In a golf ball having a core, a cover and at least one intermediate layer therebetween, the cover is formed of a rubber composition which includes a diene rubber, methacrylic acid, a metal oxide and an organic peroxide. The cover has a specific Poisson's ratio, Shore D hardness and thickness. At least one intermediate layer has a specific Shore D hardness and thickness. This golf ball, even with the use of a rubber cover, compares favorably with balls having conventional resin covers, both in that it can achieve a lower spin rate on shots with a driver (W #1) and thus has an excellent flight performance and also in that it can improve controllability in the short game.

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.

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having improved ball speed or aerodynamic performance on a rainy day or the like by controlling the formulation of the paint film. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film covering the golf ball body, wherein a paint film surface of the golf ball has a water contact angle A1 of 70° or more and a water sliding angle B1 of less than 50°. The present invention also provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film covering the golf ball body, wherein when a sheet consisting of a slab formed from a composition constituting a golf ball body surface and a coating film formed by applying a paint constituting the paint film on the slab is prepared, a coating film surface of the sheet has a water contact angle A2 of 90° or more and a water sliding angle B2 of less than 52°.

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.

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having improved ball speed or aerodynamic performance on a rainy day or the like by controlling the formulation of the paint film. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film covering the golf ball body, wherein a paint film surface of the golf ball has a water contact angle A1 of 70° or more and a water sliding angle B1 of less than 50°. The present invention also provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film covering the golf ball body, wherein when a sheet consisting of a slab formed from a composition constituting a golf ball body surface and a coating film formed by applying a paint constituting the paint film on the slab is prepared, a coating film surface of the sheet has a water contact angle A2 of 90° or more and a water sliding angle B2 of less than 52°.

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having improved ball speed or aerodynamic performance on a rainy day or the like by controlling the formulation of the paint film. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film covering the golf ball body, wherein a paint film surface of the golf ball has a water contact angle A1 of 70° or more and a water sliding angle B1 of less than 50°. The present invention also provides a golf ball comprising a golf ball body and a paint film covering the golf ball body, wherein when a sheet consisting of a slab formed from a composition constituting a golf ball body surface and a coating film formed by applying a paint constituting the paint film on the slab is prepared, a coating film surface of the sheet has a water contact angle A2 of 90° or more and a water sliding angle B2 of less than 52°.

A golf ball that includes at least one core, and a cover layer formed from a cast polyurethane or polyurea, wherein the cover layer defines a first surface area portion of a uniform first color and a second surface area portion of a uniform second color, and a seam between the first surface area portion and the second surface area portion, wherein the first color is different than the second color.

An uncoated golf ball may include a core, an ultraviolet dis-colorable cover about the core and having an exposed outermost surface and a stamp directly upon the outermost surface of the ultraviolet dis-colorable cover.

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 acid copolymer ionomer. The cover composition also can contain hydroxyl-containing compounds. The golf ball having the thermoplastic polyurethane cover can be treated with an isocyanate compound. The golf ball also can be treated with an amine and/or silane-containing compound. 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.

In a golf ball having a core of at least one layer and a cover of one or more layer encasing the core, at least one layer of the cover is formed of a resin composition that includes (I) a polyurethane or a polyurea and (II) an aromatic vinyl elastomer which together satisfy certain specific conditions. The golf ball has an excellent controllability on approach shots and is also able to maintain a good scuff resistance.