| abstract |
The invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball having a solid core, at least one intermediate layer and a cover. The core has a hardness which gradually increases from a core center to a core surface, with the hardness difference in JIS-C hardness units between the core center and the core surface being at least 15 and, letting (I) be the average value for the cross-sectional hardness at a position 15 mm from the core center and the cross-sectional hardness at the core center and letting (II) be the cross-sectional hardness at a position 7.5 mm from the core center, the hardness difference (I)-(II) in JIS-C hardness units being not more than ±2. The intermediate layer has a material hardness and the core has a surface hardness which together satisfy the condition (JIS-C hardness of intermediate layer material)−(JIS-C hardness of core surface)>0. A sphere composed of the core encased by the intermediate layer has an initial velocity and the core has an initial velocity which together satisfy the condition (initial velocity of sphere composed of core encased by intermediate layer)−(initial velocity of core)≧0. The sphere composed of the core encased by the intermediate layer has a deflection and the core has a deflection which together satisfy the condition 0.80≦(deflection of sphere composed of core encased by intermediate layer)/(deflection of core). The cover is formed primarily of polyurethane, and the cover material has a Shore D hardness and the intermediate layer material has a Shore D hardness which together satisfy the condition (Shore D hardness of cover material)−(Shore D hardness of intermediate layer material)≦0. The golf ball of the invention has an excellent flight performance and feel, a good durability to repeated impact, and an excellent scuff resistance. |