Stepped Crown Golf Club Head Aerodynamics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wood-type golf club heads with large striking faces experience increased aerodynamic drag and elevated center of gravity due to their design, leading to suboptimal performance during the downswing.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a stepped crown design that transitions steeply from a raised front portion to a lower rear portion, reducing aerodynamic drag and lowering the center of gravity by redistributing mass, with the stepped portion extending in a toeward and rearward direction and featuring a significant angle relative to a perpendicular plane.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the striking face size is increased, then the club head volume and crown elevation are increased, but aerodynamic drag increases and center of gravity is elevated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestriking face sizeVSAvoidaerodynamic drag

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The crown is segmented into multiple height levels (first crown portion at higher elevation, second crown portion at lower elevation), creating a stepped configuration that divides the continuous crown surface into discrete zones with different aerodynamic characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The crown design transitions from a traditional single-plane surface to a multi-level stepped structure, adding vertical dimensionality variation to reduce the projected frontal area and improve airflow characteristics during the swing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Area of moving object

If the striking face size is increased, then the club head volume is increased, but the center of gravity is elevated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestriking face sizeVSAvoidcenter of gravity elevation

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of moving objectVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the crown are given different elevations (first crown portion higher, second crown portion lower), creating local variations in mass distribution that lower the overall center of gravity while preserving the large striking face area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The crown mass is segmented into upper and lower portions, with the lower second crown portion providing a mass counterbalance that reduces center of gravity elevation despite the increased overall club head volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of manufacture

If a traditional flat crown design is used, then manufacturing is simple, but aerodynamic performance is suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecrown manufacturing simplicityVSAvoidaerodynamic drag

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The crown is divided into discrete stepped portions that can be manufactured using standard molding techniques, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while achieving the aerodynamic benefits of a complex multi-level geometry

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stepped crown portions incorporate curved transitions and rounded edges rather than sharp angles, improving aerodynamic airflow while remaining compatible with conventional injection molding manufacturing processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS10463929B2Golf club head with stepped crown

Publication Date: 2019.11.05 TAYLOR MADE GOLF CO INC

AI summary

Golf club head embodiments disclosed herein comprise a crown having a stepped portion located between a front portion of the crown and rear portion of the crown, such that the crown transitions steeply in height across the stepped portion from the front portion down to the rear portion. The stepped portion of the crown may extend from adjacent to the hosel in a toeward and rearward direction.