Golf Tee Low-Friction Coating Energy Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frictional forces between a golf tee and ball reduce the energy transfer from the club to the ball, limiting the distance the ball travels.
Innovation Solution
A golf tee with a cup-shaped ball support and low-friction coating, made from a high-temperature tolerant polymer, such as nylon with glass fibers, and coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) to minimize contact area and friction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a golf ball is struck from atop a golf tee, then the ball is supported and positioned for striking, but frictional forces between the tee and ball reduce energy transfer and limit distance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a low-friction coating specifically to the ball support surface of the tee, creating a localized region with different friction characteristics than the rest of the tee body. This allows the contact surface to have minimal friction for energy transfer while the rest of the tee maintains its structural properties for stability and ball positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The low-friction coating acts as an intermediary layer between the golf ball and the tee body. This intermediate layer reduces direct frictional contact while still providing mechanical support, allowing the ball to be held securely during setup but slide minimally during the strike for maximum energy transfer.
2Loss of energy
If a low-friction coating is applied to the ball support, then energy transfer is improved, but the tee must withstand high temperatures during coating application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system consisting of a heat-resistant polymer body (such as nylon with glass fibers) that can withstand the high temperatures required for PTFE coating application. The composite structure combines the thermal stability of glass fiber-reinforced polymer with the low-friction properties of the PTFE coating layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the thermal parameter of the tee body material to withstand temperatures of about 500° F. during the coating process. By selecting polymers with appropriate heat resistance characteristics and reinforcing them with glass fibers, the material can endure the high-temperature coating application without deforming or degrading.
3Loss of energy
If a cup-shaped ball support with cusps is used, then contact area is minimized for reduced friction, but manufacturing precision is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ball support surface into multiple discrete cusps rather than using a continuous surface. This segmentation creates multiple small contact points that collectively minimize the total contact area between the ball and tee, reducing friction while distributing the support function across several locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates the cusp features directly into the injection molding process of the tee body, establishing the precise cusp geometry and positioning during the initial manufacturing step. This preliminary formation of the cusp structure ensures consistent geometry and positioning without requiring additional precision machining or assembly steps.
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 tee reduces energy transfer loss by minimizing frictional interaction, maintaining structural integrity at high temperatures and allowing repeated use without damage.
Implementation Method 1
a low-friction coating applied to a ball support of the tee
Implementation Method 2
placing the wet-coated body in a heated chamber to raise the temperature of the body to about 500° F. and fuse the PTFE onto the body
Data Source
AI summary
A golf tee may be constructed with a body formed from a polymer tolerant of exposure to a temperature at least as high as 480° F. without incurring diminishment of its structural integrity. A low-friction coating may be applied to a ball support of the tee.