Multi-piece golf ball with graded hardness layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf balls made from injection-moldable thermoplastic resin cores do not achieve sufficient performance in terms of spin rates on driver and approach shots, requiring an improvement in hardness distribution and material composition.
Innovation Solution
A multi-piece golf ball design featuring a center made from a thermoplastic resin composition with multiple envelope layers, where the hardness of each layer is strategically distributed to achieve a low spin rate on driver shots and a high spin rate on approach shots, with the center and first envelope layer formed from thermoplastic resin or rubber compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a thermoplastic resin core is used in a golf ball, then the golf ball can be injection-molded with improved manufacturing efficiency, but the spin rate control on driver and approach shots is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball is divided into multiple layers with distinct thermoplastic resin compositions. The core has a first composition with specific hardness properties, while the mantle layer has a second composition with different hardness properties. This segmentation allows each layer to contribute differently to spin rate control, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing efficiency and spin rate control.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the golf ball are assigned different material properties. The core region uses a thermoplastic resin composition optimized for core function, while the mantle layer uses a different composition optimized for spin control. This local differentiation of material quality enables the golf ball to achieve both manufacturing efficiency and proper spin rate control across different shot types.
2Strength
If the core hardness is increased to reduce driver spin, then approach shot spin control is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The mantle layer is assigned a specific thermoplastic resin composition with hardness properties optimized for approach shot spin control, while the core has different hardness properties optimized for driver shot performance. This local quality differentiation allows the harder core to reduce driver spin while the softer mantle layer maintains approach shot spin control.
Solution Approach 2:
The golf ball uses composite material construction with at least two different thermoplastic resin compositions. The core uses a first thermoplastic resin composition with specific hardness, while the mantle layer uses a second thermoplastic resin composition with different hardness characteristics. This composite approach enables simultaneous optimization of driver and approach shot performance.
3Device complexity
If a single-layer construction is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but performance optimization for different shot types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball is segmented into a core and at least one mantle layer, each with distinct thermoplastic resin compositions. This segmentation provides the structural complexity needed to optimize performance for different shot types while maintaining relatively simple injection molding manufacturing processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-layer construction with different thermoplastic resin compositions enables the golf ball to perform multiple functions: the core optimizes for driver shot performance while the mantle layer optimizes for approach shot performance. This multi-functionality is achieved through a relatively simple layered structure that can be manufactured using standard injection molding techniques.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An object of the present invention is to provide a golf ball showing a low spin rate on driver shots and a high spin rate on approach shots. The present invention provides a multi-piece golf ball comprising a center and n (n is a natural number of 3 or more) envelope layers covering the center, wherein material hardness of the envelop layers satisfies H1<H0<Hn-1; where the envelope layers formed in order from the center side are referred to as the first envelope layer, the second envelope layer, the third envelope layer, the fourth envelope layer, ...the n-1th envelope layer and the nth envelope layer (the outmost layer), respectively and H0 is a material hardness (Shore D hardness) of the center, and H1, H2, H3, H4, ...Hn-1 and Hn are material hardness (Shore D hardness) of the first envelope layer, the second envelope layer, the third envelope layer, the fourth envelope layer, ...the n-1th envelope layer and the nth envelope layer (the outmost layer), respectively ; and the center is formed from a thermoplastic resin composition, and the first envelope layer is formed from a thermoplastic resin composition or a rubber composition.