High-Loft Golf Club Head With Heel Recess for Shot Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club heads, particularly high-lofted wedge-type clubs, suffer from inadequate design that reduces shot dispersion while maintaining other performance attributes such as feel, spin, trajectory, and compliance with regulatory standards.
Innovation Solution
The golf club head design includes specific geometric configurations and mass distribution, such as a center of gravity positioned close to the striking face, reduced lateral spacing from the virtual vertical plane, and a hosel design with an auxiliary recess, to minimize shot dispersion without adversely affecting other performance attributes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the center of gravity is relocated to reduce shot dispersion, then shot precision is improved, but spin characteristics and trajectory control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a recessed region with reduced mass in a specific location (heel-most region) of the club head, while maintaining normal mass distribution in other regions. This localized mass reduction shifts the center of gravity laterally without significantly affecting overall mass distribution, thereby improving shot precision while preserving spin and trajectory control characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent addresses the contradiction by operating in another dimension - specifically, by making a lateral adjustment to the center of gravity position through the recessed region, rather than making large longitudinal or vertical adjustments. This lateral shift in the heel-to-toe direction reduces shot dispersion while minimizing impact on spin and trajectory characteristics that are more sensitive to other dimensional changes.
2Measurement precision
If mass is relocated in the heel-to-toe direction to decrease dispersion, then shot precision is improved, but effective bounce and ability to carry out full range of shot types deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed region is strategically positioned in the heel-most region of the club head, creating a localized mass reduction that shifts the center of gravity laterally. This local modification improves shot precision while preserving the overall mass distribution needed for effective bounce and versatility across different shot types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a partial action approach by creating a recessed region that removes only a portion of the mass from the heel-most region, rather than relocating significant mass. This partial mass removal is sufficient to shift the center of gravity laterally for improved precision while maintaining enough mass in the heel region to preserve effective bounce and shot type versatility.
3Reliability
If traditional feel and design attributes are maintained for compliance with regulatory bodies, then confidence and rule compliance are improved, but shot dispersion control worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The recessed region creates a subtle local modification to the club head mass distribution that is not visually apparent and does not alter traditional design attributes. This allows the club head to maintain its traditional appearance and feel for regulatory compliance and golfer confidence, while the internal mass redistribution improves shot dispersion control.
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head includes a striking face, a sole portion, a top portion, a hosel, a rear surface, a loft no less than 40°, a virtual vertical plane, and a center of gravity. The striking face has a face center, a leading edge, and a virtual striking face plane. The hosel includes an internal bore configured to receive a golf shaft and includes a peripheral side wall and a shaft abutment surface configured to abut a tip end of the golf shaft. The rear surface is opposite the striking face and has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including a forward-extending recess. The insert covers the recess forming a hollow portion. The virtual vertical plane is perpendicular to the striking face plane and passes through the face center. The center of gravity is spaced a distance from the virtual vertical plane in the heel-to-toe direction.