Patent ID: 7803069

Claim:
A golf ball comprising: an inner core having an outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a first substantially homogenous composition comprising an antioxidant and an initiator present in a ratio of about 0.40 or greater when normalized to 100% activity such that the inner core has a hardness of 45 Shore C to 65 Shore C; an intermediate layer disposed about the inner core having an outer surface and an inner surface and being formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising an ionomer whose acid groups are 100% neutralized such that the intermediate layer has a hardness of 20 Shore D to 80 Shore D; and a cover layer disposed about the intermediate layer; wherein a hardness of the inner core outer surface is lower than a hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient, and a hardness of the outer surface of the intermediate layer is substantially the same as a hardness of the inner surface to define a zero hardness gradient.