Multi-piece Golf Ball Hardness and Dimple Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf balls fail to balance distance reduction for long hitters with maintaining performance for average hitters, leading to increased run on shots with irons and difficulty in stopping the ball at intended places.
Innovation Solution
A multi-piece solid golf ball design featuring a core, intermediate layer, and cover with a large number of dimples on the cover surface, where the surface hardness of the intermediate layer-encased sphere is greater than the surface hardness of the ball, and specific conditions are met for initial velocity, deflection, and lift and drag coefficients to optimize distance and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the golf ball is designed to reduce distance on shots with a driver by long hitters, then the distance for reducing distance on shots with a driver by long hitters is made larger, but the distance for reducing distance on shots with a driver and iron by average hitters becomes larger as well, which increases the influence on play other than the intended distance reduction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different hardness zones within the golf ball structure. The intermediate layer has a specific hardness range (Shore C 80-95) that differs from the core (Shore C 40-70) and cover (Shore C 30-50), allowing different regions to contribute differently to ball flight characteristics. This layered hardness distribution enables selective control over distance reduction for different player types without uniformly affecting all shots.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple layers with different material properties. The golf ball consists of a core, intermediate layer, and cover made from different rubber compositions and hardness levels. This composite structure allows optimization of distance reduction for long hitters while maintaining acceptable performance for average hitters, resolving the contradiction between targeted distance control and overall play adaptability.
2Speed
If the golf ball reduces distance on shots with a driver by long hitters, then the distance is reduced, but the run on shots with an iron increases too much, making it difficult to stop the ball at an intended place
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality through the intermediate layer with hardness of Shore C 80-95, which is harder than both the core and cover. This harder intermediate layer specifically affects the ball's rollout characteristics by reducing excess run on iron shots while maintaining the distance reduction effect on driver shots. The localized hardness variation in this middle layer provides the control needed to stop the ball at intended positions.
3Speed
If the surface hardness of the intermediate layer-encased sphere is increased to control distance, then distance reduction is improved, but the ball becomes too hard affecting spin characteristics and player comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the hardness parameter of the intermediate layer within the range of Shore C 80-95. This specific hardness range was determined through experimentation to achieve the optimal balance between distance reduction control and maintaining acceptable spin characteristics. The parameter optimization ensures that the ball provides sufficient distance control for long hitters while retaining enough softness for player comfort and proper spin on approach shots.
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 effectively reduces distance on shots with a driver by long hitters while minimizing the impact on shots with a driver and irons by average hitters, maintaining similar spin characteristics to current tour balls and allowing for easier stopping of the ball.
Implementation Method 1
a large number of dimples are formed on an outer surface of the cover
Implementation Method 2
when a ratio (CL1/CD1) of a lift coefficient CL1 at a Reynolds number of 218000 and a spin rate of 2800 rpm to a drag coefficient CD1 is denoted by A1
Data Source
AI summary
In a golf ball including a core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, the relationship of the surface hardness between an intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball satisfies a predetermined relational expression, and with an initial velocity of the ball and a deflection under a predetermined load applied to the ball optimized, and letting a value of (initial velocity of core×weight of core) be Ciw, a value of [(initial velocity of intermediate layer-encased sphere−initial velocity of core)×(weight of intermediate layer-encased sphere−weight of core)] be Miw, and a value of [(initial velocity of ball−initial velocity of intermediate layer-encased sphere)×(weight of ball−weight of intermediate layer-encased sphere)] be CViw, the expression of Ciw+Miw+CViw is optimized, and lift and drag coefficients at predetermined Reynolds numbers and spin rates of dimples are set to predetermined ranges.