A system for measuring golf ball trajectory characteristics is disclosed. The system includes artificial grass with a launch location for a golf ball and a plurality of wide-angle distance optical sensors mechanically connected to the artificial grass positioned such that a field of measurement of each wide-angle distance optical sensors intersects. The system also includes a central processing unit connected to the wide-angle distance optical sensors, the central processing unit configured to collect distance measurements from the wide-angle distance optical sensors and to determine a velocity of a trajectory of the golf ball from the launch location to the intersection of the field of measurement of each wide-angle distance optical sensors given a distance between the plurality of the wide-angle distance optical sensors, a distance between the plurality of the wide-angle distance optical sensors and the launch location, and the distance measurements from the plurality of the wide-angle distance optical sensors. Once the velocity of the trajectory of the golf ball is determined, the central processing unit transmits the velocity to a display.

Golf balls having covers made of thermoplastic polyurethane compositions are provided. Multi-piece golf balls can be made. Polyurethane primer coatings and polyurethane top-coatings are applied to the thermoplastic polyurethane cover. Different coating methods can be used. Isocyanate-rich and polyol-rich polyurethane coatings can be applied. In one embodiment, the golf ball can be treated with a multi-functional isocyanate prior to applying the coatings. The polyurethane cover composition and surface coatings can further include catalysts, ultraviolet (UV)—light stabilizers, and other additives. Heat is used to cure the coatings. The coating methods have many benefits and the finished balls have good physical properties.

Golf balls including a plurality of radar detectable marks disposed on any single layer or among two or more layers thereof are provided. When all of the radar detectable marks present on any layer of the ball are radially projected onto the outer surface of the ball, the resulting overall pattern of projected radar detectable marks includes a series of three or marks located on a 1.5 mm wide great circle band on the outer surface of the ball.

A golf ball with improved durability is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a core comprising a polybutadiene material and methyl methacrylate, butadiene, styrene (MBS) with a weight percentage of MBS ranging from 0.5 to 5 weight percent of the core.

In a golf ball having a core, envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover, the (core diameter)/(ball diameter) value falls within a particular range, the core has a specific hardness profile, the intermediate layer is formed primarily of an ionomer resin material including a high-acid ionomer resin, and the Shore C hardness relationships among the core center and surface hardnesses and the surface hardnesses of the envelope layer-encased sphere, intermediate layer-encased sphere and ball satisfy the following conditions: (1) core surface hardness<surface hardness of envelope layer-encased sphere<surface hardness of intermediate layer-encased sphere>ball surface hardness, (2) (surface hardness of envelope layer-encased sphere)−(core center hardness)≥28. Also, the intermediate layer and cover have respective thicknesses which satisfy the condition: (3) cover thickness<intermediate layer thickness. This ball enables mid-level and skilled amateur golfers to achieve superior distances on driver shots and on iron shots, and moreover has a soil yet good feel at impact.

A golf ball material contains (I) a multi-component copolymer having conjugated diene units, non-conjugated olefin units and aromatic vinyl units; and (II) a binary copolymer of an olefin and an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid of 3 to 8 carbons and/or a ternary copolymer of an olefin, an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid of 3 to 8 carbons and an ester of the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, or a metal neutralization product thereof.

The conjugated diene units include butadiene units, the non-conjugated olefin units include units selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene and 1-butene units, and the aromatic vinyl units include styrene units. The content of the conjugated diene units in the multi-component copolymer (I) is 5 wt % or more. This golf ball material is soft and has an excellent rebound resilience. Golf balls which use this material in the cover provide golfers with a competitive edge.

A golf ball with a core comprising polybutadiene and graphene is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a single core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. Alternatively, the golf ball has a dual core with an inner core comprising polybutadiene and graphene. Alternatively, the golf ball has a dual core with an outer core comprising polybutadiene and graphene.

A method for forming a golf ball core with a nanofiller masterbatch is disclosed herein. The method includes mixing the nanofiller masterbatch, a graphene masterbatch material with other materials to form a core mixture, wherein the masterbatch preferably comprises 1-80% by weight of nanofillers and 20-99% by weight of a carrier polymer.

A golf ball including an outer surface having dimples located on the outer surface, at least one core, at least one mantle layer, at least one cover layer, and a plurality of images located on the outer surface, the images being provided with at least two contrasting colors, wherein the plurality of images each have a Major Peak Ratio of between 0.18 and 1, a Major Valley Ratio of between 0.18 and 1, a slope value of between -5 and 5, and an intercept value between 5 and 80.

A method for forming a golf ball core with a nanofiller masterbatch is disclosed herein. The method includes mixing the nanofiller masterbatch, a graphene masterbatch material with other materials to form a core mixture, wherein the masterbatch preferably comprises 1-80% by weight of nanofillers and 20-99% by weight of a carrier polymer.