Plasticized Thermoplastic Golf Ball Core for Distance and Feel
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for golf ball compositions that provide high performance properties, particularly for non-conforming balls with increased carry distance and improved feel and spin control, while maintaining toughness and resiliency, without being excessively hard or stiff.
Innovation Solution
The use of thermoplastic ethylene acid copolymer/plasticizer compositions in golf ball cores and layers, which include a combination of acid copolymers, plasticizers, and cation sources to create a positive hardness gradient across the core assembly, and can be used in various layers to achieve optimal Coefficient of Restitution (COR) and compression values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If thermoplastic ethylene acid copolymer/plasticizer compositions are used in golf ball cores and layers, then resiliency and carry distance are improved, but hardness and stiffness increase excessively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a positive hardness gradient across the core assembly, where the inner core has different hardness properties than the outer core layer. This allows the center to provide maximum resiliency for distance while the outer layers provide appropriate hardness for feel and spin control, resolving the contradiction between overall resiliency and excessive hardness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining thermoplastic ethylene acid copolymer with plasticizers in specific ratios, and further combining different core layers (inner core and outer core layer) with varying compositions. This composite approach allows optimization of resiliency through the plasticized thermoplastic while controlling hardness through the layered structure and material ratios.
2Speed
If thermoplastic ethylene acid copolymer/plasticizer compositions are used to increase carry distance, then Coefficient of Restitution is improved, but spin control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the properties of inner core and outer core layer. The inner core is optimized for Coefficient of Restitution and carry distance, while the outer core layer is engineered with specific hardness to provide spin control and feel, thus resolving the contradiction between distance and spin control.
3Reliability
If multi-layered core structure is used to optimize performance properties, then manufacturing complexity increases, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the core into an inner core and an outer core layer, each with optimized compositions. The inner core uses thermoplastic ethylene acid copolymer/plasticizer for resiliency, while the outer core layer provides hardness and spin control. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each layer's properties to achieve overall performance goals.
Data Source
AI summary
Golf balls having a single or dual-layered solid core are provided. In one embodiment, the golf ball has dimensions and properties that do not conform to the rules of the United States Golf Association (USGA). For example, the ball weight; ball size; ball spherical symmetry; ball initial velocity; and/or ball overall distance may fall outside of the USGA standards. The dual-layered core can have an inner core comprising a thermoplastic composition and surrounding outer core comprising a thermoset composition. In another embodiment, the dual-layered core has an inner core comprising a thermoplastic composition and outer core comprising a thermoset composition. The thermoplastic composition preferably comprises an ethylene acid copolymer ionomer and plasticizer. The thermoset composition preferably comprises polybutadiene rubber. The ball further includes a cover of at least one layer.