Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball comprising a core and a cover of one or more layers, characterized in that at least one layer which constitutes the cover is formed primarily of a mixture of (A) a thermoplastic resin composition selected from among a thermoplastic block copolymer, polyester base elastomer, polyamide base elastomer and polyolefin, which are modified with functional groups having reactivity with isocyanate, and (B) an isocyanate compound or an isocyanate mixture having at least two isocyanate groups as functional groups in a molecule, and a method for preparing the same. The golf ball has excellent flight performance, feel on impact, and scuff resistance.

Abstract: In a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, at least one layer of the cover is composed mainly of a mixture of an amino-terminated block polymer and an ionomer resin in a weight ratio between 3/97 and 60/40. The mixture is effectively moldable, and the golf ball is improved in rebound, durability, and scuff resistance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a golf ball having a cover formed from a thermoplastic polyurethane material which can be recycled for molding, which exhibits high restitution, and which exhibits excellent scuff resistance. The cover is formed from a composition (D) containing, as predominant components, the following components (A), (B) and (C): (A) a thermoplastic polyurethane material, (B) a thermoplastic polyamide, and (C) an isocyanate mixture in which an isocyanate compound (c-1) having at least two isocyanate groups serving as functional groups in the molecule is dispersed in a thermoplastic resin (c-2) which is substantially non-reactive with the isocyanate groups.

Abstract: A mixture having good thermal stability, flow and moldability and suitable as a golf ball-forming material is obtained when a base resin comprising a (metal ion-neutralized) olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylate ternary random copolymer and optionally a (metal ion-neutralized) olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid binary random copolymer is blended with specific proportions of a fatty acid and/or fatty acid derivative and a basic inorganic metal compound capable of neutralizing acidic groups left unneutralized in the base resin and fatty acid. Using the same material, high-rebound golf balls can be effectively manufactured.

Abstract: A golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate layer, and a cover exhibits a good profile of rebound, feel and durability suited for low head speed amateur players when it satisfies the requirements that (Shore D hardness of the cover)?(Shore D hardness of the intermediate layer)>0, (initial velocity (in m/s) of the core enclosed with the intermediate layer)?(initial velocity (in m/s) of the core)>0, 0.90?(Deflection amount of the core enclosed with the intermediate layer)/(Deflection amount of the core)?1.00, and the total thickness (in mm) of the intermediate layer and the cover is up to 3.0 mm.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a two-piece solid golf ball consisting of a solid core and a cover, the solid core being formed from a rubber composition composed of a rubber base material of polybutadiene synthesized by using a catalyst of rare earth element, a small amount of organic peroxide, an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, an organic sulfur compound, and an inorganic filler, and the cover being formed mainly from a mixture of an ionomer-containing resin composition and an inorganic filler. The two-piece solid golf ball is by far superior to conventional ones in flying performance, cover durability, scuff resistance, and shot feeling.

Abstract: A mixture having good thermal stability, flow and moldability and suitable as a golf ball-forming material is obtained when a base resin comprising a (metal ion-neutralized) olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylate ternary random copolymer and optionally a (metal ion-neutralized) olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid binary random copolymer is blended with specific proportions of a fatty acid and/or fatty acid derivative and a basic inorganic metal compound capable of neutralizing acidic groups left unneutralized in the base resin and fatty acid. Using the same material, high-rebound golf balls can be effectively manufactured.

Abstract: A multi-piece solid golf ball has a solid core obtained by molding and vulcanizing a rubber composition which includes (A) a base rubber containing a polybutadiene synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, (B) an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, (C) an organic sulfur compound, (D) an inorganic filler and (E) an organic peroxide. The core is enclosed within a mantle of one or more layer which is made primarily of a thermoplastic resin and has a Durometer D hardness of 30 to 70. The mantle is enclosed within a cover which is made primarily of a thermoplastic polyurethane and which has a Durometer D hardness of 40 to 60 that is lower than the Durometer D hardness of the outermost layer of the mantle. This construction provides the golf ball with an outstanding rebound.

Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core, a mantle and a cover, the solid core is made of a rubber composition comprising a base rubber containing a polybutadiene synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, a small amount of organic peroxide, an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, an organic sulfur compound and an inorganic filler. The mantle is made of a thermoplastic resin composition. The cover is made primarily of a mixture of an ionomer resin-containing resin composition and an inorganic filler. This construction provides the golf ball with a combination of outstanding flight performance and soft feel with cover's scuff resistance and crack durability, that is unprecedented.

Abstract: In a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, at least one layer of the cover is formed of a cover stock composition in which fullerene and/or carbon nanotubes are uniformly dispersed in a thermoplastic resin. The golf ball is prepared by uniformly dispersing fullerene and/or carbon nanotubes in a thermoplastic resin to provide a cover stock composition and forming at least one layer of the cover from the cover stock composition.

Abstract: In a golf ball comprising a core and a cover of at least two layers, a cover outermost layer is formed of a composition comprising 100 pbw of a thermoplastic resin and 0.2-5 pbw of a cholesteric liquid crystal polymer, and a cover inner layer is formed of a composition comprising 100 pbw of a thermoplastic resin, 0.1-1 pbw of titanium oxide, and 0.05-1 pbw of a fluorescent pigment. The golf ball has an outer appearance whose color continuously changes with the viewing angle, a brilliance, a good color harmony over the entire ball, improved spin performance, and scuff resistance.

Abstract: In a golf ball comprising a core and a cover of one or more layers, at least one layer of the cover is formed primarily of a mixture comprising (A) an ionomer resin, (B) a thermoplastic elastomer and (C) a thermoplastic block copolymer terminated with a functional group capable of reacting with the ionomer resin, in such a proportion as to provide a A/(B+C) weight ratio between 50/50 and 98/2 and a B/C weight ratio between 9/1 and 1/1. The golf ball has improved rebound, a soft feel upon impact, good durability and good moldability.

Abstract: In a solid golf ball comprising an elastic solid core and a resin cover, the cover has a JIS-C hardness of 50-85, and provided that the ball receives a spin rate S1 (rpm) in the dry state and a spin rate S2 (rpm) in the wet state when hit with a short iron having a loft of an 8-iron or greater, the percent spin retention: (S2/S1)×100 is at least 47%. The ball's spin susceptibility when hit with the short iron is not reduced in the dry state or fine weather, nor is noticeably reduced even in the wet state or rain weather. The ball has so high performance that the ball travels a distance as intended, immediately stops on the green, is easy to control and thus, suited for professional and amateur low-handicap golfers.

Abstract: A mixture having good thermal stability, flow and moldability and suitable as a golf ball-forming material is obtained when a resinous component including a base resin of an ionomer resin or resins and optionally a non-ionomer thermoplastic elastomer is blended with specific proportions of a fatty acid and/or fatty acid derivative and a basic inorganic metal compound capable of neutralizing acidic groups left unneutralized in the base resin and fatty acid. Using the same material, high-rebound golf balls can be effectively manufactured.

Abstract: Disclosed is a golf ball having a cover formed from a thermoplastic polyurethane material exhibiting excellent mold releasability, despite the cover having dimples thereon and being difficult to remove from a mold. The cover material contains a thermoplastic polyurethane material as a primary component and a fatty acid amide and/or a montan wax serving as dispersants.

Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core, a mantle and a cover, the solid core is made of a rubber composition that includes a base rubber containing a polybutadiene synthesized using a rare-earth catalyst, a small amount of organic peroxide, an unsaturated carboxylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, an organic sulfur compound and an inorganic filler. The mantle is made of a thermoplastic resin composition. The cover is made primarily of a mixture containing an amino-terminated block polymer and an ionomer resin. This construction provides the golf ball with a combination of outstanding flight performance, excellent scuff resistance and soft feel that is unprecedented.

Abstract: A material comprising a heated mixture of (A) an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer, an olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylate copolymer, a metal ion neutralized product thereof, or a mixture thereof, (B) a polyurethane elastomer, and (C) an organic or inorganic basic compound has improved thermal stability, flow and moldability. Using the material, golf balls having good rebound are effectively manufactured.

Abstract: A golf ball includes a portion formed from a golf ball-forming composition containing at least one kind selected from a crosslinked silicone rubber powder and a crosslinked silicone resin powder. Each of the crosslinked silicone rubber powder and the crosslinked silicone resin powder has an average particle size in a range of 60 to 500 &mgr;m. The golf ball is excellent in durability against repetitive hitting and adhesiveness of a coating film, and particularly, has a good resilience and a long flight distance in both a wide temperature range and a wide hitting head speed range.

Abstract: Provided is a multi-piece solid golf ball, wherein an outer layer cover has a polyurethane based elastomer as a main component; a solid core surface Shore D hardness is 50 to 60, an inner layer cover Shore D hardness is 53 to 61, and an outer layer cover Shore D hardness is 52 to 58; an average surface Shore D hardness of the solid core and inner and outer layer covers is 53 to 58; a value obtained by dividing a thickness of the outer layer cover by a thickness of the inner layer cover is 0.48 to 1.00, and a total thickness of the outer and inner layer covers is 1.5 mm to 3.5 mm; and a dimple volume occupying ratio VR value is 0.66% to 0.85%. The golf ball is excellent in flight performance, feeling characteristic, and controllability, and is improved in scratch resistance and durability against hitting.

Abstract: Disclosed is a golf ball having a cover formed from a thermoplastic polyurethane material which can be recycled for molding, which exhibits high restitution, and which exhibits excellent scuff resistance. The cover is formed from a composition (C) containing, as predominant components, the following components (A) and (B): (A) a thermoplastic polyurethane material having a restitution elastic modulus of at least 40% and containing, as a polymeric polyol, a polyether polyol having an average molecular weight of at least 1,500, and (B) an isocyanate mixture in which an isocyanate compound (b-1) having at least two isocyanate groups serving as functional groups in the molecule is dispersed in a thermoplastic resin (b-2) which is substantially non-reactive with the isocyanate groups.