Golf ball incorporating ionomeric component having property gradients

A method of making a golf ball comprising:

• providing a core,
• optionally forming at least one intermediate layer about the core,
• forming a cover layer about the core or the at least one intermediate layer,
• wherein at least one of the core, the at least one intermediate layer, and the cover comprises at least one of an ionomer and an acid copolymer, is treated with an organometallic composition, and forms a treated golf ball component having at least one treated region wherein the at least one treated region comprises a reaction product of the alkyl metal composition and the at least one ionomer and/or acid copolymer;
• the at least one treated region having an internal property gradient;
• or at least two treated regions, in tandem, having an external property gradient;
• or the at least one treated region and an untreated region, in tandem, have an external property gradient;
• and
• (a) where the treated golf ball component comprises a center, the treated region is formed before forming any of the intermediate layer and cover layer about the center;
• and
• (b) where the treated golf ball component is a golf ball layer comprising at least one of an outer core layer, an intermediate layer, an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer,
• (i) an inner treated region of the golf ball layer is formed before forming the golf ball layer about the core or an inner layer, and
• (ii) an outer treated region of the golf ball layer is formed either before or after forming the golf ball layer about the core or the inner layer.

A method of making a golf ball comprising:

• providing a core,
• optionally forming at least one intermediate layer about the core,
• forming a cover layer about the core or the at least one intermediate layer,
• wherein at least one of the core, the at least one intermediate layer, and the cover comprises a treated golf ball component comprising at least one of an ionomer and an acid copolymer and having at least two regions,
• wherein at least one region is a treated region comprising a reaction product of an organometallic composition and the at least one ionomer and/or acid copolymer;
• such that at least one of a hardness, a modulus and a melt flow of the at least two regions is different;
• and
• (a) where the treated golf ball component comprises a center, the treated region is formed before forming any of the intermediate layer and cover layer about the center;
• and
• (b) where the treated golf ball component is a golf ball layer comprising at least one of an outer core layer, an intermediate layer, an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer,
• (i) an inner treated region of the golf ball layer is formed before forming the golf ball layer about the core or an inner layer, and
• (ii) an outer treated region of the golf ball layer is formed either before or after forming the golf ball layer about the core or the inner layer.