Golf ball with an improved intermediate layer

A golf ball comprising:

• a core;
• a cover;
• and
• at least one intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer being formed of a binding material and an interstitial material distributed in the binding material, and wherein the effective elastic modulus of the intermediate layer is lower under forces applied in the radial direction and higher under forces applied in the tangential direction, and wherein the binding material has a binding material elastic modulus and the interstitial material has an interstitial material elastic modulus and the ratio of the interstitial material elastic modulus to the binding material elastic modulus is about 3:1 or greater.

A golf ball comprising:

• a core;
• a cover;
• and
• at least one intermediate layer disposed between the cover and core, the intermediate layer comprising a composite of two dissimilar materials, wherein a first effective material property of the intermediate layer in a first direction is different from a second effective material property in a second direction, and wherein the ratio of the length to cross-sectional area of the interstitial material is about 30:1 or greater.

A golf ball comprising:

• a core;
• a cover;
• and
• at least one intermediate layer disposed between the cover and core, the intermediate layer comprising a composite of a binding material and an interstitial material that have dissimilar material properties such that the intermediate layer has effective material properties based upon the material properties of the binding material and the interstitial material, and wherein the interstitial material properties predominate the effective material properties of the intermediate layer when the ratio of normal to tangential forces imparted on the ball when struck by a club is about 2.0 or greater.

A golf ball comprising:

• a core;
• a cover;
• and
• at least one intermediate layer disposed between the cover and core, the intermediate layer comprising a composite of a binding material and an interstitial material that have dissimilar material properties such that the intermediate layer has effective material properties based upon the material properties of the binding material and the interstitial material, and wherein the binding material properties predominate the effective material properties of the intermediate layer when the ratio of normal to tangential forces imparted on the ball when struck by a club is about 1.75 or less.

A golf ball comprising:

• a core;
• a cover;
• and
• at least one intermediate layer disposed between the core and the cover, the intermediate layer being formed of a binding material and an interstitial material distributed in the binding material, and wherein the effective elastic modulus of the intermediate layer is lower under forces applied in the radial direction and higher under forces applied in the tangential direction, and wherein the interstitial material has an interstitial material long-time shear modulus and the binding material has a binding material long-time shear modulus and the ratio of the interstitial material long-time shear modulus to the binding material long-time shear modulus is about 30:1 or less.