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.

Golf ball having at least three layers comprising ionomeric and/or HNP compositions, wherein for each two adjacent layers, a relationship is established between a ratio of the volumes of the two adjacent layers and a ratio of the percent neutralizations of those two layers such that the volumes and % neutralizations of all layers are interrelated and interdependent to produce unique and desirable playing characteristics. In one embodiment, a golf ball of the invention has T layers, wherein T3 and each of T layers has a different volume V and comprises an ionomeric and/or HNP composition having a different % neutralization N. Furthermore, each of n inner layers of the T layers (n<T) has an adjacent surrounding layer n+1 such that a volume V.sub.n and a % neutralization N.sub.n of each inner layer and a volume V.sub.(n+1) and % neutralization N.sub.(n+1) of each adjacent surrounding layer n+1 satisfy the relationship (V.sub.nV.sub.(n+1))/V.sub.n(N.sub.nN.sub.(n+1))/N.sub.(n+1).

The present invention relates to the use of a mono (meth)acrylate ester in a golf ball layer. The mono (meth)acrylate ester may be added to one or more portions of a golf ball including a core, intermediate, or cover layer. For example, in one embodiment, the mono (meth)acrylate ester may be blended with a polybutadiene rubber material. In another embodiment, the mono (meth)acrylate ester of the present invention may be blended with an ionomer. In some embodiments, the mono (meth)acrylate ester may be blended with a formulation including both a polybutadiene rubber component and an ionomer.

A golf ball with a cover layer composed of a blend of (a) 20 to 99 wt % of a thermoplastic resin, and (b) 1 to 80 wt % of a high molecular weight polysiloxane having a molecular weight (Mn) of at least 10,000 and not more than about 1,000,000 (Mn,), is disclosed herein. The high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane has blended with it 3 to 35 weight percent of a silica. The high molecular weight polydimethylsiloxane has pendant groups, terminal groups or mixtures of pendant groups and terminal groups selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, trimethyl, dimethyl, methyl, phenyl, fluoro, amino, vinyl, hydroxyl, and methacrylate.

Multi-layered golf balls having at least one layer made from silicone (polysiloxane) elastomers; silicone (polysiloxane) elastomer/polyurethane blends; polycarbonate-polysiloxane blends and copolymers; and polycarbonate-polysiloxane/polyurethane blends are provided. For example, three-piece, four-piece, and five-piece golf balls containing different core and cover structures can be made. The polysiloxane compositions have good thermal stability and durability without sacrificing resiliency. The polysiloxane compositions also have high elongation, tensile strength, chemical/fluid-resistance, and weatherability properties. These compositions can be used to form any layer, for example, core, intermediate, or cover, in the golf ball.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a golf ball having an increased spin rate when being hit with an 8-iron while suppressing rise in a spin rate when being hit with a driver. The present disclosure provides a golf ball comprising a spherical core having an inner core and an outer core, and a cover positioned outside the spherical core, wherein A?a is 12,200 or less and B?b is 20,400 or more, where a represents an average hardness (Shore C) of a hardness (H2.5) at a point of 2.5 mm from a center of the spherical core and a hardness (H5) at a point of 5 mm from the center of the spherical core, b represents an average hardness (Shore C) of a hardness (H7.5) at a point of 7.5 mm from the center of the spherical core and a hardness (H9) at a point of 9 mm from the center of the spherical core, A represents an impulse difference (kN.Math.?s) between a back spin impulse and a top spin impulse measured using a contact force tester under a condition corresponding to a condition when the golf ball is hit with a driver, and B represents an impulse difference (kN.Math.?s) between a back spin impulse and a top spin impulse measured using a contact force tester under a condition corresponding to a condition when the golf ball is hit with an 8-iron.

A golf ball includes an RFID tag provided with an IC chip and an antenna. A protective layer surrounds the outer periphery of the RFID tag. A core surrounds the outer periphery of the protective layer. A cover surrounds the outer periphery of the core. The protective layer is formed by a material having a hardness equal to or more than 30 in Shore D. Further, the diameter of the protective layer is 3 to 30 millimeters, and the outer shape of the protective layer has an approximately spherical shape.

Low compression, multi-piece golf balls containing a solid core and two or three-layered cover assemblies are provided. Preferably, the ball has a compression of less than 60 and more preferably less than 50. At least one cover layer is made of a plasticized thermoplastic composition. For example, two-layered and three-layered covers may be made. Preferably, the plasticized thermoplastic composition comprises: a) ethylene acid copolymer, b) plasticizer, and c) cation source. A fatty acid ester such as ethyl oleate or butyl oleate is preferably used as the plasticizer. The cover assembly has good impact durability and helps provide the ball with relatively high resiliency at given compressions.

A method for forming a golf ball with a graphene core disclosed herein. The method includes mixing a graphene masterbatch material with a polybutadiene material to form a core mixture, wherein the graphene masterbatch material comprises graphene in an amount from 0.1 to 80.0 weight percent of the graphene masterbatch material mixed with a carrier polymer in an amount from 99.9 to 20 weight percent of the graphene masterbatch material.

Golf ball having at least three layers comprising an ionomeric and/or HNP composition, wherein for each two adjacent layers, a relationship is established between a ratio of the volumes of the two adjacent layers and a ratio of the percent neutralizations of those two layers such that the volumes and % neutralizations of all layers are interrelated and interdependent to produce unique and desirable playing characteristics. In one embodiment, each of T layers, wherein T3, has a different volume V and comprises an ionomeric/HNP composition having a different % neutralization N; and wherein each of n inner layers of the T layers (n<T) has an adjacent surrounding layer n+1 such that a volume V.sub.n and a % neutralization N.sub.n of each inner layer and a volume V.sub.(n+1) and % neutralization N.sub.(n+1) of each adjacent surrounding layer n+1 satisfy the relationship (V.sub.(n+1)V.sub.n)/V.sub.(n+1)(N.sub.(n+1)N.sub.n)/N.sub.n.