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 golf ball with a layer of composite material applied to at least one surface of one layer of the ball. The composite material includes a plurality of particles. The particles are shaped to enable specific orientations. A percentage of the particles in the composite material achieve a specific orientation. A portion of at least one of the particles extends from the composite material layer and into an adjacent, surrounding layer. The particles may have a tetrapod shape. The composite layer may be applied as a thin film coating, such as in a primer layer.

Abstract: A four piece golf ball includes several relationships among the values of the densities of its layers. Namely, the sum of the density of the inner core and the outer core is at least 2 g/cm3, the sum of the density of the inner cover layer and the outer cover layer is at least 2.2 g/cm3, and the difference between these two sums is at least 0.1 g/cm3. The inner core is made of a highly neutralized acid polymer, the outer core is made of a polybutadiene rubber, and the inner and outer cover layers are made of a non-ionomeric thermoplastic material, such as thermoplastic polyurethane. The layers may have certain relationships among their hardness values. Finally, the golf ball exhibits certain physical properties, such as a certain moment of inertia.

Abstract: A golf ball includes a relatively large polymer core and has a soft ball compression. The polymer is, in the illustrated embodiments, a highly neutralized acid polymer. The golf ball may, optionally, include an outer core made of a different material, such as a thermoset polybutadiene rubber. The golf ball may, optionally, include a mantle layer made of an ionomer material. The inner core having a diameter of between 24 mm and 40 mm, and in some designs, between 28 mm and 32 mm, yields increased iron initial velocity and lower iron spin while maintaining driver performance.

Abstract: A method and system for making a golf ball core is disclosed. The method may generally include forming a golf ball core out of a raw core material. The golf ball core may be rapidly heated to begin curing (or vulcanizing) from the outermost surface toward the center of the golf ball core. Before curing the entire golf ball core, the golf ball core may be quenched to stop the curing process. As a result, the golf ball core may include an outer cured zone and an inner uncured zone. In this state, the golf ball core may be incorporated into a finished golf ball to be sold to consumers. Following a set of instructions provided with the golf ball, the consumer may heat the golf ball to customize the properties of the golf ball core, and, thus, the characteristics of the golf ball.

Abstract: A high performance golf ball includes a resin inner core, a rubber outer core, and a cover. The resin inner core is made of highly neutralized polymer, and may include a blend of different highly neutralized polymers. The cover is a two layer cover, with a hard inner cover and a thermoplastic polyurethane outer cover. The ball as a whole has properties to maximize performance and aesthetic properties, such as feel and sound.

Abstract: A golf ball includes an inner layer, an outer layer, and a cavity therebetween. A fluid, such as a viscous damping fluid, is placed in the cavity. When the ball is struck, the inner and outer layers rotate independently of one another. Indicia are provided on the inner and outer layers. An examination of the relative position of the indicia before the ball is struck and after the ball is struck can yield data that indicate the shear force of the stroke.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf ball with a deposited layer is disclosed. The deposited layer is not produced by a molding process, such as injection molding or compression molding. Instead, the deposition process is produced by another process, such as sintering. The deposited layer may include partially fused particulate material. The deposited layer may be added to a golf ball design as one or more supplemental layers. The deposited layer may also be provided in a golf ball design as a substitute for one or more layers. A golf ball may further include a combination of one or more supplemental deposited layers and one or more substituted deposited layers.

Abstract: Methods for evaluating and providing selections of recommended golf balls, golf ball constructions, and configurations of golf ball construction components are provided. Such methods may involve obtaining or measuring spin measurements against a plurality of golf clubs for each of a plurality of golf balls. A linear relationship may be used to determine a spin slope for each golf ball on the basis of the set of spin measurements associated with that golf ball. In turn, a selection of a recommended golf ball, golf ball construction, or configuration of a ball construction component may be made based upon which golf ball has the larger spin slope.

Abstract: A golf ball having an outer cover layer with a lower flexural modulus than that of an inner core layer and/or an inner cover layer is disclosed. The lower flexural modulus of the outer cover layer may give the golf ball a good feel during short shots and putting. The inner cover layer may have a first flexural modulus and the outer cover layer may have a second flexural modulus. The first flexural modulus may be at least about 10 times greater than the second flexural modulus. The inner core layer may have a third flexural modulus. The third flexural modulus may be at least about 5 times greater than the second flexural modulus.

Abstract: A golf ball having certain relationships and values of its initial velocities at various club head speeds is provided. The golf ball has a typical initial velocity at a low club head speed, but an increased initial velocity at a high club head speed. Therefore, the golf ball may be advantageously used by both amateur golfers having lower swing speeds and professional golfers having high swing speeds. The golf ball may also achieve an initial velocity of at least about 173 mph at a club head speed of about 125 mph, therefore achieving an increased total shot distance.

Abstract: A golf ball having a variable initial velocity associated with striking the golf ball with a driver having different head speeds is disclosed. The structure of the disclosed golf ball may cause the golf ball to experience an initial velocity comparable to premium golf balls currently on the market when hit with a driver head speed less than 100 mph. However, the same golf ball may experience an initial velocity higher than premium golf balls currently on the market when hit with a driver head speed higher than 125 mph. As a result, the disclosed golf ball may have different initial velocities associated with different head speeds.

Abstract: A golf ball having certain relationships and values of its initial velocities at various club head speeds is provided. The golf ball may achieve an initial velocity of at least about 173 mph at a club head speed of about 125 mph, therefore achieving an increased total shot distance. The golf ball has multiple layers making up its core, and the golf ball may be a four piece golf ball.

Abstract: A golf ball that, when hit with an iron, has a higher spin rate and launch angle than existing golf balls currently available on the market is disclosed. The same golf ball may have a compatible driver spin rate and launch angle against existing golf balls currently available on the market. When the golf ball is hit with a driver, the golf ball may have a spin rate to launch angle ratio ranging from about 190 to about 360. When the golf ball is hit with an iron other than a pitching wedge, the golf ball may have a spin rate to launch angle ratio ranging from about 500 to about 600.

Abstract: A golf ball or other layered article may include three thermoplastic layers and one thermoset layer. The flexural moduli of the thermoplastic materials may be selected to have specified ratios. The ratio of the first flexural modulus to the third flexural modulus may be between about 6 and about 30. The ratio of the second flexural modulus to the first flexural modulus may be between about 2 and about 8. The ratio of the second flexural modulus to the third flexural modulus may be between about 50 and about 180.

Abstract: A golf ball having a core layer, a mantle layer enclosing the core layer, and a cover layer enclosing the mantle layer. At least one of the layers includes a blend of at least two highly neutralized acid polymers having low flexural moduli. The relative proportion of one highly neutralized acid polymer to the other highly neutralized acid polymer is between about 10:90 and about 90:10.

Abstract: A golf ball having a cover layer, an outer core layer, and an inner core layer. The inner core layer has a first compression deformation at 24° C. and a second compression deformation at 70° C. The ratio between the second compression deformation and the first compression deformation is between approximately 1.5 and approximately 2.5.

Abstract: A method of making a single-piece hollow shell is disclosed. A plurality of perforators is inserted into a mold and create an inner mold surface. A material is inserted into the mold to create a perforated hollow shell between the mold, the inner mold surface, and the perforated.

Abstract: A method of recycling a multi-material inner part of a golf ball includes a variety of steps. The inner part and cover are separated from one another. The inner part is pulverized into pieces. The pieces are placed in a liquid to separate the pieces of one material from the pieces of the other materials. A ball designed for use in such a system is also disclosed.

Abstract: A golf ball having a core, an outer core layer, a medial layer, and a cover is disclosed, as well as a method of making. The outer core layer defines perforations therethrough. The core and medial layer are formed integrally through the perforations.