Polyurethane Golf Ball Cover with Controlled Shear Loss Modulus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf balls designed for distance type performance struggle to achieve both high flight distance on middle or long iron shots and improved controllability on approach shots, especially under wet conditions, due to regulations that reduce spin rates and make it difficult to stop the ball on the green.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball with a polyurethane composition cover having a specific shear loss modulus and hardness distribution, which enhances spin rates on approach shots while maintaining a low spin rate on middle or long iron shots, achieved through a polyurethane elastomer with 1,4-bis(isocyanatomethyl)cyclohexane as a polyisocyanate component and polytetramethylene ether glycol as a polyol component, ensuring a balance between resilience and spin control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spin rate on approach shots is increased to stop the golf ball on the green, then controllability on approach shots is improved, but the flight distance on middle or long iron shots becomes short
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the polyurethane composition, specifically controlling the shear loss modulus G'' within 5.03×10^6 Pa to 1.17×10^8 Pa at 0°C and 10 Hz, and regulating the hardness distribution with R²≥0.95. These parameter changes enable the cover to provide high spin rates on approach shots while maintaining low spin rates on middle or long iron shots, thus improving controllability without sacrificing flight distance.
2Ease of operation
If soft cover materials are used to increase spin rate on approach shots, then controllability is improved, but the hardness and distance type performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameters by using a polyurethane composition with specifically controlled shear loss modulus G'' (5.03×10^6 Pa to 1.17×10^8 Pa) and hardness distribution (R²≥0.95). This allows the cover to exhibit soft characteristics during approach shot impact (generating high spin) while maintaining overall structural hardness for distance performance, resolving the contradiction between softness for spin and hardness for distance.
3Ease of operation
If the spin rate is increased under wet conditions to prevent slipping on the club surface, then controllability on approach shots is improved, but the flight distance on middle or long iron shots becomes short
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the viscoelastic parameters of the polyurethane cover, specifically controlling the shear loss modulus G'' at 0°C and 10 Hz within 5.03×10^6 Pa to 1.17×10^8 Pa. This parameter control enables the cover to generate high spin rates even under wet conditions where club surface slipping occurs, while simultaneously maintaining low spin rates on middle or long iron shots to preserve flight distance.
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 achieves a great flight distance on middle or long iron shots while maintaining high dry and wet spin rates on approach shots, improving controllability and resilience, thus addressing the limitations of existing golf balls.
Implementation Method 1
the polyurethane composition has a shear loss modulus G'' of more than 5.03×10^6 Pa and 1.17×10^8 Pa or less when measured in a shear mode using a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring apparatus at the conditions of the temperature of 0° C., and the oscillation frequency of 10 Hz
Data Source
AI summary
A golf ball includes a spherical core and a cover covering the spherical core, wherein the cover is formed from a polyurethane composition containing a polyurethane elastomer as a resin component, the polyurethane composition has a shear loss modulus G″ of more than 5.03×106 Pa and 1.17×108 Pa or less when measured in a shear mode using a dynamic viscoelasticity measuring apparatus at the conditions of the temperature of 0° C., and the oscillation frequency of 10 Hz, the golf ball has a hardness distribution that R2 of a linear approximate curve determined by a least-squares method is 0.95 or more, when plotting center hardness (JIS-C) of the spherical core, hardness (JIS-C) measured at intervals of 2.5 mm from the center of the spherical core, surface hardness (JIS-C) of the spherical core, and slab hardness (JIS-C) of the cover versus distances from the center of the spherical core.