Golf Ball Surface Zoning for Lift and Drag Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Weak golf players using golf clubs with large loft angles face high spin rates, leading to reduced flight distance and controllability issues, especially with shots using a driver and short iron.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design featuring a core and cover with minute projections on its surface, where the average height of these projections ranges from 0.5 μm to 50 μm, creating distinct zones with varying heights to reduce lift force and drag, enhancing flight distance and controllability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a golf ball is hit with a golf club having a large loft angle to achieve a large launch angle, then the flight duration is extended, but the spin rate increases causing rising of the golf ball during flight which reduces flight distance
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball surface is divided into different zones with different roughness characteristics. First zones have higher roughness (Sa1 ≥ 0.03 μm) while second zones have lower roughness (Sa2 < 0.03 μm). This local differentiation allows the ball to optimize aerodynamic performance in different regions, reducing overall spin rate while maintaining flight duration.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a new dimension of surface roughness control by creating zones with different arithmetic average heights. This dimensional approach to surface texture allows independent optimization of lift and drag characteristics, enabling the ball to achieve long flight duration without excessive spin-induced rising.
2Ease of operation
If the spin rate is increased to improve controllability upon shot with short iron, then the golf ball can stop at target point or curve intentionally, but the flight distance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different zones on the golf ball surface provide different spin characteristics. The first zones with higher roughness generate spin for controllability, while the second zones with lower roughness minimize excessive spin that would reduce flight distance. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between needing spin for control and avoiding spin that reduces distance.
3Force
If the surface roughness is increased to enhance aerodynamic characteristics, then the lift force and drag are reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The surface is divided into first zones with higher roughness (Sa1 ≥ 0.03 μm) and second zones with lower roughness (Sa2 < 0.03 μm). This localized quality approach reduces overall lift force and drag by optimizing roughness distribution, while the manufacturing complexity is managed through efficient molding techniques that can create these zones without excessive complexity.
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 larger flight distance and improved controllability by suppressing lift force and drag, while maintaining high spin rates for precise control, particularly with shots using a driver and short iron.
Implementation Method 1
the exposed portions reduce drag. Therefore, with the golf ball, a large flight distance is obtained
Implementation Method 2
the exposed portions reduce the lift force of the golf ball during flight
Implementation Method 3
When the rate of backspin is high, the run is short. By using a golf ball having a high backspin rate, a golf player can cause the golf ball to stop at a target point
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball has a large number of exposed portions 22 on a surface thereof. An average value Hav of heights H of these exposed portions 22 is not less than 0.5 μm and not greater than 50 μm. The surface of the golf ball has one or more first zones and one or more second zones. An average value Hav1 of the heights H of the exposed portions 22 on these first zones is higher than an average value Hav2 of the heights H of the exposed portions 22 on these second zones. Preferably, the average value Hav1 and the average value Hav2 satisfy the following mathematical formula.3≤(Hav1−Hav2)≤50