Golf Club Hosel Aerodynamics for Lower Swing Drag

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Solution Overview

Problem

Golf clubs experience significant drag forces during a swing, limiting club head speed and requiring excessive effort from the golfer, due to laminar boundary layers separating on the hosel, leading to high drag coefficients.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of tripping structures on the hosel to transition the flow from laminar to turbulent, combined with altered golf club head shapes to reduce closure angles, such as raising the aft skirt and increasing its thickness, to minimize drag.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the golfer increases effort to overcome drag forces, then club head speed increases, but the golfer experiences excessive effort and fatigue

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclub head speedVSAvoideffort from golfer

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the aerodynamic parameters of the golf club by modifying the hosel geometry and adding tripping structures. These parameter changes transition the boundary layer from laminar to turbulent, reducing drag coefficient and allowing higher club head speeds with less golfer effort

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful laminar boundary layer separation into a beneficial turbulent boundary layer. By adding tripping structures, the otherwise harmful laminar flow that causes high drag is intentionally disrupted to create turbulent flow, which adheres better to the surface and reduces pressure drag

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Ease of manufacture

If the hosel maintains a conventional shape, then manufacturing is simple, but drag forces are high due to laminar boundary layer separation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehosel manufacturing simplicityVSAvoiddrag forces on hosel

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adding tripping structures only at specific locations on the hosel where boundary layer transition is most effective. The hosel geometry is also locally modified with raised aft skirts and increased thickness in specific regions, rather than redesigning the entire structure, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while reducing drag

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the hosel geometry with curved surfaces, including raised aft skirts with specific curvature profiles. These curved geometries help manage flow separation and promote turbulent boundary layer attachment, reducing drag while remaining manufacturable

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the golf club head uses a traditional design, then aerodynamic drag is high, but the club head shape is conventional and familiar

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaerodynamic dragVSAvoidclub head geometry

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes key geometric parameters of the club head including raising the aft skirt height and increasing its thickness. These parameter changes optimize the closure angles and overall aerodynamic profile, reducing drag forces while maintaining a recognizable club head shape

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent addresses drag reduction by modifying the vertical dimension through raised aft skirts, rather than only changing horizontal dimensions. This dimensional approach allows aerodynamic optimization while preserving the familiar club head silhouette from traditional views

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Enhances club head speed by reducing drag forces, allowing for increased swing speeds with the same effort, thereby improving golf ball distance.

Implementation Method 1

Golf clubs experience significant drag forces during a swing, limiting club head speed and requiring excessive effort from the golfer, due to laminar boundary layers separating on the hosel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBoundary layer transition: Boundary Layer

Implementation Method 2

Golf clubs experience significant drag forces during a swing, limiting club head speed and requiring excessive effort from the golfer, due to laminar boundary layers separating on the hosel

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow separation: Flow Separation

Implementation Method 3

Golf clubs experience significant drag forces during a swing, limiting club head speed and requiring excessive effort from the golfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDrag: Drag

Data Source

PatentUS20250387679A1Shaft for golf club

Publication Date: 2025.12.25 ACUSHNET CO

AI summary

A shaft for a golf club includes a tip end configured to couple to a golf club head; a butt end opposite to the tip end; and a butt end portion that extends in a butt-to-tip direction from the butt end by at least 50 mm and has an average rate of change of bending stiffness in a tip-to-butt direction, wherein a greatest rate of change of bending stiffness of the shaft in the tip-to-butt direction is at least 2.7 times the average rate of change of bending stiffness of the butt end portion.