Golf Ball Hardness Gradient for Approach Spin
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf ball technologies face limitations in improving performance on 20-yard approach shots, particularly in achieving high spin rates and good shot feeling, which are crucial for skilled golfers.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design featuring a core made from a core rubber composition containing polybutadiene, an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid, a crosslinking initiator, and a terpene-based resin, with a higher intermediate layer hardness than the cover, ensuring a Shore D hardness of less than 50 for the cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the paint film is improved to enhance approach shot performance, then the shot feeling and performance on approach shots are improved, but there is a limit to further improvement and other aspects of performance may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball is divided into multiple functional layers: core, intermediate layer, and cover. Each layer is optimized independently - the core uses terpene-based resin for spin rate, the intermediate layer provides hardness gradient, and the cover ensures soft feel. This segmentation allows approach shot performance to be improved without compromising overall performance balance.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the golf ball are given different properties: the core contains terpene-based resin specifically to increase spin rate on approach shots, the intermediate layer has higher hardness than the cover to control ball deformation, and the cover maintains Shore D hardness less than 50 for soft shot feeling. This local optimization resolves the contradiction between approach shot performance and overall performance balance.
2Speed
If the core rubber composition is modified to increase spin rate on approach shots, then high spin rate is achieved, but the shot feeling may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The core uses a composite rubber composition combining polybutadiene base rubber with terpene-based resin. The polybutadiene provides elastic recovery for shot feeling, while the terpene-based resin increases spin rate through its molecular structure and interaction with the clubface. This composite material approach allows both high spin rate and good shot feeling to be achieved simultaneously.
3Manufacturing precision
If the intermediate layer hardness is increased to improve control on approach shots, then spin rate and control are enhanced, but the overall softness and feel may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate layer is positioned between the core and cover, creating a hardness gradient structure. The intermediate layer has higher hardness than the cover (Hm > Hc) to provide control and spin rate on approach shots, while the outer cover maintains Shore D hardness less than 50 to ensure soft shot feeling. This local hardness differentiation resolves the contradiction between control and softness.
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 a high spin rate and excellent shot feeling on approach shots, enhancing performance without compromising flight distance on driver shots.
Implementation Method 1
the core is formed from a core rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber containing a polybutadiene, (b) an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or a metal salt thereof as a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator
Implementation Method 2
a material hardness (Hm) of the intermediate layer is higher than a material hardness (Hc) of the cover
Implementation Method 3
the material hardness (Hc) of the cover is less than 50 in Shore D hardness
Data Source
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball traveling a great flight distance and having a good shot feeling on long iron shots. The present invention provides a golf ball comprising a core, at least one intermediate layer covering the core and a cover covering the intermediate layer, wherein the core is formed from a core rubber composition containing (a) a base rubber containing a polybutadiene, (b) an α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid having 3 to 8 carbon atoms and/or a metal salt thereof as a co-crosslinking agent, (c) a crosslinking initiator, and (d) a terpene-based resin, and a material hardness (Hm) of the intermediate layer is higher than a material hardness (Hc) of the cover, and the material hardness (Hc) of the cover is less than 50 in Shore D hardness.