Golf Ball Dual-Core Polyamide Blend for Spin Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf balls with hard ionomer core materials provide high initial velocity but result in a harsh feel and low spin control, making them difficult to hit accurately, especially with approach shots near the green.
Innovation Solution
A dual-core golf ball design featuring an inner core made of rubber and an outer core layer composed of a non-ionomeric composition consisting of polyamide, acid anhydride-modified polyolefin, and fatty acid additives, which provides a positive hardness gradient and improved feel and spin control without sacrificing distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If hard ionomer core materials are used, then initial velocity is improved, but feel becomes harsh and spin control is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The core is divided into multiple layers with different material compositions and hardness levels. The inner core layer uses hard ionomer material for high initial velocity, while the outer core layer uses softer polyamide-based material for better spin control and feel, resolving the contradiction between speed and control
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the core have different material properties tailored to specific functions. The inner core region provides hardness for velocity generation, while the outer core region provides softer characteristics for spin control during iron shots, allowing both contradictory requirements to be satisfied in different locations
2Speed
If hard ionomer core materials are used, then initial velocity is improved, but feel becomes harsh
Solution Approach 1:
The core is segmented into inner and outer layers with different hardness characteristics. The hard inner layer generates initial velocity while the softer outer layer provides a pleasant feel, eliminating the harshness associated with entirely hard cores
Solution Approach 2:
The core uses a composite structure combining hard ionomer material in the inner layer with softer polyamide-based material in the outer layer. This composite approach allows the ball to achieve high initial velocity from the hard inner core while the softer outer layer provides a comfortable feel, resolving the contradiction between speed and feel
3Ease of operation
If polyamide/acid anhydride-modified polyolefin composition is used in outer core layer, then spin control and feel are improved, but core hardness is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The core is divided into layers where the outer layer uses polyamide/acid anhydride-modified polyolefin composition for spin control, while the inner layer maintains hard ionomer material for overall core strength, balancing softness and hardness requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The polyamide-based composition is applied specifically to the outer core layer where spin control and feel are most critical during club contact, while the inner core maintains high hardness for structural integrity and velocity generation, allowing localized optimization without compromising overall core strength
Data Source
AI summary
Multi-piece golf balls having at least one layer made from a polyamide non-ionomeric composition are provided. The polyamide composition consists essentially of about 40 to about 99% by weight polyamide; about 1 to about 60% by weight of an acid anhydride-modified polyolefin; and about 1 to about 60% of a fatty acid additive selected from the group consisting of fatty acid salts, fatty acid amides, and mixtures thereof. The ball includes a core, preferably a dual core construction; and a cover of at least one layer. In another preferred construction, a multi-layered core containing an inner, intermediate, and outer core layer is made. For example, the intermediate core layer may be made of a rubber composition; and each of the inner core and outer core layers may be made of the polyamide composition. The resulting ball has high resiliency along with a soft feel.