Golf Iron Sole Slot Weight Insert Center of Gravity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf club irons lack optimal design features to enhance the center of gravity and moment of inertia, leading to suboptimal flight characteristics and performance, particularly in terms of ball speed, spin, and launch angles.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a strategically positioned slot in the sole of the golf club head with a weighted insert that moves the center of gravity forward and downward, improving compliance and deflection upon impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If weight inserts are added to improve center of gravity and moment of inertia, then flight characteristics are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The weight insert is divided into modular components that can be selectively positioned within the sole slot, allowing independent adjustment of center of gravity location without requiring complete redesign of the club head structure
Solution Approach 2:
The slot structure serves as an intermediary element between the club head body and the weight insert, providing a standardized interface that simplifies the integration process while enabling precise weight placement to adjust flight characteristics
2Reliability
If a slot is added to the sole to improve compliance, then impact performance is improved, but structural strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The slot is positioned specifically in the sole region where compliance is most beneficial for impact performance, while the rest of the club head maintains its original strong structure, achieving localized flexibility without compromising overall structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The combination of the slot structure with the weight insert creates a composite system where the slot provides compliance and the dense weight material provides structural reinforcement, simultaneously achieving both flexibility and strength
3Speed
If the slot is positioned closer to the striking face to maximize compliance effect, then ball speed increases, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The slot is pre-positioned at an optimized distance from the striking face during club head manufacturing, establishing the correct geometry before weight insert installation, which simplifies subsequent assembly while maintaining precise positioning for maximum compliance effect
Solution Approach 2:
The slot dimensions and position are carefully controlled within specific parameter ranges that balance the need for high ball speed with manufacturability, ensuring that the compliance effect is maximized while remaining compatible with standard manufacturing tolerances
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head having a slot in the sole filled with an insert in which the slot is positioned close to the striking face. The slot can be a uniform distance from the striking face or the slot can curve away from the striking face in the toe region. The insert can have a uniform height or a non-uniform height. Inserts with uniform heights can have a low height profile. Inserts with non-uniform heights can have a lower height in a central portion of the insert compared to an edge portion or a perimeter portion of the insert. The insert can also have flanges or protrusions for installation into the slot. The resulting golf club head improves performance, as the sole slot with insert allows the striking face to have a profile that meets the needs at that location.