Multi-Piece Golf Ball Hardness Gradient Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multi-piece solid golf balls fail to simultaneously achieve excellent flight performance, feel on impact, controllability, scuff resistance, and durability, as they often have low rebound, poor spin performance, and inadequate material hardness profiles.
Innovation Solution
A multi-piece golf ball design with a solid core, an intermediate layer, and a cover, where the initial velocities and deflections of the core, intermediate layer, and golf ball are optimized to minimize differences, and the intermediate layer is composed of a specific resin mixture with a thermoplastic block copolymer and fatty acid derivatives, ensuring a Shore D hardness difference within ±10 between the core and intermediate layer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the number of layers is increased from two-piece to three-piece construction, then flight performance and durability are improved, but feel on impact and controllability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct hardness zones within each layer. The core has a gradient hardness profile (softer center, harder periphery), the intermediate layer has differentiated hardness at its inner and outer surfaces, and the cover has varying hardness at different locations. This localized variation in material properties allows the ball to achieve both flight performance and feel on impact by optimizing each region's contribution to overall performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple polymer components with different properties in each layer. The core uses a blend of polybutadiene and other rubbers, the intermediate layer combines ionomer resins with thermoplastic elastomers, and the cover uses specialized polymer compositions. These composite materials provide tailored mechanical properties that balance flight characteristics with impact feel.
2Strength
If the cover hardness is increased to improve scuff resistance, then durability is improved, but controllability and feel deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct hardness zones within each layer. The core has a gradient hardness profile (softer center, harder periphery), the intermediate layer has differentiated hardness at its inner and outer surfaces, and the cover has varying hardness at different locations. This localized variation in material properties allows the ball to achieve both flight performance and feel on impact by optimizing each region's contribution to overall performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple polymer components with different properties in each layer. The core uses a blend of polybutadiene and other rubbers, the intermediate layer combines ionomer resins with thermoplastic elastomers, and the cover uses specialized polymer compositions. These composite materials provide tailored mechanical properties that balance flight characteristics with impact feel.
3Reliability
If the intermediate layer hardness is increased to improve flight performance, then flight stability is improved, but spin performance on approach shots deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct hardness zones within each layer. The core has a gradient hardness profile (softer center, harder periphery), the intermediate layer has differentiated hardness at its inner and outer surfaces, and the cover has varying hardness at different locations. This localized variation in material properties allows the ball to achieve both flight performance and feel on impact by optimizing each region's contribution to overall performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple polymer components with different properties in each layer. The core uses a blend of polybutadiene and other rubbers, the intermediate layer combines ionomer resins with thermoplastic elastomers, and the cover uses specialized polymer compositions. These composite materials provide tailored mechanical properties that balance flight characteristics with impact feel.
4Strength
If the cover thickness is increased to improve durability, then scuff resistance is improved, but flight performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating distinct hardness zones within each layer. The core has a gradient hardness profile (softer center, harder periphery), the intermediate layer has differentiated hardness at its inner and outer surfaces, and the cover has varying hardness at different locations. This localized variation in material properties allows the ball to achieve both flight performance and feel on impact by optimizing each region's contribution to overall performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining multiple polymer components with different properties in each layer. The core uses a blend of polybutadiene and other rubbers, the intermediate layer combines ionomer resins with thermoplastic elastomers, and the cover uses specialized polymer compositions. These composite materials provide tailored mechanical properties that balance flight characteristics with impact feel.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball composed of a solid core, a cover, at least one intermediate layer interposed therebetween, and a plurality of dimples on a surface of the ball. The respective initial velocities (m/s) of the core, a sphere I composed of the core encased by the intermediate layer, and the golf ball satisfy formula A below, and the respective deflections (mm) of the core, the sphere I composed of the core encased by the intermediate layer, and the golf ball, when compressed under a final load of 130 kg from an initial load of 10 kgf, satisfy formula B below:(initial velocity of core−initial velocity of sphere I)2+(initial velocity of sphere I−initial velocity of golf ball)2<0.40; Formula A:0.30<(deflection of core−deflection of sphere I)2+(deflection of sphere I−deflection of golf ball)2<0.70. Formula B:The golf ball of the invention has a good feel, an excellent spin performance on approach shots and an excellent distance, in addition to which it has an excellent scuff resistance and durability.