Variable-Dimple Golf Ball for Spin-Adaptive Trajectory Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf ball manufacturers face challenges in developing balls that cater to golf players who can achieve a sufficiently high trajectory and those who cannot, leading to increased manufacturing costs and difficulty in player selection due to varying initial elements.
Innovation Solution
A golf ball with variable dimples that change shape during flight, featuring dimples with different volumes in equator and pole vicinity regions, adjusting lift force based on spin rates to maintain optimal trajectory and distance regardless of initial conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If golf balls are designed with fixed-dimension dimples to optimize trajectory for players with low initial spin rates, then lift force is sufficient for these players, but the flight distance becomes insufficient for players with high initial spin rates due to excessively high trajectory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the dimple shape changeable during flight. The dimples transition from an initial shape at rest to a different shape during flight, allowing the lift force characteristics to adapt dynamically. This enables a single golf ball design to provide appropriate trajectory and flight distance for both players with low initial spin rates (who need sufficient lift) and players with high initial spin rates (who need trajectory control), thereby resolving the contradiction between optimizing for specific player types and achieving versatility across different player types.
2Adaptability or versatility
If golf balls are designed with fixed-dimension dimples to optimize trajectory for players with high initial spin rates, then trajectory is controlled for these players, but the flight distance becomes insufficient for players with low initial spin rates due to excessively low trajectory
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the dimple shape changeable during flight. The dimples transition from an initial shape at rest to a different shape during flight, allowing the trajectory control characteristics to adapt dynamically. This enables a single golf ball design to provide appropriate trajectory control for players with high initial spin rates while simultaneously ensuring sufficient flight distance for players with low initial spin rates, thereby resolving the contradiction between trajectory control and flight distance across different player types.
3Reliability
If manufacturers produce separate golf balls for players with sufficiently high trajectory and those who cannot achieve sufficiently high trajectory, then each ball type is optimized for its target group, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing a single golf ball with variable dimples that can serve multiple functions and adapt to different player types. Instead of producing separate optimized balls for players with sufficiently high trajectory and those who cannot achieve sufficiently high trajectory, this single design provides appropriate performance for both groups through its shape-changing dimples, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining optimization for each target group.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the dimple shape changeable during flight. This dynamic characteristic allows a single golf ball design to provide optimized performance for different player types without requiring multiple product lines, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining reliability and optimization for each target group.
4Reliability
If players select golf balls based on their initial elements (spin rate, club, physical condition, weather), then optimal performance can be achieved, but selection becomes difficult due to varying conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the universality principle by designing a golf ball that functions effectively for multiple player types and conditions. The variable dimple design allows the ball to adapt to different initial spin rates, clubs, and conditions, providing optimal performance across a wide range of scenarios. This eliminates the need for players to carefully select specific ball types based on their initial elements, as this single design provides universally optimal performance regardless of varying conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the dimple shape changeable during flight. This dynamic adaptation allows the ball to automatically adjust to different initial elements such as spin rate, club type, and weather conditions, providing optimal performance without requiring player knowledge or selection effort. Players simply use the ball as-is, and it adapts to their specific conditions, thereby greatly easing the selection process.
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 golf ball achieves a large flight distance and appropriate trajectory for both high and low initial spin rates, enhancing versatility and reducing dependence on initial elements.
Implementation Method 1
transition from the shape at rest to the shape during flight is achieved by a centrifugal force resulting from spin of the golf ball
Implementation Method 2
The dimples disturb the air flow around the golf ball during flight to cause turbulent flow separation. This phenomenon is referred to as 'turbulization'.
Implementation Method 3
Due to turbulization, separation points of the air from the golf ball shift backwards leading to a reduction of drag.
Implementation Method 4
The turbulization promotes the displacement between the separation point on the upper side and the separation point on the lower side of the golf ball, which results from the backspin, thereby enhancing the lift force that acts upon the golf ball.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a golf ball that is suitable for golf players who can achieve a sufficiently high trajectory due to initial elements and is also suitable for golf players who cannot achieve a sufficiently high trajectory due to initial elements. The golf ball has a core, a cover, and a paint layer. The golf ball has a variable dimple on a surface thereof. The cover has a hole. A space is formed by the hole. The cover and the paint layer are not joined at a location directly below the dimple. A space is formed between the cover and the paint layer. The volume of the space varies due to a centrifugal force caused by backspin.