Golf ball cover compositions

A golf ball having at least one layer, the at least one layer comprising a blend of at least one hard magnesium ionomer and at least one soft magnesium ionomer, wherein the hard ionomer has a flexural modulus of at least about 50,000 psi and a Shore D hardness of at least about 60;

• the at least one soft magnesium ionomer comprises methacrylic acid and contains about 0.3 percent by weight magnesium based on the total weight of the ionomer, and has a flexural modulus of from about 2,000 psi to 4,600 psi;
• and wherein the layer is substantially free of any ionomers neutralized by a metal ion other than magnesium.

A method of making a golf ball having at least one layer, the method comprising:

• forming a blend comprising at least one soft magnesium ionomer containing about 0.3 percent by weight magnesium based on the total weight of the ionomer, and having a flexural modulus of from about 2,000 psi to 4,600 psi, the at least one soft magnesium ionomer comprising monomeric units of an olefin and methacrylic acid, wherein at least a portion of the acid units are neutralized by magnesium cations, and molding the blend to form the at least one layer, wherein the layer is substantially free of any ionomers neutralized by a metal ion other than magnesium.

A golf ball having at least one layer, the at least one layer comprising at least one soft magnesium ionomer, wherein the at least one soft magnesium ionomer is a copolymer of an olefin, acrylic acid, and at least one acrylate or methacrylate class ester, wherein at least a portion of the acid units are neutralized by magnesium cations, and wherein the at least one soft magnesium ionomer contains about 0.4 percent by weight magnesium based on the total weight of the ionomer, the at least one soft magnesium ionomer has a flexural modulus of from about 2,000 psi to 4,600 psi, and the layer is substantially free of any ionomers neutralized by a metal ion other than magnesium.

A golf ball having at least one layer, the at least one layer comprising a blend of at least one hard magnesium ionomer and at least one soft magnesium ionomer, wherein the hard ionomer has a flexural modulus of at least about 50,000 psi and a Shore D hardness of at least about 60;

• the at least one soft magnesium ionomer comprises acrylic acid and contains about 0.4 percent by weight magnesium based on the total weight of the ionomer, and has a flexural modulus of from about 2,000 psi to 4,600 psi;
• and wherein the layer is substantially free of any ionomers neutralized by a metal ion other than magnesium.

A method of making a golf ball having at least one layer, the method comprising:

• forming a blend comprising at least one soft magnesium ionomer containing about 0.4 percent by weight magnesium based on the total weight of the ionomer, and having a flexural modulus of from about 2.000 psi to 4,600 psi, the at least one soft magnesium ionomer comprising monomeric units of an olefin and acrylic acid, wherein at least a portion of the acid units are neutralized by magnesium cations, and molding the blend to form the at least one layer, wherein the layer is substantially free of any ionomers neutralized by a metal ion other than magnesium.