A golf ball comprising: (a) a core; (b) an inner mantle layer; (c) an intermediate mantle layer; (d) an outer mantle layer; and (e) at least one cover layer; wherein the core has a PGA compression of less than 70, and the core/inner mantle layer/intermediate mantle layer combined construct has a PGA compression of at least 30.

The present invention provides methods for producing molded golf balls and the resultant balls. The methods of this invention involve producing foamed polyurethane covers and these methods help reduce dimple distortions and other surface imperfections. These golf balls contain an inner core and outer foamed polyurethane cover. One or more intermediate layers can be disposed between the core and cover. In one embodiment, a castable liquid polyurethane composition containing a foaming agent is dispensed into mold cavities, which are then pressed together to form a foam cover for the ball.

An object of the present invention is to provide a cured product of a golf ball rubber composition for constituting a golf ball having excellent shot feeling on both driver shots and approach shots. The present invention provides a cured product of a golf ball rubber composition, wherein the golf ball rubber composition contains (a) a base rubber, (b) an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or a metal salt thereof as a co-crosslinking agent, and (c) a crosslinking initiator, and a product (hardness×(tan δ.sub.−80−tan δ.sub.0)) obtained by multiplying a slab hardness of the cured product of the golf ball rubber composition in Shore C hardness by a difference (tan δ.sub.−80−tan δ.sub.0) between a loss tangent of the cured product of the golf ball rubber composition at −80° C. (tan δ.sub.−80) and a loss tangent of the cured product of the golf ball rubber composition at 0° C. (tan δ.sub.0) is 28.0 or more.

In a golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed primarily of a base rubber, has a diameter set in a specific range and has a specially designed internal hardness profile, the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed of resin materials, and the surface hardness of the ball is higher than the surface hardness of the intermediate layer-encased sphere. This ball achieves a satisfactory distance on full shots with a driver and with long and middle irons, provides a good spin performance on approach shots, and has a durability to repeated impact and a scuff resistance that are both excellent.

A golf ball comprising: (a) a core; (b) an inner mantle layer; (c) an intermediate mantle layer; (d) an outer mantle layer; and (e) at least one cover layer; wherein the core has a PGA compression of less than 70, and the core/inner mantle layer/intermediate mantle layer combined construct has a PGA compression of at least 30.

In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed primarily of a base rubber and has a diameter set in a specific range, the envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover are each formed of resin materials, and the envelope layer is formed into two layers—an inner layer and an outer layer. The center and surface hardnesses of the core, the surface hardness of the inner envelope layer-encased sphere, the surface hardness of the outer envelope layer-encased sphere, the surface hardness of the intermediate layer-encased sphere and the surface hardness of the ball together satisfy a specific relationship. This ball achieves a satisfactory distance on full shots both with a driver and with irons, in addition to which it is superior in the short game and has a good feel at impact and an excellent scuff resistance.

In a golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core is formed primarily of a base rubber, has a diameter set in a specific range and has a specially designed internal hardness profile, the intermediate layer and the cover are each formed of resin materials, and the surface hardness of the ball is higher than the surface hardness of the intermediate layer-encased sphere. This ball achieves a satisfactory distance on full shots with a driver and with long and middle irons, provides a good spin performance on approach shots, and has a durability to repeated impact and a scuff resistance that are both excellent.

Disclosed herein are golf balls having a thermoplastic outer cover layer formed from a thermoplastic polyurethane composition. The golf balls are produced without the use of a secondary treatment step that would result in the crosslinking of the polyurethane cover composition.

A golf ball with embedded electronics to allow proximity to be tracked and to monitor golfer performance is disclosed. The golf ball comprises a processor connected to an accelerometer, communications circuitry, a spin detector, and memory, wherein the processor stores accelerometer data from the accelerometer and rotation data regarding rotation of the spin detector in the memory. The processor converts the data regarding the rotation of the spin detector into a rotation speed and a rotation direction, said rotation speed determined by a frequency of the data, and said rotation direction determined by a magnitude of the data. The communications circuitry is configured to communicate the accelerometer data, the rotation direction, and the rotation speed to a central interrogator for analysis of a golfer's performance.

Buoyant dimpled golf ball having CoR0.810, specific gravity <1.00 g/cc, initial velocity 250 ft/s, first aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.25 and about 0.30 and first aerodynamic force angle between about 29 degrees and 34 degrees at Reynolds Number of 230000 and spin ratio of 0.085; and second aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.26 and about 0.31 and second aerodynamic force angle between about 31 degrees and 36 degrees at Reynolds Number of 180000 and spin ratio of 0.101. Golf ball may additionally have third aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.27 and about 0.32 and third aerodynamic force angle between about 34 degrees and 39 degrees at Reynolds Number of 133000 and spin ratio of 0.133; and fourth aerodynamic coefficient magnitude between about 0.33 and about 0.38 and fourth aerodynamic force angle between about 38 degrees and 43 degrees at Reynolds Number of 89000 and spin ratio of 0.183.