Patent ID: 8044136

Claim:
A golf ball comprising a core and a cover and optionally at least one intermediate layer positioned between the core and the cover, wherein the core or the intermediate layer when present comprises or is prepared from a thermoplastic composition, said thermoplastic composition optionally comprising a filler; wherein the thermoplastic composition has a PGA compression greater than 100; and further wherein the thermoplastic composition when formed into a sphere of 1.50 to 1.68 inches in diameter has a coefficient of restitution, said coefficient of restitution being measured by firing the sphere at an initial velocity of 125 feet/second against a steel plate positioned 3 feet from the point where initial velocity is determined and dividing the velocity of rebound from the plate by the initial velocity; wherein the coefficient of restitution is equal to or greater than 0.860 when the thermoplastic composition does not comprise filler; and wherein the coefficient of restitution is equal to or greater than 0.830 when the thermoplastic composition comprises filler, wherein the thermoplastic composition comprises or is prepared from: (a) at least one aliphatic, monofunctional organic acid having 4 to 36 carbon atoms, wherein the longest carbon chain of the acid is optionally substituted with from one to three substituents independently selected from C 1 to C 8 alkyl groups; (b) an ethylene acid copolymer consisting essentially of copolymerized conomoners of ethylene and from 18 to 24 weight % of copolymerized comonomers of at least one C 3 to C 8 α,β ethylenically unsatured carboxylic acid, based on the total weight of the ethylene acidcopolymer, said ethylene acid copolymer having a melt index from about 200 to about 600 g/10 minutes measured before neutralization according to ASTM D1238 at 190° C. using a 2160 g weight; and wherein the combined acid moieties of (a) and (b) are nominally neutralized to a level from about 120% to about 200%.