Golf Club Shaft Flex Optimization for Swing Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf club shaft designs do not adequately balance ease of swing with stability and head speed, as they often compromise on forward and backward flex, shaft length, weight, and torque, leading to variations in swing and face angle stability.
Innovation Solution
A golf club shaft with a forward flex of 130 mm to 178 mm, a backward flex ratio of 0.46 to 0.50, a shaft length of 43 to 48 inches, and a weight of 35 to 50 grams, featuring a laminated structure with glass fiber reinforced and hoop layers, and an overlap region with varying fiber elastic moduli to optimize flexural rigidity and torque, enhancing ease of swing and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the shaft is made lighter to improve ease of swing, then ease of swing is improved, but stability and head speed may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including shaft weight (35-50g), length (43-48 inches), forward flex (130-178 mm), backward flex ratio (0.46-0.50), and torque (6.0-7.5 degrees) to achieve the desired balance between ease of swing and stability
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft employs a laminated structure comprising multiple layers with different fiber orientations and material properties, including carbon fiber layers and glass fiber reinforced layers, to achieve optimal strength-to-weight ratio and flexural characteristics
2Ease of operation
If the shaft length is increased to improve ease of swing, then ease of swing is improved, but head speed and stability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies an optimal shaft length range of 43-48 inches that balances the leverage advantage for ease of swing with the need to maintain adequate head speed and stability
3Ease of operation
If the forward flex is increased to improve ease of swing, then ease of swing is improved, but face angle stability may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes forward flex within 130-178 mm and controls the backward flex ratio at 0.46-0.50 to achieve adequate shaft loading and unloading characteristics that promote face angle stability while maintaining ease of swing
Solution Approach 2:
The shaft is designed with dynamic flex characteristics that allow it to load and unload during the swing, with the forward flex and backward flex ratio controlling the timing and magnitude of these dynamic responses
4Ease of operation
If the shaft weight is reduced to improve ease of swing, then ease of swing is improved, but torque control and stability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies shaft weight in the range of 35-50g and torque between 6.0-7.5 degrees, optimizing these parameters to achieve adequate torque control for stability while maintaining ease of swing
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 described shaft design improves ease of swing, reduces variations in swing, and stabilizes the face angle at impact by optimizing forward and backward flex, shaft length, and weight, resulting in enhanced head speed and directional stability.
Implementation Method 1
The layers may include a first butt partial layer and a second butt partial layer. The first butt partial layer may be a glass fiber reinforced layer. The second butt partial layer may be a hoop layer.
Implementation Method 2
the butt partial straight layer may have a fiber elastic modulus smaller than a fiber elastic modulus of the tip partial straight layer
Data Source
AI summary
A shaft 6 has a forward flex of equal to or longer than 130 mm and equal to or shorter than 178 mm. When the forward flex is represented by f1, and a backward flex is represented by f2, f2/(f1+f2) is equal to or greater than 0.46 and equal to or less than 0.50. When a distance between a butt end Bt and a center of gravity Gs of the shaft is represented by L (centimeter), and a weight of the shaft is represented by Ws (kilogram), a butt end GLL is calculated by the following formula:butt end GLL=Ws×L×L, wherein the butt end GLL (kg·cm2) is equal to or less than 110 kg·cm2.