Multi-Material Putter Face for Consistent Off-Center Ball Speed

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Solution Overview

Problem

Golfers struggle to consistently impact a golf ball at the same location with a putter-type golf club head, leading to unpredictable ball speed and travel direction due to varying strike locations, which affects energy transfer, impact feel, and sound.

Innovation Solution

A putter-type golf club head with a multi-material striking surface that varies in material concentration away from the geometric center to achieve consistent ball speeds across the striking surface, using a softer, more flexible first material and a harder, less flexible second material to normalize ball speed and improve impact feel and sound.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single-material striking surface is used, then the club head construction is simple, but ball speed varies significantly across different impact locations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveclub head constructionVSAvoidball speed consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The striking surface is divided into multiple zones with different material properties. The center region uses a softer material to maximize energy transfer for center hits, while peripheral regions use harder materials to maintain ball speed on off-center hits. This local differentiation of material properties ensures consistent ball speed across various impact locations without requiring a completely complex multi-component construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The club head incorporates composite materials with different hardness levels in specific regions of the striking surface. By combining materials with varying physical properties (softer center, harder periphery), the design achieves consistent ball speed across the striking surface while maintaining a relatively simple integrated construction approach.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Ease of operation

If the striking surface is made uniformly soft, then impact feel is improved, but ball speed on off-center hits decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact feelVSAvoidball speed on off-center hits

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The striking surface features localized material property variations where the center region is softer to provide superior impact feel and energy transfer, while peripheral regions are harder to maintain ball speed on off-center hits. This spatial differentiation allows each region to optimize for its specific function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The material hardness parameter is varied across the striking surface to optimize performance. The center region uses lower hardness for better feel, while peripheral regions use higher hardness for speed maintenance. This parameter gradient allows simultaneous optimization of impact feel and ball speed consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Speed

If the striking surface is made uniformly hard, then ball speed is maintained, but impact feel deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball speedVSAvoidimpact feel

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The striking surface implements spatially varying material properties where peripheral regions are harder to maintain ball speed, while the center region is softer to provide superior impact feel. This local optimization allows the club to achieve both speed consistency and feel quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The material hardness parameter is strategically varied across the striking surface. Harder materials are placed in peripheral regions to maintain ball speed, while softer materials are used in the center for improved impact feel. This parameter optimization resolves the trade-off between speed and feel.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If a multi-material striking surface is implemented, then ball speed consistency is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball speed consistencyVSAvoidmanufacturing process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The striking surface uses localized material property variations achieved through practical manufacturing approaches such as material overlays, inlays, or gradient material deposition. These methods allow different material properties in different regions while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through established industrial processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The club head incorporates composite material construction using manufacturing techniques that combine multiple materials in a controlled manner. By using methods such as layered construction, material infiltration, or surface treatment processes, the design achieves consistent ball speed while keeping the manufacturing process within practical industrial capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12370417B2Golf club heads with a multi-material striking surface

Publication Date: 2025.07.29 KARSTEN MFG CORP

AI summary

Embodiments of putter-type golf club head comprising a striking surface capable of achieving consistent ball speeds across the striking surface to account for various ball impact locations are described herein. The striking surface has at least two materials that differ in concentration away from the geometric center of the striking surface to provide this consistency. Consistent (or uniform) ball speed is achieved throughout the striking surface as the portion of the golf ball that contacts the striking surface interacts with at least two materials having a differing material characteristic.