Golf Putter Face Insert Hinge Features for Mishit Correction

Solution Overview

Problem

Current golf club face inserts do not effectively optimize performance and consistency of ball speed across the face, particularly for off-center putts and mishits, as they fail to correct launch angle and produce consistent topspin regardless of impact location.

Innovation Solution

A putter face design featuring an arc-shaped pattern of hinge features with stem and tab portions, arranged to extend from a striking plate, providing improved elasticity and spin through a combination of angled tab orientations and a backing portion with grooves, which corrects mishits and enhances topspin consistency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a solid geometric protrusion or pillar-shaped body is used on the club face, then face stiffness is increased, but ball speed consistency across the face deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveface stiffnessVSAvoidball speed consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The club face is segmented into multiple independent hinge features (protrusions with tab portions) rather than using a single solid structure. Each hinge feature can independently deform and rebound, allowing localized optimization of ball speed while maintaining overall face stiffness through the collective arrangement of multiple features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge features incorporate movable tab portions that can dynamically deform upon ball impact and rebound to their original position. This dynamic behavior allows the face to adapt to different impact locations and forces, optimizing ball speed consistency across the entire face while maintaining structural stiffness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid face structure is used, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to correct launch angle and produce consistent topspin deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidlaunch angle correction capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge features incorporate movable tab portions that can dynamically deform upon ball impact and rebound to their original position. This dynamic behavior allows the face to adapt to different impact locations and forces, optimizing ball speed consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the club face have different hinge feature configurations (varying numbers, positions, and orientations of tabs) to provide localized optimization. This allows specific areas to correct launch angle and produce topspin as needed, while the overall structure maintains stability through the collective arrangement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If traditional face inserts are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but performance optimization and mishit correction deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidperformance consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The club face is segmented into multiple independent hinge features (protrusions with tab portions) rather than using a single solid structure. Each hinge feature can independently deform and rebound, allowing localized optimization of ball speed while maintaining overall face stiffness through the collective arrangement of multiple features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention optimizes specific geometric parameters of the hinge features (tab portion dimensions, stem dimensions, spacing, curvature radii) to achieve desired performance characteristics. By carefully controlling these parameters, the invention maintains manufacturability while significantly improving performance consistency and mishit correction capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design enhances ball speed consistency and spin control, correcting mishits by adjusting launch angle and imparting consistent topspin, reducing sidespin and improving the 'true roll' of the ball towards the intended target.

Implementation Method 1

A putter face design featuring an arc-shaped pattern of hinge features with stem and tab portions, arranged to extend from a striking plate, providing improved elasticity and spin

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10821333B2Golf club face insert

Publication Date: 2020.11.03 CALLAWAY GOLF COMPANY

AI summary

A resilient face insert for a golf club head, preferably a putter head, is disclosed herein. In particular, the face insert comprises a plurality of hinge features spaced from a striking surface to ensure consistent ball speed across the striking surface. Each hinge feature comprises a tab portion that is spaced from the striking surface by a stem portion and that extends parallel to the striking surface, and is angled with respect to a horizontal y-axis. The orientation of hinge features with respect to the y-axis varies across the face, which reduces sidespin from mishits and produces consistent topspin regardless of impact location of a golf ball on the face insert.