Golf Club Head Toe-Offset Face and Flexure Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club head designs often have a sweet spot offset from the geometric center, making it difficult for average golfers to consistently strike the ball effectively, which affects the maximization of distance and accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A golf club head construction with a striking face featuring a variable thickness profile and a flexure, where the thick central portion is offset towards the toe side, and the flexure is positioned to align with the more compliant portion, focusing the sweet spot about the geometric center of the striking face.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the sweet spot is offset from the geometric center to maximize distance, then the coefficient of restitution is improved, but the accuracy and consistency for average golfers deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The striking face employs an asymmetric thickness distribution where the central portion is thicker than the peripheral portions. This asymmetric structure shifts the sweet spot from the geometric center toward the toe side, optimizing the coefficient of restitution while maintaining a large effective hitting area for average golfers
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the striking face are given different thicknesses to optimize local performance. The central portion has increased thickness to enhance rebound characteristics and distance, while the peripheral portions maintain appropriate thickness for structural integrity and a larger effective sweet spot area
2Measurement precision
If the thick central portion is offset towards the toe side, then the sweet spot concentration at geometric center is improved, but the structural symmetry deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The design intentionally introduces asymmetry in the thickness distribution of the striking face, with the thick central portion offset toward the toe side. This asymmetric configuration concentrates the sweet spot at the geometric center while accepting the trade-off of reduced structural symmetry
3Loss of energy
If a flexure is added to improve compliance, then the distance performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A flexure element is integrated into the club head structure to provide controlled flexibility and compliance during impact. This flexible component enhances distance performance by optimizing energy transfer while maintaining structural integrity through elastic deformation
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 consistency of ball speed and direction, allowing for improved distance and accuracy by concentrating the sweet spot at the geometric center, thereby optimizing performance for both center and off-center hits.
Implementation Method 1
the present technology also utilizes a flexure at either the sole or crown portion of the golf club head to improve the compliance of the striking face
Implementation Method 2
maximizing the distance of a golf ball struck by a golf club head close to the geometric center of the golf club head
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head comprising a variable thickness profile comprising a thick central portion; a transition portion; and a thin perimeter portion; wherein said transition portion surrounds said thick central portion; wherein said thin perimeter portion surrounds said transition portion; wherein said thick central portion comprises a center, said center of said thick central portion located equidistant from a heel most portion of said thick central portion and a toe most portion of said thick central portion; wherein said center of said thick central portion is offset from said geometric center of said striking face. The present invention also discloses a flexure feature located near a frontal sole portion of the golf club head, wherein the flexure has a specific thickness profile adapted to respond to the needs of the present golf club head.