Putter Golf Club Head Retention Cavity for Easy Ball Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing putters face difficulty in retaining a golf ball effectively while allowing easy release without impeding the user.
Innovation Solution
A putter head design featuring a retention cavity with frictional engagement and relief gaps to securely hold the ball and facilitate easy dislodging, utilizing a retention cavity with multiple ball retention areas and strategically positioned interior side walls and a ball release feature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a retention feature is designed to securely hold the golf ball, then ball retention is improved, but it becomes difficult to release the ball
Solution Approach 1:
The retention cavity is divided into multiple retention areas with interior side walls that create distinct friction zones. This segmentation allows the ball to be held securely through distributed friction while providing specific relief gaps that facilitate easy release at designated points.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the retention cavity have different properties: some areas have high friction for retention (interior side walls) while other areas have low friction or open spaces for release (relief gaps). This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between secure holding and easy release.
2Reliability
If the retention feature uses frictional engagement to hold the ball, then retention security is improved, but the user must bend over to retrieve the ball
Solution Approach 1:
The ball can be easily extracted from the retention cavity through the relief gaps without requiring the user to bend over. The relief gaps provide direct access points that eliminate the need for awkward user positions while maintaining secure retention during normal use.
3Reliability
If multiple retention areas are created with interior side walls, then ball retention is enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple retention functions are merged into a single integrated retention cavity structure. The interior side walls and relief gaps work together as a unified system rather than separate components, achieving enhanced retention without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The retention cavity serves multiple functions simultaneously: it secures the ball through frictional engagement, provides easy release points through relief gaps, and maintains structural integrity. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components.
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 ensures secure ball retention and easy retrieval without requiring users to bend over, enhancing usability and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
two or more ball retention areas for frictionally engaging and retaining at least a portion of a golf ball within the retention cavity
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a putter-type golf club head includes a body portion and a retention cavity extending into the body portion and having an opening and one or more interior side walls. The retention cavity defines two or more ball retention areas for frictionally engaging and retaining a golf ball within the retention cavity. The two or more ball retention areas frictionally engage the golf ball along a ball circumference located above an equator of the golf ball at a distance greater than or equal to 0.050 inches (0.127 centimeters) and less than or equal to 0.070 inches (0.178 centimeters). The golf club head has a head mass greater than or equal to 300 grams and less than or equal to 400 grams. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.