Golf Shaft Rigidity Profiling for Higher Ball Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional golf shafts are limited in increasing the speed of a hit ball.
Innovation Solution
A golf shaft design with a tip end portion, a butt end portion, and an intermediate portion featuring stepped outer diameters and varying wall thicknesses to create specific projections in bending rigidity, manufactured through a thickness deviation and stepping process on a metal element tube.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the golf shaft has uniform wall thickness throughout, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the bending rigidity distribution is insufficient to maximize ball speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a non-uniform wall thickness distribution in the intermediate portion of the golf shaft. Specifically, the wall thickness is designed to be greater than the reducing trend in certain sections (causing upward projections in bending rigidity) and smaller than the reducing trend in other sections (causing downward projections). This localized variation in wall thickness optimizes the bending rigidity distribution to enhance ball speed while maintaining manufacturability through controlled thickness deviations and stepping processes.
2Speed
If the golf shaft has smooth bending throughout, then the swing feels natural, but the ball speed cannot be maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates localized variations in bending rigidity through non-uniform wall thickness in the intermediate portion. The upward and downward projections in the bending rigidity distribution curve create specific stiff and flexible zones that work together to maximize ball speed while preserving overall swing naturalness.
Solution Approach 2:
The golf shaft is designed with dynamic bending characteristics through its non-uniform wall thickness profile. The varying wall thickness allows different sections to bend at different rates during the swing, creating an optimized dynamic response that enhances ball speed. The shaft transitions from uniform thickness in tip and butt portions to non-uniform thickness in the intermediate portion, enabling controlled dynamic behavior.
3Strength
If the intermediate portion has gradually reducing wall thickness, then the bending rigidity distribution is optimized, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs parameter changes by systematically varying the wall thickness parameter along the intermediate portion of the golf shaft. The wall thickness is designed to follow a reducing trend with controlled deviations - being greater than the reducing trend in sections requiring upward bending rigidity projections and smaller than the reducing trend in sections requiring downward projections. This controlled parameter variation optimizes bending rigidity while managing manufacturing precision requirements through defined thickness relationships.
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 the speed of the hit ball by allowing for increased bending and quicker restoration during a swing, thereby improving ball speed and head speed.
Implementation Method 1
the first portion is formed greater than a reducing trend of the intermediate portion in the wall thickness to cause an upward projection in a distribution curve of bending rigidity, and the second portion is located axially adjoining to the first portion between the first portion and the butt end portion and is formed smaller than the reducing trend in the wall thickness to cause a downward projection in the distribution curve of the bending rigidity
Data Source
AI summary
A golf shat has a tip end portion, a butt end portion, an intermediate portion defined between respective longitudinal ends adjoining to the tip end portion and the butt end portion, wherein the intermediate portion is sectioned into a first portion and a second portion, the first portion is formed greater than a reducing trend in the wall thickness to cause an upward projection in a distribution curve of a bending rigidity, and the second portion is located axially adjoining to the first portion between the first portion and the butt end portion and is formed smaller than the reducing trend in the wall thickness to cause a downward projection in the distribution curve of the bending rigidity.