Multi-piece solid golf ball

• US 7,175,542 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2005
• Issued: 02/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Sports Co Limited (Bridgestone Corporation)
• Inventors: Watanabe, Hideo, Kasashima, Atsuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Gorden; Raeann
• Application Number:
  US11/100,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20060229143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 677 Days
• Field of Search: 473/373, 473/374, 473/376, 473/368
• US Class Current: 473/374
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0018 Specified number of dimples
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/00215 Volume ratio
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0031 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0039 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0043 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0062 Hardness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0063 Hardness gradient
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0064 Diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0065 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0075 Three piece balls, i.e. cover, intermediate layer and core
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0084 Initial velocity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0089 Coefficient of drag
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/009 Coefficient of lift
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0092 Hardness distribution amongst different ball layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0095 Scuff resistance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0096 Spin rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/02 Special cores balls with finger holes A63B37/0001, golf ball cores A63B37/005

Abstract

A multi-piece solid golf ball is composed of a multilayer core having at least an inner core layer and an outer core layer, one or more cover layer which encloses the core, and numerous dimples formed on a surface of the cover layer. The golf ball is characterized in that at least one cover layer is made primarily of an ionomer resin, the following hardness conditions (1) to (3) are satisfied:

• (1) (JIS-C hardness of cover)−(JIS-C hardness at center of core)≧27,
• (2) 23≦(JIS-C hardness at surface of core)−(JIS-C hardness at center of core)≦40, and
• (3) 0.50≦[(deflection amount of entire core)/(deflection amount of inner core layer)]≦0.75,
  the number of dimples is from 250 to 390 dimples, and the ball has an initial velocity of at least 76.8 m/s. These features enable the ball to travel a longer distance.

Claims

1. A multi-piece solid golf ball comprising a multilayer core having at least an inner core layer and an outer core layer, one or more cover layer which encloses the core, and numerous dimples formed on a surface of the cover layer, the golf ball being characterized in that at least one cover layer is made primarily of an ionomer resin, the following hardness conditions (1) to (3) are satisfied:

(1) (JIS-C hardness of cover)−

(JIS-C hardness at center of core)≧

27,

(2) 23≦

(JIS-C hardness at surface of core)−

(JIS-C hardness at center of core)≦

40, and

(3) 0.50≦

[(deflection amount of entire core)/(deflection amount of inner core layer)]≦

0.75,

the number of dimples is from 250 to 390, and the ball has an initial velocity of at least 76.8 m/s.

2. The multi-piece solid golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner core layer and/or outer core layer contain an organosulfur compound.

3. The multi-piece solid golf ball of claim 1, wherein the inner core layer has an outside diameter of at least 15 mm but not more than 28 mm.

4. The multi-piece solid golf ball of claim 1 wherein, assuming an imaginary sphere defined by the surface of the ball were it to have no dimples thereon, {(volume of imaginary sphere−

volume of golf ball)/volume of imaginary sphere}×

100=1.1 to 1.6%.

5. The multi-piece solid golf ball of claim 1 which, when hit, has a coefficient of lift CL at a Reynolds number of 70,000 and a spin rate of 2,000 rpm that is at least 70% of the coefficient of lift CL at a Reynolds number of 80,000 and a spin rate of 2,000 rpm, and has a coefficient of drag CD at a Reynolds number of 180,000 and a spin rate of 2,520 rpm of not more than 0.225.

6. The multi-piece solid golf ball of claim 1 wherein condition (3) is 0.53≦

[(deflection amount of entire core)/(deflection amount of inner core layer)]≦

0.70.

7. The multi-piece solid golf ball of claim 1 wherein the outer core layer is made of rubber as the base material, which rubber base contains polybutadiene rubber synthesized with a rare-earth catalyst or a group VIII metal compound catalyst.

8. The multi-piece solid golf ball of the claim 1, wherein the following hardness condition (4) is satisfied:

(4) 5≦

(JIS-C hardness of cover)−

(JIS-C hardness at surface of core)≦

20.