Multi-Layer Golf Ball Design for Spin Control and Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multi-piece solid golf balls for professionals and skilled golfers face challenges in achieving a balance between distance and controllability, often resulting in high spin rates when hit with drivers, which limits distance and durability under repeated impacts.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball design featuring a core made of rubber with specific hardness and deflection properties, an envelope layer composed of a resin mixture, and a polyurethane cover with optimized thickness and hardness relationships, along with dimples, to reduce spin rates and enhance durability and scuff resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If a multi-piece solid golf ball with optimized intermediate layer and cover layer hardness relationship is used, then distance in high head speed range and controllability on iron shots are improved, but spin rate on driver shots remains too high
Solution Approach 1:
The golf ball is divided into multiple layers with distinct functions: core layer for rebound, intermediate layer for spin control, and cover layer for durability. This segmentation allows each layer to be optimized independently for its specific function, resolving the contradiction between distance and spin rate by assigning different hardness and material properties to different layers.
Solution Approach 2:
Different layers of the golf ball have different local qualities in terms of hardness and material composition. The core is softer for rebound, the intermediate layer has specific hardness (40-60 Shore D) for spin control, and the cover is harder (50-70 Shore D) for durability. This local differentiation allows the ball to achieve low spin rate on driver shots while maintaining distance and controllability.
2Reliability
If the cover layer is made harder to improve durability and scuff resistance, then scuff resistance is improved, but spin performance on approach shots deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cover layer is segmented into multiple sub-layers with different properties. The outermost layer is harder for scuff resistance, while inner layers have progressively softer properties to control spin. This segmentation within the cover layer allows simultaneous achievement of durability and spin control.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover layer uses composite materials with different hardness and elasticity properties arranged in specific configurations. This composite structure allows the outer surface to be highly resistant to scuffs while the inner portions maintain the softness needed for spin control on approach shots.
3Ease of operation
If the envelope layer is made softer to improve feel and spin control, then controllability is improved, but distance on driver shots decreases due to higher spin rate
Solution Approach 1:
The envelope layer is segmented into multiple layers with progressively different hardness properties from inner to outer layers. This segmentation allows the inner layers to be softer for feel and spin control while outer layers are harder to reduce spin rate on driver shots, achieving both controllability and distance.
4Speed
If a four-layer construction is used to vary construction among layers, then flight performance can be optimized, but it becomes difficult to achieve good balance of distance, controllability, and durability in the same ball
Solution Approach 1:
Each layer of the four-layer construction is assigned specific local qualities in terms of hardness, thickness, and material composition tailored to its position and function. This precise local quality differentiation allows the ball to achieve optimal balance of distance, controllability, and durability simultaneously, as each layer contributes its specific strength to the overall performance.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a multi-piece solid golf ball comprising 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, wherein the core is made primarily of a rubber material and has a diameter of at least 31 mm, the envelope layer and intermediate layer are each made primarily of the same or different resin materials and the cover is made primarily of polyurethane; the envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover have an optimized thickness relationship; the core, envelope layer, intermediate layer and cover have optimized hardness relationships; and the core surface and core center have a large hardness difference therebetween. The golf ball has an excellent flight performance and controllability that are acceptable to professionals and other skilled golfers, while also having an excellent durability to cracking on repeated impact and an excellent scuff resistance.