Putter Head Frame Design for Moment of Inertia
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current golf putters, particularly mallet-type, face challenges in optimizing moment of inertia and center of gravity placement to enhance accuracy and stability while conforming to USGA rules, with a need for improved functionality, look, and feel.
Innovation Solution
A putter head design featuring an open, frame-like structure with improved mass distribution, including a rearward and downwardly positioned center of gravity, and removable weights to increase moment of inertia, achieved through specific structural elements like elongated openings, aft-mass portions, and vertically disposed plates, allowing for customizable weight and enhanced stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If mass is redistributed away from the striking face toward the rear of the putter head, then the moment of inertia increases and twisting resistance improves, but the center of gravity moves rearward which may affect launch angle and ball interaction
Solution Approach 1:
The putter head body is divided into multiple functional zones: a front portion containing the striking face, a central portion with vertical plates, and a rear portion with an enlarged aft-mass portion. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each zone - the front for ball interaction, the center for structural integrity, and the rear for moment of inertia enhancement through mass concentration.
Solution Approach 2:
The design moves mass distribution from a two-dimensional surface distribution to a three-dimensional volumetric distribution by creating an enlarged aft-mass portion that extends rearward and downward. This dimensional transition enables simultaneous achievement of high moment of inertia and controlled center of gravity position that cannot be achieved with simple planar mass redistribution.
2Speed
If the center of gravity is moved downward toward the bottom surface, then launch angle and directional stability improve, but the moment of inertia about the vertical axis may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The putter head employs asymmetric mass distribution with the enlarged aft-mass portion positioned offset from the central vertical axis and extending toward the rear. This asymmetric configuration creates a low center of gravity for improved launch angle while the strategic positioning of mass relative to the vertical axis maintains high moment of inertia for rotational stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the putter head are given different mass properties: the front portion has concentrated mass for ball interaction, the central portion has vertical plates for structural support, and the rear portion has the enlarged aft-mass portion with specific local density and volume to simultaneously influence both center of gravity position and moment of inertia independently.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the putter head size and weight are increased to improve moment of inertia, then twisting resistance improves, but compliance with USGA rules becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The design optimizes multiple parameters simultaneously: the putter head weight is controlled within 320-355 grams, the moment of inertia is maximized at greater than 400 kg-mm², and the center of gravity is positioned at greater than 30 mm from the front face and less than 13 mm from the bottom surface. These parameter changes achieve high twisting resistance while maintaining USGA compliance through precise numerical optimization rather than simple size increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The putter head incorporates adjustable weights that can be removed and repositioned, allowing dynamic adjustment of the center of gravity location and moment of inertia distribution. This dynamic capability enables optimization of performance parameters within USGA limits while adapting to different playing conditions and player preferences.
4Ease of manufacture
If an open frame-like structure is used to reduce material and allow mass redistribution, then manufacturing flexibility and mass distribution control improve, but structural strength and durability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The putter head body is constructed from stainless steel, a composite material that provides high strength-to-weight ratio. This material choice enables the open frame-like structure with enlarged aft-mass portion to maintain structural integrity despite the reduced material volume, while allowing precise mass distribution control through strategic placement of dense stainless steel in the aft-mass region.
Data Source
AI summary
A putter head comprising a body having an open, frame-like structure having an improved mass distribution for optimizing the moment of inertia and placement of the center of gravity. The body includes a front portion, a rear portion, toe and heel portions extending between and interconnecting respective ends of the front and rear portions, and a central portion interconnecting the front and rear portions along the longitudinal axis of the body. A first main opening of the body is bounded by the toe portion, the central portion, and part of the front portion. A second main opening of the body is bounded by the heel portion, the central portion, and part of the front portion. The heel and toe portions desirably are formed with respective elongated openings extending substantially the entire lengths of the heel and toe portions.