Adjustable Keel Golf Club Head for Face Angle Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf club designs face variability in face angle at address due to differences in lie angles, leading to inconsistent perceived face angles, which can affect golfer preference and performance, especially in wood-type clubs with single keel points, where the sole shape and center of gravity relationship is not fully understood, resulting in undesired styling and sound effects.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable keel member with multiple tapered edges is introduced on the sole of the golf club head, allowing for manipulation of the face angle by rotating the keel member to interact with the ground plane, maintaining a stable grounding condition and consistent perceived face angle across a range of lie angles without affecting the loft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single keel point sole shape is used in wood-type golf clubs, then the club head can be manufactured with a defined center of gravity location to affect trajectory, but the face angle at address becomes variable and inconsistent across different lie angles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the keel zone adjustable rather than fixed. The keel zone member can be repositioned along the sole of the club head, allowing the grounding characteristics to change dynamically based on the desired lie angle. This adjustability enables consistent face angle at address across different lie angles while maintaining the single keel point design.
2Reliability
If the center of gravity is positioned to preferentially affect trajectory, then ball flight control is improved, but the relationship with sole shape creates variability in face angle at address
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by separating the functions of trajectory control and face angle consistency. The center of gravity position remains fixed for trajectory control, while the adjustable keel zone member independently controls face angle at address. This segmentation allows both functions to be optimized without compromising either.
3Manufacturing precision
If dual keel point or multi-keel point sole shapes are used to overcome face angle variability, then face angle consistency is improved, but styling and sound from striking the ball are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by concentrating the face angle control function in a specific adjustable zone rather than distributing it across multiple fixed keel points. The adjustable keel zone member provides the necessary grounding characteristics for face angle consistency while maintaining a clean, single-keel-point aesthetic that preserves styling and sound quality.
4Shape
If the sole shape is defined for styling or turf interaction purposes, then aesthetic appeal and turf performance are improved, but the face angle at address becomes different than intended in the design model
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the keel zone adjustable, allowing the sole shape to maintain its aesthetic styling while the face angle can be precisely controlled through adjustment. The adjustable keel zone member can be positioned to achieve the intended face angle at address without compromising the designed sole shape aesthetics.
Data Source
AI summary
A wood-type golf club head with an adjustable keel zone member is disclosed herein. The golf club head includes a body and an adjustable keel zone member. The body has a front portion, a crown portion and a sole portion. The body also having a heel end, a toe end and an aft end. The sole portion has only a single keel point. The adjustable keel zone member is disposed within a keel zone of the sole and located preferentially with respect to the center of gravity. The keel zone member is capable of adjusting the face angle of the wood-type golf club head.