Golf Club Head Geometry for Rearward CG and Easier Launch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wood-type golf clubs, particularly drivers, are difficult for some players to hit consistently well, necessitating improvements in design to enhance the ability to get the ball airborne, increase distance, and improve playability.
Innovation Solution
Golf club heads with an enlarged breadth dimension and rearward center of gravity, achieved through geometric design rather than weighted members, to facilitate easier ball launch and straighter flights.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional wood-type golf club designs are used, then the club structure is simpler and easier to manufacture, but the playability and ability to get the ball airborne consistently is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensional change by significantly increasing the club head breadth dimension to at least 4.2 inches while maintaining length at least 4.5 inches. This creates a broader club head geometry that moves the center of gravity rearward without requiring additional weighted members, thereby improving playability and ball launch while managing structural complexity through geometric rather than additive design
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key geometric parameters of the club head, specifically setting the breadth dimension to at least 4.2 inches and length to at least 4.5 inches. These parameter changes naturally position the center of gravity in the rear portion of the club head, improving playability and ball airborne capability without adding complex weighted components
2Ease of operation
If the club head breadth dimension is increased to improve playability, then the ability to get the ball airborne improves, but the club head size and potential complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifically targets the breadth dimension by requiring it to be at least 4.2 inches, which is a significant increase from traditional clubs. This dimensional change in the breadth direction (heal to toe) naturally moves the center of gravity rearward and improves ball launch capability while the volume increase is managed through controlled geometric design rather than uniform expansion
3Ease of operation
If weighted members are used to achieve rearward center of gravity, then the playability improves, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the need for separate weighted members by using the club head's own geometric design to achieve the desired rearward center of gravity position. By taking out the requirement for additional weighted components and relying instead on the enlarged breadth dimension (at least 4.2 inches) and length (at least 4.5 inches), the design simplifies the structure while maintaining improved playability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental geometric parameters of the club head body itself, setting breadth to at least 4.2 inches and length to at least 4.5 inches. These parameter changes inherently position the center of gravity in the rear portion without requiring additional weighted members, thereby improving playability while reducing component complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Golf clubs and/or golf club heads include a club head body defining an interior chamber, structure for engaging a shaft with the body, and/or a shaft engaged with the body. The club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.5 inches and an overall breadth of at least 4.2 inches. In other examples, the club head body may have an overall length of at least 4.6 inches and a ratio of the overall breadth dimension to the overall length dimension of 1 or less. If desired, the ratio of the head breadth to head length dimensions may be in a range from at least 0.94 to 1 or less.