US 10,328,312 B2 · Golf balls having dual-layered cores with metal-containing centers

Abstract

Multi-piece golf balls containing a dual-layered core are provided. The ball further includes single or multi-layered covers. The core structure includes a small, heavy inner core (center) having a relatively high specific gravity, and a surrounding outer core layer. The core layers may have different hardness gradients. The center of the core comprises a metal material such as copper, steel, brass, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and combinations and alloys thereof preferably dispersed in a thermoplastic polymeric matrix. The outer core layer is preferably formed from a thermoset composition such as polybutadiene. These multi-layered core constructions with metal-containing centers have selective specific gravity relationships between the different layers. This helps provide the ball with good flight distance and spin control. The resulting balls have good resiliency and other playing performance properties.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A golf ball having a multi-layered core, comprising:

i) an inner core comprising a metal material, the inner core having a diameter in the range of about 0.100 to about 1.100 inches, and a specific gravity (SGinner core), and an outer surface hardness (Hcenter surface) and a center hardness (Hcenter), the Hcenter surface being greater than the Hcenter to provide a positive hardness gradient;
ii) an outer core layer comprising a thermoset or thermoplastic composition and metal material, the outer core layer being disposed about the inner core and having a thickness in the range of about 0.200 to about 1.200 inches, a specific gravity (SGouter core) in the range of about 4.00 to about 10.00, and an outer surface hardness (Houter surface of OC) and a midpoint hardness (Hmidpoint of OC), the Houter surface of OC being greater than the Hmidpoint of OC to provide a positive hardness gradient;
and
iii) a cover layer disposed about the multi-layered core, the cover having a specific gravity (SGcover), the SGinner core being greater than the SGouter core and the SGouter core being substantially equal to the SGcover.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Golf balls having dual-layered cores with metal-containing centers

Life of this patent

Golf balls having dual-layered cores with metal-containing centers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13