Cantilevered Face Support for Golf Club Deflection Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional hollow iron-type golf club heads result in inconsistent golf ball flight distances due to asymmetric deflection patterns, leading to significant changes in launch velocity when struck off-center, and irregular face shapes cause undesirable launch angles.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating cantilevered face support elements, such as ribs or rods, extending from the back portion of the golf club head to the striking face, which alter the deflection pattern and create a symmetric striking face, reducing deflection at the center of gravity and enhancing launch consistency across the face.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional hollow iron-type golf club heads are used, then the club head structure is simple, but the launch velocity becomes inconsistent when struck off-center
Solution Approach 1:
The club head is segmented into multiple functional zones by adding face support elements (ribs or rods) that divide the striking face into distinct regions. These segments create localized deflection patterns that compensate for off-center impacts, ensuring more consistent launch velocities across different impact locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The face support elements provide localized structural reinforcement at specific positions on the striking face. By strategically placing these support elements, the club head achieves non-uniform stiffness distribution that optimizes deflection characteristics in different regions, improving launch consistency without requiring complete structural redesign.
2Speed
If the striking face is made thinner to increase deflection and launch velocity, then the maximum launch velocity increases, but the deflection becomes asymmetric when struck off-center
Solution Approach 1:
The face support elements are strategically positioned asymmetrically on the striking face to counterbalance the natural asymmetric deflection that occurs during off-center impacts. This intentional asymmetric placement creates compensating forces that restore symmetry to the overall deflection pattern, maintaining consistent launch characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
By modifying the thickness parameter of the striking face and strategically placing face support elements, the club head achieves optimal deflection characteristics. The thinner face provides sufficient flexibility for high launch velocities while the support elements maintain deflection symmetry, resolving the contradiction between speed and stability.
3Reliability
If face support elements are added to create symmetric deflection, then launch velocity consistency improves, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The face support elements (ribs or rods) are integrated with the club head structure as unified components rather than separate attachments. This merging approach simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing the support elements to be formed during the club head casting or molding process, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps while maintaining the symmetric deflection benefits.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides more consistent launch velocities and improved distance control by reducing the maximum launch velocity while maintaining launch velocity retention, especially when struck off-center, resulting in more consistent ball flight and improved launch characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
the cantilevered face support tab is in contact with but not secured to the rear surface of the striking face
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head including a club head perimeter comprising a toe portion, a heel portion, a topline, and a sole portion; a striking face; and a cantilevered face support secured to the interior surface of the sole portion; wherein the cantilevered face support tab is in contact with but not secured to the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the striking face includes a centrally located first portion having a first portion thickness, a second portion having a second thickness and located heelward of the first portion, and a third portion having a third thickness and located toeward of the first portion; wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness, wherein the first thickness is greater than the third thickness; and wherein the cantilevered face support tab is in contact with the first portion.