Golf Club Head Compression Channel Insert Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf club heads struggle to maintain square contact with the ball, leading to off-center hits that result in undesired spin and reduced distance, and also face challenges with drag and forces during impact with the playing surface, affecting accuracy and distance.
Innovation Solution
The golf club head design incorporates a compression channel on the sole with an insert that flexes and exerts a response force upon impact, reducing drag and improving energy transfer, while the insert's material and configuration enhance the club's ability to handle off-center hits and minimize interaction with the playing surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the club head is designed with a rigid structure to maintain stability, then structural strength is improved, but the ability to adapt to off-center hits and reduce drag is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by incorporating a flexible element within the compression channel that allows the club head to dynamically adapt its structure during impact. This flexible element enables the club head to change its rigidity characteristics based on the impact conditions, providing both structural strength for stable hits and adaptability for off-center hits by allowing controlled deformation and energy absorption.
2Manufacturing precision
If the club head face is made rigid to ensure consistent contact, then manufacturing precision is improved, but the ability to influence ball spin and reduce drag is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the local quality principle by creating a localized flexible region within the compression channel while maintaining the overall rigidity of the club head face. This allows the club face to maintain manufacturing precision and consistency for most of its structure, while the localized flexible element provides the ability to influence ball spin and reduce drag by deforming in response to impact conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the compression channel is designed to be highly flexible to reduce drag, then adaptability is improved, but structural strength is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the flexible shells and thin films principle by incorporating a flexible element within the compression channel that acts as a controlled flexible structure. This flexible element provides the necessary adaptability and flexibility for drag reduction while being designed with appropriate thickness and material properties to maintain sufficient structural strength and prevent failure under normal operating 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
This design enhances the club's ability to transfer energy efficiently, reduces drag and forces during impact, and improves accuracy and distance by allowing for greater flexibility and responsive force distribution, particularly for off-center hits.
Implementation Method 1
an insert connected to the head and positioned within the channel... the insert flexes and exerts a response force upon impact
Data Source
AI summary
A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball, a body connected to the face, an elongated, inwardly recessed channel located on the body and extending across a portion of the body, and an insert mounted within the channel. The insert includes a resiliently deflectable base member that engages the channel to retain the insert within the channel and a rigid outer member connected to the base member and forming at least a portion of the outer surface of the insert, where the outer member is made from a different material than the base member. Additionally, the insert has an outer surface that is substantially flush with at least one immediately adjacent surface of the body.