A golf ball comprising: (a) a core: (b) an outer cover layer; and (c) optionally, at least one intermediate layer, wherein at least the outer cover layer or the intermediate layer comprises a blend composition of: (i) a metallic coagent; and (ii)(a) at least one polyolefin or (ii)(b) at least one ionomer.

A golf ball 2 includes a core 4 and a cover 6 positioned outside the core 4. The cover 6 is formed in a mold having support pins by injection molding. A ratio (V/S) of a volume V (mm.sup.3) of the cover 6 to an amount of compressive deformation S (mm) of the core 4 is not less than 1000 and not greater than 1900. The cover 6 has a shore D hardness of not greater than 62. The golf ball 2 has a plurality of dimples 8 on a surface thereof. A total volume W of these dimples is not less than 490 mm.sup.3 and not greater than 620 mm.sup.3. A ratio (α/P) of a latitude α (degree) of each support pin to a total cross-sectional area P (mm.sup.2) of the support pins is not less than 0.35 and not greater than 0.60.

A method for manufacturing a golf ball having a core, an intermediate layer and a cover that is formed of a resin material composed primarily of a polyurethane resin and has a thickness of 0.1 mm to 0.7 mm by injection molding the cover using a vertically separating two-part injection mold having specific gate and support pin configurations. This method enables a relatively soft urethane resin cover that is thin and of high quality to be formed, and has a good golf ball productivity.

Automated system and method wherein the color of each core is detected and distinguished before the core is covered, and any core having a non-conforming core color is rejected and released/removed/eliminated from further processing.

A golf ball with a center core comprising 1,4 polybutadiene with a cis content more than 50% and containing a metal salt of acrylate, wherein the 1,4 polybutadiene has 5 to 60 weight percent of a metal salt of acrylate, is disclosed herein. The metal salt of acrylate is preferably selected from zinc, magnesium, sodium, and calcium.

A method of producing a golf ball applies ultrasonic welding on two half shells to form at least one intermediate layer, at least one cover layer, or at least one intermediate layer and at least one cover layer. The ultrasonic welding may include pressing the two half shells together, delivering a high power electrical signal to a welding stack, and converting the high power electrical signal at the welding stack to ultrasonic energy. The converting may include converting the high power electrical signal into a mechanical vibration, modifying an amplitude of the mechanical vibration to generate a modified mechanical vibration, and applying the modified mechanical vibration to an interface of the two half shells to weld them together ultrasonically. Aspects also relate to golf balls, or one or more layers thereof, made using ultrasonic welding.

A method of producing a golf ball applies ultrasonic welding on two half shells to form at least one intermediate layer, at least one cover layer, or at least one intermediate layer and at least one cover layer. The ultrasonic welding may include pressing the two half shells together, delivering a high power electrical signal to a welding stack, and converting the high power electrical signal at the welding stack to ultrasonic energy. The converting may include converting the high power electrical signal into a mechanical vibration, modifying an amplitude of the mechanical vibration to generate a modified mechanical vibration, and applying the modified mechanical vibration to an interface of the two half shells to weld them together ultrasonically. Aspects also relate to golf balls, or one or more layers thereof, made using ultrasonic welding.

A multilayer core molding method includes an upstream process of molding using an upstream process molding apparatus, which includes a first upstream process mold including a first upstream process mold cavity surface, and a second upstream process mold including a second upstream process mold cavity surface. The upstream process includes an inner core arrangement step and a covering step to obtain an intermediate molded body, which includes the inner core, and the unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized first outer core material covering only part of a surface of the inner core and integrated with the inner core.

A multilayer core molding method for molding a multilayer core of a golf ball includes an upstream process; and a downstream process, wherein the intermediate molded body includes: an inner core; and an unvulcanized or semi-vulcanized first outer core material, and the downstream process molding apparatus includes: a first downstream process mold including a substantially hemispherical first downstream process mold cavity surface; a second downstream process mold including a substantially hemispherical second downstream process mold cavity surface; and an intermediate plate including a substantially hemispherical intermediate plate cavity surface, and a substantially hemispherical intermediate plate projecting surface, and wherein the downstream process includes: a second outer core arrangement step; an intermediate molded body arrangement; and a preparatory molding step.

Improved injection molding methods and molds, for forming TPU layers, especially thin TPU covers, into golf ball constructions, and having improved number, shape and placement of both the injection gates and the cold slugs within the mold in order to minimize/eliminate damage to dimples strategically positioned close to the parting line of a mold in order to maximize aerodynamic properties of the resulting golf ball.