Multi-layer golf ball with translucent cover

Abstract

A golf ball including a center, a translucent cover, and, optionally, at least one intermediate layer disposed between the center and the cover. The cover is preferably formed from a polyurethane composition or a reaction product of polyisocyanate. The cover is further comprised at least one color stabilizer and/or an optical enhancer. Preferably, the intermediate layer contributes to the overall appearance of the ball and can contain pigment and/or optical brighteners.

1 . A golf ball comprised of a ball precursor and a substantially translucent cover comprising polyurea and having greater than 80% of an outer surface thereof covered by substantially round dimples, wherein the substantially round dimples form dimple shadows that have a hexagonal appearance.  
   
   
       2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball has between about 300 and 360 dimples.  
   
   
       3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has between about 360 and 400 dimples.  
   
   
       4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the golf ball has between about 400 and 490 dimples.  
   
   
       5 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball has a coefficient of restitution at 125 ft/sec of between about 0.78 and 0.85.  
   
   
       6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball has a coefficient of restitution at 143 ft/sec of between about 0.76 and 0.84.  
   
   
       7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball precursor is comprised of a core and an intermediate layer.  
   
   
       8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the core has a diameter of greater than about 1.54 inches.  
   
   
       9 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the core has a compression of between 40 and 80.  
   
   
       10 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the core has a compression of less than about 40.  
   
   
       11 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the core has a compression of about 90 to 120.  
   
   
       12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover further comprises color stabilizer comprising a UV absorber or a light stabilizer.  
   
   
       13 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the UV absorber comprises triazines, benzoxazinones, benzotriazoles, benzophenones, benzoates, formamidines, cinnamates/propenoates, aromatic propanediones, benzimidazoles, cycloaliphatic ketones, formanilides, cyanoacrylates, benzopyranones, or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       14 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the UV absorber is present in an amount between about 0.1 weight percent and about 6.0 weight percent.  
   
   
       15 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the UV absorber is present in an amount between about 1.0 weight % to about 5.0 weight %.  
   
   
       16 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the UV absorber is present in an amount between about 3.0 weight % and about 5.0 weight %.  
   
   
       17 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the light stabilizer comprises bis-(substituted) heteropolycyclicdione; N,N′-1,6-hexanediylbis{N-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)-formamide; dimethyl succinate polymer with 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetra-methyl-1-piperidine ethanol; bis-(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl)sebacate; hindered amine; 3-dodecyl-1-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidyl-pyrrolidin-2,5-dione; poly-methylpropyl-3-oxy-[4(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl)piperidinyl]siloxane; bis-(1,2,2,6,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl)-sebacate; bis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)-sebacate; bis-(1-octyloxy-2,2,6,6,tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)sebacate; n-butyl-(3,5-di-t-butyl-4-hydroxybenzyl)bis-(1,2,2,6-pentamethyl-4-piperidinyl)malonate; bis-(2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinyl)sebacate; compounds containing at least one of the following structure:  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
     
     or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       18 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the light stabilizer is present in an amount between about 0.01 weight % and about 3 weight %.  
   
   
       19 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the light stabilizer is present in an amount between about 0.05 weight % and about 2 weight %.  
   
   
       20 . The golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein the light stabilizer is present in an amount between about 0.1 weight % and about 1.0 weight %.  
   
   
       21 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the polyurea is comprised of an isocyanate comprising 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate; polymeric 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate; carbodiimide-modified liquid 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate; 4,4′-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate; p-phenylene diisocyanate; toluene diisocyanate; 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenylene diisocyanate; isophoronediisocyanate; hexamethylene diisocyanate; naphthalene diisocyanate; xylene diisocyanate; p-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate; m-tetramethylxylene diisocyanate; ethylene diisocyanate; propylene-1,2-diisocyanate; tetramethylene-1,4-diisocyanate; cyclohexyl diisocyanate; 1,6-hexamethylene-diisocyanate; dodecane-1,12-diisocyanate; cyclobutane-1,3-diisocyanate; cyclohexane-1,3-diisocyanate; cyclohexane-1,4-diisocyanate; 1-isocyanato-3,3,5-trimethyl-5-isocyanatomethylcyclohexane; methyl cyclohexylene diisocyanate; isocyanurate of methyl cyclohexylene diisocyanate; isocyanurate of 2,4,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexane diisocyanate; tetracene diisocyanate; napthalene diisocyanate; anthracene diisocyanate; or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       22 . A golf ball comprised of a ball precursor and a substantially translucent cover having a thickness of less than about 0.05 inches, the cover comprising polyurea and having greater than 80% of an outer surface thereof covered by substantially round dimples that form shadows having a hexagonal appearance.  
   
   
       23 . The golf ball of  claim 22 , wherein the ball has between about 300 and 360 dimples.  
   
   
       24 . The golf ball of  claim 22 , wherein the golf ball precursor is comprised of a core and an intermediate layer and the intermediate layer is comprised of pigment to contribute to the overall color of the ball.  
   
   
       25 . The golf ball of  claim 22 , wherein the cover is further comprised of a florescent dye, an optical brightener or an optical active chemical additive.  
   
   
       26 . The golf ball of  claim 22 , wherein the cover has a thickness of between about 0.02 inches and about 0.045 inches.