Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf ball having a cover composed of a transparent reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The cover is transparent to visible light and allows for viewing of a core or boundary layer. The core or boundary layer may have a visually appealing color. Further, an indicia may be printed on a surface of the core or boundary layer, and the indicia is visible through the cover material.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer provides one or more deep depressions that extend through the cover layer to and/or into a layer or component underneath is disclosed. The cover may be a single layer or it may include multiple layers. If the cover is a multi-layer cover, the deep depressions extend to or into at least the first inner cover layer, and may extend to and/or into two or more inner cover layers. If the cover is a single layer, the deep depressions extend to and/or into the core. The cover layer(s) may be formed from any material suitable for use as a cover, including, but not limited to, ionomers, non-ionomers and blends of ionomers and non-ionomers. The deep depressions may be spherical or non-spherical, and the portion of the deep depression that extends to or into the next inner layer may be the same or different shape as the outer portion of the deep depression.

Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product comprising a thermoplastic polyurethane cover further comprising an isocyante or hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product may then be subjected to gamma or electron beam irradiation.

Abstract: A golf ball component, such as a golf ball cover layer, formed from a high or increased melt index thermoplastic polyurethane, polyurea or polyurethane/polyurea is disclosed. The cover layer may be relatively thin (i.e., 0.075 or less, preferably 0.050 inches or less, more preferably less than 0.040 inches, even more preferably less than 0.030 inches). In addition, an operation in which the outer cover is exposed to an isocyanate solution is described to improve certain physical properties of the resulting golf ball.

Abstract: A process for reaction injection molding a polyurethane material for a layer of a golf ball is disclosed herein. The layer is preferably a cover for the golf ball. The process discloses preferred pressure parameters and mass flow parameters for reaction injection molding the layer. Such preferred pressure parameters include the difference from mix-head open to the shot mid-point, ??Pom, and the pressure difference from mix-head open to close, or ??Poc. The mass flow parameters include the percentage change in mass flow ratio from mix-head open to shot mid-point, or % MFRom, and the change in mass flow ratio from mix-head open to shot mid-point, or ?MFRom.

Abstract: A novel composition useful for golf ball covers that comprises a blend of a dilsocyanate/polyol polyurethane prepolymer with a curing agent comprising a blend of slow-reacting diamine with a fast-reacting diamine such as dimethylthio 2,4-toluenediamine and diethyl 2,4-toluenediamine, respectively. A golf ball cover made with this composition exhibits the characteristic feel and playability of a balata cover with superior durability characteristics (cut and shear resistance) which exceed those of a balata or ionomer cover.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf ball having a cover composed of a transparent reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The cover is transparent to visible light and allows for viewing of a core or boundary layer. The core or boundary layer may have a visually appealing color. Further, an indicia may be printed on a surface of the core or boundary layer, and the indicia is visible through the cover material.

Abstract: A golf ball comprises a molded core, one or more ionomer mantles, and a thermoset polyurethane cover. The core is a high cis-polybutadiene crosslinked with zinc diacrylate and may also comprise a halogenated thiophenol and metal thiosulfate. One or more of the ionomer mantles comprises an ionomer neutralized to 80% or greater.

Abstract: A golf ball component, such as a golf ball cover layer, formed from a high or increased melt index thermoplastic polyurethane, polyurea or polyurethane/polyurea is disclosed. The cover layer may be relatively thin (i.e., 0.075 or less, preferably 0.050 inches or less, more preferably less than 0.040 inches, even more preferably less than 0.030 inches). In addition, an operation in which the outer cover is exposed to an isocyanate solution is described to improve certain physical properties of the resulting golf ball.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer provides one or more deep dimples having two or more different radii is disclosed. The deep dimples(s) extend(s) through the cover layer to and/or into a layer or component underneath. The cover may be a single layer or it may include multiple layers. The deep dual dimples may be spherical or non-spherical, and the portion of the dimple that extends to or into the next inner layer may be the same or different shape as the outer portion of the dimple.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are golf products, such as golf balls and/or components thereof, including the product of a fast-chemical-reaction mixture comprising a polyol and an isocyanate. The component is formed by reaction injection molding the reaction mixture. In the reaction mixture, the stoichiometry of the reactants is imbalanced.

Abstract: Molding equipment and related techniques for forming a golf ball are disclosed. The golf ball comprises a core and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer provides one or more deep dimples that extend through the cover layer to and/or into a layer or component underneath are disclosed. The cover may be a single layer or include multiple layers. The cover layer(s) may be formed from any material suitable for use as a cover, including, but not limited to, ionomers, non-ionomers and blends of ionomers and non-ionomers. The molding equipment and related processes are particularly useful when forming the various layers by reaction injection molding.

Abstract: A golf ball with overlapping indicia is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a core and at least a cover layer. The cover layer of the golf ball is composed of a transparent, semi-transparent, translucent or semi-transluscent material. Each layer has an indicia thereon with the indicia on the non-cover layer visible.

Abstract: A method of forming a golf ball is disclosed herein. The method includes placing a golf ball precursor product with a thermoplastic polyurethane cover in a solution containing an isocyanate functionality reactive material. The precursor product is then removed from the solution and heated to remove solvent. The precursor product is then placed in an isocyanate solution. The precursor product is then removed and heated to remove solvent to prepare the precursor product for finishing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a golf ball comprising fast-chemical-reaction-produced component, such as a component which comprises a reaction injection molded polyurethane material. The golf ball has excellent light stability. Also disclosed is a method making a golf ball by forming a cover component of the ball by mixing two or more reactants that react and form a reaction product with a flex modulus of from about 1 to about 310 kpsi in a reaction time of about 5 minutes or less, the component having a thickness of at least 0.01 inches and a demold time of 10 minutes or less.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core and a cover layer, wherein the cover layer provides one or more deep depressions that extend through the cover layer to and/or into a layer or component underneath is disclosed. The cover may be a single layer or it may include multiple layers. If the cover is a multi-layer cover, the deep depressions extend to or into at least the first inner cover layer, and may extend to and/or into two or more inner cover layers. If the cover is a single layer, the deep depressions extend to and/or into the core. The cover layer(s) may be formed from any material suitable for use as a cover, including, but not limited to, ionomers, non-ionomers and blends of ionomers and non-ionomers. The deep depressions may be spherical or non-spherical, and the portion of the deep depression that extends to or into the next inner layer may be the same or different shape as the outer portion of the deep depression.

Abstract: A two-piece golf ball having a reaction injection molded polyurethane cover is disclosed herein. The golf ball has a core with a diameter preferably ranging from 1.610 inches to 1.670 inches, and a cover having a thickness preferably ranging from 0.015 inch to 0.045 inch. The cover also preferably has a plurality of deep apertures extending through the cover.

Abstract: A process for reaction injection molding a polyurethane material for a layer of a golf ball is disclosed herein. The layer is preferably a cover for the golf ball. The process discloses preferred pressure parameters and mass flow parameters for reaction injection molding the layer. Such preferred pressure parameters include the difference from mix-head open to the shot mid-point, ??Pom, and the pressure difference from mix-head open to close, or ??Poc. The mass flow parameters include the percentage change in mass flow ratio from mix-head open to shot mid-point, or % MFRom, and the change in mass flow ratio from mix-head open to shot mid-point, or ?MFRom.

Abstract: A golf ball (20) approaching zero land area is disclosed herein. The golf ball (20) has an innersphere with a plurality of lattice members (40) and a plurality of deep depressions (99). Each of the plurality of lattice members (40) has an apex and the golf ball (20) of the present invention conforms with the 1.68 inches requirement for USGA-approved golf balls. The interconnected lattice members (40) preferably form a plurality of polygons, preferably hexagons and pentagons. Each of the lattice members (40) preferably has a continuous contour.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a golf ball are disclosed herein. The method and apparatus involve biasing a golf ball precursor product toward a first side of a mold cavity in anticipation of movement of the golf ball precursor product toward a second side of the mold cavity during the formation of a cover for the golf ball. In order to bias the golf ball precursor product, at least one of a second plurality of protrusions that extend inward from a second side of an interior surface wall has a length that is greater than each of a first plurality of protrusions that extend inward from a first side of the interior surface wall. A golf ball having greater cover concentricity is also disclosed herein.