Wedge Club Head Mass Distribution for Tighter Shot Dispersion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wedge-type golf club heads struggle to reduce shot dispersion while maintaining other performance attributes such as feel, spin, trajectory, and compliance with regulatory standards.
Innovation Solution
The golf club head design includes specific geometric configurations, such as a center of gravity placement relative to a virtual vertical plane, a hosel with an auxiliary recess, and texture patterns on the striking face, to minimize shot dispersion without adversely affecting other performance attributes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the center of gravity is relocated to reduce shot dispersion, then shot dispersion is reduced, but spin, trajectory shape, and effective bounce are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a recessed region in a specific location (heel-most region) of the club head to concentrate mass redistribution in a localized area. This allows the center of gravity to be positioned within 5mm of the vertical plane while preserving spin and trajectory characteristics through targeted mass adjustment rather than global redistribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the mass distribution parameter by removing material to create a recessed region, thereby adjusting the center of gravity position. This parameter change enables reduced shot dispersion while the patent specifically tunes the recess dimensions to maintain spin and trajectory properties within acceptable ranges.
2Measurement precision
If mass is removed from the club head to adjust center of gravity, then shot dispersion is reduced, but structural integrity and manufacturing complexity are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the club head structure by creating a distinct recessed region separated from the main body. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of mass distribution in the heel-most region without affecting the overall structural integrity of the club head, simplifying both manufacturing and design adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts material from the heel-most region to create the recessed region. This extraction approach directly reduces mass in a controlled manner to adjust the center of gravity position while maintaining the rest of the club head structure intact, avoiding the need for complex additive manufacturing or post-assembly modifications.
3Measurement precision
If the striking face surface area is reduced to improve precision, then shot dispersion is reduced, but the ability to generate feedback and feel is adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the recessed region as a counterweight adjustment mechanism that compensates for potential feel losses from reduced striking face area. By precisely positioning the center of gravity through the recess, the patent maintains optimal balance and feedback characteristics even with a smaller striking face surface area.
Data Source
AI summary
A golf club head includes a striking face, a sole portion, a top portion, a hosel, a rear surface, a loft no less than 40°, a virtual vertical plane, and a center of gravity. The striking face has a face center, a leading edge, and a virtual striking face plane. The hosel includes an internal bore configured to receive a golf shaft and includes a peripheral side wall and a shaft abutment surface configured to abut a tip end of the golf shaft. The rear surface is opposite the striking face and has an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion including a forward-extending recess. The insert covers the recess forming a hollow portion. The virtual vertical plane is perpendicular to the striking face plane and passes through the face center. The center of gravity is spaced a distance from the virtual vertical plane in the heel-to-toe direction.