Iron Club Head Geometry for Straighter High-Handicap Shots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional iron-type golf clubs fail to promote accurate and desirable shot shapes for golfers with relatively high handicaps, often resulting in off-target and slicing shots.
Innovation Solution
The design of an iron-type golf club head with specific dimensions and features, including a rounded sole, variable thickness front portion, internal damper and stiffener, and optimized center-of-gravity location, to enhance accuracy and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional iron-type golf clubs are used, then the club head structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but shot accuracy and desirable shot shape are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating asymmetric height distribution across the club head, with the toe portion having a greater height than the heel portion. This localized dimensional variation optimizes the center of gravity position and moment of inertia distribution, thereby improving shot accuracy and reducing slices without requiring complete structural redesign of the entire club head
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by specifically controlling the height ratio between toe and heel portions within a defined range (toe height/heel height ≥ 1.05). This quantitative parameter adjustment, along with controlling the center of gravity position and moment of inertia values, transforms the club head's performance characteristics to promote drawing shot shapes and improve accuracy
2Shape
If the toe height is increased to improve shot shape, then the center of gravity position is optimized, but the club head height ratio becomes unbalanced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately introduces asymmetry by making the toe portion height greater than the heel portion height (height ratio ≥ 1.05). This asymmetric configuration shifts the center of gravity rearward and downward, optimizing it for promoting drawing shot shapes. The asymmetry is carefully controlled within specific parameter ranges to maintain overall structural balance while achieving the desired shot shape improvement
3Strength
If the front portion thickness is increased toeward to improve durability, then the moment of inertia increases, but the coefficient of restitution decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the front portion thickness distribution by positioning the maximum thickness at a specific location (50-70mm toeward of the ground plane intersection point). This precise parameter control ensures the thickness is sufficient toward for durability while maintaining an optimal coefficient of restitution (0.818-0.830), balancing strength and performance requirements
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 golf club head improves shot accuracy and promotes a high and straight shot shape by reducing unwanted vibrations and enhancing the coefficient of restitution, benefiting high-handicap players.
Implementation Method 1
An internal damper and stiffener are provided in the iron-type golf club head
Implementation Method 2
A coefficient of restitution (COR) of the iron-type golf club head is at least 0.818 and at most 0.830
Data Source
AI summary
An iron-type golf club head where a ratio of a maximum toe height of the iron-type golf club head to a blade length of the iron-type golf club head is greater than zero and at most 0.62. A maximum thickness of the front portion, along the strike face, corresponds with a location toeward of a geometric center of the strike face. The thickness of the front portion, at the geometric center of the strike face, is less than the maximum thickness of the front portion. A coefficient of restitution (COR) of the iron-type golf club head is at least 0.818 and at most 0.830. An entirety of the sole is rounded along a plane parallel to the strike face, and a radius of curvature of the sole, along the plane parallel to the strike face, is no more than between, and inclusive of, 100 mm and 275 mm.