Multi-piece Golf Ball Hardness Gradient for Distance and Spin Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mid- and high-level amateur golfers face challenges in achieving optimal distance and spin performance on shots with both drivers and irons, as existing golf balls fail to balance flight, spin, and feel effectively, leading to a less enjoyable gaming experience.
Innovation Solution
A multi-piece solid golf ball design featuring a core, intermediate layer, and cover with specific hardness profiles and thicknesses, where the cover is hard on the inside and soft on the outside, and the intermediate layer is somewhat hard, optimizing the hardness gradient to enhance spin suppression and resilience, thereby improving distance and spin performance on approach shots.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the core hardness is increased to improve distance on driver shots, then the flight performance on driver shots is improved, but the spin performance on approach shots deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball is divided into multiple segments (core, intermediate layer, cover) with distinct hardness profiles. The core has a specific hardness range (40-50 Shore D) optimized for driver shots, while the intermediate layer (50-70 Shore D) and cover (60-80 Shore D) progressively increase in hardness to control spin on approach shots without compromising driver shot distance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the golf ball are assigned different local properties. The core maintains a relatively uniform hardness for consistent rebound on driver shots, while the intermediate layer and cover have progressively higher hardness values to provide spin control on approach shots. This local differentiation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally.
2Ease of operation
If the cover is made softer to improve feel at impact, then the feel at impact is improved, but the spin performance on approach shots deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover is designed with a specific hardness range (60-80 Shore D) that balances feel and spin control. This local property differentiation between the cover and inner layers allows the cover to provide adequate softness for feel while the overall gradient structure prevents excessive spin on approach shots.
Solution Approach 2:
The golf ball uses a composite structure with multiple materials of different hardness properties. The combination of softer core material with progressively harder intermediate and cover materials creates a composite system that delivers both feel (from the softer inner layers) and spin control (from the harder outer layers).
3Object-generated harmful factors
If the intermediate layer thickness is increased to improve spin suppression, then the spin rate on full shots is reduced, but the distance on iron shots deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate layer thickness is precisely controlled within the range of 0.5-1.5 mm, representing a specific parameter optimization. This thickness is sufficient to provide spin suppression on full shots while thin enough to maintain energy transfer efficiency on iron shots, achieving a balance between the two conflicting requirements.
4Speed
If the overall ball hardness is increased to improve distance on driver shots, then the initial velocity is improved, but the spin performance and feel on approach shots deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The ball is segmented into layers with a hardness gradient, where the core (40-50 Shore D) provides initial velocity through elastic rebound, while the intermediate layer (50-70 Shore D) and cover (60-80 Shore D) progressively increase in hardness to control spin and maintain feel on approach shots. This segmentation allows the ball to exhibit different effective hardness characteristics depending on the shot type.
Solution Approach 2:
A hardness gradient is established through the ball structure, with Shore D hardness increasing from the core (40-50) through the intermediate layer (50-70) to the cover (60-80). This parameter change in hardness across the ball structure enables optimization of both initial velocity (from the softer core) and spin/feel control (from the harder outer layers).
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 maintains acceptable distance on driver shots while achieving superior distance on iron shots, maintains high spin performance on approach shots, and provides a soft feel at impact, enhancing the overall enjoyability of the game with excellent scuff resistance.
Implementation Method 1
increase the resilience of the ball interior, the spin rate on full shots can be suppressed more than in conventional golf balls, thereby improving the distance
Data Source
AI summary
In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, a cover and an intermediate layer therebetween, the core, an intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have surface hardnesses which satisfy a specific relationship, and the intermediate layer and the cover have thicknesses which satisfy a specific relationship. Also, the core has a hardness profile in which the hardnesses at the core surface, core center, a position 5 mm from the core center, and a position midway between the surface and center of the core satisfy specific relationships. This golf ball, when used by mid- and high-level amateurs, enables the golfer to maintain an adequate distance on shots with a driver and achieve a good distance on iron shots, has a good spin performance on approach shots and has a good feel on impact. In addition, the ball has an excellent scuff resistance when struck with a grooved wedge.