Multi-piece solid golf ball

A multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, wherein the core, the envelope layer, the intermediate layer and the cover have respective surface hardnesses which satisfy the relationship:

• core surface hardness>envelope layer surface hardness<intermediate layer surface hardness<cover surface hardness;
• the core surface hardness and the envelope layer surface hardness, expressed as Shore D hardnesses, satisfy the relationship:
• −40≦(envelope layer surface hardness−core surface hardness)≦−5;
• the core and the ball have respective initial velocities which satisfy the relationship:
• −0.6 m/s≦(ball initial velocity−core initial velocity)≦0 m/s;
• a sphere composed of the core covered peripherally by the envelope layer and the intermediate layer (intermediate layer-encased sphere) and the ball have respective initial velocities which satisfy the relationship:
• −0.4 m/s≦(ball initial velocity−intermediate layer-encased sphere initial velocity)≦0.4 m/s;
• and
• a sphere composed of the core covered peripherally by the envelope layer (envelope layer-encased sphere) and the intermediate layer-encased sphere have respective initial velocities which satisfy the relationship:
• −0.2 m/s≦(intermediate layer-encased sphere initial velocity−envelope layer-encased sphere initial velocity).