Golf Ball Core Hardness Gradient for Wind and Spin Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Average golfers face challenges in controlling the flight distance of golf balls during iron shots due to variations in spin rate caused by unstable hitting points and difficulty in managing wind effects, which result in inconsistent rolling distances and high maximum flying heights.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design comprising a spherical core made from a rubber composition containing natural rubber, methacrylic acid, and a crosslinking initiator, with a specific hardness distribution that ensures a soft shot feeling and controlled spin performance, thereby reducing wind influence and enhancing controllability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the backspin rate is increased to improve spin performance and control, then the controllability is improved, but the maximum flying height increases making the ball more susceptible to wind
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the core rubber composition by incorporating specific ratios of natural rubber (30-70 parts), polybutadiene rubber (10-50 parts), and epoxidized natural rubber (5-30 parts), along with controlling the vulcanization conditions. This results in a core hardness distribution that optimizes spin rate while controlling flight trajectory and reducing wind susceptibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite rubber composition in the core combining multiple rubber materials (natural rubber, polybutadiene rubber, epoxidized natural rubber) with specific physical properties. This composite structure allows simultaneous optimization of spin performance and flight stability, reducing the harmful effect of wind while maintaining controllability.
2Reliability
If the spin rate is increased to improve controllability, then the spin performance is improved, but the variation in spin rate due to hitting point instability increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a non-uniform hardness distribution within the core by controlling the vulcanization process and rubber composition. The core has different hardness levels at different radial positions, with the center having different properties than the outer regions. This local variation in hardness compensates for hitting point variations, maintaining consistent spin rates across different impact locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical parameters of the core by controlling the vulcanization temperature (140-180°C) and time (10-30 minutes), creating a specific hardness distribution profile. This parameter control ensures that the core responds consistently to varying impact points, stabilizing spin rate variation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a harder core is used to reduce wind influence, then the flight stability is improved, but the shot feeling becomes harsh
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a gradient hardness structure where the core center and outer regions have different hardness levels. The center region provides the necessary firmness for flight stability, while the outer regions maintain softer characteristics for comfortable shot feeling. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between wind resistance and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite rubber formulation combining natural rubber (softer) with polybutadiene rubber and epoxidized natural rubber (providing structural integrity). This material composition allows the core to exhibit both softness for comfort and sufficient hardness for flight stability, eliminating the need to choose between the two extremes.
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 golf ball achieves excellent controllability with a short rolling distance and low maximum flying height, minimizing the impact of wind and providing a consistent shot feeling, thus improving the overall performance of iron shots.
Implementation Method 1
the spherical core is formed from a rubber composition containing a base rubber, a co-crosslinking agent, and a crosslinking initiator
Implementation Method 2
the loft angle imparts a backspin to the golf ball. The golf ball flies while being accompanied with the backspin
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a golf ball having good shot feeling on iron shots, having excellent controllability due to a short rolling distance, and being slightly affected by the wind due to a low maximum flying height. The present disclosure provides a golf ball 2 comprising a spherical core 4, an intermediate layer 6 and an outermost cover 8, wherein the spherical core 4 is formed from a rubber composition containing a natural rubber and methacrylic acid and/or a metal salt thereof, and a center hardness (H0) of the spherical core 4, hardnesses (H2.5, H5.0, H7.5, H10, H12.5, H15) at points having a radial distance of 2.5 mm, 5.0 mm, 7.5 mm, 10 mm, 12.5 mm and 15 mm from a center of the spherical core 4, and a surface hardness (Hs) of the spherical core 4 satisfy a relationship of H0<H2.5<H5.0<H7.5<H10<H12.5<H15<Hs.