the acid groups of the acid copolymer are neutralized;
(b) an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 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, wherein 40% to 100% of the acid groups present in the high modulus HNP composition are neutralized;
(c) an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a material hardness less than the surface hardness of the outer core layer; and
(d) an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition;
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 the surface hardness of the outer core layer is at least 20 Shore C units greater than the center hardness.
3. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the outer cover layer has a material hardness less than the surface hardness of the outer core layer.
4. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the center has a center hardness of from 55 Shore C to 70 Shore C.
5. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the surface hardness of the outer core layer is 85 Shore C or greater, and the inner cover layer has a material hardness of 90 Shore C or less.
6. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the surface hardness of the outer core layer is 90 Shore C or greater, and the inner cover layer has a material hardness of 90 Shore C or less.
7. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has an overall dual core compression of from 75 to 90.
8. The golf ball of claim 1 , wherein the core has an overall dual core diameter of from 1.52 inches to 1.59 inches.
9. A golf ball consisting essentially of:
(a) a center having a diameter of from 0.50 inches to 1.30 inches, a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater, 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 40% to 100% of the acid groups present in the low modulus HNP composition are neutralized;
(b) an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 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, wherein at least 80% of the acid groups of the acid copolymer are neutralized;
(c) an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a material hardness less than the surface hardness of the outer core layer; and
(d) an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition;
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.
10. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the surface hardness of the outer core layer is at least 20 Shore C units greater than the center hardness.
11. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the outer cover layer has a material hardness less than the surface hardness of the outer core layer.
12. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the center has a center hardness of from 55 Shore C to 70 Shore C.
13. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the surface hardness of the outer core layer is 85 Shore C or greater, and the inner cover layer has a material hardness of 90 Shore C or less.
14. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the surface hardness of the outer core layer is 90 Shore C or greater, and the inner cover layer has a material hardness of 90 Shore C or less.
15. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the core has an overall dual core compression of from 75 to 90.
16. The golf ball of claim 9 , wherein the core has an overall dual core diameter of from 1.52 inches to 1.59 inches.