Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls comprising a dual-layer core and a cover. The core comprises a center having a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, and an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 Shore C or greater and formed from a high modulus HNP composition. Low modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi. High modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi. The modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition. The cover comprises an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition.

Abstract: The invention comprises a golf ball. The golf ball is formed with a core, at least one intermediate layer, and a cover. The intermediate layer has a non-planar parting line. The molds used to form the intermediate layer have non-planar mating surfaces. The non-planar mating surfaces of the molds mesh, and when the intermediate layer is formed therein, the intermediate layer has a non-planar parting line thereon. If compression molding is used, hemispherical layer blanks may be pre-formed in the shape of the mold halves. To form the intermediate layer, the two blanks are compression molded together. If injection molding is used, a core is placed inside a mold chamber and layer material is injected into the mold chamber to form the intermediate layer about the core. If reaction injection molding is used, two or more reactive precursors are mixed and injected into the mold cavity, and they react to form the intermediate layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of a center having a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, and an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 Shore C or greater and formed from a high modulus HNP composition. Low modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi. High modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi. The modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition. The cover consists of an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core consists of a small, hard center enclosed by a soft intermediate core layer and an outer core layer. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a low modulus HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a high modulus HNP composition.

Abstract: A golf ball having a core, and at least one layer about the core, wherein the core or the layer is formed from partially or fully neutralized butyl ionomers or their blends to improve the resiliency and impact durability over a conventional butyl rubber. The core comprises a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material, or a rubber-based material, while at least one layer is formed from a composition comprising a partially or fully neutralized butyl rubber ionomer. The butyl rubber ionomer comprises repeating units derived from at least one isoolefin monomer, at least 0.5 mol % of repeating units derived from at least one multiolefin monomer, at least 0.5 mol % of repeating units derived from an allylic halide, and at least 0.5 mol % of an ionomeric moiety. The isoolefin comprises isobutylene, the multiolefin comprises isoprene and the allylic halide comprises a bromide.

Abstract: A golf ball is provided that has improved aerodynamic efficiency, resulting in increased flight distance for golfers of all swing speeds, and more particularly for golfers possessing very high swing speeds, such as those who can launch the balls at an initial speed greater than 160 miles per hour and more particularly at initial ball speed of about 170 miles per hour or higher. The golf ball of the present invention combines lower dimple count with multiple dimple sizes to provide higher dimple coverage and improved aerodynamic characteristics.

Abstract: This document provides methods and materials related to assessing a mammal's immunological state. For example, methods and materials related to assessing a mammal to determine whether the mammal is immunologically naïve with respect to a pathogen, was vaccinated against that pathogen, or is infected with that pathogen are provided. This document also provides methods and materials that can be used to determine whether or not a mammal (e.g., a cow) has an early stage infection (e.g., stage 1, Johne's disease).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls comprising a fluid-filled center surrounded by an outer core, wherein the outer core comprises a layer formed from a low modulus HNP composition and a layer formed from a high modulus HNP composition. The present invention is not limited by which outer core layer is formed from the low modulus HNP composition and which layer is formed from the high modulus HNP composition, so long as both layers are present in the outer core of the golf ball. Low modulus HNP compositions of the present invention comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer having a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi. High modulus HNP compositions of the present invention comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer having a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi.

Abstract: A golf ball is provided that has improved aerodynamic efficiency, resulting in increased flight distance for golfers of all swing speeds, and more particularly for golfers possessing very high swing speeds, such as those who can launch the balls at an initial speed greater than 160 miles per hour and more particularly at initial ball speed of about 170 miles per hour or higher. The golf ball of the present invention combines lower dimple count with multiple dimple sizes to provide higher dimple coverage and improved aerodynamic characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of a layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and a layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition. The relatively soft HNP composition has a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprises a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer. The relatively hard HNP composition has a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprises a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer. The cover preferably consists of a single cover layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of a center having a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater and formed from a first HNP composition, and an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 Shore C or greater and formed from a second HNP composition. The first HNP composition has a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprises a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer. The second HNP composition has a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprises a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer. The material hardness of the first HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the second HNP composition. The cover consists of an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core consists of a small, hard center enclosed by a soft intermediate core layer and an outer core layer. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a low modulus HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a high modulus HNP composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core consists of a center and an outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard intermediate core layer. The outer core layer is preferably thin relative to the center and the outer core layer. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a low modulus HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a high modulus HNP composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of a center having a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, and an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 Shore C or greater and formed from a high modulus HNP composition. Low modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi. High modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi. The modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition. The cover consists of an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls comprising a fluid-filled center surrounded by an outer core, wherein the outer core comprises a layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and a layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition. The present invention is not limited by which outer core layer is formed from the relatively soft HNP composition and which layer is formed from the relatively hard HNP composition, so long as both layers are present in the outer core of the golf ball. Relatively soft HNP compositions of the present invention have a Shore D hardness of 55 or less and comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer. Relatively hard HNP compositions of the present invention have a Shore D hardness of 45 or greater and comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer. The material hardness of the relatively soft HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the relatively hard HNP composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of a layer formed from a low modulus HNP composition and a layer formed from a high modulus HNP composition. The low modulus HNP composition has a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprises a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl(meth)acrylate copolymer. The high modulus HNP composition has a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprises a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer. The cover preferably consists of a single cover layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls comprising a fluid-filled center surrounded by an outer core, wherein the outer core comprises a layer formed from a low modulus HNP composition and a layer formed from a high modulus HNP composition. The present invention is not limited by which outer core layer is formed from the low modulus HNP composition and which layer is formed from the high modulus HNP composition, so long as both layers are present in the outer core of the golf ball. Low modulus HNP compositions of the present invention comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer having a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi. High modulus HNP compositions of the present invention comprise a highly neutralized acid copolymer having a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core consists of a small, hard center enclosed by a soft intermediate core layer and an outer core layer. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover. The multi-layer core consists of a center and an outer core layer that are both soft relative to a hard intermediate core layer. The outer core layer is preferably thin relative to the center and the outer core layer. The multi-layer core includes at least one layer formed from a relatively soft HNP composition and at least one layer formed from a relatively hard HNP composition.

Abstract: This invention is related to multi-layer golf balls having an inner cover layer comprising a blend of styrene-block copolymer and trans-polyisoprene, an outer cover layer comprising a polyurethane, a polyurea or a mixture thereof, and a core comprising of thermosetting or thermoplastic materials.