Abstract: A golf ball comprising a pre-formed non-spherical inner core insert; an outer core molded about the insert to form a sphere having an outer surface; and a cover disposed about the outer core, the cover having an outer dimpled surface; wherein the outer core and cover are optically transparent or translucent.

Abstract: A golf ball including an inner core having a first outer surface and a geometric center is formed from a substantially homogenous formulation such that the inner core generally has a hardness of 35 Shore C to 85 Shore C. An outer core layer is formed around the inner core and has a second outer surface and an inner surface, also formed from a substantially homogenous formulation, such that the outer core layer has a hardness of 55 Shore C to 90 Shore C. A cover layer is disposed about the outer core layer. The hardness of the first outer surface is greater than the hardness of the geometric center to define a “positive hardness gradient,” and the hardness of the second outer surface is substantially the same as or lower than the hardness of the inner surface to define a “negative hardness gradient.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a thermoplastic core, the core having an outer diameter of 1.51 inches to 1.59 inches and having an outer surface and a geometric center, each having a hardness; an outer cover layer; and an inner cover layer disposed between the core and the outer cover layer; wherein the thermoplastic core has been exposed to a gradient-initiating solution comprising sufficient amount of plasticizer such that the hardness of the outer surface is less than the hardness of the geometric center to define a “negative” hardness gradient of 5 Shore C or greater.

Abstract: A golf ball having an inner core having a first outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation such that the inner core has a hardness of 45 Shore C to 65 Shore C; an outer core layer disposed about the inner core having a second outer surface and an inner surface and being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation such that the outer core layer has a hardness of 55 Shore C to 90 Shore C. A cover is disposed about the outer core layer. The hardness of the first outer surface is the same as or lower than the hardness of the geometric center to define a “negative hardness gradient” and the hardness of the second outer surface is greater than the hardness of the inner surface to define a “positive hardness gradient.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, an inner cover layer, and an outer cover layer, the outer cover layer being formed from a polyurea comprising: a prepolymer comprising: an aliphatic isocyanate mixture comprising dimerized uretdione of HDI and trimerized isocyanurate of HDI; a first amount of modified polyoxypropylene diamine having a formula: ?where x=1-70; R1 and R2 each independently=a C1-20 alkyl group, phenyl, or a mixture thereof; and R3=CH3, or a mixture thereof; and a caprolactone; and a curative comprising a mixture of 3,5-diethyl-2,4-toluenediamine and 3,5-diethyl-2,6-toluenediamine.

Abstract: A golf ball including a solid core formed from a composition comprising a diene rubber, a metallic fatty acid salt present in an amount of from 6.3 parts to 7.5 parts, a cis-to-trans catalyst present in an amount of 2.35 parts or greater, and an organic peroxide present in an amount of 0.8 parts or less; and a cover; wherein the core has a coefficient of restitution of 0.810 or greater and a compression of 58 to 78.

Abstract: A golf ball including a core and at least one layer disposed about the core, wherein the core or the layer is formed from a composition including a base polymer, a crosslink initiator, and an additive, wherein the additive is both an inorganic-sulfur compound and a sulfuric acid amide.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core comprising a highly-neutralized thermoplastic polymer formed from a copolymer of ethylene and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, a salt of an organic acid, and sufficient cation source to filly-neutralize the acid groups of the copolymer; an outer cover layer; and an inner cover layer disposed between the center and the outer cover layer, the inner cover layer having a specific gravity of 2.5 g/cc or greater; wherein the core has an outer diameter of 1.58 inches or greater and a coefficient of restitution of 0.805 or greater when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s.

Abstract: A golf ball including a core having a diameter of 0.5 inches to 1.4 inches, a compression of 45 or less, and a COR of 0.770 to 0.810; a cast polyurea cover; and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer having a thickness of 0.11 inches or greater and being formed from a composition comprising a highly-neutralized thermoplastic material comprising an ethylene, a ,?-ethylenically unsaturated C3-8 carboxylic acid copolymer(s), a fatty acid salt, and a sufficient amount of a cation source to increase the level of neutralization of all the acid moieties to 100%; wherein a combination of the core and the intermediate layer results in a compression of 70 to 100, and the golf ball has a COR of 0.805 to 0.820 when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s and greater than 0.75 when measured at an incoming velocity of 160 ft/s, and a compression of 75 to 105.

Abstract: The present invention is directed a golf ball that uses impact modified non-ionic engineered thermoplastic polycarbonate/polyester copolymer or blend, for example polycarbonate/poly(butylene terephthalate) (PC/PBT) impact modified by blending with functionalized thermoplastic block co-polymers like maleic anhydride grafted styrene-butadiene-styrene and its hydrogenated derivatives. The impact modified thermoplastic polycarbonate/polyester are used as intermediate layers to produce golf balls having lower flexural modulus and improved durability.

Abstract: A golf ball is disclosued, comprising: a core, the core having a diameter of 1.5 inches to 1.65 inches and a first coefficient of restitution of 0.8 or greater at 125 ft/s; an intermediate layer disposed about the core, the intermediate layer having a first Shore D hardness of 20 to 80 and comprising a blend of two or more ionomers; and an outer cover layer disposed about the intermediate layer; the outer cover layer having a thickness of 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches and a second Shore D hardness of 30 to 70, the outer cover layer being composed of a castable material formed from reactants comprising at least one fluorinated polyfunctional compound, wherein the golf ball has a second coefficient of restitution of 0.8 or greater at 125 ft/s and a compression of 50 to 120.

Abstract: A golf ball including a core and at least one layer disposed about the core, wherein the core or the layer includes a composition formed from a base polymer, a crosslink initiator, and at least one additive. The additive has at least one C—O—B linkage, the carbon in the linkage being a secondary or tertiary carbon. The additive is also selected from the group consisting of boranes, borates, boronates, borinates, heterocylic compounds having at least one boron atom as a ring member, boron-containing organosulfides, sulfur-containing silicocompounds, salts of such additives, and metal salts, organometallic salts, and non-metal salts of boron complexes.

Abstract: A method of making a golf ball core comprising the steps of providing a first polybutadiene pre-impregnated with at least about 50 weight percent of a first filler; providing a second polybutadiene substantially free of the first filler; providing a free radical initiator and a crosslinking agent; mixing the second polybutadiene, the free radical initiator, and the crosslinking agent with the first polybutadiene to form a polybutadiene blend; and molding the polybutadiene blend into the golf ball core.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate layer, and a cover. The core, which has a compression of 100 or less and a diameter of between about 1.00 inches and about 1.64 inches, is formed from a first polymer including an acid group fully-neutralized by a salt of an organic acid, a cation source, or a suitable base of the organic acid; and a nano-material having an average particle size of 100 nm or less, present in an amount sufficient to adjust at least one material property of the first polymer by 5% to 50% when compared to the material property of the first polymer comprising a material identical to the nano-material but having an average particle size greater than 1000 nm. The intermediate layer is formed from a second polymer comprising an acid group fully-neutralized by a salt of an organic acid, a cation source, or a suitable base of the organic acid.

Abstract: A golf ball is disclosed, comprising: a core, the core having a diameter of 1.5 inches to 1.65 inches and a first coefficient of restitution of 0.8 or greater at 125 ft/s; an intermediate layer disposed about the core, the intermediate layer having a first Shore D hardness of 20 to 80 and comprising a blend of two or more ionomers; and an outer cover layer disposed about the intermediate layer; the outer cover layer having a thickness of 0.005 inches to 0.05 inches and a second Shore D hardness of 30 to 70, the outer cover layer being composed of a castable material formed from reactants comprising at least one fluorinated polyfunctional compound, wherein the golf ball has a second coefficient of restitution of 0.8 or greater at 125 ft/s and a compression of 50 to 120.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a center, an inner cover layer, and an outer cover layer, wherein the outer cover layer has a color lightness, L*, of 87 or greater following exposure to UV light at an irradiance power of 1.00 W/m2/nm for a period of about 1 hour to about 4 hours, and the cover comprises a polyurea formed from a prepolymer and a curing agent; and a blend of color stabilizers consisting of 2-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-4-methyl-6-dodecylphenol, 3-(2H-Benzotriazol-2-yl)-5-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzenepropanoic acid, and 2-[4-((2-Hydroxy-3-dodecyloxypropyl)oxy)-2-hydroxyphenyl]-4,6-bis(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,3,5-triazine; wherein each of the color stabilizers is present in an amount of 1.0 to 3.0 percent by weight.

Abstract: A golf ball including a core; a cover having a first water vapor transmission rate; and a vapor barrier layer disposed between the core and the cover, the barrier layer being formed from a polymer including a nano-material having an average particle size of 100 nm or less; wherein the nano-material creates a tortuous path across the barrier layer such that the barrier layer has a second water vapor transmission rate less than the first.

Abstract: A golf ball including a core having a diameter of 0.5 inches to 1.4 inches, a compression of about 45 or less; and a coefficient of restitution of from 0.730 to 0.810; a cast polyurea cover; and an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer having a thickness of 0.11 inches or greater and being formed from a composition including a highly-neutralized acid polymer having a moisture vapor transmission rate of 8 g·mil/100 in2/day or less; wherein a combination of the core and the intermediate layer results in a compression of from about 70 to about 100, and the golf ball has a coefficient of restitution of from 0.805 to 0.820 when measured at an incoming velocity of 125 ft/s and greater than 0.75 when measured at an incoming velocity of 160 ft/s, and a compression of from 75 to 105.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core; a cover layer; and a barrier layer disposed between the core and the cover layer, the barrier layer being formed from a composition comprising an organically-modified ceramic material (also referred to as ormocers, ceramers, ormosils, and hybrids) which is a composite comprising organic and inorganic nano-building blocks linked most often via stable covalent bonds based on organically modified silicon oxides and/or functionalized organic oligomers/polymers.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a single-layer core having a diameter of 0.10 inches to 1.50 inches, a PGA compression of 110 or less and, and comprising a copolymer of ethylene and an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid, the acid being 100% neutralized by a salt of an organic acid, a cation source, or a suitable base of the organic acid; and a thermoplastic or thermoset cover comprising polyurethane, polyurea, epoxy resins, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, or a copolymer comprising urethane and urea segments.