Golf Ball Having Outer Cover With Low Flexural Modulus

Abstract

A golf ball having an outer cover layer with a lower flexural modulus than that of an inner core layer and/or an inner cover layer is disclosed. The lower flexural modulus of the outer cover layer may give the golf ball a good feel during short shots and putting. The inner cover layer may have a first flexural modulus and the outer cover layer may have a second flexural modulus. The first flexural modulus may be at least about 10 times greater than the second flexural modulus. The inner core layer may have a third flexural modulus. The third flexural modulus may be at least about 5 times greater than the second flexural modulus.

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, the inner cover layer having a first flexural modulus;   an outer cover layer enclosing the inner cover layer, the outer cover layer having a second flexural modulus; and   wherein the first flexural modulus is at least 10 times greater than said second flexural modulus.   
     
     
         2 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio between the first flexural modulus and the second flexural modulus (first flexural modulus/second flexural modulus) ranges from about 10 to about 30. 
     
     
         3 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio between the first flexural modulus and the second flexural modulus (first flexural modulus/second flexural modulus) ranges from about 25 to about 100. 
     
     
         4 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the ratio between the first flexural modulus and the second flexural modulus (first flexural modulus/second flexural modulus) ranges from about 95 to about 250. 
     
     
         5 . The golf ball according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner core layer includes a third flexural modulus and the ratio of third flexural modulus to second flexural modulus (third flexural modulus/second flexural modulus) ranges from about 5 to about 10. 
     
     
         6 . The golf ball according to  claim 5 , 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 0.775 to about 0.81. 
     
     
         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 45 to about 55. 
     
     
         10 . A golf ball comprising,
 an inner core layer, the inner core layer having a first flexural modulus;   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, the outer cover layer having a second flexural modulus; and   wherein the first flexural modulus is at least 5 times the second flexural modulus.   
     
     
         11 . The golf ball according to  claim 10 , wherein the ratio of first flexural modulus to second flexural modulus (first flexural modulus/second flexural modulus) ranges from about 5 to about 10. 
     
     
         12 . The golf ball according to  claim 11 , wherein the inner cover layer has a third flexural modulus and the ratio between the third flexural modulus and the second flexural modulus (third flexural modulus/second flexural modulus) ranges from about 10 to about 30. 
     
     
         13 . The golf ball according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner core layer includes a first highly neutralized acid polymer composition. 
     
     
         14 . The golf ball according to  claim 13 , wherein the first highly neutralized acid polymer composition includes one of HPF 2000 and HPF AD 1035. 
     
     
         15 . The golf ball according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner core layer includes a first highly neutralized acid polymer composition and a second highly neutralized acid polymer composition and the ratio of the first highly neutralized acid polymer composition to the second highly neutralized acid polymer composition ranges from about 20:80 to about 80:20. 
     
     
         16 . 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. 
     
     
         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, the inner cover layer having a first flexural modulus;   an outer cover layer enclosing the inner cover layer, the outer cover layer having a second flexural modulus;   wherein the first flexural modulus is at least about 45,000 psi greater than said second flexural modulus.   
     
     
         18 . The golf ball according to  claim 17 , wherein the first flexural modulus is between about 45,000 psi and about 65,000 psi greater than the second flexural modulus. 
     
     
         19 . The golf ball according to  claim 17 , wherein the first flexural modulus is between about 60,000 psi and about 95,000 psi greater than the second flexural modulus. 
     
     
         20 . The golf ball according to  claim 17 , wherein the inner core layer includes a third flexural modulus and the third flexural modulus is between about 15,000 psi to 65,000 psi greater than the second flexural modulus.