A unique method of embedding an RFID chip into the core of a golf ball and using it in the application of a limited flight range ball for use in a range setup that can receive and monitor RFID signals is disclosed herein. The density of the core material is adjusted in relation to the mass of the RFID chip. The golf ball with an embedded RFID chip conforms to a mass limitation of the USGA.

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball showing a great flight distance on driver shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a spherical core and at least one cover layer covering the spherical core, wherein the spherical core has a difference between absorbance of the absorption peak appeared at 156030 cm.sup.1 at a surface thereof and absorbance of the absorption peak appeared at 156030 cm.sup.1 at a center thereof of 0.024 or more, when measuring the spherical core with a Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer.

A golf ball includes a spherical core, and a cover covering the spherical core. The spherical core is formed from a rubber composition including a base rubber, a co-cross-linking agent, a cross-linking initiator, and an unsaturated fatty acid and/or a metal salt thereof, the co-cross-linking agent includes ,-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or a metal salt thereof, the unsaturated fatty acid and/or metal salt thereof excludes an ,-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and a metal salt thereof, an unsaturated aliphatic carboxylic acid that forms the unsaturated fatty acid and/or metal salt thereof has a functional group other than a carboxy group and a carbon-carbon unsaturated bond, and the rubber composition further includes a metal compound when the co-cross-linking agent is only an ,-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms.

Golf balls having a multi-layered core made of a foamed composition are provided. The core preferably has a foam inner core (center) and surrounding thermoset or thermoplastic outer core layer. Preferably, a polyurethane foam composition is used to form the foam center. The foam inner core preferably includes a fully-foamed center region and a partially or completely-collapsed foam outer region. The hardness of the fully-foamed region is different than the hardness of the collapsed foam region. Non-foamed thermoset or thermoplastic materials such as polybutadiene rubbers or ethylene acid copolymer ionomer may be used to form the outer core layer. The ball further includes a cover that may be multi-layered. The foam cores have good resiliency.

A golf ball and a method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The golf ball includes an alignment aid or feature that is integrally formed with a core body of the golf ball. A cover is provided that allows the alignment aid to be visible from an exterior of the golf ball. The alignment aid can be formed as central spherical segment that fuses two spherical cap portions with each other to form the core body. Different material selections can be made for the spherical cap portions and the central spherical segment that can further provide variation in performance characteristics of the golf ball.

Method of making a golf ball, the golf ball comprising a core, an outer layer and at least one adhesion promoting coating disposed between each of the core and the outer layer; the core comprising a rubber composition comprising at least one zinc-containing and/or magnesium-containing component; the outer layer comprising at least one ionomer; and the adhesion promoting coating comprising a waterborne dispersion comprised of at least one ethylene acid copolymer having an acid content of at least 15% by weight wherein the copolymer is at least partially neutralized with one or more neutralizing agent; wherein at least one neutralizing agent is selected from ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds. In a specific embodiment, the at least one neutralizing agent comprises i) mono and/or divalent metal compounds and ii) ammonia compounds and/or amine compounds.

Golf ball comprising a positive hardness gradient core and an outer cover layer having a microhardness gradient and being formed from a thermoset polyurethane material throughout, and having: i) a treated region that is contacted with a thermoset polyurethane microhardness-increasing solution consisting of an isocyanate portion and at least one non-aqueous solvent; and ii) an untreated region that is not contacted with the thermoset polyurethane microhardness-increasing solution. The treated region comprises the isocyanate portion, whereas the untreated region does not comprise the isocyanate portion. Treated region has a microhardness M.sub.1 that is greater than microhardness M.sub.2 of untreated region to define the outer cover layer positive microhardness gradient M=M.sub.1M.sub.2. The treated region may have a depth Dtr that extends inward from the cover outer surface and in some embodiments is less than a thickness of the untreated region. Treated region may alternatively extend from the inner surface toward outer surface.

An ultra-low compression golf ball is disclosed herein. The core preferably has a PGA compression less than 30. The mantle layer and cover have approximately the same thickness. The cover comprises a thermoplastic polyurethane material and has a specific gravity greater than the core and mantle layer. The golf ball has a PGA compression less than 75 and a COR of at least 0.780.

An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball having an excellent initial velocity when being hit at a head speed of 50 m/sec and an improved initial velocity when being hit at a head speed of 40 m/sec. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a spherical core and at least one cover covering the spherical core, wherein the spherical core is formed from a core rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber, (b) a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator and (x) a crosslinked rubber powder, and (x) the crosslinked rubber powder is formed from a rubber composition containing (a1) a base rubber, (b1) a co-crosslinking agent, (c1) a crosslinking initiator and (r) a resin component.

A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes injecting a cover mixture into a mold to form a cover mixture comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane resin and a polyahl, subjecting the golf ball to a polyisocyanated solution to create a golf ball with a polyisocyanated cover, and heating the golf ball or polyisocyanated cover to remove a solvent component of the polyisocyanated solution and promote the reaction of the polyisocyanate with the cover mixture and polyahl.