Golf ball with specified ratio of ball spin rate to launch angle

Abstract

A golf ball that, when hit with an iron, has a higher spin rate and launch angle than existing golf balls currently available on the market is disclosed. The same golf ball may have a compatible driver spin rate and launch angle against existing golf balls currently available on the market. When the golf ball is hit with a driver, the golf ball may have a spin rate to launch angle ratio ranging from about 190 to about 360. When the golf ball is hit with an iron other than a pitching wedge, the golf ball may have a spin rate to launch angle ratio ranging from about 500 to about 600.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf ball comprising,
 an inner core layer;   an outer core layer enclosing the inner core layer;   an inner cover layer enclosing the outer core layer;   an outer cover layer enclosing the inner cover layer;   wherein the inner core layer has a higher coefficient of restitution than the outer core layer, the inner cover layer, and the outer cover layer;   wherein when the golf ball is hit with a driver having a loft angle of less than 15 degrees, the golf ball has a spin rate to launch angle ratio ranging from about 190 to about 360; and   wherein when the golf ball is hit with an iron having a loft angle of less than 40 degrees, the golf ball has a spin rate to launch angle ratio ranging from about 500 to about 600.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein performing the BS/LA 160 mph driver test on the golf ball results in the golf ball having a spin rate to launch angle ratio ranging from about 190 to about 230. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein performing the BS/LA No. 4 iron test on the golf ball results in the golf ball having a spin rate to launch angle ratio ranging from about 510 to about 580. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein performing the BS/LA No. 6 iron test on the golf ball results in the golf ball having a spin rate to launch angle ratio ranging from about 510 to about 580. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein performing the BS/LA high loft angle test on the golf ball results in the golf ball having a spin rate to launch angle ratio ranges from about 440 to about 480. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer includes at least one highly neutralized acid polymer composition. 
     
     
         7 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer has a coefficient of restitution value ranging from about 0.795 to about 0.88. 
     
     
         8 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer has a coefficient of restitution value that is about 0.005 to about 0.02 greater than the coefficient of restitution value of the golf ball. 
     
     
         9 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner cover layer has a Shore D hardness ranging from about 60 to about 80. 
     
     
         10 . A golf ball comprising,
 an inner core layer;   an outer core layer enclosing the inner core layer;   an inner cover layer enclosing the outer core layer;   an outer cover layer enclosing the inner cover layer;   wherein the inner cover layer has a greater specific gravity than the thermoset outer core layer;   wherein when the golf ball is hit with an iron having a loft angle of less than 40 degrees, the golf ball has a first spin rate to launch angle ratio; and   wherein when the golf ball is hit when with a driver having a loft angle of less than 15 degrees, the golf ball has a second spin rate to launch angle ratio, wherein the second spin rate to launch angle ratio is at least 240 lower than the first spin rate to launch angle ratio.   
     
     
         11 . The golf ball according to  claim 10 , wherein the golf ball has a second spin rate to launch angle ratio that is at least 310 lower than the first spin rate to launch angle ratio. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner cover layer and outer cover layer both comprise thermoplastic materials. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball according to  claim 10 , wherein the outer core layer includes a polybutadiene rubber. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball according to  claim 13 , wherein the thickness of the outer core layer ranges from about 0.5 to about 2 mm. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner core layer has a coefficient of restitution value that is about 0.005 to about 0.02 greater than the coefficient of restitution value of the golf ball. 
     
     
         16 . The golf ball according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner cover layer has a Shore D hardness ranging from about 60 to about 80. 
     
     
         17 . A golf ball comprising,
 an inner core layer;   an outer core layer enclosing the inner core layer;   an inner cover layer enclosing the outer core layer;   an outer cover layer enclosing the inner cover layer;   wherein the inner core layer has a higher coefficient of restitution than the outer core layer, the inner cover layer, and the outer cover layer;   wherein when the golf ball is hit with a driver having a loft angle of less than 15 degrees, the golf ball has a spin rate ranging from about 2400 rpm to about 2800 rpm; and   wherein when the golf ball is hit with a first iron having a loft angle of less than 40 degrees, the golf ball has a spin rate ranging from about 6800 rpm to about 7300 rpm.   
     
     
         18 . The golf ball according to  claim 17 , wherein the first iron having a loft angle of less than 40 degrees is a No. 6 iron. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball according to  claim 17 , wherein when the golf ball is hit with the first iron having a loft angle of less than 40 degrees, the golf ball has a launch angle ranging from about 12 degrees to about 13.5 degrees. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball according to  claim 17 , wherein when the golf ball is hit with a second iron having a loft angle of less than 40 degrees, the golf ball has a spin rate ranging from about 5300 rpm to about 5600 rpm. 
     
     
         21 . The golf ball according to  claim 20 , wherein when the golf ball is hit with the second iron having a loft angle of less than 40 degrees, the golf ball has a launch angle ranging from about 9.5 degrees to about 10.5 degrees. 
     
     
         22 . The golf ball according to  claim 20 , wherein the second iron having a loft angle of less than 40 degrees is a No. 4 iron. 
     
     
         23 . The golf ball according to  claim 17 , wherein when the golf ball is hit with a second iron having a loft angle of 40 degrees or greater, the golf ball has a spin rate ranging from about 10,500 rpm to about 11,100 rpm. 
     
     
         24 . The golf ball according to  claim 23 , wherein when the golf ball is hit with a second iron having a loft angle of 40 degrees or greater, the golf ball has a launch angle ranging from about 21 degrees to 23 about degrees.