Putter Face Groove Pattern for Ball Speed Consistency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf club heads, particularly putters, face challenges in maintaining consistent ball speed performance across various impact locations due to the lack of effective groove patterns that can correct ball trajectory and provide shot forgiveness during off-center hits.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a vertical groove pattern on putter club heads, featuring a combination of first and second curved grooves that intersect, with varying widths and depths across the face, along with land portions, to enhance ball speed consistency and forgiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a smooth or non-grooved club face is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but ball speed consistency across impact locations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The club face is segmented into multiple grooves that divide the surface into functional zones. These grooves create distinct land portions that interact with the golf ball at different impact locations, enabling consistent ball speed performance across the face while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized groove patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the club face are given different properties through the groove pattern. The grooves create varying land portion widths and depths at different locations (center vs. perimeter), optimizing ball interaction locally at each impact zone to achieve overall face consistency.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional groove patterns are used, then manufacturing is easier, but shot forgiveness during off-center hits deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The groove pattern implements local quality variations with different groove widths, depths, and spacing at different face locations. Peripheral grooves are configured to create larger effective land portions for off-center hits, while center grooves optimize for face-center impacts, thereby enhancing shot forgiveness across diverse impact locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove pattern extends into the depth dimension with varying groove depths and creates three-dimensional land portions that interact with the ball. This dimensional complexity allows the pattern to correct ball trajectory and provide forgiveness without requiring overly complex manufacturing processes.
3Reliability
If variable groove widths and depths are implemented, then ball speed consistency improves, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The complex variable groove pattern is segmented into multiple standardized groove elements that can be manufactured using consistent processes. Each groove follows a defined pattern with controlled variations, allowing precision to be maintained through modular repetition rather than requiring unique precision for each variable feature.
Solution Approach 2:
The groove dimensions (width, depth, spacing) are systematically varied according to defined parameters across the face. This controlled parameter change approach allows optimization of ball speed consistency while maintaining manufacturability through systematic design rather than arbitrary variations.
Data Source
AI summary
Putter type club head with vertical groove patterns are described herein. A putter type club head comprises a putter face having a plurality of first curved grooves and a plurality of second curved grooves. The first curved grooves and the second curved grooves intersect each other at a plurality of points across the putter face. The width and depth of the first curved grooves and the second curved grooves can vary across the putter face in a direction extending from a heel end to a toe end, and/or in a direction extending from a top rail to a sole. The curved groove pattern provides consistent ball speed performance for any impact location on the putter face.