Patent ID: 7955192

Claim:
A golf ball comprising: an inner core layer formed from a first thermoset rubber composition and having a diameter of from 0.500 inches to 1.580 inches, a center hardness of from 40 Shore C to 65 Shore C, and a surface hardness of 80 Shore C or greater; a first intermediate core layer formed from a second thermoset rubber composition and having an outer diameter of from 1.200 inches to 1.620 inches and a surface hardness of 85 Shore C or less; a second intermediate core layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and having a thickness of from 0.005 inches to 0.100 inches and a surface hardness of greater than 50 Shore D; an outer core layer formed from a third thermoset rubber composition and having a thickness of from 0.010 inches to 0.100 inches and a surface hardness of 50 Shore C or greater; and a cover layer having a thickness of from 0.010 inches to 0.050 inches and a surface hardness of 65 Shore D or less; wherein the surface hardness of the inner core layer is greater than the surface hardness of the first intermediate core layer; and wherein the inner core layer has a positive hardness gradient wherein the difference between the center hardness and the surface hardness of the inner core layer is from 10 to 45.