Golf Ball Dimple Configuration for Flight Distance Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf balls exhibit significant variation in flight distance due to spin rate inconsistencies, making it difficult for golfers to accurately land the ball at a target point, as the specifications of dimples are optimized for a specific spin rate condition rather than stability across varying spin rates.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design with a specific dimple configuration meeting mathematical formulas to maintain a consistent lift coefficient ratio across different spin rates, ensuring minimal variation in flight distance regardless of spin rate, achieved through optimal dimple diameter, depth, volume, number, and surface area distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dimple specifications are optimized for a specific spin rate condition, then flight distance is maximized under that condition, but flight distance varies significantly when spin rate changes
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the parameters of dimple specifications (depth, diameter, volume) to achieve a balance point where the lift coefficient ratio L1 remains within a specific range (1.150≤L1≤1.350). This parameter optimization ensures that flight distance remains stable across varying spin rates, resolving the contradiction between maximizing flight distance and ensuring flight distance stability.
2Force
If dimple depth is increased to enhance lift force, then flight distance improves under appropriate spin rate, but sensitivity to spin rate variation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention optimizes the dimple depth parameter within a specific range (0.15mm≤depth<0.65mm) to achieve appropriate turbulization effect. This parameter control ensures that the lift force is enhanced while maintaining tolerance to spin rate variations, as the optimized depth creates stable airflow separation characteristics across different spin conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention combines multiple dimple parameters (depth, diameter, volume, surface area ratio) into a composite design system. By optimizing the combination of these parameters together rather than individually, the golf ball achieves both enhanced lift force and spin rate tolerance, as the interconnected parameters work synergistically to stabilize airflow characteristics.
3Productivity
If dimple volume is increased to improve aerodynamic characteristics, then flight distance increases under optimal conditions, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention sets the dimple volume within a specific range (0.05mm³≤volume<0.50mm³) and controls the surface area ratio within (0.60≤ratio<0.90). These parameter specifications balance aerodynamic performance with manufacturability, ensuring that the dimples can be accurately formed using conventional molding techniques while achieving the desired flight characteristics.
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 distance stability by maintaining a consistent lift force across varying spin rates, allowing golfers to accurately land the ball at a target point with reduced dependency on spin rate.
Implementation Method 1
The dimples disturb the air flow around the golf ball during flight to cause turbulent flow separation. This phenomenon is referred to as 'turbulization'.
Implementation Method 2
The dimples disturb the air flow around the golf ball during flight to cause turbulent flow separation.
Implementation Method 3
Due to the turbulization, separation points of the air from the golf ball shift backwards leading to a reduction of drag.
Implementation Method 4
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
AI summary
A golf ball has a large number of dimples on a surface thereof. The golf ball meets the following mathematical formula (I): 1.320≦L1≦1.420 (I), where L1 represents a ratio of a lift coefficient CL1 which is measured under conditions of a Reynolds number of 1.290×105 and a spin rate of 2820 rpm, relative to a lift coefficient CL2 which is measured under conditions of a Reynolds number of 1.290×105 and a spin rate of 1740 rpm.