Multi-Layer Golf Ball Design for Low Spin and Scuff Resistance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-piece solid golf balls fail to achieve a balance between distance and controllability, particularly exhibiting high spin rates when hit with a driver, which limits the distance achieved by skilled golfers, and lack sufficient scuff resistance.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design featuring a two-layer core with a harder outer core layer and a specific hardness and thickness relationship among the envelope, intermediate, and cover layers, utilizing a rubber material composition and resin blends to optimize flight performance and scuff resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a multi-piece solid golf ball uses conventional layer constructions (three-piece or four-piece), then the ball achieves good flight performance and controllability, but the spin rate on driver shots remains too high, limiting distance
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball is divided into five distinct layers (core, envelope layer, intermediate layer, and cover with inner/outer layers) instead of conventional three or four layers. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently for specific functions: the core provides distance, the envelope layer controls spin rate, the intermediate layer maintains structural integrity, and the cover provides durability and feel. The five-layer construction enables simultaneous optimization of flight performance, controllability, and reduced spin rate on driver shots.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the golf ball have different material properties optimized for their specific functions. The core uses softer material for distance, the envelope layer uses harder material to reduce spin rate, the intermediate layer uses medium hardness for structural support, and the cover uses durable material for scuff resistance and feel. This local quality differentiation allows the ball to achieve low spin rate on driver shots while maintaining good flight performance and controllability on iron shots.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the envelope layer and intermediate layer use resin materials with varying hardness, then the ball structure becomes flexible, but scuff resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball uses a composite material construction where the core is made of rubber material and the envelope layer, intermediate layer, and cover are made of resin materials. This composite structure combines the flexibility and shock absorption of rubber with the durability and scuff resistance of resin materials. The specific composite material selection and layering arrangement enable the ball to maintain layer flexibility for performance optimization while achieving excellent scuff resistance through the resin-based outer layers.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the envelope layer and intermediate layer use resin materials with different hardness relationships, then the ball achieves varied performance characteristics, but burr formation increases and scuff resistance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the hardness parameters of the envelope layer and intermediate layer to specific ranges and relationships. The envelope layer has a hardness of 30-60 Shore A and the intermediate layer has a hardness of 20-40 Shore A, creating a controlled hardness gradient that prevents excessive stress concentration at layer interfaces. This parameter optimization reduces burr formation during club contact while maintaining the performance benefits of varied hardness relationships. The controlled hardness parameters also improve scuff resistance by preventing material delamination and surface defects.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball having a core, an envelope layer encasing the core, an intermediate layer encasing the envelope layer, and a cover which encases the intermediate layer and has formed on a surface thereof a plurality of dimples. The core is composed overall of an inner layer and an outer layer which are each formed primarily of a rubber material, with the outer core layer being harder than the inner core layer. The envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover have respective thicknesses which satisfy the condition: cover thickness<intermediate layer thickness<envelope layer thickness, and have respective material hardnesses (Shore D hardness) which satisfy the condition: envelope layer material hardness<intermediate layer material hardness>cover material hardness. The golf ball has a lower spin rate on full shots with a driver, further increasing the distance traveled by the ball. Moreover, it has a good controllability, maintaining in particular a straight trajectory on full shots, and also has an excellent scuff resistance.