Carbon-carbon initiators for use in golf balls

A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, wherein at least the core or the cover comprises an elastomeric composition comprising a base polymer and a carbon-carbon initiator having a formula of:

• where n is an integer from 1 to about 10,
• X1 to X8 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, linear or branched alkyl, alkoxy, cyano, nitro, nitrile, hydroxyl, or amino groups, and
• Z1 to Z6 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, linear or branched alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, vinyl, substituted phenyl, cyano, nitro, nitrile, hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, ester, amide, thio, epoxide, silyl, or silyloxy groups;
• or a formula of:
• where R is a substituted hydrocarbon moiety,
• R1 to R4 are independently selected from hydrogen, alkyl, or alkoxy groups, and
• Z7 and Z8 are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, linear or branched alkyl, alkoxy, aryl, aryloxy, cycloalkyl, substituted cycloalkyl, vinyl, substituted phenyl, cyano, nitro, nitrile, hydroxyl, amino, carboxyl, ester, amide, thio, epoxide, silyl, or silyloxy groups.