Golf ball cover

Claim 2

A golf ball having an ionomer resin cover, and characterised in that said ionomer resin cover comprises at least about 50 phr of lithium ionomer resin, which is a copolymer comprising 95 to 80 parts by weight of copolymer of ethylene and 5 to 20 parts by weight of the copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid in which about 10% to about 90% of the acid groups are neutralised by lithium; and about 10 to about 50 phr of sodium ionomer resin which is a copolymer comprising 95 to 80 parts by weight of copolymer of ethylene and 5 to 20 parts by weight of the copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid in which about 10% to about 90% of the acid groups are neutralised by sodium.

Claim 3

A golf ball according to claim 1, characterised in that said lithium ionomer resin is present in an amount of at least about 60phr.

Claim 4

A golf ball according to Claim 2, characterised in that said ionomer resin cover comprises about 60 to about 90 phr of said lithium ionomer resin and about 10 to about 40 phr of said sodium ionomer resin.

Claim 5

A golf ball according to Claim 3, characterised in that said sodium ionomer resin is two sodium ionomer resins each having a different melt flow index.

Claim 6

A golf ball according to Claim 3, characterised in that at least about 90% by weight of said ionomer resin cover is said lithium ionomer resin and said sodium ionomer resin.

Claim 7

A golf ball according to Claim 3, characterised in that said ionomer resin cover is made by blending said lithium ionomer resin and said sodium ionomer resin.

Claim 8

A golf ball cover composition comprising a blend of about 90 to about 50 phr of a lithium ionomer resin which is a copolymer comprising 95 to 80 parts by weight of copolymer of ethylene and 5 to 20 parts by weight of the copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid in which about 10% to about 90% of the acid groups are neutralised by lithium; and about 10 to about 50 phr of a sodium ionomer resin which is a copolymer comprising 95 to 80 parts by weight of copolymer of ethylene and 5 to 20 parts by weight of the copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid in which about 10% to about 90% of the acid groups are neutralised by sodium.

Claim 9

A golf ball cover composition comprising a blend of about 90 to about 50 phr of a lithium ionomer resin which is a copolymer comprising 95 to 80 parts by weight of copolymer of ethylene and 5 to 20 parts by weight of the copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid in which about 10% to about 90% of the acid groups are neutralised by lithium; and about 10 to about 50 phr of a sodium ionomer resin which is a copolymer comprising 95 to 80 parts by weight of copolymer of ethylene and 5 to 20 parts by weight of the copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid in which about 10% to about 90% of the acid groups are neutralised by sodium.

Claim 10

A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, and characterised in that the cover comprises at least about 90% by weight of a blend of ionomer resins, said blend comprising: (a) at least about 50 phr of a lithium ionomer resin which is a copolymer comprising 95 to 80 parts by weight of copolymer of ethylene and 5 to 20 parts by weight of the copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid in which about 10% to about 90% of the acid groups are neutralised by lithium; and (b) about 10 to about 50 phr of a sodium ionomer resin which is a copolymer comprising 95 to 80 parts by weight of copolymer of ethylene and 5 to 20 parts by weight of the copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid in which about 10% to about 90% of the acid groups are neutralised by sodium.

Claim 11

A golf ball comprising a core and a cover, and characterised in that the cover comprises at least about 90% by weight of a blend of ionomer resins, said blend comprising: (a) at least about 50 phr of a lithium ionomer resin which is a copolymer comprising 95 to 80 parts by weight of copolymer of ethylene and 5 to 20 parts by weight of the copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid in which about 10% to about 90% of the acid groups are neutralised by lithium; and (b) about 10 to about 50 phr of a sodium ionomer resin which is a copolymer comprising 95 to 80 parts by weight of copolymer of ethylene and 5 to 20 parts by weight of the copolymer of acrylic or methacrylic acid in which about 10% to about 90% of the acid groups are neutralised by sodium.

Claim 12

A golf ball according to Claim 8, characterised in that the core is a solid core.

Claim 13

A golf ball according to Claim 8, characterised in that said core is a wound core and said lithium ionomer resin is present in an amount between about 60 and about 90 phr.

Claim 14

A golf ball according to Claim 8, characterised in that said sodium ionomer resin comprises a first sodium ionomer resin and a second sodium ionomer, said first sodium ionomer resin having a melt flow index of about 0.9 g/10 min. and said second sodium ionomer resin having a melt flow index of about 1.0 g/10 min.

Claim 15

A golf ball according to claim 8, characterised in that up to about 10% by weight of said cover comprises one or more additional ingredients selected from the group consisting of other ionomers, other resins, titanium dioxide, dyes, UV absorbers and optical brighteners.

Claim 16

A golf ball substantially as described herein, with reference to example 1, balls 3 to 6 of example 2, example 3 and balls 8 to 10 of example 4.

Claim 17

A golf ball substantially as described herein, with reference to example 1, balls 3 to 6 of example 2, example 3 and balls 8 to 10 of example 4.

Claim 18

A golf ball cover composition substantially as described herein, with reference to example 1, balls 3 to 6 of example 2, example 3, and balls 8 to 10 of example 4.

Claim 19

A golf ball cover composition substantially as described herein, with reference to example 1, balls 3 to 6 of example 2, example 3, and balls 8 to 10 of example 4.