Multi-Material Putter Striking Surface for Consistent 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 club head, leading to variations in energy transfer, impact feel, and ball travel direction due to different impact locations on the club head.
Innovation Solution
A putter-type golf club head with a dual-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 create a less responsive center region.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a single-material striking surface is used, then the club head structure is simple and manufacturing is easier, but ball speed consistency varies across different impact locations
Solution Approach 1:
The striking surface is divided into multiple regions with different material properties. The first material is concentrated in the center region while the second material is concentrated in the peripheral regions (heel and toe areas). This local differentiation of material properties allows each region to be optimized for its specific function, achieving consistent ball speeds across various impact locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The striking surface uses a composite structure combining two different materials with distinct properties. The first material (softer, more flexible) and second material (harder, less flexible) are strategically distributed across the striking surface to create regions with different responsiveness characteristics, thereby achieving uniform ball speed across the entire striking surface.
2Reliability
If the striking surface is made uniformly responsive, then impact feel is consistent, but ball travel direction control varies with impact location
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the striking surface are assigned different material properties to serve different functions. The center region uses the first material for a specific response characteristic, while the peripheral regions use the second material to provide directional control. This local differentiation ensures that regardless of where the ball contacts the striking surface, the ball travel direction remains well-controlled.
3Ease of operation
If personal preference characteristics are prioritized, then club head feel and aesthetics are improved, but performance consistency across impact locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The striking surface incorporates different material properties in different regions to simultaneously satisfy personal preference characteristics and performance consistency. The first material in the center region provides a specific feel characteristic, while the second material in peripheral regions maintains performance consistency. This allows the club head to deliver both desired feel and consistent performance across various impact locations.
Data Source
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 differs 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.