Golf Ball Partial Mid Layer for Putting Feel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf balls do not provide a satisfactory feel at impact during putting, as the shock transmitted during this type of shot is minimal, and existing technologies fail to meet the diverse preferences of golf players for soft or solid feels.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design featuring a core and a cover with a partial mid layer between them, where the area of the core covered by the cover ranges from 5.0% to 95.0% of the surface area, and the Shore D hardness of the partial mid layer differs from the cover, allowing for a hitting feel index that provides a desired feel upon impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a recess-projection structure is formed inside the ball to control deformation degree, then flight performance and solid feel at impact are improved upon shots with driver or iron, but the feel at impact upon putting is not satisfactory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a partial mid layer with different hardness than the cover layer, specifically positioned between the core and cover. This localized hardness difference (Shore D hardness difference of 5-20 points) provides a softer feel at impact for putting shots without requiring complex recess-projection structures throughout the entire ball, thus improving putting feel while maintaining flight performance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the cover hardness is increased to provide solid feel at impact, then controllability is improved, but the feel at impact upon putting becomes too hard for players preferring soft feel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ball structure into distinct layers with different hardness properties: a core layer, a partial mid layer with intermediate hardness, and a cover layer with higher hardness. This segmentation allows the cover to maintain its hardness for controllability while the softer mid layer provides a softer feel at impact for putting, accommodating diverse player preferences without compromising overall performance.
3Speed
If the area of core covered by cover is increased to improve flight distance, then flight performance is enhanced, but the ability to provide different feels at impact is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the partial mid layer specifically in certain regions between the core and cover, rather than uniformly throughout. This allows the cover to have maximum contact area with the core for optimal flight distance, while the localized mid layer provides softened feel at impact in specific zones, thus maintaining both flight performance and feel customization capability.
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 offers customizable feel at impact for golfers, ensuring a moderate softness without affecting other ball performance, such as flight distance and controllability, and allowing golfers to select the desired feel based on the hitting location.
Implementation Method 1
When a thickness of the cover laminated on the partial mid layer in a region where the partial mid layer is provided is denoted by T0 (mm), a Shore D hardness of a kth layer (k is an integer from 1 to n) from the core side in the partial mid layer is denoted by Ck
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball includes a core and a cover. An n-layer (n is a natural number) partial mid layer is provided between the core and the cover. An area of the core in a region where the cover is laminated thereon is not less than 5.0% and not greater than 95.0% of a surface area of a phantom sphere. A hitting feel index Cx calculated using a thickness T0 (mm) of the cover laminated on the partial mid layer, a Shore D hardness Ck of a kth layer (k is an integer from 1 to n) from the core side, a thickness Tk (mm) of the kth layer, a Shore D hardness C of the cover, and an average thickness T (mm) of the cover, is less than 66.0. An absolute value |Cx−C| is not less than 1.0 and not greater than 5.0.