Golf Club Damping Element for Ball Speed Uniformity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional thin-faced iron-type golf clubs experience non-uniform ball speed across the striking face due to increased compliance at the geometric center, leading to significant losses in flight distance 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 reduces deflection at the center for improved uniformity of launch velocities and allows for adjustable compression to optimize performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a thin-faced iron-type golf club is used, then launch velocity is increased, but ball speed uniformity across the striking face deteriorates due to increased compliance at the geometric center
Solution Approach 1:
A damping element is introduced as an intermediary component between the striking face and the club head body. This damping element acts as a mediator that modifies the interaction between the striking face and the club head, reducing excessive compliance at the geometric center while preserving launch velocity characteristics. The damping element absorbs and dissipates vibrational energy, thereby improving ball speed uniformity across the striking face.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping element changes the dynamic parameters of the striking face by introducing energy dissipation mechanisms. This modifies the compliance characteristics of the thin face, reducing the excessive flexibility at the geometric center that causes non-uniform ball speeds. The damping element effectively adjusts the dynamic stiffness parameter to achieve better ball speed uniformity while maintaining the thin face design for high launch velocity.
2Stability of the object's composition
If an extremely thick face is used, then ball speed uniformity is improved, but launch velocity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The damping element serves as an intermediary that allows the thin face to achieve the ball speed uniformity characteristics typically associated with thick faces. By placing the damping element behind the striking face, it provides the necessary structural support and compliance control without requiring increased face thickness, thereby preserving the launch velocity advantages of thin-faced clubs.
Solution Approach 2:
The club head employs a composite structure combining the thin face material with the damping element material. This composite construction integrates the high launch velocity capability of the thin face with the ball speed uniformity control of the damping element, achieving a performance profile that combines benefits typically associated with both thin and thick face designs.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a damping element is added to improve ball speed uniformity, then manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The club head is segmented into distinct functional components: the striking face, the damping element, and the club head body. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using optimized processes and then assembled, reducing overall manufacturing complexity. The damping element can be produced as a separate component and integrated into the club head structure, simplifying the manufacturing of each individual part while achieving the composite benefits.
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 enhances uniformity of ball speeds across the striking face, maintaining high ball speeds while reducing losses from off-center strikes, and allows for customization through adjustable compression to suit individual golfer needs.
Implementation Method 1
a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face
Implementation Method 2
Incorporating an elastomer element between the back portion and the striking face of the golf club head, which reduces deflection at the center
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 1C
Figure 2A~2B
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 is affixed to the periphery portion at two distinct locations, a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face, wherein the damping element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the support arm, wherein the support arm extends substantially parallel a horizontal axis.