Multi-layer Golf Ball Hardness Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf balls struggle to balance soft feel and resilience, affecting distance and control, as well as durability and aerodynamics, due to inconsistent hardness distribution across layers.
Innovation Solution
A multi-layer golf ball design featuring a core with ionomeric material, an intermediate layer of rubber with specific hardness and composition, and a cover layer of ionomer resin or polyethylene, with a contoured surface including polygonal land portions and annular grooves for enhanced adhesion and aerodynamics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If the golf ball is made harder to achieve greater distance, then distance is improved, but spin is reduced making it more difficult to control on shorter shots
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball is divided into multiple layers with different hardness characteristics. The core has a specific hardness range (JIS-C 34-70) while the cover has a different hardness range (Shore D 56-64), allowing each layer to contribute differently to overall performance. This segmentation enables the ball to achieve both distance and control by optimizing the function of each layer independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the golf ball are given different local properties through the multi-layer construction. The core provides resilience and distance with its ionomeric material and specific hardness, while the cover provides control and feel with its rubber material and different hardness. The polygonal land portions and annular grooves on the core surface also create local variations in adhesion and spin characteristics.
2Ease of operation
If the golf ball is made softer to achieve more spin and easier control, then control is improved, but distance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball is divided into multiple layers with different hardness characteristics. The core has a specific hardness range (JIS-C 34-70) while the cover has a different hardness range (Shore D 56-64), allowing each layer to contribute differently to overall performance. This segmentation enables the ball to achieve both distance and control by optimizing the function of each layer independently.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the golf ball are given different local properties through the multi-layer construction. The core provides resilience and distance with its ionomeric material and specific hardness, while the cover provides control and feel with its rubber material and different hardness. The polygonal land portions and annular grooves on the core surface also create local variations in adhesion and spin characteristics.
3Strength
If the intermediate layer thickness is increased to improve adhesion between layers, then bonding strength is improved, but the ball compression deformation increases affecting performance
Solution Approach 1:
The thickness of the intermediate layer is precisely controlled within a specific range (4-9 mm) to optimize both adhesion and compression deformation. This parameter optimization ensures sufficient bonding area between the core and cover while maintaining appropriate ball compression characteristics (2.7-5.5 mm under 10-130 kg load).
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the core surface is made smoother to reduce aerodynamic drag, then aerodynamics is improved, but adhesion between layers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The core surface features polygonal land portions with specific geometric characteristics (at least 50% having quadrilateral perimeters) that create localized adhesion zones. These land portions provide roughness for enhanced bonding between layers while maintaining overall aerodynamic efficiency. The annular grooves further define these land portions and contribute to the surface topology that balances adhesion and aerodynamics.
Data Source
AI summary
A multi-layer golf ball includes a core, an intermediate layer surrounding the core, and a cover layer surrounding the intermediate layer. The core defines an outer surface that includes a plurality of polygonal land portions substantially aligned on a common sphere, which has a diameter of between 22 mm and 32 mm. The intermediate layer has a radially inward-facing surface that is flush with the outer surface of the core, and has a radial thickness of between 4 mm and 9 mm. The outer surface of the core defines a first set of annular grooves disposed about a first axis, and a second set of annular grooves disposed about a second axis. Each of the first and second set of annular grooves extend radially inward from the common sphere, and the first axis and the second axis are orthogonal.