Abstract: This invention is directed to golf balls including one or more foamed, microcellular materials. The invention also encompasses methods of controlling or adjusting one or more material properties or the weight distribution of a golf ball, and methods of forming golf balls including such microcellular materials.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a multi-layer golf ball which comprises a core, a cover layer and at least one intermediate layer disposed between the core and cover, wherein the intermediate layer comprises a polyether-type polyurethane and optionally, a second thermoplastic component such as polyetherester block copolymer, polyesterester block copolymer, polyetheramide block copolymer, dynamically vulcanized thermoplastic elastomer, functionalized styrene-butadiene elastomer, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic polyesters, metallocene polymer or blends thereof and a density-modifying filler such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide or blends thereof.

Abstract: A golf ball including a core, a cover, and, optionally, an intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, wherein at least one of the core, cover layer, or optional intermediate layer includes at least one dendritic macromolecule.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball and to a process for forming a golf ball having at least one layer, where the layer is formed of a polymer blend including a highly neutralized polymer formed from an oxa acid, a thermoplastic resin, and an inorganic metal compound, an organic amine, or a combination thereof, wherein greater than about 70 percent of the acid groups in the polymer blend are neutralized.

Abstract: The disclosed invention provides a golf ball including a core and a cover of at least two layers, wherein the at least one cover layer includes an inner cover layer of at least one ionomer resin and an outer cover formed from a polymer blend including at least one grafted metallocene-catalyzed polymer and at least one ionomer neutralized with a metal cation, and optionally, a non-grafted metallocene-catalyzed polymer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for forming golf equipment, or a portion thereof, preferably for forming one or more layers of a golf ball, including: providing a first reactable component containing an isocyanate-containing compound, and a second reactable component containing at least one polyol, polyamine, or epoxy-containing compound; mixing the reactable components together to form a reactive mixture; and injecting the reactive mixture into a cavity or mold having a desired shape within a time sufficient to avoid substantial polymerization, gelation, or solidification.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for making a golf ball. Two cups are molded from an elastomer separately from an inner sphere. In one embodiment of the method, the cups are molded on both sides of a single mold part with hemispherical protrusions that form cavities in the cups. An inner sphere is placed within the cavities, and the cups are joined, by preferably crosslinking the cups together or applying adhesive there between. To retain the characteristics of the cup material where the cups meet, an embodiment of the cups can be formed with nonplanar mating surfaces that mesh with each other. The nonplanar mating surfaces preferably have a pattern that is symmetrical about the inner sphere, such as concentric ridges, for example a tongue and a groove.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, a cover, and at least one water vapor barrier layer, wherein the water vapor barrier layer comprises at least one layer formed from poly-para-xylylene and its derivatives.

Abstract: A golf ball with a layer formed of a composite material is disclosed. The composite layer can be the outermost cover layer, an intermediate layer, or a layer of a center of the ball. The composite layer includes a filament material embedded in a matrix material. The filament material is selected such that it can sustain sufficient deformation at impact and remain elastic, i.e. essentially deforming with as little energy loss as possible. As a result, the composite cover layer contributes significantly to the resiliency of the ball and acts as a hoop-stress layer.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising an inner core formed of a first material and comprising i) a central portion; and ii) a plurality of spaced projections extending radially outward from the central portion forming gaps between each projection, and each projection having an enlarged free end and a substantially conical shape; an outer core formed of a second material, said second material being disposed within the gaps and the recesses to form a core; and a cover layer; wherein at least one of the first and second materials comprises a polymer containing an acid group neutralized by an organic acid or a salt thereof, the organic acid or salt thereof being present in an amount sufficient to neutralize the polymer by at least about 100%.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for making a golf ball. Two cups are molded from an elastomer separately from an inner sphere. In one embodiment of the method, the cups are molded on both sides of a single mold part with hemispherical protrusions that form cavities in the cups. An inner sphere is placed within the cavities, and the cups are joined, by preferably crosslinking the cups together or applying adhesive there between. To retain the characterisitics of the cup material where the cups meet, an embodiment of the cups can be formed with nonplanar mating surfaces that mesh with each other. The nonplanar mating surfaces preferably have a pattern that is symmetrical about the inner sphere, such as concentric ridges, for example a tongue and a groove.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball and to a process for forming a golf ball having at least one layer, where the layer is formed of a saponified polymer/oxa acid blend, having from about 65 to about 99 parts of at least one saponified polymer and from about 35 to 1 parts of at least one oxa acid, based on 100 parts by weight of the saponified polymer/oxa acid blend. The layer may be foamed or unfoamed, and may form at least a portion of any of the cover, the core, or a mantle layer situated between the cover and the core.

Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball having a cover, intermediate layers and/or a core comprising in whole or in part of water resistant polyurethane elastomers. The polyurethane elastomers may be blended with conventional materials employed to form golf balls, covers and intermediate layers.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, and optionally at least one intermediate layer interposed between the cover and the core, wherein the cover, the intermediate layer or both are formed from a blend comprising a silicon-urea copolymer.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, and optionally at least one intermediate layer interposed between the cover and the core, wherein the cover, the intermediate layer or both are formed from a blend comprising a thermoplastic silicone-urethane copolymer.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a substantially spherical core having an inner sphere comprising a solid outer surface, at least one bonded mantle layer including a plurality of mantle layer parts that are made of a thermoset elastomer and that are arranged around the inner sphere, and an adhesive disposed between and bonding the mantle layer parts to each other; and a cover disposed about the core.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a cover and a core, and at least one intermediate layer interposed between the cover and the core, wherein the cover is formed from a blend comprising of a segmented polyurethane elastomer copolymers of polyether (or ester)-ester and polyether (or ester)-amide.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, a cover, and, optionally, at least one intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, wherein at least one of the cover or the intermediate layer comprise a thermoplastic polycarbonate-urethane copolymer.

Abstract: Golf balls having at least one layer formed from compositions including at least one of a polyamide, in the form of a homopolymer, a copolymer or mixtures thereof, or an olefinic polymer produced using a single-site metallocene catalyst in the polymerization process, to which at least one pendant functional group has been grafted by a post-polymerization reaction. The polyamide compositions may be mixed with ionomers or non-ionomers, including grafted or non-grafted metallocene catalyzed polymers. The grafted metallocene catalyzed polymer compositions may be mixed with at least one of an ionomer, a non-grafted or unfunctionalized metallocene catalyzed polymer, polyamide, or other non-ionomeric polymer to form a blend. The compositions may be used in any layer of a golf ball, and may be foamed or unfoamed.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, a cover, and at least one intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, wherein the intermediate layer includes a segmented polyurethane elastomer copolymers.