Golf Club Head Damping Structure for Uniform Ball Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional golf clubs exhibit non-uniform ball speeds and distances due to varying compliance across the striking face, leading to significant losses in flight distance upon off-center strikes, while maintaining high launch velocities at the center.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a damping element between the rear surface of the striking face and a support bridge within the golf club head cavity, which adjusts deflection and material properties to achieve uniform ball speeds and improved durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the striking face is made thin to reduce weight and increase flexibility, then launch velocity at center strike is improved, but ball speed uniformity across the face deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the thickness of the striking face across different regions. The face is thinner at the center to maximize launch velocity for center strikes, while being thicker at the periphery to maintain ball speed uniformity for off-center strikes. This spatial variation in thickness allows each region to have optimized properties for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining a metal striking face with a polymer damping element positioned behind the face. This composite structure allows the metal face to provide high launch velocity while the polymer material provides damping to control vibrations and maintain uniform ball speeds across the face, resolving the contradiction between speed and uniformity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the striking face is made thin to increase flexibility, then energy return is improved, but durability and stress resistance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials by combining a thin metal striking face with a polymer damping element. The thin metal face provides high flexibility and energy return for maximum ball speed, while the polymer damping element behind it absorbs excessive vibrations and stresses, thereby improving durability and preventing face deformation or failure over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by positioning a damping element behind the striking face before impact occurs. This damping element is prepared in advance to absorb and dissipate the energy from ball impact, protecting the thin striking face from excessive stress and preventing damage while maintaining high energy return during normal operation.
3Strength
If the striking face is made thick to improve durability, then strength is improved, but ball speed and launch velocity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the striking face thickness location-dependent: thinner at the center where high ball speed is most beneficial for center strikes, and thicker at the periphery where additional strength is needed to maintain uniformity for off-center strikes. This resolves the contradiction by optimizing thickness for each specific location's requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials to decouple the strength and speed functions. The metal striking face is made thin to maximize ball speed and launch velocity, while a separate polymer damping element is added behind it to provide the necessary durability and stress resistance. This composite approach allows both thinness for speed and sufficient strength for durability to coexist.
4Speed
If the striking face has high compliance at center to maximize launch velocity, then center strike performance is improved, but off-center strike performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating spatial variation in striking face thickness and compliance. The center region has higher compliance due to thinner construction to maximize launch velocity for center strikes, while the periphery has lower compliance with greater thickness to maintain ball speed consistency for off-center strikes. This location-specific optimization resolves the contradiction between center performance and overall consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by making the striking face compliant and capable of dynamic response to impact conditions. The face is designed to flex and deform during impact, with the degree of compliance varying by location. This dynamic behavior allows the face to optimize energy transfer for center strikes while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for off-center strikes, achieving both high launch velocity and consistent ball speeds.
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 damping element reduces deflection at the center for consistent ball speeds and enhances durability by dissipating energy, ensuring more uniform ball flight and reduced stress on the striking face.
Implementation Method 1
a damping element between the distal end of the support bridge and a rear surface of the striking face
Implementation Method 2
The damping element includes a polymer material
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head includes a body, including a striking face having a lower leading edge and an upper edge, a sole extending rearward from the lower leading edge, a cavity surrounded in part by the striking face and the sole, an access aperture extending through the body to the cavity, and a support bridge in the cavity and extending at least partly through the cavity from a proximal end of the support bridge, at a portion of the body substantially adjacent to the access aperture, to a distal end of the support bridge; and a damping element between the distal end of the support bridge and a rear surface of the striking face.