Golf Club Head Chamfer Reduces Backspin
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Low lofted golf club heads face a challenge in optimizing ball spin to maximize distance, as excessive backspin reduces carry distance by causing the ball to curve upward and fall steeply, necessitating a reduction in spin rate.
Innovation Solution
A golf club head design featuring a hollow body with a chamfer between the front and crown portions, which shifts the hinge point toward the rear, allowing increased bending and energy transfer upon impact, thereby reducing spin and enhancing distance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a low lofted club head design is used, then ball travel distance can be maximized, but insufficient backspin causes the ball to lack lift and fall short
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the club head by introducing a chamfer feature that alters the hinge point location and crown portion bending characteristics. This modifies the impact dynamics to reduce backspin from excessive levels (e.g., 3000 rpm) to optimal levels (e.g., 2500 rpm), thereby resolving the contradiction between achieving sufficient lift and maximizing distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic flexibility to the club head design through the chamfer feature, which allows the crown portion to bend more during impact. This dynamic response changes the energy transfer characteristics and spin generation, enabling the club to adapt to the ball at impact and produce optimized spin rates for maximum distance.
2Force
If excessive backspin is generated, then sufficient lift is achieved, but the ball curves upward and falls steeply, reducing carry distance
Solution Approach 1:
The chamfer feature changes the structural parameters of the club head, specifically the hinge point position and crown flexibility. This alters the spin generation mechanism to reduce excessive backspin (e.g., from 3000 rpm to 2500 rpm), preventing the ball from curving upward too steeply and thereby increasing carry distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a modified copy of the traditional club head structure by adding the chamfer feature. This structural copy with altered geometry (chamfer at specific angles and positions) reproduces the desired spin reduction effect consistently across impacts, solving the excessive spin problem while maintaining other performance characteristics.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the hinge point is positioned traditionally, then structural stability is maintained, but energy transfer to the ball is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new geometric dimension to the club head structure by adding the chamfer feature, which creates a new hinge point location. This dimensional change in the structural geometry allows the crown portion to bend more during impact, increasing energy transfer to the ball while maintaining overall structural stability through the distributed chamfer design.
Solution Approach 2:
The chamfer feature creates local structural variation in the club head, with different flexibility characteristics at different locations. The chamfered regions allow increased bending and energy transfer, while other regions maintain structural stability. This local quality differentiation resolves the contradiction between stability and energy transfer.
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 chamfered design reduces spin by 100-400 rpm, increasing ball speed and travel distance by promoting more efficient energy transfer and localized deformation during impact.
Implementation Method 1
the chamfer shifts the hinge point toward a rear portion of the club head, and allows increased bending of the crown portion and strikeface of the club head on impact with a golf ball
Implementation Method 2
Increased bending of the crown and strikeface allow increased energy transfer to the golf ball resulting in increased travel distance
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments include a golf club head having a hollow body comprising a front portion having a strikeface, a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, a back, a crown portion, and a chamfer extending between the front portion and the crown portion, the chamfer having an inner surface and an outer surface, wherein the chamfer defines a hinge point of the crown portion.