Golf Club Head Flexure Inserts for Localized Face Flex Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club heads with uniform-material inserts in slits dissipate energy, reducing energy transfer and performance by not allowing localized control of strike face flexure, particularly in high-stress and low-stress areas.
Innovation Solution
A multi-material flexure insert with a spring component is used in the slit, providing variable stiffness and bending properties to enhance energy transfer and control strike face flexure, incorporating a cap and spring component for efficient energy storage and release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a uniform-material insert is used in the slit, then the construction is simple and manufacturing is easier, but energy transfer between the club head and golf ball is reduced due to energy absorption and dissipation
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is constructed using multiple materials with different properties: a viscoelastic material (first material) for energy absorption and a spring material (second material) for energy storage and return. This composite construction allows the insert to simultaneously provide shock absorption and maintain energy transfer efficiency, resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and energy transfer loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the insert have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The viscoelastic portion handles energy absorption in high-stress areas, while the spring portion handles energy return in low-stress areas. This localized differentiation optimizes both manufacturing simplicity and energy transfer performance.
2Device complexity
If a uniform-material insert is used in the slit, then the construction is simple, but localized control of strike face flexure is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is divided into multiple material portions with different mechanical properties positioned at different locations within the slit. The viscoelastic material is placed in areas requiring energy absorption, while the spring material is placed in areas requiring energy return. This local differentiation enables precise control of strike face flexure while maintaining reasonable construction simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert is segmented into distinct material portions (viscoelastic and spring materials) that can be independently positioned and optimized. This segmentation allows each material to perform its specific function in its optimal location, achieving localized flexure control without excessive overall complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If a uniform-shape insert is used in the slit, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the flexure is uniform across the slit rather than controlled locally
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a uniform-shape insert, the invention employs an insert with varying material properties at different locations. The viscoelastic material is positioned in specific regions to provide energy absorption, while the spring material is positioned in other regions to provide energy return. This local quality differentiation achieves precise flexure control while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized material components.
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
Increases ball speed, improves launch conditions, and reduces spin by enhancing energy transfer and flexure control, offering performance benefits over uniform-material inserts.
Implementation Method 1
The spring component provides a spring effect that increases the energy transfer between the club head and the golf ball
Implementation Method 2
The lightweight and flexible insert is typically made from a soft, viscoelastic material to not limit the flexure of the slit
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
Described herein are embodiments of golf club heads with slits and flexure inserts. The slit comprises an opening through the club head body communicating between the exterior of the club head and the hollow interior cavity. The flexure insert can comprise a spring component and a cap. The spring component creates a spring effect within the flexure insert that increases the internal energy of the club head at impact, leading to improvements in ball speed and other golf ball performance characteristics.