Abstract: A golf ball includes an inner core and an outer core, both made of highly neutralized acid polymers. The inner core does not substantially include any fillers, while the outer core does include fillers. The outer core may include fillers in an amount of from about 17.% to about 30.7% by weight. The filler may be barium sulfate. The core made from the inner core and the outer core may have an unexpectedly higher coefficient of restitution.

Abstract: A method of making and recycling a golf ball is disclosed. The method may include processing a used golf ball to make the materials of the used golf ball reusable in a new golf ball. As a result, the disclosed method may decrease the waste of disposing of used golf balls and the costs associated with acquiring and/or processing new materials. The method of recycling a golf ball may generally include pulverizing used golf balls into particles. The used golf balls may be made of materials having different densities. The particles may be placed in a liquid that causes the particles of different materials to float to different levels based on the densities of the materials. At least a portion of the particles may be melted and injected into a sandwich mold to create a new golf ball.

Abstract: A hollow golf ball center defined by an intermediate layer including a thermoplastic ionomer resin neutralized at least about 40% with a metal cation is filled with an alcohol having up to three carbon atoms or an aqueous alcohol solution to create a hardness gradient in the intermediate layer. The alcohol or aqueous alcohol solution may be left in the center, removed from the center leaving the center hollow, or replaced by another material.

Abstract: A golf ball having a soft outer surface coating having a hardness less than about HB on the ASTM D3363 scale, or less than about 40 on ASTM D2134 scale. The soft outer surface coating may contain polyurethane, a hydroxyl functional silicone material, or a hydroxyl functional fluoro material. Also, a method for making the golf ball. The golf ball having the soft outer surface coating exhibits a high spin rate over short shots essentially without degrading performance on driver shots, as compared with the performance of the uncoated golf ball.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf ball includes molding a cover preform in a first mold. The cover preform is placed in a second mold. Material is injected into an interior of the cover preform. The material forces the cover preform against a surface of the second mold to form dimples in the cover. The dimples may extend through the cover to form dimple structures in at least one layer between the cover and a center of the golf ball. For instance, the dimples may extend through the cover and into the injected material. The dimples may have a depth greater than a thickness of the cover.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying markings to an article are disclosed. One aspect comprises providing a dye pad shaped to correspond to a desired marking; applying an infusion dye to the dye pad; applying an activation solution to the infusion dye, thereby forming an infusion dye mixture; placing the dye pad in contact with a discrete area of an outer surface of the article; leaving the dye pad in contact with the outer surface of the article under room temperature and pressure, for a duration sufficient to allow the infusion dye mixture to open a polymeric structure of a material of the outer surface and to allow the infusion dye to penetrate the outer surface and form the desired marking within a substrate of the article; and removing the dye pad from the outer surface. An infusion dyeing kit and method for supplying a kit are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a golf ball including a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) cover and a polyurethane coating layer. The cover crosslinks with the coating layer in order to achieve improved durability, specifically improved scuff resistance. The chemical composition of the thermoplastic polyurethane material making up the cover and the chemical composition of the polyurethane coating layer may be chosen so as to be complimentary thereby promoting crosslinking between them. Methods of manufacturing these golf balls are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making and recycling a golf ball is disclosed. The method may include processing a used golf ball to make the materials of the used golf ball reusable in a new golf ball. As a result, the disclosed method may decrease the waste of disposing of used golf balls and the costs associated with acquiring and/or processing new materials. The method may include melting a golf ball made of layers each having a different melting point. The materials may be separated by melting the different layers one by one. The method of recycling a golf ball may generally include pulverizing used golf balls made of materials having differing amounts of magnetic additive into particles. The particles may be separated by a magnetic field. At least a portion of the particles may be reused to make a new golf ball.

Abstract: A golf ball is provided capable of having various characteristics based on having an aggregated layer core. The golf ball includes an inner core, an outer shell enclosing the inner core, and an intermediate core enclosing the inner core. The intermediate core includes sublayers thermoplastically fused together to form an aggregated intermediate core layer having overall characteristics formed as a combination of the sublayer characteristics. A method of forming a golf ball core having an aggregated layer core can include forming a first and second stack of nested cups, thermoplastically bonding each of the stacks to each other to form first and second aggregated cups, arranging the aggregated cups around a golf ball inner core, and bonding the aggregated cups to each other. In some configurations, the sublayers can include ultrathin sublayers less than 20 microns thick, and in some configurations, the sublayers can include injection molded sublayers.

Abstract: Systems and methods for applying markings to an article are disclosed. One aspect comprises providing a dye pad shaped to correspond to a desired marking; applying an infusion dye to the dye pad; applying an activation solution to the infusion dye, thereby forming an infusion dye mixture; placing the dye pad in contact with a discrete area of an outer surface of the article; leaving the dye pad in contact with the outer surface of the article under room temperature and pressure, for a duration sufficient to allow the infusion dye mixture to open a polymeric structure of a material of the outer surface and to allow the infusion dye to penetrate the outer surface and form the desired marking within a substrate of the article; and removing the dye pad from the outer surface. An infusion dyeing kit and method for supplying a kit are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for making a golf ball having a patterned surface is disclosed. The pattern may be made by a method including machining a pattern of feed marks on the surface of a golf ball mold and using the golf ball mold to mold a golf ball cover layer.

Abstract: A golf ball is provided capable of having various characteristics based on having an aggregated layer core. The golf ball includes an inner core, an outer shell enclosing the inner core, and an intermediate core enclosing the inner core. The intermediate core includes sublayers thermoplastically fused together to form an aggregated intermediate core layer having overall characteristics formed as a combination of the sublayer characteristics. A method of forming a golf ball core having an aggregated layer core can include forming a first and second stack of nested cups, thermoplastically bonding each of the stacks to each other to form first and second aggregated cups, arranging the aggregated cups around a golf ball inner core, and bonding the aggregated cups to each other. In some configurations, the sublayers can include ultrathin sublayers less than 20 microns thick, and in some configurations, the sublayers can include injection molded sublayers.

Abstract: A hollow golf ball center defined by an intermediate layer including a thermoplastic ionomer resin neutralized at least about 40% with a metal cation is filled with an alcohol having up to three carbon atoms or an aqueous alcohol solution to create a hardness gradient in the intermediate layer. The alcohol or aqueous alcohol solution may be left in the center, removed from the center leaving the center hollow, or replaced by another material.

Abstract: A thermoplastic multi-layer golf ball has a core center including a first thermoplastic material and having a diameter of from about 7 mm to about 20 mm and a surface Shore D hardness H1 of from about 30 to about 48; a core layer outward from the core center, the core layer including a second thermoplastic material and having a diameter of from about 25 mm to about 40 mm, a thickness of from about 7 mm to about 10 mm, a surface Shore D hardness H2 that is greater than H1, and a 10-130 kg compression deformation of from about 2.6 mm to about 3.2 mm; an inner cover layer outward from the core layer, the inner cover layer including a third thermoplastic material and having a surface Shore D hardness H3 of from about 55 to about 70; and an outer cover layer on the surface of the golf ball including a fourth thermoplastic material and having a surface Shore D hardness H4 of from about 44 to about 56 and a 10-130 kg compression deformation of from about 2.3 mm to about 3.2 mm.

Abstract: A method and system for capturing, transmitting, and displaying golf swing data uses data capture elements in golf balls or golf clubs to capture data and transmission elements to transmit the golf swing data to a mobile computing auxiliary device. The mobile computing auxiliary device relays the captured and transmitted golf swing data to a mobile computing device. The mobile computing device transmits the golf swing data to a database. A server associated with the database generates web pages to make the golf swing data available over the internet.

Abstract: A system and method for making a golf ball having a patterned surface is disclosed. The pattern may be made by a method including machining a pattern of feed marks on the surface of a golf ball mold and using the golf ball mold to mold a golf ball cover layer. The pattern may be configured to create capillary action to substantially counteract gravity and/or other forces acting on a substantially liquid coating material applied to the cover layer of the golf ball.

Abstract: A golf ball has a cover with a Shore D hardness of at least about 59 and a coating on the cover that has at least one of (a) a pencil hardness of 2 B or less, (b) a Sward hardness of about 40 or less, or (c) a Hit (Young's Modulus)<20 N/mm2 and hmax>0.55 micrometer.

Abstract: A golf ball includes a cover that includes a plurality of layers over the core. A reacting layer changes when exposed to a particular atmospheric or environmental agent. A protecting layer protects the reacting layer from exposure to the agent. A top layer covers the other layers, though the top layer, the protecting layer, and the reacting layer may be intermingled with each other to varying degrees. Upon deterioration of the top layer and the protecting layer, the reacting layer becomes exposed to the agent and undergoes a change. This change alerts a golfer to the deterioration of the ball.

Abstract: A method for customizing a golf ball, and associated kits, are provided. The method includes steps of heating a golf ball that has a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer material making up the cover layer, and then cooling the golf ball at a preselected rate so as to change the degree of crystallinity. The change in degree of crystallinity allows the golf ball to achieve different play characteristics. The change is reversible by repeating the method, and the method may be repeated many times using the same golf ball. Kits used to carry out the method may include a golf ball having a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer material for the cover layer, a graphical representation of how the cooling relates to the desired play characteristics, a stand for holding the golf ball, a heater, and an additive that aids in heating or cooling the golf ball.

Abstract: A golf ball has an outer surface covered by a chameleon material. The chameleon material produces a variable alignment device that appears to a viewer in the same location regardless of the viewer's position relative to the ball. This variable alignment device allows the user to properly align a shot without moving the ball to align an imprint with a desired path of travel.