A golf ball comprising a core composed of a fully neutralized polymer material is disclosed herein. The golf ball also preferably has multiple mantle layers and a cover.

Golf ball having CoR of at least 0.810, specific gravity SG.sub.B of less than 1.00 g/cc, and initial velocity of at least 250 ft/s and comprising a first layer L.sub.1, a second layer L.sub.2 surrounding L.sub.1, and a third layer L.sub.3 surrounding L.sub.2. L.sub.1 is formed from at least one highly neutralized polymer and has first specific gravity SG.sub.1; L.sub.2 is formed from at least one partially neutralized polymer and has second specific gravity SG.sub.2; and L.sub.3 is formed from at least one of a thermoset or thermoplastic composition and has third specific gravity SG.sub.3. At least two of SG.sub.1, SG.sub.2, and SG.sub.3 is less than 1.13 g/cc. SG.sub.1 may be less than 1.13 g/cc, or less than 1.0 g/cc. The thermoset or thermoplastic composition may comprise polyurethane(s), polyurea(s), polyurethane(s)/polyurea(s) hybrids, and/or ionomers such as at least partially neutralized polymers and/or HNPs.

Multi-piece golf balls having a multi-layered solid core and multi-layered cover are provided.

Multi-piece golf balls having a multi-layered solid core and multi-layered cover are provided.

A golf ball includes a main body and a paint layer positioned outside the main body. The paint layer includes an inner layer and an outer layer positioned outside the inner layer. When an indentation depth (nm) is measured on a cross-section along a plane passing through a central point of the golf ball when a force of 30 mgf is applied to the cross-section in a direction perpendicular to the cross-section, an indentation depth Di on a cross-section of the inner layer is smaller than an indentation depth Do on a cross-section of the outer layer. A thickness To of the outer layer is larger than a thickness Ti of the inner layer.

The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface in which the dimples are arranged in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while minimizing or eliminating great circles due to parting lines.

Golf ball comprising layer(s) comprised of a mixture of: (a) low molecular weight acid-containing wax(es); (b) non-acid-polymer(s) including at least one low molecular weight non-acid wax such as high density oxidized polyethylene homopolymers; ethylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene maleic anhydride copolymers; polypropylene homopolymers; ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers; high density oxidized homopolymers; oxidized copolymers; polyethylene micronized waxes; polytetrafluoroethylene micronized waxes; emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; non-emulsifiable low molecular weight non-acid waxes; and/or chemically modified low molecular weight non-acid waxes; and (c) organic acid(s) or salt thereof. Molecular weight of each low molecular weight acid-containing wax is about 500 to 7000, or up to 30,000. Interactions between components (a), (b), and (c) advantageously produce layer of ionomeric material having heat stability, processability, and well-retained durability, adhesion, CoR, compression and targeted feel without need for blending high and low molecular weight acid-containing polymer(s).

In a golf ball having a core and a cover with a plurality of dimples on the surface, the cover is formed primarily of polyurethane, the dimples have a specific volume occupancy ratio and the ball has a diameter of at least 42.8 mm. In an impact test carried out by hitting the ball with a driver at a head speed of 40 m/s, the sum t1+t2 of the time t1 required from initial contact by the driver with the ball for deformation of the ball to reach a maximum and the time t2 required from the state of maximum ball deformation for the ball and driver to separate is 660 sec or less. This golf ball makes it possible for golfers who have a high head speed and ordinary golfers who do not to compete without relying excessively on superiority in terms of distance.

A method and an apparatus for playing golf on a hard surface comprises a replaceable striking pad attached to a conventional golf club head by means of at least one attachment means, a spiked ball, a portable ball trap to trap the spiked ball and an optional remotely controlled vehicle to position the portable ball trap. The replaceable striking pad includes a small lip at a bottom end on a front face and a holding ledge having substantially curved edges extending away from the bottom end of the front face. The holding ledge is adaptable to wrap around a bottom sole of the golf club head. The portable ball trap includes a thin flat platform with tapered edges, a central threaded pole positioned on the thin flat platform and a circular frame having a plurality of hinged tabs threaded to the central threaded pole.

A golf ball 2 includes a main body 4 and a paint layer 6 positioned outside the main body 4. The main body 4 includes a spherical core 8, a mid layer 10 positioned outside the core 8, and a cover 12 positioned outside the mid layer 10. An indentation depth, measured when the paint layer 6 in a cross-section along a plane passing through a central point of the golf ball 2 is pressed by a force of 30 mgf in a direction perpendicular to the cross-section, is not less than 300 nm and not greater than 3000 nm. The paint layer 6 preferably has a thickness of not less than 5 m and not greater than 50 m.