Golf Club Head Cellular Stiffening Structure for Off-Center Impact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf clubs struggle to consistently transfer energy to the ball for straight and desired flight due to off-center hits, which result in undesired spin and reduced distance, as existing club head designs rely heavily on a trampoline-like face that maximizes energy transfer at the center, limiting performance for off-center impacts.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a cellular stiffening structure and channel portions in the golf club head that absorb impact energy and generate a response force, distributing energy transfer more evenly across the face, allowing for increased energy and velocity transfer even for off-center hits by utilizing a honeycomb structure and recessed channels to deform and react during impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a trampoline-like face design is used to maximize energy transfer at the center, then center hit performance is improved, but off-center hit performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating different structural zones within the club head. The face structure varies from center to perimeter, with the center region having higher flexibility for maximum energy transfer and the perimeter regions having modified stiffness characteristics to improve off-center hit performance. This is achieved through varying wall thickness, incorporating reinforcement ribs in specific patterns, and creating localized flex zones that adapt to impact location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by designing the club head structure to respond differently based on impact location. The face and body structures are engineered to flex and deform in controlled ways during impact, with the degree and pattern of deformation varying depending on where the ball strikes. This dynamic response allows the structure to optimize energy transfer for both center and off-center hits by adapting its stiffness characteristics during the impact event.
2Speed
If mass is concentrated at the center to maximize COR, then center hit distance is improved, but off-center hit direction control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the mass distribution into distinct zones within the club head. Rather than concentrating all mass at the center, the design segments mass into the face structure, rear weight well, and peripheral regions. This segmentation allows different mass zones to serve different functions: center mass for velocity generation and peripheral/rear mass for directional stability and moment of inertia enhancement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs asymmetry in the mass distribution and structural reinforcement patterns to optimize performance. The reinforcement ribs, wall thickness variations, and weight placement are asymmetrically configured to counteract the natural twisting tendencies during off-center impacts. This asymmetric design creates restoring moments that help maintain face orientation and improve direction control without sacrificing center hit velocity.
3Power
If the face is made more flexible to increase energy transfer, then COR is improved, but structural integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining different materials with complementary properties in the club head construction. The face may use materials optimized for flexibility and energy transfer, while the body and reinforcement structures use materials with higher strength and stiffness. This composite approach allows the face to be sufficiently flexible for high COR while the overall structure maintains the integrity needed to withstand repeated impacts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-stressing or pre-positioning structural elements before impact occurs. The reinforcement ribs, wall thickness distributions, and structural geometry are designed in advance to provide the necessary support during impact. This preliminary structural configuration ensures that when impact occurs, the face can flex sufficiently for energy transfer while the pre-positioned structural elements prevent excessive deformation or failure.
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 configuration enhances the coefficient of restitution (COR) and energy transfer to the ball, improving distance and direction consistency for both center and off-center hits, while maintaining a lightweight design by strategically redistributing mass within the club head.
Implementation Method 1
the cellular stiffening structure providing increased stiffness to the face... configured such that at least some energy from an impact on the ball striking surface is transferred through the spacing portion(s) and absorbed by at least one of the crown channel portion and the sole channel portion, causing the at least one of the crown channel portion and the sole channel portion to deform
Implementation Method 2
causing the at least one of the crown channel portion and the sole channel portion to deform and to exert a response force on the face
Implementation Method 3
utilizing a honeycomb structure and recessed channels to deform and react during impact
Data Source
AI summary
A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face. The body has an impact-influencing structure in the form of a channel positioned on at least one surface of the body. A majority of a force generated by impact with a ball is absorbed by the impact-influencing structure, and a majority of a response force generated by the head upon impact with the ball is generated by the impact-influencing structure. The face may have increased stiffness as compared to existing faces, and may include a stiffening structure to create the increased stiffness, such as a porous or cellular stiffening structure.