Golf Shaft Inserts for Mass and Center of Mass Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturing variations in weight and center of mass of golf club components lead to inconsistent performance across golf clubs of the same length, causing variations in shot performance.
Innovation Solution
A method involving determining the mass and center of mass of a golf shaft, calculating the necessary characteristics of an insert, and inserting it at a specific location to achieve a target mass and center of mass, using a hollow polymer tube with a uniform mass per unit length, and adhering it using heat treatment to create an interference fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If golf shafts are manufactured using standard processes, then production efficiency is maintained, but manufacturing precision of weight and center of mass deteriorates due to component variations
Solution Approach 1:
The golf shaft is divided into multiple components: a base shaft and a separate insert element. The insert is inserted into a cavity within the shaft to adjust the overall weight and center of mass. This segmentation allows independent manufacturing of each component with standard tolerances, while achieving high precision in the final assembled shaft's weight and balance characteristics.
2Manufacturing precision
If inserts are added to adjust shaft weight and center of mass, then manufacturing precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Inserts of different weights and dimensions are pre-manufactured and stored in a library. During shaft assembly, the appropriate insert is selected based on the target weight and center of mass requirements, then inserted into the pre-formed cavity. This preliminary preparation simplifies the final assembly process while maintaining high precision in weight matching.
3Productivity
If standard shaft manufacturing is used, then production speed is maintained, but shot performance consistency deteriorates due to club-to-club variation
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the mass parameter of the insert element, the overall weight and center of mass of the shaft can be precisely adjusted. Multiple inserts with different parameters are available to match target specifications. This parameter adjustment capability ensures that each shaft meets strict weight tolerances, leading to consistent club performance and shot reliability across production batches.
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
This method ensures that each golf club shaft of a given length has a consistent target weight and center of mass, reducing club-to-club variation and enhancing consistent golf shot performance.
Implementation Method 1
creating an interference fit between the insert and the interior of the golf shaft
Implementation Method 2
adhering it using heat treatment
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes: determining a mass of a golf shaft having a length; determining a center of mass of the golf shaft; determining one or more characteristics of an insert based on: the mass of the golf shaft; and a target mass for golf shafts having the length; determining a location of the insert between a first end of the golf shaft where a golf grip is to be attached and a second end of the golf shaft where a golf club head is to be attached based on: the center of mass of the golf shaft; and a target center of mass for golf shafts having the length; and inserting an insert having the determined one or more characteristics within an interior of the golf shaft at the determined location, thereby creating an interference fit between the insert and the interior of the golf shaft.