Golf Club Head Protuberance Reduces Contact Time
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cavity back iron-type golf club heads tend to give less backspin to the hit ball due to increased contact time and negative shear force, which affects flight distance variation and hit feelings.
Innovation Solution
The golf club head features a cavity-forming portion with a protuberance that increases face thickness, having a ridge and inclined surfaces, which reduces contact time and enhances bending rigidity, thereby increasing backspin and improving hit feelings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of stationary object
If a cavity back iron-type golf club head is used, then the clubhead weight is reduced and manufacturing flexibility is improved, but the face thickness becomes smaller causing longer contact time and reduced backspin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a protuberance with increased face thickness at specific locations (toe and heel regions) while maintaining the overall cavity back design. This localized thickness increase in the toe-heel direction suppresses excessive face bending during impact, reducing contact time and improving backspin generation, while preserving the weight benefits of the cavity back structure in other areas.
2Ease of manufacture
If a cavity back iron-type golf club head is used, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but the face bending increases causing longer contact time and reduced backspin
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by strategically positioning a protuberance with increased face thickness in the toe-heel direction at the toe and heel regions of the clubface. This localized reinforcement specifically addresses face bending issues during impact without compromising the overall cavity back manufacturing flexibility, thereby reducing contact time and improving backspin while maintaining ease of manufacture.
3Strength
If the face thickness is increased at the protuberance, then the bending rigidity is improved and contact time is reduced, but the face thickness variation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a protuberance with increased face thickness specifically in the toe-heel direction at the toe and heel regions, while maintaining standard thickness in other areas. This targeted approach increases bending rigidity where needed to reduce contact time and improve backspin, while accepting controlled thickness variation as a necessary trade-off to achieve the primary performance goals.
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 design provides more backspin to the ball while stabilizing the clubface and enhancing shot feel and sound consistency.
Implementation Method 1
the protuberance extends in a top-bottom direction of the head, and the protuberance has a ridge and a pair of inclined surfaces... the face thickness measured at the ridge is largest in the protuberance... the bending rigidity is enhanced
Data Source
AI summary
An iron-type golf club head comprises a face having a striking surface, a back surface, and a face thickness defined therebetween. The back surface is provided with a cavity cavity-forming portion dented toward the striking surface. The cavity cavity-forming portion is provided with a protuberance in which the face thickness is partially increased, and which extends in the top-bottom direction of the head. In the cross section of the face perpendicular to the striking surface and parallel to the toe-heel direction, the protuberance has: a ridge at which the face thickness is largest in the protuberance; and a pair of inclined surfaces extending from the ridge toward a toe side and heel side of the cavity cavity-forming portion while decreasing the face thickness.