Golf Club Hosel Tripping Structures for Drag Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf clubs experience significant drag due to the laminar boundary layer separation on the hosel, leading to reduced club head speeds, and traditional teardrop shapes exacerbate pressure drag by causing early turbulent flow separation.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating tripping structures on the hosel to transition the flow from laminar to turbulent, and altering the shape of the golf club head by reducing the closure angles of the crown and sole to delay turbulent flow separation, combined with a carbon fiber reinforced shaft design for improved aerodynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a traditional teardrop shape is used for the golf club head, then the aerodynamic appearance is improved, but pressure drag increases due to early turbulent flow separation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the club head by reducing the closure angles of the crown and sole. This parameter modification delays turbulent flow separation and reduces pressure drag while preserving the aerodynamic appearance of the teardrop shape.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces tripping structures on the hosel that dynamically interact with the airflow. These structures promote laminar-to-turbulent transition at controlled locations, allowing the flow regime to adapt to the club head geometry and reduce pressure drag.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the closure angles of the crown and sole are reduced to delay turbulent flow separation, then pressure drag is reduced, but the structural integrity of the club head may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction in the club head, combining materials with different mechanical properties. This allows the crown and sole to have reduced closure angles for aerodynamic performance while maintaining structural integrity through the composite architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different material properties or structural characteristics to specific regions of the club head. The areas with reduced closure angles are reinforced locally to compensate for the potential loss of structural integrity, allowing aerodynamic optimization without compromising strength.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If tripping structures are added to the hosel to transition flow from laminar to turbulent, then pressure drag is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the hosel structure into segments, with tripping structures placed at specific locations. This segmentation allows the flow transition to occur at controlled points, reducing pressure drag while keeping the added complexity localized and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The tripping structures act as intermediaries between the laminar and turbulent flow regimes. These structures facilitate the flow transition without requiring major redesigns of the hosel geometry, thus reducing pressure drag with minimal increase in device complexity.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If a smaller shaft diameter is used to reduce drag, then aerodynamic performance is improved, but bending stiffness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials in the shaft construction, allowing a smaller diameter design that reduces drag while maintaining bending stiffness through the high strength-to-weight ratio of the composite materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent varies the material properties or structural characteristics along the shaft length. Critical sections with smaller diameters for drag reduction are compensated with localized reinforcement or material property adjustments to maintain adequate bending stiffness.
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
The solution results in reduced pressure drag forces and increased club head speeds, allowing golfers to achieve higher swing speeds with less effort, while maintaining improved aerodynamic properties.
Implementation Method 1
a reinforced section extending in a tip-to-butt direction from the tip end to 550 mm from the tip end, the golf club head being coupled to the shaft at the tip end, and including a pitch-based carbon fiber ply that is in only the reinforced section
Implementation Method 2
Golf clubs experience significant drag due to the laminar boundary layer separation on the hosel
Implementation Method 3
traditional teardrop shapes exacerbate pressure drag by causing early turbulent flow separation
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club, includes a golf club head; a shaft including a tip end, an opposite butt end, and a reinforced section extending in a tip-to-butt direction from the tip end to 550 mm from the tip end, the golf club head being coupled to the shaft at the tip end, and including a pitch-based carbon fiber ply that is in only the reinforced section; and a grip being coupled to the shaft at the butt end.