Golf Club Head Elastomer Element for Ball Speed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional thin-faced iron-type golf clubs produce non-uniform launch velocities across the striking face, resulting in significant distance loss when struck off-center, while extremely thick faces provide uniformity but at the cost of reduced launch velocities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating an elastomer element between the back portion and the striking face of the golf club head, which adjusts compression to balance deflection and uniformity, allowing for more consistent ball speeds across the striking face.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a thin-faced iron-type golf club is used, then launch velocity at the center is high, but ball speed uniformity across the striking face deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The striking face is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, featuring a thinner center region for higher launch velocity and thicker peripheral regions for enhanced stability and uniformity. This local variation in geometric properties allows the club to simultaneously achieve high center velocity and consistent off-center performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The golf club head employs composite construction combining different materials with varying elastic moduli in different regions. The striking face integrates materials optimized for each zone: softer materials in the center for velocity and harder materials at the periphery for uniformity, creating a composite structure that resolves the speed-uniformity contradiction.
2Stability of the object's composition
If an extremely thick face is used, then ball speed uniformity across the striking face is improved, but launch velocity at the center is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Rather than uniformly thickening the entire face, the invention applies thickness variation locally: the center region remains thin to preserve high launch velocity, while only the peripheral regions are thickened to provide the structural support needed for ball speed uniformity. This selective local modification resolves the contradiction without sacrificing center performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The striking face is segmented into functionally distinct zones with different thickness characteristics. The center zone maintains thin geometry for velocity optimization, while peripheral zones are thickened for uniformity. This segmentation allows each region to independently optimize its function without compromising the other.
3Speed
If the golf club head design is optimized for center strikes, then launch velocity is maximized, but performance on off-center strikes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The club head design incorporates local quality variations where the center region is optimized for velocity generation while peripheral regions are optimized for stability and forgiveness. This spatial differentiation of properties ensures that center strikes achieve maximum velocity while off-center strikes benefit from the enhanced structural support at the periphery, maintaining reliable performance across the entire striking face.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention systematically varies key geometric parameters (thickness, density, material properties) across different locations of the striking face. By changing these parameters locally rather than uniformly, the design achieves both high velocity at the center and improved reliability for off-center strikes, as each region's parameters are optimized for its specific functional requirements.
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 reduces launch velocity at the center while enhancing uniformity of ball speeds, providing consistent distance regardless of impact location and adjusting for individual golfer needs through adjustable compression.
Implementation Method 1
a deformable element residing between the back portion and the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the deformable element includes a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head including a club head body including a back portion, a striking face, and an interior cavity formed between the back portion and 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 deformable element residing between the back portion and the rear surface of the striking face, wherein the deformable element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face, wherein an aperture is formed through the back portion; and an adjustment driver residing within the aperture, the adjustment driver including a recess adjacent the interior cavity, wherein the deformable element resides within the recess, wherein the back portion comprises a shelf surrounding the aperture, wherein the adjustment drive comprises a flange, the flange in contact with the shelf.