US2025229140A1PendingUtilityA1

Golf balls having reduced driver spin

Assignee: ACUSHNET COPriority: Feb 3, 2023Filed: Apr 7, 2025Published: Jul 17, 2025
Est. expiryFeb 3, 2043(~16.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
A63B 37/0076A63B 37/0027A63B 37/0033A63B 37/0051A63B 37/0096A63B 37/0064A63B 37/0065A63B 37/0075A63B 37/0031A63B 37/0003A63B 37/0092A63B 37/0045A63B 37/00622A63B 37/00621A63B 37/0043A63B 37/0063
75
PatentIndex Score
0
Cited by
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References
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Claims

Abstract

Multi-layer golf ball cores having positive hardness and compression gradients and golf balls including these cores are disclosed. The hardness, compression, and diameter relationships in the core assemblage components help to reduce the spin rate of the ball off the driver while still providing desirable performance characteristics in and around the green.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball, comprising:
 a core assemblage comprising:   a center having a surface hardness H 1 , a diameter D 1 , and a SCDI compression C 1 ;   an inner core layer disposed about the center and having a surface hardness H 2 , a diameter D 2 , and a SCDI compression C 2 , wherein H 1  is about 60 percent to about 90 percent of H 2  and C 1  is about 25 percent to about 60 percent of C 2 ; and   an outer core layer disposed about the inner core layer and having a surface hardness H 3 , a diameter D 3 , and a SCDI compression C 3 , wherein H 2  is about 60 percent to about 90 percent of H 3  and C 2  is about 40 percent to about 80 percent of C 3 ;   an intermediate layer disposed about the core assemblage to form an intermediate ball; and   a cover layer disposed about the intermediate ball.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the center comprises a first rubber formulation comprising a first amount of zinc diacrylate, the inner core layer comprises a second rubber formulation comprising a second amount of zinc diacrylate, and the outer core layer comprises a third rubber formulation comprising a third amount of zinc diacrylate. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein the first amount of zinc diacrylate is about 30 to about 70 percent of the second amount of zinc diacrylate. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball of  claim 3 , wherein the second amount of zinc diacrylate is about 50 to about 75 percent of the third amount of zinc diacrylate. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first, second, and third rubber formulations comprise polybutadiene rubber, butyl rubber, or a blend thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein D 1  is about 60 percent to 80 percent of D 2  and D 2  is about 60 percent to about 80 percent of D 3 . 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover layer has a thickness in the range of about 0.010 to about 0.080 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball of  claim 7 , wherein the cover layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, and hybrids, copolymers, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises an ionomer material. 
     
     
         10 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein H 1  is in the range of about 60 to about 80 Shore C, H 2  is in the range of about 70 to about 90 Shore C, and H 3  is in the range of about 80 to about 100 Shore C to provide a positive hardness gradient from the center to the outer core layer. 
     
     
         11 . A golf ball, comprising:
 a core assemblage comprising:
 a center having a surface hardness H 1 , a diameter D 1 , and a SCDI compression C 1 ; 
 an inner core layer disposed about the center and having a surface hardness H 2 , a diameter D 2 , and a SCDI compression C 2 , wherein 
   
       
         
           
             
               
                 0.2 
                 ≤ 
                 
                   
                     
                       H 
                       1 
                     
                     
                       H 
                       2 
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       C 
                       2 
                     
                     
                       C 
                       1 
                     
                   
                 
                 ≤ 
                 0.5 
               
               ; 
             
           
         
       
       and
   an outer core layer disposed about the inner core layer and having a surface hardness H 3 , a diameter D 3 , and a SCDI compression C 3 , wherein   
 
       
         
           
             
               
                 0.5 
                 ≤ 
                 
                   
                     
                       H 
                       2 
                     
                     
                       H 
                       3 
                     
                   
                   
                     
                       C 
                       3 
                     
                     
                       C 
                       2 
                     
                   
                 
                 ≤ 
                 0.8 
               
               ; 
             
           
         
         an intermediate layer disposed about the core assemblage to form an intermediate ball; and 
         a cover layer disposed about the intermediate ball. 
       
     
     
         12 . The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein H 1  is in the range of about 60 to about 80 Shore C, H 2  is in the range of about 70 to about 90 Shore C, and H 3  is in the range of about 80 to about 100 Shore C to provide a positive hardness gradient from the center to the outer core layer. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein 
       
         
           
             
               0.15 
               ≤ 
               
                 
                   
                     H 
                     1 
                   
                   
                     H 
                     3 
                   
                 
                 
                   
                     C 
                     3 
                   
                   
                     C 
                     1 
                   
                 
               
               ≤ 
               
                 0.35 
                 . 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     
         14 . The golf ball of  claim 10 , wherein the center comprises a first rubber formulation comprising a first amount of co-agent, the inner core layer comprises a second rubber formulation comprising a second amount of co-agent, and the outer core layer comprises a third rubber formulation comprising a third amount of co-agent. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball of  claim 14 , wherein the first amount of co-agent is about 30 to about 70 percent of the second amount of co-agent. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball of  claim 15 , wherein the second amount of co-agent is about 50 to about 75 percent of the third amount of co-agent. 
     
     
         17 . A golf ball, comprising:
 a core assemblage comprising:
 a center having a surface hardness H 1 , a diameter D 1 , and a SCDI compression C 1 ; 
 an inner core layer disposed about the center having a surface hardness H 2 , a diameter D 2 , and a SCDI compression C 2 ; and 
 an outer core layer disposed about the inner core layer and having a surface hardness H 3 , a diameter D 3 , and a SCDI compression C 3 , wherein C 2  is about 50 percent to about 80 percent of C 3 , and wherein 
   
       
         
           
             
               
                 
                   
                     1 
                     2 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         H 
                         1 
                       
                       + 
                       
                         H 
                         2 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
                 > 
                 
                   
                     1 
                     3 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         H 
                         1 
                       
                       + 
                       
                         H 
                         3 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                       
                   and 
                   ⁢ 
                       
                   
                     1 
                     2 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         H 
                         1 
                       
                       + 
                       
                         H 
                         2 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
                 > 
                 
                   
                     1 
                     3 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         H 
                         2 
                       
                       + 
                       
                         H 
                         3 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                 
               
               ; 
             
           
         
         an intermediate layer disposed about the core assemblage to form an intermediate ball; and 
         a cover layer disposed about the intermediate ball. 
       
     
     
         18 . The golf ball of  claim 17 , wherein H 1  is in the range of about 60 to about 80 Shore C, H 2  is in the range of about 70 to about 90 Shore C, and H 3  is in the range of about 80 to about 100 Shore C to provide a positive hardness gradient from the center to the outer core layer. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball of  claim 17 , wherein the cover layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethanes, polyureas, and hybrids, copolymers, and blends thereof. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball of  claim 17 , wherein the intermediate layer comprises an ionomer material.

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