Golf ball

Abstract

A high CoR golf ball having predetermined moment of inertia is provided. A portion of the golf ball preferably contains substantially no filler, which contributes to the increased resilience of the ball. In accordance to one aspect of the invention, the portion with substantially no filler is an intermediate layer of the ball, and preferably is the outer core layer of the ball. The remaining portions of the ball preferably contribute to the moment of inertia of the ball. To craft a low moment of inertia ball, the innermost core should have a high specific gravity. Additionally, the outermost layers of the ball may have a low specific gravity. Conversely, to craft a high moment of inertia ball, the ball should have a thin dense layer positioned radially outward from its centroid radius. Additionally, the innermost core may have a low specific gravity. To craft a mid range moment of inertia ball, the ball may comprise a high specific gravity inner core and a thin dense layer. Preferably, the portion with substantially no filler is relatively larger than other portions of the ball.

1 . A golf ball comprising: 
 a core, an outer core, a high-specific-gravity layer disposed around the core wherein said layer having a thickness between about 0.001 and about 0.050 inches and a specific gravity of greater than 1.8, and a cover of at least one layer disposed around the high-specific-gravity layer,    wherein said core comprises a specific-gravity-reducing agent, and a diameter from about 0.50 inch to about 1.54 inches and a specific gravity of less than 0.9, and    wherein the outer core has thickness of about 0.05 inch to about 0.575 inch and a specific gravity of about 0.5 to about 1.05.    
   
   
       2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover has a Shore D hardness of less than 65.  
   
   
       3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the cover has a Shore D hardness of less than 60.  
   
   
       4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the outer core has a specific gravity of about 0.8 to about 0.96.  
   
   
       5 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein the outer core comprises substantially no filler.  
   
   
       6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the specific gravity of the outer core is higher than the specific gravity of the inner core.  
   
   
       7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core comprises a polymer selected from a group consisting of partially or fully neutralized ionomer, metallocene or other catalyzed polymer, polyurethane, silicone, thermoplastic elastomer, thermosetting elastomer, metal salt of a fatty acid, and melt processible composition, which comprises a highly neutralized ethylene copolymer and one or more aliphatic, mono-functional organic acids having fewer than 36 carbon atoms of salts thereof, wherein greater than 90% of all the acid of the ethylene copolymer is neutralized.  
   
   
       8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a material selected from a group consisting of polyurethane, partially or fully neutralized ionomer, polyurea, polyurethane ionomer, metallocene or other catalyzed polymer, silicone, metal salt of a fatty acid and melt processible composition, which comprises a highly neutralized ethylene copolymer and one or more aliphatic, mono-functional organic acids having fewer than 36 carbon atoms of salts thereof, wherein greater than 90% of all the acid of the ethylene copolymer is neutralized.  
   
   
       9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a polymer selected from a group consisting of compression molded thermoset polyurethane, compression molded thermoplastic polyurethane, compression molded thermoset polyurethane copolymer, compression molded thermoplastic polyurethane copolymer, injection molded thermoset polyurethane, injection molded thermoplastic polyurethane, injection molded thermoset polyurethane copolymer, injection molded thermoplastic polyurethane copolymer, reaction injection molded thermoset polyurethane, reaction injection molded thermoplastic polyurethane, reaction injection molded thermoset polyurethane copolymer, reaction injection molded thermoplastic polyurethane copolymer, cast thermoplastic polyurethane, cast thermosetting polyurethane, cast thermoplastic polyurethane copolymer, and cast thermosetting polyurethane copolymer.  
   
   
       10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein in the core comprises a polymer selected from a group consisting of chemically foamed thermoplastic, physically foamed thermoplastic, chemically foamed thermoset and physically foamed thermoset.