A method for making a golf ball including the steps of providing a core; providing a nanoparticulate; providing a first monomer including an olefin; providing a second monomer including an .alpha.,.beta.-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid; in-situ polymerizing the first monomer and the second monomer in the presence of the nanoparticulate to form a nanocomposite non-ionic polymer; and forming a cover layer about the core from the nanocomposite non-ionic polymer.