Multi-piece golf ball comprising low hardness gradient core

A golf ball comprising:

• a single core having an outer diameter of about 1.5 to 1.55 inches, an outer surface, and a geometric center, and being formed from a substantially homogenous rubber composition;
• an inner cover layer disposed about the core, the inner cover comprising a thermoplastic ionomeric material having a material hardness of about 66 to 80 Shore D;
• and
• an outer cover layer disposed about the inner cover layer, the outer cover having a thickness of about 0.04 inches and comprising an ionomer having a material hardness of about 64 to 68 Shore D or a thermosetting castable polyurethane having a hardness of about 51 to 55 Shore D;
• wherein the outer surface has a trans content of about 12% or less and a hardness of about 74 to 78 Shore C, the geometric center has a trans content of about 10% or less and a hardness of about 72 to 78 Shore C, and the core surface hardness is greater than the geometric center hardness by about 1 to 5 Shore C to define a shallow positive hardness gradient, the core having an Atti compression of about 50 to 70.

A golf ball comprising:

• a single core having an outer diameter of about 1.45 inches, an outer surface, and a geometric center, and being formed from a substantially homogenous rubber composition;
• an inner cover layer disposed about the core, the inner cover having an outer diameter of about 1.58 inches and comprising a thermoplastic non-ionomeric material having a material hardness of about 38 to 42 Shore D;
• and
• an outer cover layer disposed about the inner cover layer, the outer cover having a thickness of about 0.05 inches and comprising an ionomer having a material hardness of about 66 to 70 Shore D;
• wherein the outer surface has a trans content of about 12% or less and a hardness of about 74 to 78 Shore C, the geometric center has a trans content of about 10% or less and a hardness of about 72 to 78 Shore C, and the core surface hardness is greater than the geometric center hardness by about 1 to 5 Shore C to define a shallow positive hardness gradient.