| abstract |
A dual core golf ball and methods for preparing portions thereof including a core having at least one core layer, a mantle having at least one layer including an amount of reinforcing polymer component and a resilient polymer component disposed concentrically adjacent the core, and a cover layer disposed concentrically adjacent the mantle, wherein the at least one mantle layer is sufficiently rigid to inhibit the resilient polymer component from substantially altering shape prior to crosslinking. The invention also includes an elastomeric composition for the mantle that includes a resilient polymer component having a predominantly 1,4-cis content, a free-radical initiator, and a reinforcing polymer component having a sufficiently low viscosity at a mixing temperature to permit substantially uniform dispersion of the polymer component with the resilient polymer component and having a crystalline melting point sufficiently low to permit mixing while avoiding substantial crosslinking. |