Golf Ball Having High Initial Velocity

Abstract

A multi-layer ball includes a core made of a high energy material such as a highly neutralized polymer and a cover made of a deadening material. A specified relationship exists between the compression and coefficient of restitution of the core and of the ball. The initial velocity of the ball is higher than what would be expected based on the coefficient of restitution of the ball compared to prior balls. The use of the deadening material allows the coefficient of restitution of the ball to be relatively low, which can yield improved spinnability in the half wedge shots while maintaining driver distance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball, comprising:
 a core comprising a highly neutralized polymer; and   a cover comprising a deadening material, wherein the cover is disposed radially outward of and surrounds the core;   wherein the core has a first coefficient of restitution and the ball has a second coefficient of restitution; and   wherein the difference between the first coefficient of restitution and the second coefficient of restitution is greater than about 0.026.   
     
     
         2 . The ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the first coefficient of restitution is greater than 0.78. 
     
     
         3 . The ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the second coefficient of restitution is less than 0.79. 
     
     
         4 . The ball according to  claim 3 , wherein the second coefficient of restitution is about 0.774. 
     
     
         5 . The ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the core has at least two layers, at least one layer comprising a highly neutralized polymer, and wherein the cover has at least two layers, at least one layer comprising thermoplastic urethane. 
     
     
         6 . The ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the ball has a higher initial velocity than a rubber core ball with substantially similar non-core layers. 
     
     
         7 . A ball, comprising:
 a core having a compression “x”; and   a cover surrounding the core;   wherein the coefficient of restitution of the ball is given by: 0.6511−0.024x 2 +0.1165×; and   wherein the coefficient of restitution of the core is given by: 0.7951−0.0121x 2 +0.416x.   
     
     
         8 . The ball according to  claim 7 , wherein the coefficient of restitution of the core is greater than 0.78. 
     
     
         9 . The ball according to  claim 7 , wherein the coefficient of restitution of the ball is less than 0.79. 
     
     
         10 . The ball according to  claim 7 , wherein the core has at least one layer comprising a highly neutralized polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The ball according to  claim 7 , wherein the cover has at least one layer comprising thermoplastic urethane. 
     
     
         12 . The ball according to  claim 7 , wherein the coefficient of restitution of the ball is less than the coefficient of restitution given by: −0.0103x+0.8419. 
     
     
         13 . A ball comprising:
 a core comprising one or more layers;   a cover comprising one or more layers, wherein the cover is positioned radially outward of and surrounds the core;   wherein the core has a diameter of at least 38 mm;   wherein at least of the core layers comprises a highly neutralized ionomer; and   wherein the core has a coefficient of restitution greater than a rubber core trend line coefficient of restitution, wherein the rubber core trend line coefficient of restitution is given by the equation: y=−0.0128x2+0.055x+0.7531, wherein “y” is the coefficient of restitution and “x” is an inner core compression.   
     
     
         14 . The ball of  claim 13 , wherein the ball has a higher initial velocity than a rubber core ball with substantially similar non-core layers. 
     
     
         15 . The ball of  claim 13 , wherein the ball has a coefficient of restitution less than the coefficient of restitution given by the equation: y=−0.0103x+0.8419. 
     
     
         16 . The ball of  claim 13 , wherein the core comprises a highly neutralized polymer. 
     
     
         17 . The ball of  claim 16 , wherein the cover comprises thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         18 . The ball of  claim 13 , wherein the core consists of two layers, wherein at least one of the layers consists of a highly neutralized polymer. 
     
     
         19 . The ball of  claim 13 , wherein the cover consists of two layers, wherein at least one of the layers consists of thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         20 . The ball of  claim 13 , wherein the coefficient of restitution of the ball is less than the coefficient of restitution given by the equation: y=−0.0103x+0.8299.