Golf Ball Net-Shaped Grooves for Drag Reduction and Putting Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dimpled golf balls require an area ratio of dimples greater than 75% for reduced air resistance, which compromises accuracy in putting due to irregular surface interactions with the putter.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball with net-shaped grooves on its surface, where each groove has a protusion height less than its depth, achieving similar air resistance to dimpled balls while reducing the groove area ratio, thus enhancing carry distance and putting accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the area ratio of dimples is increased to reduce air resistance, then carry distance is improved, but putting accuracy deteriorates due to irregular surface interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the continuous dimpled surface into a net-shaped groove pattern that covers only specific portions of the ball surface. This segmentation allows the ball to have reduced air resistance through the grooves while maintaining smooth putting surfaces in the areas between grooves, thereby resolving the contradiction between carry distance and putting accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different surface qualities to different regions of the golf ball. The net-shaped grooves are localized to specific areas to reduce air resistance, while the remaining surface areas maintain smooth characteristics for accurate putting. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region for its specific function.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the area ratio of dimples is increased to create turbulent flow, then air resistance is reduced, but the complexity of surface geometry increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the complex dimpled surface into a simplified net-shaped groove pattern. This segmentation reduces the overall geometric complexity while maintaining the turbulent flow generation capability, as the grooves are simpler in form than traditional dimples but still effective at creating the necessary airflow patterns.
3Manufacturing precision
If the area ratio of grooves is reduced to improve putting accuracy, then directionality is improved, but air resistance reduction capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from a two-dimensional continuous dimpled surface to a three-dimensional net-shaped groove structure. This dimensional change allows the grooves to generate turbulent flow and reduce air resistance while occupying a smaller surface area, thereby maintaining putting accuracy. The grooves extend into the third dimension (depth) to achieve aerodynamic benefits without increasing surface area.
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 with net-shaped grooves maintains air resistance comparable to dimpled balls while significantly reducing putting errors, enabling accurate directionality and improved carry distance.
Implementation Method 1
dimples of the golf ball act to create a turbulent flow on the surface of the golf ball and in turn, the turbulent flow acts to delay the separation of air streams around the golf ball, thereby reducing a pressure difference between front and rear portions of the dimpled golf ball, and resulting in a reduction of air resistance acting on the golf ball
Implementation Method 2
the inventors of the present invention proved through an experiment that a turbulent flow around the golf ball is created through the shear layer instability as air separates at the dimple rather than entering into the dimple
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a golf ball which has not only an air resistance similar to or smaller than that of a dimpled golf ball, but also a significantly reduced area ratio of grooves (20) relative to the total surface area of the golf ball, thereby achieving an enhanced carry distance and high accuracy in the directionality of putting. The golf ball has net-shaped grooves (20) formed on an outer surface of a sphere (10).