Golf Club Head Mass Layout for Balanced Launch and Drag
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club head designs often compromise between impact performance characteristics (such as spin, launch angle, and forgiveness) and swing performance characteristics (such as aerodynamic drag and ability to square the club head at impact).
Innovation Solution
A golf club head design that balances impact and swing performance characteristics by maximizing the product of inertia, positioning the center of gravity low and back, and reducing aerodynamic drag through strategic weight distribution and aerodynamic features like turbulators, while optimizing the moment of inertia and product of inertia to minimize unwanted sidespin and improve forgiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the center of gravity is positioned low and back in the club head, then launch angle and carry distance are improved, but the moment of inertia decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The club head is divided into distinct functional zones: a low-and-back center of gravity region for optimizing launch conditions, and a high moment of inertia region achieved through strategic material distribution and geometric design of the club head body, allowing independent optimization of both parameters
Solution Approach 2:
The club head employs composite construction with a titanium alloy body providing high strength and stiffness, combined with strategically placed weight elements and geometric features that distribute mass to achieve both low center of gravity and high moment of inertia simultaneously
2Speed
If the club head geometry is optimized for low aerodynamic drag, then club head speed is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The club head features a rounded, aerodynamic profile with curved surfaces that reduce drag during the swing. The top surface and crown are designed with smooth transitions and optimized curvature radii to minimize air resistance, while maintaining manufacturability through standard forming processes
Solution Approach 2:
The aerodynamic optimization involves specific geometric parameters such as crown curvature radius, sole width profile, and overall club head dimensions that are tuned to reduce drag coefficient. These parameters are selected to achieve optimal aerodynamic performance while remaining within manufacturing capabilities
3Reliability
If the product of inertia Ixy is increased to reduce twist on off-center hits, then the club head geometry becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The club head utilizes asymmetric mass distribution relative to the face normal axis to generate a positive product of inertia Ixy. The weight elements and geometric features are positioned to create this asymmetric configuration, which produces a twisting moment that counteracts face deformation on off-center impacts
Solution Approach 2:
Specific regions of the club head are designed with enhanced mass concentration or geometric features that locally increase the product of inertia. Weight elements are strategically positioned in the heel or toe regions, and the sole or crown geometry is modified in specific areas to optimize Ixy without requiring complete redesign of the entire club head
Data Source
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AI summary
Described herein are embodiments of golf club heads having a balance of the following parameters: a low and back club head center of gravity position, a high moment of inertia, a large Ixy product of inertia, and low aerodynamic drag. Methods of manufacturing the embodiments of golf club heads having a balance of club head center of gravity position, moment of inertia, product of inertia, and aerodynamic drag are also described herein.