Golf Ball With Specified Core Compression Ratio

Abstract

A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of highly neutralized polymer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The cover is a two layer cover, with a hard inner cover and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer cover. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as feel and sound.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising:
 an inner core layer, the inner core layer comprising a highly neutralized polymer;   the inner core layer having an inner core layer diameter of between about 23 mm and 27 mm;   an outer core layer enclosing the inner core layer, wherein the outer core layer comprises polybutadiene rubber;   the outer core layer having an outer core layer thickness of at least 4.8 mm;   the outer core layer having an outer core layer 10/130 compression between 2.7 mm and 3.3 mm when measured with an initial load of 10 kg and a final load of 130 kg;   the outer core layer having an outer core layer 0.5/30 compression between 1.5 mm and 1.9 mm when measured with an initial load of 0.5 kg and a final load of 30 kg.;   the outer core layer having a compression ratio of the 0.5/30 compression to the 10/130 compression of between 0.45 and 0.55;   a core diameter of the inner core layer diameter and the outer core layer thickness, wherein the core diameter is between 34 mm and 39 mm; and   an outer cover layer enclosing the outer core layer, the outer cover layer comprising thermoplastic polyurethane.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer has an inner core layer 10/130 compression of up to 4.3 mm when measured with an initial load of 10 kg and a final load of 130 kg. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer comprises a highly neutralized polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer consists essentially of two different highly neutralized polymers and an additional material. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 4 , wherein the additional material comprises at least one of a filler, an additive, and a melt flow modifier. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer is adhered to the outer core layer with an adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer has an inner core layer 10/130 compression between 3.5 mm and 4.1 mm when measured with an initial load of 10 kg and a final load of 130 kg. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , further comprising an inner cover layer enclosing the outer core layer. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the inner cover layer comprises urethane. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 8 , wherein the inner cover layer comprises an ionomer resin. 
     
     
         11 . A golf ball comprising:
 an inner core layer, the inner core layer comprising a highly neutralized polymer;   the inner core layer having an inner core layer diameter of between about 23 mm and 27 mm;   an outer core layer enclosing the inner core layer, wherein the outer core layer comprises polybutadiene rubber;   the outer core layer having an outer core layer thickness of at least 4.8 mm;   the outer core layer having an outer core layer 0.2/5 compression between 1.5 mm and 1.9 mm when measured with an initial load of 0.2 kg and a final load of 5 kg.;   the outer core layer having an outer core layer 10/130 compression when measured with an initial load of 10 kg and a final load of 130 kg;   the outer core layer having a compression ratio of the outer core layer 0.2/5 compression to the outer core layer 10/130 compression of between 0.3 and 0.4;   a core diameter of the inner core layer diameter together with the outer core layer thickness, wherein the core diameter is between 34 mm and 39 mm; and   an outer cover layer enclosing the outer core layer, the outer cover layer comprising thermoplastic polyurethane.   
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the inner core layer has an inner core layer 10/130 compression of up to 4.3 mm when measured with an initial load of 10 kg and a final load of 130 kg. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the inner core layer comprises a highly neutralized polymer. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the inner core layer consists essentially of two different highly neutralized polymers and an additional material. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 14 , wherein the additional material comprises at least one of a filler, an additive, and a melt flow modifier. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the inner core layer is adhered to the outer core layer with an adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , wherein the inner core layer has an inner core layer 10/130 compression between 3.5 mm and 4.1 mm when measured with an initial load of 10 kg and a final load of 130 kg. 
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 11 , further comprising an inner cover layer enclosing the outer core layer. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 18 , wherein the inner cover layer comprises a thermoplastic material. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the inner cover layer comprises urethane. 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the inner cover layer comprises an ionomer resin. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the inner cover layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of: a highly neutralized polymer composition, a polyamide resin, a polyester resin, and a polyurethane resin.