Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. The outer cover layer is formed from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane, a multi-functional hydroxyl compound, and a multi-functional compound selected from multi-functional amines and imines, and multi-functional isocyanates, and mixtures of two or more thereof. The cover composition can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives.

Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. In one embodiment, the outer cover layer is formed from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and epoxy compound. Mixtures of multi-functional amines and imines, and multi-functional isocyanates, and epoxy curing agents; and solvent, can be applied to the outer cover. The resulting coating may contain polyurethanes, polyureas, and hybrids, copolymers, and blends thereof. The cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls have good physical properties.

A method of producing a golf ball applies ultrasonic welding on two half shells to form at least one intermediate layer, at least one cover layer, or at least one intermediate layer and at least one cover layer. The ultrasonic welding may include pressing the two half shells together, delivering a high power electrical signal to a welding stack, and converting the high power electrical signal at the welding stack to ultrasonic energy. The converting may include converting the high power electrical signal into a mechanical vibration, modifying an amplitude of the mechanical vibration to generate a modified mechanical vibration, and applying the modified mechanical vibration to an interface of the two half shells to weld them together ultrasonically. Aspects also relate to golf balls, or one or more layers thereof, made using ultrasonic welding.

A golf ball core, mantle, and/or cover layer(s) of golf ball having a composition comprising functionalized aluminosilicate particles having a particle size of less than 50 μm is disclosed herein. The aluminosilicate microspheres with an average diameter less than 50 μm are functionalized with, but not limited to, polysulfide, vinyl, amino, epoxy, hydroxyl, carboxyl, methacryloyl, hydrocarbon, mercapto and isocyanate.

Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. In one embodiment, the outer cover layer is formed from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and polydimethylsiloxane compound. Functionalized polydimethylsiloxane compounds also can be used to treat thermoplastic polyurethane golf ball covers. The cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls with thermoplastic polyurethane covers have good physical properties.

Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. In one embodiment, the outer cover layer is formed from a composition comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane and multi-functional hydroxyl compound. Mixtures of multi-functional amines and imines, and multi-functional isocyanates, and solvent, can be applied to the outer cover to form at least a partially cross-linked cover. The cover composition can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)-light stabilizers, and other additives. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls have good physical properties.

A golf ball comprising layers that have from 0.05% to 70% by weight of a radio-opaque filler, and wherein the concentration of the radio-opaque filler is measurably different in each layer is disclosed herein. The radio-opaque filler is preferably a compound based on barium, bismuth, tungsten, iodine, or reduced iron.

A golf ball with a cover layer composed of a blend of non- or partially neutralized copolymeric or terpolymeric ionomer(s), hydroxyl-functionalized styrenic block copolymer and silane coupling agent (SCA). The amount of SCA is preferably between 0.01 and 2.0 weight percent based on the total weight of the polymer composition. The cover layer preferably has a Shore A hardness less than 90.

Golf balls having a single or dual-layered solid core are provided. In one embodiment, the golf ball has dimensions and properties that do not conform to the rules of the United States Golf Association (USGA). For example, the ball weight; ball size; ball spherical symmetry; ball initial velocity; and/or ball overall distance may fall outside of the USGA standards. The dual-layered core can have an inner core comprising a thermoplastic composition and surrounding outer core comprising a thermoset composition. In another embodiment, the dual-layered core has an inner core comprising a thermoplastic composition and outer core comprising a thermoset composition. The thermoplastic composition preferably comprises an ethylene acid copolymer ionomer and plasticizer. The thermoset composition preferably comprises polybutadiene rubber. The ball further includes a cover of at least one layer.

A golf ball comprising: (a) a core: (b) an outer cover layer; and (c) optionally, at least one intermediate layer, wherein at least the outer cover layer or the intermediate layer comprises a blend composition of: (i) a metallic coagent; and (ii)(a) at least one polyolefin or (ii)(b) at least one ionomer.