Filler-impregnated golf ball core blend

Abstract

A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core comprises a blend of a first polybutadiene-based material and a second polybutadiene-based material pre-impregnated with at least about 50 weight percent of a filler.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein the core comprises a blend of a first polybutadiene-based material and a second polybutadiene-based material pre-impregnated with at least about 50 weight percent of a filler.  
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the filler is selected from the group consisting of precipitated hydrated silica; clay; talc; asbestos; glass fibers; aramid fibers; mica; calcium metasilicate; barium sulfate; zinc sulfide; lithopone; silicates; silicon carbide; diatomaceous earth; polyvinyl chloride; carbonates; calcium carbonate; magnesium carbonate; titanium; tungsten; aluminum; bismuth; nickel; molybdenum; iron; lead; copper; boron; cobalt; beryllium; zinc; tin; steel; brass; bronze; boron carbide; tungsten carbide; metal oxides; zinc oxide; iron oxide; aluminum oxide; titanium oxide; magnesium oxide; zirconium oxide; particulate carbonaceous materials; graphite; carbon black; cotton flock; natural bitumen; cellulose flock; leather fiber; glass and ceramic microspheres; fly ash; and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the filler is tungsten.  
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the second polybutadiene-based material is pre-impregnated with at least about 70 weight percent of a filler.  
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the second polybutadiene-based material is pre-impregnated with at least about 80 weight percent of a filler.  
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a center and an outer core layer.  
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , where in the cover comprises an outer cover layer and an inner cover layer.  
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the outer or inner cover layers has a thickness of about 0.03 to about 0.04 inches.  
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the outer cover layer comprises a thermoplastic or thermoset polyurethane.  
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core has an outer diameter of at least about 1.55 inches.  
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core has a weight of less than about 1.62 oz.  
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the core has a weight of less than about 1.6 oz.  
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the second polybutadiene-based material comprises less than about 5 percent filler by weight.  
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the second polybutadiene-based material comprises less than about 1 percent filler by weight.  
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 14 , wherein the second polybutadiene-based material comprises less than about 0.05 percent filler by weight.