High compression multi-layer RIM golf balls

Abstract

Disclosed herein, in various embodiments, are multi-layer golf balls. In particular, disclosed herein are high compression multi-layer golf balls covered with relatively thin and/or hard reaction injection molded (RIM) covers. The golf balls exhibit such characteristics as enhanced distance, low driver spin, high initial velocity, and good feel and playability characteristics.

1 . A multi-layer golf ball comprising: 
 a core;    an intermediate layer; and,    a reaction injection molded cover;    wherein the golf ball has an Instron compression of 0.0950 or less.    
   
   
       2 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the ball has an Instron compression of 0.0920 or less.  
   
   
       3 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover of the ball has a thickness of 0.050 inches or less.  
   
   
       4 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover of the ball has a thickness of 0.025 inches or less.  
   
   
       5 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover of the ball has a thickness of from about 0.012 inches to about 0.018 inches.  
   
   
       6 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover of the ball has a Shore B hardness of from about 50 to about 100.  
   
   
       7 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 1  wherein the cover of the ball has a Shore B hardness of from about 80 to about 95.  
   
   
       8 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the reaction injection molded cover is comprised of a PTMEG polyol, an MDI prepolymer and a DETDA amine.  
   
   
       9 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the mantle comprises an ionomer or a blend of ionomers.  
   
   
       10 . The golf ball of  claim 9  where the ionomer or blend further comprises a fatty acid or fatty acid metal salt.  
   
   
       11 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover defines a plurality of dimples along the outer surface, wherein at least one of the dimples extends through the cover layer to the mantle layer.  
   
   
       12 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein the cover is coated with a coating composition comprising a white pigment.  
   
   
       13 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein a marking indicia is applied to the exterior surface of the ball.  
   
   
       14 . The golf ball of  claim 1 , wherein said core is produced from a core composition comprising an organic sulfur compound.  
   
   
       15 . The golf ball of  claim 14 , wherein the organic sulfur compound is PCTP or a metal salt thereof.  
   
   
       16 . A multilayer golf ball, comprising: 
 a molded rubber core;    an intermediate layer between the cover and the core that has a Shore D hardness measurement of greater than 60;    and a thermoset polyurethane/polyurea reaction injection molded cover having a thickness of from about 0.010 inches to about 0.050 inches;    wherein the ball has an Instron compression of from about 0.0750 to 0.1000 and a resilience of greater than 0.790.    
   
   
       17 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the ball has an Instron compression from about 0.0800 to about 0.0950.  
   
   
       18 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the cover of the ball has a thickness of 0.025 inches or less.  
   
   
       19 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the cover of the ball has a thickness of from about 0.012 inches to about 0.018 inches.  
   
   
       20 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the cover of the ball has a Shore B hardness of from about 80 to about 95.  
   
   
       21 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the mantle comprises an ionomer or a blend of ionomers.  
   
   
       22 . The golf ball of  claim 21  where the mantle comprises an ionomer that is greater than 80% neutralized and further comprises 5 to 50% fatty acid or fatty acid metal salt.  
   
   
       23 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the cover defines a plurality of dimples along the outer surface, wherein at least one of the dimples extends through the cover layer to the mantle layer.  
   
   
       24 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the cover is coated with a coating composition comprising a white pigment.  
   
   
       25 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein a marking indicia is applied to the exterior surface of the ball.  
   
   
       26 . The golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein said core is produced from a core composition comprising an organic sulfur compound.  
   
   
       27 . The golf ball of  claim 26 , wherein the organic sulfur compound is PCTP or a metal salt thereof.  
   
   
       28 . A multi-layer golf ball comprising: 
 a thermoplastic or thermoset core;    an intermediate layer; and,    a reaction injection molded cover;    wherein the golf ball has an Instron compression of 0.0950 or less.    
   
   
       29 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the reaction injection molded cover is comprised of a PTMEG polyol, an MDI prepolymer and a DETDA amine.  
   
   
       30 . The multi-layer ball of  claim 28 , wherein the ball has a resilience (as measured by the coefficient of restitution) of at least about 0.790.  
   
   
       31 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the ball has an Instron compression of 0.0920 or less.  
   
   
       32 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 28 , where the core is comprised of a thermoplastic.  
   
   
       33 . The multi-layer golf ball of  claim 32 , where the thermoplastic core is comprised of an ionomer or ionomer blend in which one or more of the ionomers is neutralized to 80% or more and further comprises 5 to 50% of a fatty acid or fatty acid metal salt.  
   
   
       34 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the cover defines a plurality of dimples along the outer surface, wherein at least one of the dimples extends through the cover layer to the mantle layer.  
   
   
       35 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein the cover is coated with a coating composition comprising a white pigment.  
   
   
       36 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein a marking indicia is applied to the exterior surface of the ball.  
   
   
       37 . The golf ball of  claim 28 , wherein said core is produced from a core composition comprising an organic sulfur compound.  
   
   
       38 . The golf ball of  claim 37 , wherein the organic sulfur compound is PCTP or a metal salt thereof.