Golf Ball Dimple Pattern Optimizing Utility Club Flight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf balls with existing dimple designs do not achieve optimal flight performance when hit with utility clubs, as they fail to maximize lift force and minimize drag effectively for enhanced flight distance.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball with a specific dimple pattern and dimensions, calculated using a drag coefficient and lift force coefficient, adhering to a mathematical formula that ensures a maximum vector angle is achieved, optimizing the aerodynamic behavior and trajectory when hit with a utility club, featuring a combination of polybutadiene core and ionomer resin cover with strategically designed dimples.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional dimple designs are used, then the golf ball achieves basic flight performance, but it fails to maximize lift force and minimize drag for optimal flight distance when hit with utility clubs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating dimples with specific local characteristics - particular depth ranges (0.05-0.20 times the golf ball diameter) and distribution patterns in specific regions. This localized optimization of dimple geometry enhances lift force generation while minimizing drag, resolving the contradiction between maximizing upward force and reducing resistive force during utility club shots.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by precisely controlling dimple depth, diameter, and spacing parameters within specific ranges. By optimizing these geometric parameters, the golf ball achieves improved lift-to-drag ratio, simultaneously maximizing lift force and minimizing drag losses during flight when struck with utility clubs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the dimple pattern is optimized for driver shots, then flight distance is maximized for driver shots, but flight performance is not optimized for utility club shots
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves universality by designing a dimple pattern that performs optimally across multiple club types, particularly for both driver and utility club shots. The specific dimple configuration provides adaptable flight performance for different launch conditions and spin rates, making the golf ball versatile across different clubs while maintaining manufacturable precision through well-defined geometric parameters.
3Force
If dimple depth and distribution are increased to enhance aerodynamic effects, then lift force is improved, but drag may increase and flight control becomes compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using moderate dimple depths (0.05-0.20 times diameter) rather than extreme depths. This partial optimization provides sufficient lift enhancement while avoiding excessive drag and maintaining stable flight characteristics, achieving a balanced solution that improves lift without compromising flight control or creating turbulent instability.
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 flight performance and distance when hit with a utility club, with a calculated trajectory that satisfies the mathematical formula, demonstrating improved lift and reduced drag, resulting in enhanced flight characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
The dimples disturb the air flow around the golf ball during flight to cause turbulent flow separation
Implementation Method 2
separation points of the air from the golf ball shift backwards leading to a reduction of drag
Implementation Method 3
The turbulization promotes the displacement between the separation point on the upper side and the separation point on the lower side of the golf ball, which results from the backspin, thereby enhancing the lift force that acts upon the golf ball
Data Source
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AI summary
A golf ball 2 having excellent flight performance upon a shot with a utility club is provided. The golf ball 2 has a large number of dimples 8 on a surface thereof. A trajectory of the golf ball 2 calculated under conditions of an initial speed of 260 ft/s, a launch angle of 15.0 degrees, and an initial backspin rate of 3000 rpm satisfies the following mathematical formula, Amax≥4.0*Vave+13.10, wherein Amax represents a maximum value (degree) of a vector angle A in the trajectory, and Vave represents an average volume (mm3) of the dimples 8. The vector angle A is calculated by the following mathematical formula. A=ATANVy/Vx, wherein Vx represents a horizontal component of a speed of the golf ball 2, and Vy represents a vertical component of the speed of the golf ball 2.