Golf Club Striking Face Thickness Zoning for Speed and Durability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing golf club heads with thinned faces and thickened perimeter regions do not optimize weight distribution and stress reduction effectively, leading to localized benefits and potential manufacturing challenges.

Innovation Solution

A golf club head design featuring a thickened central region, a central transition region, a thinned intermediate region, a thickened stress reducing region, and a thinned perimeter region, with the thickened stress reducing region forming a ring protruding rearward from the internal surface, optimizing weight distribution and stress reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the striking face is thinned out to allow elastic deformation and increase ball speed, then ball speed is improved, but structural strength and durability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball speedVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The striking face is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, featuring a thinned perimeter region for flexibility and ball speed enhancement, while maintaining a thickened central region for structural strength. This local differentiation allows each region to serve its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The striking face is segmented into distinct functional zones: a thinned perimeter region and a thickened central region. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each zone - the perimeter for elastic deformation and ball speed, and the center for structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a thickened perimeter region is added to improve durability and increase characteristic time, then durability is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidclub head weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of uniformly thickening the entire perimeter, the invention applies selective thickening only in specific high-stress zones where durability is most needed. This localized approach provides enhanced durability while minimizing unnecessary weight addition.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The thickened central region extends partially toward the perimeter but does not reach the extreme edges. This partial action provides sufficient structural support and stress reduction without the excessive weight that would result from complete perimeter thickening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Speed

If the striking face is thinned out extensively to maximize ball speed, then ball speed is improved, but manufacturing precision and structural integrity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball speedVSAvoidface thickness control

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The invention specifies different thickness requirements for different regions: the perimeter region is thinned to a first thickness while the central region maintains a greater second thickness. This local differentiation simplifies manufacturing by providing clear, region-specific guidelines rather than requiring complex uniform thinning throughout.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 achieves improved performance by minimizing unnecessary mass while enhancing structural rigidity and reducing stress concentrations, resulting in increased ball speed and durability.

Implementation Method 1

a thickened stress reducing region, extending outward radially from the thinned intermediate region, having a fourth thickness; and a thinned perimeter region, extending outward radially from thickened stress reducing region, having a fifth thickness, wherein the thickened stress reducing region forms a ring protruding rearward from the internal rear surface of the striking face portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStress reduction:

Implementation Method 2

allowing the striking face to elastically deform when impacting a golf ball, thus increasing the speed of a golf ball once it leaves the striking face of the golf club head

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12582880B2Golf club head with improved striking face

Publication Date: 2026.03.24 ACUSHNET CO

AI summary

A golf club head with improved striking face is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head wherein the striking face is further comprised out of a thickened central region, located near a geometric center of the striking face portion, a central transition region extending outward radially from the thickened central region, a thinned intermediate region, extending outward radially from the central transition region, a thickened stress reducing region, extending outward radially from the thinned intermediate region, and a thinned perimeter region, extending outward radially from the thickened stress reducing region, all of which combine to form the improved striking face.