Golf Ball Core with Hard Outer Soft Inner Zones for Wind Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf balls face challenges in achieving optimal flight performance and controllability, especially when hit with a middle iron, as they tend to be influenced by wind and have insufficient flight distance, and lack controllability when hit with a short iron due to high spin rates.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design featuring a core with a center and envelope layer, a mid layer, and a cover, where the core has a specific compressive deformation ratio and diameter to suppress spin, and the cover is made of a resin composition with a low JIS-C hardness to provide sufficient spin and controllability, especially with a polyurethane component for enhanced flexibility and spin control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a core with outer-hard/inner-soft structure is used to achieve low spin rate and high launch angle, then flight distance is improved, but the golf ball is overly influenced by wind on middle iron shots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct hardness zones within the core structure. The core has an inner core layer with lower hardness (50-70 shore A) and an outer core layer with higher hardness (70-90 shore A), allowing different regions to perform different functions: the inner soft layer generates high launch angle while the outer hard layer suppresses spin rate, achieving optimal flight characteristics that resist wind influence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining rubber compositions with different hardness characteristics in the core structure. The inner core layer uses a softer rubber composition while the outer core layer uses a harder rubber composition, creating a composite core that simultaneously achieves low spin rate and high launch angle, thereby improving flight distance while reducing wind sensitivity.
2Ease of operation
If the cover is made with low JIS-C hardness to provide sufficient spin and controllability with short iron, then controllability is improved, but flight performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a cover with specific low hardness (JIS-C hardness ≤65, preferably 50-65) that differs from the core hardness characteristics. This localized soft cover layer provides high spin rate and controllability for short iron shots, while the underlying hard core structure maintains flight performance, allowing each layer to optimize for its specific function.
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 design results in excellent flight performance and controllability, maintaining flight distance and stability even in headwinds, and providing high spin rates for precise control when hit with a short iron, while maintaining resilience and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a ratio (Co/Do) of an amount of compressive deformation Co of the center, which is measured under conditions of an initial load of 98 N and a final load of 294 N, to a diameter Do of the center is equal to or greater than 0.085 but equal to or less than 0.130
Implementation Method 2
a ratio (Ce/De) of an amount of compressive deformation Ce of the core, which is measured under conditions of an initial load of 98 N and a final load of 294 N, to a diameter De of the core is equal to or greater than 0.015 but equal to or less than 0.020
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball 2 includes a core 4, a mid layer 6, and a cover 8. The core 4 includes a center 10 and an envelope layer 12. The ratio of the volume Ve of the core 4 to the volume of a phantom sphere of the golf ball 2 is equal to greater than 76%. The ratio (Co/Do) of an amount of compressive deformation Co of the center 10 to the diameter Do of the center 10 is equal to or greater than 0.085 but equal to or less than 0.130. The ratio (Ce/De) of an amount of compressive deformation Ce of the core 4 to the diameter De of the core 4 is equal to or greater than 0.015 but equal to or less than 0.020.