Multi-Piece Golf Ball Hardness Gradient Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mid- and high-level amateur golfers face challenges with existing golf balls that fail to maintain distance on shots with a driver and achieve sufficient spin performance on approach shots, leading to a less enjoyable golfing experience.
Innovation Solution
A multi-piece solid golf ball design featuring a core, envelope layer, and intermediate layer with specific hardness profiles and thicknesses, where the cover is hard on the inside and soft on the outside, and the intermediate layer is somewhat hard, optimizing the hardness gradient to enhance spin rate suppression and resilience, thereby improving distance and spin performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the ball is designed with a hard cover and intermediate layer to maintain distance on driver shots, then distance on driver shots is improved, but spin performance on approach shots deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball employs different hardness values in different layers: the cover has a first hardness value optimized for distance and scuff resistance, while the intermediate layer has a second hardness value that is softer to reduce spin on approach shots. This local differentiation of material properties allows simultaneous optimization of driver distance and approach shot spin control.
Solution Approach 2:
The golf ball uses composite construction with multiple layers made of different materials having distinct hardness characteristics. The cover layer uses a harder material for distance and durability, while the intermediate layer uses a softer material to control spin, creating a composite structure that achieves properties neither material could provide alone.
2Length of moving object
If the core hardness is increased to improve distance performance, then distance is improved, but spin performance on approach shots deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The core is designed with non-uniform hardness distribution, having a first hardness value in the inner region and a second hardness value in the outer region. This local differentiation allows the inner core to provide distance through higher hardness while the outer core region works with the softer intermediate layer to control spin on approach shots.
3Ease of operation
If the cover is made softer to improve feel at impact, then feel is improved, but scuff resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover layer is designed with specific material properties that balance softness for feel with hardness for scuff resistance. The first hardness value of the cover is optimized to provide adequate feel at impact while maintaining sufficient scuff resistance for durability during play.
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 ball maintains distance on driver shots, achieves good spin performance on approach shots, and provides a soft feel at impact, enhancing the overall enjoyability of the game while offering excellent scuff resistance.
Implementation Method 1
making the cover hard on the inside and soft on the outside and making the intermediate layer and the envelope layer somewhat hard, by also adjusting the relative thicknesses of the envelope layer, the intermediate layer and the cover within a specific range, and moreover by forming the core, the envelope layer, the intermediate layer and the cover as successive layers in such manner as, in the design of the core hardness profile and hardness gradient, to give the center portion of the core a flat or relatively gradual hardness gradient, to make the hardness gradient of the overall ball larger in degree than the hardness gradient at the core interior and to increase the resilience of the ball interior
Implementation Method 2
make the hardness gradient of the overall ball larger in degree than the hardness gradient at the core interior and to increase the resilience of the ball interior
Data Source
AI summary
In a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer, an intermediate layer and a cover, the core, an intermediate layer-encased sphere and the ball have surface hardnesses which satisfy a specific relationship, and the envelope layer, the intermediate layer and the cover have thicknesses which satisfy a specific relationship. Also, the core has a hardness profile in which the hardnesses at the core surface, core center, a position 5 mm from the core center, and a position midway between the surface and center of the core satisfy specific relationships. This golf ball, when used by mid- and high-level amateurs, enables the golfer to maintain an adequate distance on shots with a driver and achieve a good distance on iron shots, has a good spin performance on approach shots and has a good feel on impact. In addition, the ball has an excellent scuff resistance when struck with a grooved wedge.