Inventors:
Mark N. Wrigley - New Bedford MA
David A. Bulpett - Boston MA
Jeffrey L. Dalton - North Dartmouth MA
Derek Ladd - New Bedford MA
Steven M. Gosetti - Providence RI
Murali Rajagopalan - South Dartmouth MA
Laurent C. Bissonnette - Portsmouth RI
Assignee:
Acushnet Company - Fairhaven MA
International Classification:
A63B 3702
US Classification:
525248, 525264, 525274, 5253325, 5253326, 473354, 473357, 473371, 473372, 473373, 473374, 473377
Abstract:
A low compression, resilient golf ball having a center and a cover, made from a polybutadiene reaction product having polybutadiene, a cis-to-trans catalyst including a Group VIA element, such as at least one of sulfur, polymeric sulfur, selenium, or tellurium, and a free radical source. The reaction product typically has a first dynamic stiffness measured at -50Â C. that is less than about 130 percent of a second dynamic stiffness measured at 0Â C. A multi-layer golf ball having a center, at least one intermediate layer disposed concentrically about the center, and a cover. At least a portion of at least one of the center, intermediate layer, or both, are made from a reaction product including polybutadiene having a cis-to-trans catalyst that includes at least one elemental sulfur, polymeric sulfur, selenium, or tellurium component and a free radical source. In particular, the use of various combinations of polybutadiene, cis-to-trans catalyst including at least one elemental component, free radical source, filler, and crosslinker, produces golf balls and golf ball components that are resilient (fast) and have low compression (soft).