Abstract: A golf ball is disclosed which includes a Single Component Region which includes greater than 75% by weight of an injection moldable rubber and one or more Discrete Hardness Regions within the Single Component Region. The golf ball may optionally also include a core, an outer cover layer and one or more intermediate layers. Also disclosed are methods of preparing a golf ball including a Single Component Region which includes greater than 75% by weight of an injection moldable rubber and one or more Discrete Hardness Regions within the Single Component Region, whereby the Single Component Region is formed either by sequentially injection molding layers of a polyalkenamer rubber followed by co-curing the resulting structure, or by injection molding one or more pairs of half shells of a polyalkenamer rubber composition, followed by stacking the half shells to form a golf ball precursor structure followed by co-curing the resulting structure.

Abstract: A golf ball is disclosed which includes a Single Component Region which includes greater than 75% by weight of an injection moldable rubber and one or more Discrete Hardness Regions within the Single Component Region. The golf ball may optionally also include a core, an outer cover layer and one or more intermediate layers. Also disclosed are methods of preparing a golf ball including a Single Component Region which includes greater than 75% by weight of an injection moldable rubber and one or more Discrete Hardness Regions within the Single Component Region, whereby the Single Component Region is formed either by sequentially injection molding layers of a polyalkenamer rubber followed by co-curing the resulting structure, or by injection molding one or more pairs of half shells of a polyalkenamer rubber composition, followed by stacking the half shells to form a golf ball precursor structure followed by co-curing the resulting structure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed polymer composition comprise a first unsaturated polymer or polymer precursor, and an effective amount of a peptizer. The peptizer typically comprises a heteroaryl or a heterocyclic compound, other than morpholine as disclosed in assignee's prior applications. Disclosed polymer compositions are useful for making sports equipment, such as at least one layer of a golf ball, often a core. Because the compositions are useful for making golf balls, materials commonly known for making such golf balls can be used in combination with the polymer composition. A method for forming a golf ball also is disclosed. The method comprises providing disclosed compositions and then forming at least one component of a golf using the composition.

Abstract: A golf ball that includes (a) a core comprising a center; (b) an outer cover layer; and (c) one or more intermediate layers; wherein at least one of the core, the outer cover layer, or the intermediate layer comprises a composition that includes (i) at least one polyalkenamer and at least one polyamide or (ii) at least one polyalkenamer. A method for making a golf ball comprising a core, one or more intermediate layers and an outer cover layer is also disclosed, wherein the method includes forming a blend comprising at least one polyalkenamer rubber and at least one polyamide; and injection molding the blend into a spherical mold to form the intermediate or outer cover layer. Also disclosed is a polymer composition that includes at least one polyalkenamer and at least one thermoplastic copolyamide elastomer.

Abstract: A system includes a dispensing station and top and bottom mold portion paths. The dispensing station is configured to dispense materials into one or more hemispherical cavities of a plurality of top mold portions and a plurality of bottom mold portions. The plurality of top mold portions are conveyed at a first speed along the top mold portion path, and the plurality of bottom mold portions are conveyed at a second speed along the bottom mold portion path. The dispensing station can include at least one nozzle coupled to a six-axis robotic member that is configured to move at variable speeds.

Abstract: This invention pertains to a golf ball which includes a core, optionally one or more intermediate layers; and an outer cover layer, and where one or more of the outer cover or intermediate layers includes a high acid carboxylated elastomer composition, which has an elastomer backbone and one or more carboxy and which is the reaction product of a carboxylated elastomer and an amine containing compound.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a two piece golf ball having a core and an outer cover layer; where the core includes a modifier which is either a block copolymer having a number average molecular weight of from about 30,000 to about 300,000 composed of at least two blocks including aromatic vinyl units each having a number average molecular weight of about 2,500 to about 40,000 and at least one block containing a vinyl bond content of not less than about 40%, and having a peak temperature of primary dispersion of tan ? of at least 0° C., and consisting of isoprene or isoprene-butadiene units; or from about 1 to about 50 parts by weight of a triallyl-cyanurate; or a combination of the block copolymer and the triallylcyanurate.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a golf ball including a core, one or more mantle layers and an outer cover layer, and one or more of the core, one or more mantle layers or outer cover layer includes a partially hydrogenated polybutadiene having a viscosity at 200° C. of less than about 5,000 Pa-sec and a storage modulus (G?) at 1 Hz and 25° C. of greater than about 1×107dyn/cm2.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosed polymer composition comprise a first unsaturated polymer or polymer precursor, and an effective amount of a peptizer. The peptizer typically comprises a heteroaryl or a heterocyclic compound, other than morpholine as disclosed in assignee's prior applications. Disclosed polymer compositions are useful for making sports equipment, such as at least one layer of a golf ball, often a core. Because the compositions are useful for making golf balls, materials commonly known for making such golf balls can be used in combination with the polymer composition. A method for forming a golf ball also is disclosed. The method comprises providing disclosed compositions and then forming at least one component of a golf using the composition.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to golf balls having components including intermediate layers and outer cover layers prepared from blends of polyamides mixed with one or more functional polymer modifiers. The functional polymer modifier incorporates a copolymer or a terpolymer having a glycidyl group, hydroxyl group, maleic anhydride group or carboxylic group, or a mixture of these. When used in golf ball covers or mantles, these materials exhibit improved impact durability when compared to analogous balls but having ionomeric- or polyurethane-based layers of similar hardness.

Abstract: A golf ball that includes (a) a core comprising a center; (b) an outer cover layer; and (c) one or more intermediate layers; wherein at least one of the core, the outer cover layer, or the intermediate layer comprises a composition that includes (i) at least one polyalkenamer and at least one polyamide or (ii) at least one polyalkenamer. A method for making a golf ball comprising a core, one or more intermediate layers and an outer cover layer is also disclosed, wherein the method includes forming a blend comprising at least one polyalkenamer rubber and at least one polyamide; and injection molding the blend into a spherical mold to form the intermediate or outer cover layer. Also disclosed is a polymer composition that includes at least one polyalkenamer and at least one thermoplastic copolyamide elastomer.

Abstract: Compositions comprising the reaction product of: (a) a polyalkenamer; and (b) an organic modifier that includes at least one carbon to carbon unsaturated bond and at least one functional group selected from carboxyl, hydroxyl, amino, epoxy, (meth)acrylate, vinyl, ester, isocyanate, carbonyl, urethane, anhydride, or a metal salt thereof. Also disclosed are golf balls that include (i) a core, (ii) at least one intermediate layer, and (iii) at least one cover layer, wherein at least one of the core, intermediate layer or cover layer includes the polyalkenamer/functionalized organic modifier composition as a majority ingredient.

Abstract: A golf ball is disclosed which includes a central core; one or more mantle layers and an outer cover layer and where one or more of the core and one or more mantle layers is coated with a coating composition which includes one or more of the following components; a polysulfide silane; a waterborne polyurethane resin composition; a waterborne urethane modified acrylic resin composition; or an epoxy resin composition.

Abstract: A golf ball having a core including a center, an outer cover layer and one or more intermediate layers, where at least one or more of the core, outer cover layer or one or more intermediate layers comprises a crosslinked polyurethane that is the reaction product of (i) a hydroxy-functionalized crosslinkable thermoplastic polyurethane have a NCO:OH ratio of less than 1, more preferably less than 0.95, and most preferably less than 0.9, and (ii) at least one crosslinking agent.

Abstract: The present invention also relates to a crosslinked polyamide composition which is the reaction product of about 70 to about 99.5 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of one or more polyamides and about 0.5 to about 30 wt % (based on the combined weight of Components A and B) of one or more crosslinking agents; and where the crosslinked polyamide composition has a flexural modulus of about 5 to about 500 kpsi, and a material Shore D hardness of about 25 to about 85. The present invention also relates to a golf ball having a core including a center, an outer cover layer, and one or more intermediate layers, where at least one or more of the core, outer cover layer or one or more intermediate layers includes the crosslinked polyamide composition.

Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball construct includes positioning one or more core or mantle portions of a golf ball into respective cavities of a mold system so that the core or mantle portion is substantially centered relative to the respective cavity, delivering injection material into the respective cavities, the injection material being at a first temperature and comprising one or more crosslinking resins, heating the injection material within the respective cavities to a second temperature to crosslink the one or more crosslinking resins, and removing from respective mold cavities the one or more golf ball constructs that are formed by heating the injection material to the second temperature.

Abstract: The present invention relates to golf balls comprising a crosslinked ionomer composition formed by the reaction of either one or more ionomers, or an ionomer precursor composition, with one or more crosslinking agents including polyisocyanates, blocked polyisocyanates, polyurethane prepolymers, blocked polyurethane prepolymers, polyurea prepolymers, blocked polyurea prepolymers, polyamines, blocked polyamines and dicyanodiamides. The resulting modified ionomer compositions exhibit increased tensile strength and a decrease in tensile elongation as compared to the uncrosslinked ionomer analogs while maintaining Shore D hardness.

Abstract: Golf balls and systems for applying one or more polymer layers to a golf ball construct are disclosed. As but one example of disclosed systems, a method of forming a golf ball construct includes positioning a core or mantle portion of a golf ball in a cavity, opening a valve gate adjacent the cavity to cause viscous polymer to flow through the valve gate, into a short runner and into one or more radial runners that at least partially surround a circumference of the cavity. The polymer layer is allowed to solidify to form a solidified polymer layer, and the golf ball construct is removed from the mold cavity.

Abstract: Certain disclosed embodiments of the present invention concern a golf ball, which includes a core comprising a center, an outer cover layer; and optionally one or more intermediate layers, and where at least one or more of the core, outer cover layer, or one or more intermediate layers if present, includes a styrene ionomer, such as a styrene anhydride copolymer, a basic salt of a styrene-?,?-unsaturated acid copolymer, or a styrene maleic anhydride copolymer. These styrene-based copolymers can be used in combination with additional polymer components.

Abstract: The present invention is to a golf ball having an equator at latitude 0° and two poles; and an equator region defined by latitudes 0 to 25°, a shoulder region defined by latitudes from more than 25° to less than 65°, and a pole region defined by latitudes 65° to 90°; and a dimple pattern on the surface of the golf ball having an average dimple volume of the equator region Ve, an average dimple volume of the shoulder region, Vs, and an average dimple volume of the pole region, Vp such that the ratio Vs/Ve is less than 0.97 and the ratio Vp/Vs is less than 0.97.