Solid golf ball

Details Solid golf ball Solid golf ball

1999-08-06

2001-05-15

Graham, Mark S. (Department: 3711)

Games using tangible projectile

Golf

Ball

C473S377000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06231462

ABSTRACT:

This invention relates to a solid golf ball having a soft and pleasant feel indicative of speed.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Many solid golf balls such as two-piece golf balls are known in the art. As compared with the wound golf balls, solid golf balls have the advantage of an increased total flight distance on both driver and iron shots, because of a so-called straight line trajectory and a low spin rate due to their structure, which in turn allows for a long run. On the other hand, solid golf balls are more difficult to control than wound golf balls in that they do not stop short on the green because of low spin receptivity on iron shots.
Like flight distance, a pleasant feel (softness and speed impression) when hit is essential for golf balls. The absence of a pleasant feel represents a substantial loss of commodity value for the golf ball. As compared with the solid golf balls, the wound golf balls have the structural characteristics ensuring a soft and pleasant feel with a speed impression.
On such solid golf balls, especially two-piece golf balls consisting of a core and a cover, attempts have been made to soften the ball structure in order to accomplish a soft feel upon impact. However, such attempts improve the feel to a softer one at the sacrifice of a speed impression. A blunt feel is given when the ball is hit. Additionally, a loss of resilience leads to a reduction of flight distance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a solid golf ball which when hit, gives a soft and pleasant feel indicative of speed while maintaining the excellent flight performance of solid golf balls.
The inventor examined the behavior of a solid golf ball when struck with a club. Making a quantitative analysis on the relationship between the contact time and the maximum contact area upon impact, the inventor has found that a solid golf ball satisfying a specific relationship between the contact time and the maximum contact area gives a soft and pleasant feel indicative of speed.
The invention is directed to a solid golf ball comprising a solid core and a cover of at least one layer around the core, or a solid golf ball comprising a solid core, an intermediate layer around the core, and a cover of at least one layer around the intermediate layer. When the ball is hit with a driver at a head speed of 45 m/sec, the maximum contact area S (cm
2
) and the contact time t (&mgr;sec) of the ball with the club upon impact should satisfy the relationship: (S/t)×1000≧9.0. Then the solid golf ball has not only excellent flight performance, but also a soft and pleasant feel indicative of speed surpassing the feel of wound golf balls.
Preferably the value of (S/t)×1000 is from 9.0 to 11.0. Also preferably, the contact time t is 400 to 570 &mgr;sec and the maximum contact area S is 3.5 to 5.5 cm
2
. Further preferably, the solid core is formed mainly of cis-1,4-polybutadiene rubber and the outermost layer of the cover is formed mainly of a thermoplastic resin.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5255922 (1993-10-01), Proudfit
patent: 5607366 (1997-03-01), Yokota et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Solid golf ball does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Solid golf ball, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Solid golf ball will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2475043