Abstract: A cover stock composed mainly of a heated mixture of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer and a polyolefin oligomer or polyolefin which has been modified with functional groups is suitable for the manufacture of golf balls. The cover made of the stock has improved scuff resistance.

Abstract: In a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, the cover is formed of a cover stock based on a mixture of an ionomer resin and a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer and having a hardness of at least 55 as measured by a ASTM D2240 type D durometer. The cover stock avoids any discoloration upon long-term UV exposure and is easy to mold. The ball has advantages including moderate backspin upon driver shots, good travel distance performance, and durability against repetitive hits.

Abstract: A resin composition comprising, in admixture, (A) a specific thermoplastic resin component, (B) at least one wax component selected from among (b-1) a fatty acid having 20-80 carbon atoms and/or a derivative thereof and (b-2) an oxidized natural wax and/or derivative having a neutralization value of 60-190 mg KOH/g, and optionally, (C) a basic inorganic metal compound capable of neutralizing acid groups in the thermoplastic resin component (A) and/or the wax component (B) is improved in flow, moldability and heat resistance and thus suitable to form a layer of a golf ball which exhibits improved rebound and distance properties.

Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core and a cover consisting of inner and outer layers, the cover inner layer is composed mainly of an ionomer resin, and the cover outer layer is composed mainly of another thermoplastic elastomer. A thermoplastic resin-base adhesive layer is interposed between the cover inner and outer layers, or a thermoplastic resin-base adhesive is blended in the inner and/or outer layer cover stock.

Abstract: An ionomer resin component containing (a) a ternary ionomer resin and optionally (b) a binary ionomer resin, optionally blended with (c) a non-neutralized olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid random copolymer, is blended with (d) a metal soap of a fatty acid neutralized with a Ca, Mg or Zn cation in a weight ratio from 95:5 to 80:20. A golf ball cover composition based on this mixture has a melt index of 1-10 dg/sec. The cover composition is drastically improved in moldability, resilience and paint coating adhesion. A golf ball having a cover made of the composition is improved in feel and flight performance.

Abstract: A cover stock composed mainly of a heated mixture of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer and a styrene base block copolymer is suitable for the manufacture of golf balls. The cover made of the stock offers a very soft feel with little shock, the ease of control and improved scuff resistance.

Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball cover stock based on a heated mixture of (a) an ionomer resin, (b) polyethylene, and (c) an epoxy group-modified polyolefin or (d) a low molecular weight polyethylene wax. Component (c) or (d) improves the dispersion of polyethylene in the ionomer resin so that a larger amount of polyethylene may be blended in micro-dispersion form. A golf ball having a cover made of the cover stock is durable and wear resistant and offers a good feel when hit.

Abstract: In a multi-piece golf ball comprising a solid core, a surrounding layer, an intermediate layer, and a cover, at least one of the surrounding layer, the intermediate layer and the cover is formed of a heated mixture having a melt index of at least 1.0 dg/min and comprising (a) an olefin-carboxylic acid-optional carboxylate random copolymer and/or (d) a metal ion-neutralized olefin-carboxylic acid-optional carboxylate random copolymer; (b) a fatty acid or derivative; and (c) a neutralizing basic inorganic metal compound. The surrounding layer, the intermediate layer and the cover have a Shore D hardness of 10-55, 40-63 and 45-68, respectively, the hardness increasing in the order of surrounding layer, intermediate layer and cover. The ball is improved in feel, control, durability and flight performance.

Abstract: A golf ball is formed with a resin composition which contains 5 to 95 weight % of a polyester block copolymer (A) and 95 to 5 weight % of an ionomer resin (B); and a (polyester-aromatic vinyl based copolymer) block copolymer (C), which is mixed with both the polyester block copolymer (A) and the ionomer resin (B) in an amount of 1 to 40 parts by weight on the basis of 100 parts by weight of the total of the polyester block copolymer (A) and the ionomer resin (B). The polyester block copolymer (A) mainly contains a high-melting point crystalline polymer segment (a1) composed of a crystalline aromatic polyester unit, and a low-melting point polymer segment (a2) composed of an aliphatic polyether unit and/or an aliphatic polyester unit. The ionomer resin (B) is produced by neutralizing a copolymer mainly containing an &agr;-olefine (b1) and an &agr;,&bgr;-unsaturated carboxylic acid (b2) having 3 to 8 carbon atoms with at least one metal ion (b3) selected from univalent, divalent, and trivalent metal ions.

Abstract: In a multi-piece golf ball comprising a solid core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, the intermediate layer and/or the cover is formed of a heated mixture having a melt index of at least 1.0 dg/min and comprising (a) an olefin-carboxylic acid random copolymer and/or an olefin-carboxylic acid-carboxylate random copolymer and/or (d) a metal ion-neutralized olefin-carboxylic acid random copolymer and/or a metal ion-neutralized olefin-carboxylic acid-carboxylate random copolymer; (b) a fatty acid or derivative having a molecular weight of at least 280; and (c) a neutralizing basic inorganic metal compound. All expressed in Shore D hardness, the intermediate layer has a hardness of 40-63, the cover has a hardness of 45-68, and they satisfy the relationship: the hardness of solid core at its center≦the hardness of intermediate layer≦the hardness of cover. The ball is improved in feel, control and flight performance.

Abstract: A layer of a golf ball is formed of a golf ball-forming composition in which a silicone rubber powder, silicone resin powder or composite powder thereof is blended in an elastomer, resin or butadiene rubber base. The composition is easy to remove from a mold after molding, and the golf ball has advantages including high durability against consecutive strikes, and good feel and rebound even at low temperature.

Abstract: The invention provides a golf ball cover stock based on a heated mixture of (a) an ionomer resin, (b) polyethylene, and (c) an epoxy group-modified polyolefin or (d) a low molecular weight polyethylene wax. Component (c) or (d) improves the dispersion of polyethylene in the ionomer resin so that a larger amount of polyethylene may be blended in micro-dispersion form. A golf ball having a cover made of the cover stock is durable and wear resistant and offers a good feel when hit.

Abstract: A cover stock composed mainly of a heated mixture of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer and a polyolefin oligomer or polyolefin which has been modified with functional groups is suitable for the manufacture of golf balls. The cover made of the stock has improved scuff resistance.

Abstract: A golf ball material containing (a) a calcium ion-neutralized olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid-unsaturated carboxylate random copolymer having an acid content of 2-12% by weight, and (b) a calcium ion-neutralized olefin-unsaturated carboxylic acid random copolymer having an acid content of 8-15% by weight, in a weight ratio from 100:0 to 40:60, and having a Shore D hardness of 30-60 is effectively moldable and is capable of providing golf balls with excellent rebound energy and a pleasant feel when hit.

Abstract: A cover stock composed mainly of a heated mixture of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer and a polyolefin oligomer or polyolefin which has been modified with functional groups is suitable for the manufacture of golf balls. The cover made of the stock has improved scuff resistance.

Abstract: In a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a solid core and a cover consisting of inner and outer layers, the cover inner layer is composed mainly of an ionomer resin, and the cover outer layer is composed mainly of another thermoplastic elastomer. A thermoplastic resin-base adhesive layer is interposed between the cover inner and outer layers, or a thermoplastic resin-base adhesive is blended in the inner and/or outer layer cover stock.

Abstract: The invention provides a solid golf ball comprising a solid core and a cover, a wound golf ball comprising a solid center, thread rubber and a cover, or a one-piece golf ball. The solid core, the solid center or the one-piece golf ball is formed mainly of a heated mixture of (A) a thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer having a Shore D hardness of 25-60, a tan &dgr; value of 0.01-0.15 in the temperature range of −10° C. to 20° C. as determined by viscoelasticity measurement, and a Tg≦−20° C. and (B) an olefin elastomer, modified olefin elastomer, styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer or hydrogenated or modified styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer having a JIS A hardness of 20-80. The golf ball is unsusceptible to compression set and plastic deformation and has a high resilience, pleasant feel and increased distance.

Abstract: A solid golf ball has a solid core and a cover formed of a resin composition comprising the reaction product of a thermoplastic polyurethane elastomer with an isocyanate compound. The ball is efficiently moldable and meets such requirements as a pleasant feel, ease of control, high resilience, and minimized scuffs by iron shots.

Abstract: In a golf ball comprising a core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, the intermediate layer is formed mainly of a heated mixture of (A) a thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer having a Shore D hardness of 25-50, a tan.delta. value of 0.01-0.1 in the temperature range of -10.degree. C. to 20.degree. C. as determined by viscoelasticity measurement, and a Tg of not higher than -20.degree. C. and (B) an olefin elastomer, modified olefin elastomer, styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer or hydrogenated styrene-conjugated diene block copolymer having a JIS A hardness of 15-80. The ball has a good feel and an increased flight distance.

Abstract: In a golf ball comprising a core and a cover, the cover is predominantly constructed of a blend of (A) a coordination ionic copolymer of a divalent metal ion crosslinked form of an ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic acid/unsaturated carboxylate terpolymer and an amine compound and (B) a metal ion crosslinked form of an ethylene/unsaturated carboxylic acid copolymer. The ball has improved restitution and feel.