Golf Ball Coating Layer Roughness for Flight Distance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf ball designs fail to effectively suppress pop-up and enhance flight distance when hit with middle irons, despite attempts to improve dimple specifications, leading to a desire for improved aerodynamic performance.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball with a spherical core, cover member, and a coating layer featuring dimples, where the coating layer has a thickness of 5.0 µm or more and specific surface roughness characteristics, with a maximum height Rz and arithmetic average roughness Ra satisfying Rz ≥ Ra × 6.0, formed using methods such as spraying minute particles or a metal mold, to enhance aerodynamic performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If dimple specifications are improved to extend flight distance, then flight distance is extended, but pop-up suppression is insufficient when hit with middle irons
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different surface properties to different regions of the golf ball. Specifically, the coating layer is formed with controlled roughness (Rz≥Ra×6.0) only on the outermost surface, while the underlying cover member maintains smooth dimple specifications. This local differentiation allows the rough coating layer to suppress pop-up through enhanced aerodynamic control, while the dimple pattern continues to extend flight distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure consisting of a cover member with dimples and a coating layer with specific roughness characteristics. The coating layer, having a thickness of 5.0 μm or more and surface roughness satisfying Rz≥Ra×6.0, is applied over the dimpled cover member. This composite material approach combines the flight-distance-extending properties of dimples with the pop-up-suppressing properties of the rough coating layer.
2Reliability
If a coating layer with thickness of 5.0 μm or more is formed, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention controls specific parameters of the coating layer to achieve the desired aerodynamic performance. The coating layer thickness is specified as 5.0 μm or more, and the surface roughness must satisfy the relationship Rz≥Ra×6.0. By precisely controlling these parameters during the coating process, the invention optimizes aerodynamic performance while maintaining manufacturability through clear, measurable specifications.
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 described golf ball design effectively reduces lift and extends flight distance by optimizing the relationship between Rz and Ra, suppressing pop-up and improving overall flight performance.
Implementation Method 1
The dimples disturb airflow around the golf ball during flight and cause turbulent separation. This phenomenon is referred to as 'turbulence'.
Implementation Method 2
turbulence promotes the displacement between an upper separation point and a lower separation point due to backspin, and thus lift acting on the golf ball is enhanced
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A golf ball that enhances flight performance is provided. A golf ball according to the present invention includes a spherical core, at least one cover member that covers the core, and a coating layer that covers the cover member configuring the outermost layer. A plurality of dimples are formed in the cover member configuring the outermost layer. The thickness of the coating layer is 5.0 µm or more. Roughness is formed on the surface of the coating layer after coating the cover member configuring the outermost layer. The maximum height Rz and the arithmetic average roughness Ra of the surface of the coating layer satisfy the relationship Rz≥Ra×6.0.