Driver Golf Club Head with Thin Face for CT-Compliant Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf club designers face a challenge in maximizing ball speed while maintaining a conforming Characteristic Time (CT) value, as increasing strike face size and thickness within USGA limits constrains ball speed improvement.
Innovation Solution
A driver-type golf club head with a shallower and thinner strike face design, optimizing face height and thickness ratios to increase ball speed while adhering to CT limits, achieved by redistributing mass for improved MOI and CG location without additional structural features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the strike face size and thickness are increased to improve ball speed, then ball speed increases, but the Characteristic Time (CT) value exceeds USGA limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the strike face thickness (0.060-0.100 inches) and height (0.80-1.20 inches) to optimize ball speed while maintaining CT within USGA limits. The specific thickness range allows sufficient face flexion for high ball speed without excessive contact time, representing a quantitative parameter optimization to resolve the contradiction between speed and duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes composite construction with a titanium alloy body (6Al-4V) and a separate strike face made of stainless steel or titanium alloy. This composite approach allows the strike face to be optimized for ball speed through controlled thickness and flexion properties, while the overall club head structure maintains durability and controls CT characteristics, resolving the speed-CT tradeoff through material composition.
2Speed
If the strike face thickness is decreased to increase ball speed, then ball speed increases, but the club head durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials with a titanium alloy body (6Al-4V) providing structural strength and durability, combined with a strike face made of stainless steel or titanium alloy optimized for performance. This composite construction allows the strike face to be thinner (0.060-0.100 inches) for increased ball speed while the overall composite structure maintains durability through the strength of the titanium body and optimized face attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the strike face a distinct component with specific material properties different from the club head body. The strike face is locally optimized with specific thickness (0.060-0.100 inches) and material composition to maximize ball speed, while the surrounding club head structure provides the necessary durability and structural support, allowing different regions to have different optimized properties.
3Speed
If the strike face height is increased to improve ball speed, then ball speed increases, but the Characteristic Time (CT) value increases beyond USGA limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by optimizing the strike face height within a specific range (0.80-1.20 inches) to achieve sufficient face flexion for high ball speed while controlling the contact time during impact. This quantitative optimization of the height parameter allows the design to maximize ball speed without exceeding USGA CT limits, resolving the contradiction through precise parameter control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the ratio of face height to face thickness as a critical parameter, maintaining it between 0.80 and 1.20. This ratio optimization ensures that the strike face has adequate height for ball speed generation while the thickness controls the flexion characteristics to keep CT within limits, resolving the speed-CT contradiction through ratio-based parameter control.
Data Source
AI summary
A driver-type golf club head having a reduced strike face height and a reduced strike face thickness produces a greater golf ball launch speed while maintaining a conforming CT value. In addition, the driver-type golf club head preserves or improves the club head durability, ball flight path optimization, and forgiveness by careful club head mass distribution.