Putter Face Insert Using Thermoplastic Elastomer and Porous Texture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing golf club face inserts fail to provide optimal feedback and feel during putting while also lacking in performance.
Innovation Solution
A golf club face insert with a thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer composition and a textured surface of oval-shaped holes, which enhances grip and absorption of impact forces, improving spin control and roll consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional solid face insert is used, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the feedback and feel during putting is insufficient and performance is suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The face insert employs a porous or cellular internal structure with controlled void spaces distributed throughout the material. This porous architecture increases the surface area for ball interaction and creates multiple contact points that enhance feedback and feel during putting, while the cellular structure provides energy absorption and return properties that improve performance
Solution Approach 2:
The face insert utilizes composite material construction combining different materials with complementary properties - such as a rigid outer shell for structural integrity and a softer inner core for feel and feedback, or combining materials with different damping characteristics to optimize both touch and performance
2Reliability
If a face insert with optimized texture and holes is used, then spin control and roll consistency are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention specifies optimized parameter ranges for hole dimensions (width 0.150-0.200 inch, height 0.020-0.060 inch) and spacing (horizontal 0.01-0.03 inch, vertical 0.005-0.011 inch) that balance manufacturing feasibility with performance. These parameter ranges are wide enough to accommodate normal manufacturing tolerances while still providing the textured surface pattern necessary for improved spin control and roll consistency
3Force
If the face insert thickness is increased, then impact absorption is improved, but the weight and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The porous or cellular internal structure allows the face insert to achieve high impact absorption within a limited thickness. The void spaces act as shock absorbers that compress under impact, dissipating energy, while the rigid cell walls provide structural support. This enables effective impact management without requiring excessive material thickness that would add unnecessary weight and complexity
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 solution provides improved spin control, reduced ball bounce, and a smoother, more consistent roll by optimizing the interaction between the club face and golf ball, offering enhanced performance and feel.
Implementation Method 1
the face insert is composed of at least one thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer
Implementation Method 2
a textured surface of oval-shaped holes, which enhances grip and absorption of impact forces
Data Source
AI summary
A putter-type golf club head having a face insert composed of at least one thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer is disclosed herein. The face insert includes a plurality of oval-shaped holes having a specific size and spacing, and the at least one thermoplastic polyether ester elastomer incorporates polytetramethylene ether soft segments with molecular weights of greater than 1000 g/mol, preferably at least 1400 g/mol.