Golf pros are testing a newtype of golf ball from Nike that flies off their drivers at speeds up to 4 mphfaster than the best balls previously available.

The new materials technologyused in the core of the ball also allows controlled spin rates off the teeresulting in longer and straighter drives. Spin control is also better forshort iron shots.

In the new technology,thermoplastic, moldable engineering plastic replaces thermoset rubber.

"About every ten years thereis a major advance in golf ball technology," says James de Garavilla, theglobal technical lead on the new technology. About ten years ago, solid rubbercores replaced wound rubber thread as the dominant golf ball core technology.

Nike says the new technology,which is based on a new type of highly neutralized ionomer resin, representsthe next game changer.

"This collaboration betweenDuPont scientists and Nike golf ball engineers has resulted in the nextrevolution of golf ball development," says Rock Ishii, product development directorat Nike Golf.

De Garavilla said that thenew DuPont HPF resin is based on an advanced ionomer technology in which acid terpolymerresins are fully neutralized together with high levels of organic acidscreating metal salts in a reactive process.

The new highly cross linked resinallows more precise layering through injection molding. "Layering the material can precisely controlthe balance between resiliency and compression not common with thermosetmaterials," says de Garavilla. "Greater material consistency and homogeneityresults in greater ball control."

Golf balls are typically madewith two to five layers of different materials. Other types of less neutralizedionomers-marketed as Surlynionomers-are used as covers, mantles, and intermediate layers. The new Nikegolf ball represents the first use of the advanced ionomer technology -marketed as DuPont HPF - in a golf ball core.

In addition to advancedperformance, the resin technology also offers the potential for improvedsustainability in golf as up to 40 percent of the core material's weight isfrom renewably sourced content.

The new technology will beoffered in two different balls: the 20XI-S, which offers tour-level spin, andthe 20XI-X, which offers tour-level distance.

The new golf balls will besold in retail stores in April 2011.

Jon Kemp, a global marketingmanager at DuPont, said the new ionomer technology may also be used in flexiblefilms for the medical and industrial markets.