High velocity golf ball

Abstract

Golf balls in accordance with the principles of the present invention exhibit exceptional performance properties and have a high velocity when struck by a driver. A golf ball of the present invention comprises a core, a mantle, and a cover layer. The core is formed of a polybutadiene compound. The mantle is comprised a terpolymers. The cover layer is formed of a composition of one or more ionomers.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising: 
 a solid center having a deflection, under an applied static load of 200 lb., of between about 0.090 inches and about 0.150 inches;    at least one intermediate layer comprised of thermoplastic material; and    a cover layer comprising an ionomer or ionomer blend and having a Shore D hardness, measured on the curved surface of the golf ball, of greater than about 70;    wherein, the golf ball, when struck by a driver club at a clubhead velocity of about 160 feet-per-second, has an initial velocity off the clubhead of greater than about 240 feet-per-second.    
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , where the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of greater than about 0.812 at a test velocity of 150 feet-per-second.  
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the center has a diameter of less than about 1.25 inches.  
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the center has a diameter of less than about 1.125 inches.  
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one intermediate layer(s) has a Shore D hardness as measured on the curved outer surface of the at least one intermediate layer, of between about 55 and about 62.  
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one intermediate layer comprises a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid, wherein about 100% of the acid groups are neutralized with metal ions.  
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one intermediate layer further comprises greater than about 5 parts per hundred of a fatty acid salt chosen from the group consisting of magnesium stearate and magnesium oleate.  
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one intermediate layer comprises a terpolymer of ethylene, acrylic acid, and n-butyl acrylate, wherein about 100% of the acid groups are neutralized with metal ions.  
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one intermediate layer further comprises greater than about 5 parts per hundred of a fatty acid salt chosen from the group consisting of magnesium stearate and magnesium oleate.  
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball has a diameter of about 1.680 in.  
     
     
         11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core, the at least one intermediate layer, and the cover layer have approximately the same specific gravity.  
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the specific gravity of the core, the at least one intermediate layer, and the cover layer is between about 1.115 and about 1.135.  
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball has a diameter of about 1.650 in.  
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the specific gravity of all components is between about 1.175 and about 1.195.  
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball has a diameter of about 1.620 in.  
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the core, the at least one intermediate layer, and the cover layer have approximately the same specific gravity.  
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the specific gravity of all components is between about 1.230 and about 1.270.  
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core is adjusted to a desired specific gravity through use of an inert filler.  
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 18 , wherein the inert filler is chosen from the groups consisting of organic and inorganic materials.  
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the inorganic materials are chosen from the groups consisting of metals, metal oxides, metal sulfates, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one intermediate layer is adjusted to a desired specific gravity through use of an inert filler.  
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 21 , wherein the inert filler is chosen from the groups consisting of organic and inorganic materials.  
     
     
         23 . The golf ball of  claim 22 , wherein the inorganic materials are chosen from the groups consisting of metals, metal oxides, metal sulfates, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         24 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer is adjusted to a desired specific gravity through use of an inert filler.  
     
     
         25 . The golf ball of  claim 24 , wherein the inert filler is chosen from the groups consisting of organic and inorganic materials.  
     
     
         26 . The golf ball of  claim 25 , wherein the inorganic materials are chosen from the groups consisting of metals, metal oxides, metal sulfates, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball, when rotated in a solution of salt water of sufficient density to support the ball, exhibits no single preferred orientation.  
     
     
         28 . A golf ball comprising: 
 a core comprising a polybutadiene;    a mantle comprising a thermoplastic material; and    a cover layer comprising an ionomer;    wherein the golf ball exhibits a coefficient of restitution of greater than about 0.77 when struck by a driver club at a club head speed of 175 feet-per-second.    
     
     
         29 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the golf ball, when struck by a driver club at a clubhead velocity of about 160 ft/s, has an initial velocity off the clubhead of greater than about 238 ft/s.  
     
     
         30 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the polybutadiene comprise a high cis-1,4 content polybutadiene and the core further comprises about 20 to about 28 parts by weight of a co-crosslinking agent comprised primarily of a zinc salt of an unsaturated acrylate, about 3 to about 5 parts by weight of a metal oxide activator, and about 0.8 to about 1.5 parts per hundred resin of a free radical initiator.  
     
     
         31 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the core has a diameter of less than about 1.25.  
     
     
         32 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the thermoplastic material comprises about 70 to about 80% ethylene, about 8 to about 10.5% acrylic acid and about 12 to about 20% n-butyl acrylate.  
     
     
         33 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the core, the mantle, and the cover layer have approximately the same specific gravity.  
     
     
         34 . The golf ball of  claim 33 , wherein the specific gravity of the core, the at least one intermediate layer, and the cover layer is between about 1.115 and about 1.135.  
     
     
         35 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the ball, when rotated in a solution of salt water of sufficient density to support the ball, exhibits no single preferred orientation.  
     
     
         36 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the ball has a diameter of about 1.680 in.  
     
     
         37 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the ball has a diameter of about 1.650 in.  
     
     
         38 . The golf ball of  claim 37 , wherein the specific gravity of all components is between about 1.175 and about 1.195.  
     
     
         39 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the ball has a diameter of about 1.620 in.  
     
     
         40 . The golf ball of  claim 39 , wherein the specific gravity of all components is between about 1.230 and about 1.270.  
     
     
         41 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the core is adjusted to a desired specific gravity through use of an inert filler.  
     
     
         42 . The golf ball of  claim 41 , wherein the inorganic materials are chosen from the groups consisting of metals, metal oxides, metal sulfates, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         43 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the mantle is adjusted to a desired specific gravity through use of an inert filler.  
     
     
         44 . The golf ball of  claim 43 , wherein the inorganic materials are chosen from the groups consisting of metals, metal oxides, metal sulfates, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         45 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the cover layer is adjusted to a desired specific gravity through use of an inert filler.  
     
     
         46 . The golf ball of  claim 45 , wherein the inorganic materials are chosen from the groups consisting of metals, metal oxides, metal sulfates, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         47 . A golf ball comprising: 
 a center;    a mantle; and    a cover layer, the center, the mantle, and the cover layer all having a specific gravity that is substantially identical;    wherein, the golf ball, when struck by a driver club at a clubhead velocity of about 160 feet-per-second, has an initial velocity off the clubhead of greater than about 240 feet-per-second.    
     
     
         48 . The golf ball of  claim 47 , where the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of greater than about 0.812 at a test velocity of about 150 feet-per-second.  
     
     
         49 . The golf ball of  claim 47 , wherein the center has a diameter of less than about 1.25 inches.  
     
     
         50 . The golf ball of  claim 47 , wherein the center has a diameter of less than about 1.125 inches.  
     
     
         51 . The golf ball of  claim 47 , wherein the at least one intermediate layer(s) has a Shore D hardness as measured on the curved outer surface of the mantle, of between about 55 and about 62.  
     
     
         52 . The golf ball of  claim 47 , wherein the mantle comprises a copolymer of ethylene and acrylic acid, wherein about 100% of the acid groups are neutralized with metal ions.  
     
     
         53 . The golf ball of  claim 52 , wherein the at least one intermediate layer further comprises greater than about 5 parts per hundred of a fatty acid salt chosen from the group consisting of magnesium stearate and magnesium oleate.  
     
     
         54 . The golf ball of  claim 47 , wherein the mantle comprises a terpolymer of ethylene, acrylic acid, and n-butyl acrylate, wherein about 100% of the acid groups are neutralized with metal ions.  
     
     
         55 . The golf ball of  claim 54 , wherein the mantle further comprises greater than 5 parts per hundred of a fatty acid salt chosen from the group consisting of magnesium stearate and magnesium oleate.  
     
     
         56 . The golf ball of  claim 47 , wherein the golf ball, when rotated in a solution of salt water of sufficient density to support the ball, exhibits no single preferred orientation.