Golf Ball Dimple Patterns for Flight Symmetry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf balls with identical dimple geometries on opposing hemispheres face challenges in achieving flight symmetry due to the inability to maintain volumetric equivalence and aerodynamic performance, limiting the potential for differing dimple shapes, arrangements, and counts while conforming to USGA requirements.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design featuring hemispheres with differing dimple shapes, arrangements, and counts, where each dimple on one hemisphere has a corresponding dimple on the other with substantially identical surface volumes, and aerodynamic coefficients, using spherical, catenary, and conical profiles to maintain flight symmetry and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If identical dimple geometries are used on opposing hemispheres, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but flight symmetry and aerodynamic performance are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by using different dimple geometries on opposing hemispheres - specifically, one hemisphere features dimples with spherical profiles while the opposing hemisphere features dimples with catenary or conical profiles. This asymmetric approach allows each hemisphere to be optimized for different aerodynamic functions while maintaining overall flight symmetry through careful design balancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by giving different regions (hemispheres) different dimple characteristics suited to their specific aerodynamic roles. The spherical dimples on one hemisphere provide different flow characteristics compared to the catenary or conical dimples on the opposing hemisphere, allowing localized optimization of aerodynamic performance while maintaining global symmetry.
2Reliability
If different dimple shapes and arrangements are used on opposing hemispheres, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but volumetric equivalence becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses parameter changes by varying the profile shape parameter (spherical vs. catenary vs. conical) while carefully controlling other parameters such as dimple depth, diameter, and spacing to achieve volumetric equivalence. The different profile geometries are designed with adjusted dimensions so that the total volume of dimples on each hemisphere remains substantially equal, maintaining flight symmetry while achieving different aerodynamic effects.
3Reliability
If dimple surface volume ratio equivalence is achieved between hemispheres, then flight symmetry is maintained, but design flexibility is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by using asymmetric dimple profiles (spherical, catenary, conical) that are designed to produce equivalent surface volumes on opposing hemispheres. This approach maintains flight symmetry through volumetric equivalence while allowing significant design flexibility in the choice of profile shapes, arrangements, and counts on each hemisphere.
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 allows for unique dimple patterns on each hemisphere while ensuring volumetric equivalence and similar aerodynamic performance, enhancing flight distance and symmetry in compliance with USGA standards.
Implementation Method 1
the dimples on a golf ball create a turbulent boundary layer around the ball, i.e., a thin layer of air adjacent to the ball that flows in a turbulent manner. The turbulent nature of the boundary layer of air around the ball energizes the boundary layer
Implementation Method 2
The prolonged attachment of the air flow around the surface of the ball reduces the area of the wake behind the ball, effectively yielding an increase in pressure behind the ball, thereby substantially reducing drag and increasing lift on the ball during flight
Data Source
AI summary
Golf balls according to the present invention achieve flight symmetry and overall satisfactory flight performance due to a dimple surface volume ratio that is equivalent between opposing hemispheres despite the use of different dimple geometries, different dimple arrangements, and/or different dimple counts on the opposing hemispheres.