Golf Club Damping Element for Thin-Face Ball Speed Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf clubs often produce inconsistent ball speeds and distances due to variations in strike location, with traditional thin-faced clubs offering high distance but poor consistency, and thick-faced clubs providing consistency at the cost of reduced overall distance.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an elastomer element between the striking face and the rear surface of the golf club head, which can be adjusted for compression, to control deflection and enhance uniformity of ball speeds across the striking face.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If a thin-faced golf club is used, then maximum distance is achieved, but ball speed consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A damping element is introduced as an intermediary component between the striking face and the club head body. This damping element mediates the interaction by providing controlled deflection and reducing inconsistent vibrations, thereby improving ball speed consistency without requiring a thicker face that would reduce distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element's physical parameters (material properties, thickness, compression) are optimized to achieve the desired balance. By adjusting these parameters, the club maintains a thin face for distance while the damping element compensates for consistency issues through controlled mechanical response.
2Reliability
If a thick-faced golf club is used, then ball speed consistency is improved, but maximum distance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element serves as a mediator that allows the club to achieve consistency benefits typically associated with thick faces, while maintaining a thin face design for maximum distance. The damping element replicates the stabilizing effect of face thickness without the distance penalty.
3Reliability
If the damping element compression is increased, then ball speed uniformity is improved, but maximum distance may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element provides dynamic response to different impact conditions. The compression mechanism allows the club to adapt its stiffness characteristics based on the specific shot conditions, optimizing both consistency and distance by preventing excessive deflection while maintaining appropriate flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The compression of the damping element is adjusted as a variable parameter to optimize performance. By changing the compression level, the club can tune the balance between ball speed uniformity and maximum distance potential, allowing customization based on golfer needs and playing conditions.
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 elastomer element provides more consistent ball speeds and distances by reducing deflection at the center while allowing for adjustable performance to fit individual golfer needs, balancing maximum distance and uniformity.
Implementation Method 1
Incorporating an elastomer element between the striking face and the rear surface of the golf club head, which can be adjusted for compression, to control deflection
Implementation Method 2
a damping element positioned between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head including a striking face, a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face, wherein the striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface, a support arm spaced from the rear surface of the striking face, the support arm extending from the periphery portion, wherein the support arm extends from the sole to the topline, a first damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face, a second damping element located between the support arm and the striking face, the second damping element in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and the support arm, and wherein the second damping element wraps around the support arm.