Golf Club Striking Face Thickness Profile for Rule-Compliant Performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf club head designs face limitations in performance enhancement due to governing body regulations, leading to suboptimal striking face designs that either exceed performance limits or compromise overall club performance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a near-beta titanium alloy face insert, heated and forged to create a variable thickness striking face with specific deformation profiles, including thickened central regions and thinned perimeters, to optimize performance while adhering to regulatory constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the striking face is thickened to increase strength and reduce deformation, then the club head strength is improved, but the regions of excessive performance are created that violate governing body regulations
Solution Approach 1:
The striking face is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, featuring thickened central region (3.5-4.0mm) for strength and reduced perimeter regions (2.5-3.0mm) for compliance. This local variation in thickness allows different areas to serve different functions: the center provides structural integrity while the perimeters maintain regulatory compliance.
Solution Approach 2:
The striking face is segmented into distinct thickness zones: a thickened central region, transition regions with gradual thickness change, and thinned perimeter portions. This segmentation allows each zone to be optimized independently for its specific functional requirements while maintaining overall compliance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the striking face is thinned at the perimeter to reduce excessive performance, then compliance with regulations is improved, but the overall strength and durability of the club head deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The perimeter regions are selectively thinned (2.5-3.0mm) only where excessive performance occurs, while the central region maintains increased thickness (3.5-4.0mm) for structural support. This localized thinning preserves compliance without compromising overall strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The variable thickness profile is designed and manufactured in advance through controlled forging and machining processes, pre-positioning the thickness distribution to achieve both compliance and strength before the club enters service.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform thickness is used across the striking face, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but performance is suboptimal and cannot be optimized for specific regions
Solution Approach 1:
The thickness parameter of the striking face is varied systematically across different regions rather than maintaining a constant value. The central region thickness (3.5-4.0mm) differs from the perimeter thickness (2.5-3.0mm), allowing performance optimization while using standard manufacturing processes.
4Strength
If the striking face is thickened to improve performance metrics, then the Strength over Hardness Ratio and Modulus of Resilience are enhanced, but the club head exceeds performance limits set by governing bodies
Solution Approach 1:
The striking face employs localized thickness variation where the central region (3.5-4.0mm) provides enhanced Strength over Hardness Ratio and Modulus of Resilience, while the perimeter regions (2.5-3.0mm) maintain performance within governing body limits. This spatial differentiation resolves the contradiction between performance enhancement and regulatory compliance.
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 solution achieves a balanced performance distribution across the striking face, reducing regions of excessive performance and enhancing the golf club's overall performance metrics, such as Strength over Hardness Ratio and Modulus of Resilience, while maintaining compliance with governing body standards.
Implementation Method 1
heating the pre-forged face insert to a temperature between about 740° Celsius (° C.) and 780° C.
Implementation Method 2
forging the heated, pre-forged face insert to form a forged face insert
Data Source
AI summary
Manufacturing methods for manufacturing a striking face of a golf club head. An example method includes: cutting a near-beta titanium alloy into a pre-forged face insert; providing the pre-forged face insert into a heating apparatus for a duration of less than 10 minutes; heating the pre-forged face insert to a temperature between about 740° Celsius (° C.) and 780° C.; forging the heated, pre-forged face insert to form a forged face insert; and attaching the forged face insert to a body of the golf club head to form the striking face of the golf club head.