Golf Putter Head with Angled Grooves for Dispersion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golfers face challenges with alignment and dispersion issues during putting, as existing putters either compromise on aesthetics with large, heavy heads for increased Moment Of Inertia or rely on less effective design features like varying line widths and face inserts.
Innovation Solution
A golf putter design featuring angled grooves on the leading edge and back flange for alignment, with horizontal grooves on the face to reduce bounce and angled grooves on the toe and heel to minimize dispersion, providing a visual tracking line and reference for the sweet spot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a very large head with added weight in the rear is used to increase Moment of Inertia, then dispersion on off-center hits is decreased, but the putter becomes less pleasing to the eye and aesthetically unappealing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing grooves in specific locations on the putter face - horizontal grooves in the center and angled grooves at the toe and heel. This localized groove pattern provides dispersion control exactly where off-center hits occur most frequently, rather than requiring a complete redesign of the entire putter head structure. The grooves are concentrated in the critical impact zones to maximize aesthetic appeal while maintaining performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The putter face is segmented into different groove zones with different orientations - horizontal grooves for center hits and angled grooves for toe and heel hits. This segmentation allows each zone to address specific dispersion issues independently, providing targeted correction for different parts of the putter face without requiring a large overall head design.
2Shape
If traditional head design is maintained, then aesthetic appearance is preserved, but dispersion control on off-center hits is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains the traditional putter head shape while adding local groove features in specific zones. The horizontal grooves are placed in the center of the face and angled grooves are placed at the toe and heel, creating local quality variations that provide dispersion control without altering the overall traditional aesthetic of the putter head.
Solution Approach 2:
The putter face combines the traditional solid metal head material with added groove features that create varying surface textures. The grooves act as a composite surface treatment that modifies energy transfer characteristics while preserving the base material's traditional appearance and structural integrity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If horizontal lines with varying widths are used, then energy transfer is made variable, but alignment accuracy and dispersion control are not sufficiently improved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the energy transfer function into different groove zones with different orientations - horizontal grooves for center hits and angled grooves for toe and heel hits. This segmentation provides more precise control over energy transfer direction and magnitude compared to simple varying line widths, improving both alignment accuracy and dispersion control.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using varying line widths to control energy transfer, the patent inverts the approach by using grooves of consistent width but different orientations. The groove orientation rather than width becomes the primary variable for controlling energy transfer direction, providing more predictable and accurate alignment and dispersion control.
Data Source
AI summary
A golf putter is disclosed having a head having a forward face, a back face, a top surface, and a bottom surface, the top surface defining a leading edge of the head and a trailing edge of the head. A back flange extends rearward from the back face of the head. In an example, a plurality of angled alignment lines are formed in the top surface of the head. In an example, a first straight alignment line is formed in the top surface of the head, the straight alignment line is centered between the plurality of angled alignment lines. In an example, a second straight alignment line is aligned with the first straight alignment line. In an example, a plurality of grooves are formed in the forward face of the head.