Golf Club Head Research Articles

An Optimal Design Procedure for Golf Clubhead Considering Impedance Matching

This study aims to develop a system for golf clubhead to maximize the flying distance of a golf ball after impact. The procedure consists of a step of pre-design with a CAD software, a process of optimization performed by the combination of a general purpose FEM code and an optimization program developed by the authors, and a step of redesign. For the optimization process, the relation between eigen frequencies and the coefficient of restitution (COR) is verified numerically at first. Based on the results of numerical examination, an approach is proposed for the optimal design in impact problem with basis vector method. And the basis vectors are created by using the sensitivity functions of eigen frequencies obtained by modal analysis. A numerical example is given to demonstrate the validity of the developed system.

GOLF CLUB HEAD HAVING A COMPOSITE CROWN

A golf club head having a high COR that is durable and has desirable acoustic qualities. The club head includes a body portion, a striking face and a crown forming a hollow cavity of at least 150 cc in volume. The body portion defines a front opening and an upper opening, and it includes a sole and a side section that extends rearward of the front opening. The striking plate is secured to the body portion, enclosing the front opening. While partially assembled, final weighting and/or other attachment of other members to the inner surface of the club head can be preformed, as desired. The crown is secured to the body portion, enclosing the upper opening. A surface veil may also be provided about a junction of the crown and body. The crown has a maximum thickness no greater than about 2 mm. The density of the crown is less than the density of the body portion. At least one of the striking plate and the crown is attached to the second portion by adhesive bonding, and the golf club head has a maximum coefficient of restitution of at least 0.80.

METHOD OF IDENTIFYING AN ANTINODE OF A PRIMARY VIBRATION MODE OF A GOLF CLUB HEAD

This invention provides a method of identifying an antinode of a primary vibration mode of the golf club head having a hollow golf club head having a face portion, a crown portion, a sole portion, and a side portion. A viscoelastic body is to be mounted in at least one of the face portion, crown portion, sole portion, and side portion. The viscoelastic body is mounted in a part of a portion where the viscoelastic body is to be mounted, the part corresponding to an antinode of a primary vibration mode.

331 ゴルフクラブヘッドの重心位置がシャフト挙動に及ぼす影響(スポーツにおける打撃(2))

331 ゴルフクラブヘッドの重心位置がシャフト挙動に及ぼす影響(スポーツにおける打撃(2))

GOLF CLUB HEAD COMPRISING A PIEZOELECTRIC SENSOR

An apparatus and method for determining the kinematic characteristics of a golf club head are disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one piezoelectric component selectively positioned within or upon a club head. The piezoelectric component is preferably positioned to the rear of the center of gravity, and near the midpoint of the face of the club head. During a golf club swing, the piezoelectric component determines the acceleration and deceleration of the golf club head. When the club head impacts an object such as a golf ball, the piezoelectric component is also operable to determine the velocity of the club head. It may also be desirable for the piezoelectric component to determine the magnitude of vibration during impact. In this manner, the piezoelectric component may function determine the efficiency of a golf club swing.

801 2次元スイング中のゴルフクラブの挙動解析

Composite materials have been employed in many sporting gears. Especially, laminated composite materials are used for the golf club shafts. The purpose of study is to present the two-dimensional swing simulation of the golf club refereeing the swing image of the golf swing robot to clarify the deflection of the swinging golf club shafts. Firstly, a finite element model of golf club which consists of the simplified golf club head and the laminated composite shaft is presented. And, it is proposed that the two-dimensional swing simulation of the golf clubs using the relationship between the time and the angular velocity of the grip of golf club estimated from the swing image of the golf swing robot. Next, from the results obtained by the proposed swing simulation, the validity of the grip position of the golf club is clarified. Finally, the effects of the stacking sequence of the golf club shaft and the swing speed to the deflection of the shaft during the swing are examined, respectively.

Relationship between Golf Clubhead Characteristics and Rebound Behaviour of a Ball

The objective of this study was to construct a finite element (FE) model which can accurately simulate the rebound behaviour of a ball including a spin axis for a golf impact, and to investigate the effect of centre of gravity (CoG) of a clubhead on the ball rebound, by conducting an FE analysis on a ball colliding with a simplified club. The club was constructed by holding the simplified clubhead in a locking ring fitted onto a steel shaft. The club model with linear elasticity was constructed. A ball model with hyperelasticity and viscoelasticity was constructed using solid elements. Impact experiments were also conducted to devise a method for calculating a spin rate and axis using a rotation matrix and to also confirm the accuracy of the FE model. The simulated results closely matched the experimental results. The ball rebound was analysed using the constructed model by varying positions of the height and depth of the CoG. The rebound angle and backspin tended to depend on the height of the CoG and the variation seemed to be influenced by the tangential force on the impact face. In the toe and heel impact cases, the deviation angle and sidespin tended to increase with the depth of the CoG. A component of impact force, which led to a generation of the sidespin, was identified from the relationship between the variation of the sidespin and positions of the depth of the CoG.

Machine vision based path planning for a robotic golf club head welding system

A path planning method based on machine vision techniques is constructed for a golf-club head robotic welding system. This system uses 3D machine vision techniques to recognize the weldseam and generates a welding path for the robot. The location of the weldseam is discovered by applying a Sobel mask to the captured data. A Laplace mask is also useful to filter out the noise points due to the scatter light refraction of tack-welding spots. The weldseam is then replenished and smoothed out by a B-spline curve fitting. The task frame of the weldseam is computed by finding the tangent, normal, and bi-normal of the curve. The robotic welding path is obtained by further rotations and translation along the axes of the task frame according to the requirement of the welding attitude. The developed machine vision technique and the mathematic framework pertaining to the generation of a welding task frame can readily be used for various three-dimensional welding tasks.

Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads Having Feel Altering Systems

Golf club heads include: (a) a body having a ball-striking face and a rear face, the body defining a cavity; (b) a bridge member extending across the cavity, wherein the bridge member is provided to affect, at least in part, a position of a center of gravity of the club head; and (c) a feel altering element provided between the bridge member and the rear face. The feel altering element may affect a wide variety of parameters that relate to the “feel” of the golf club head when it strikes a golf ball, such as the sound produced by the club head during the strike, the vibrational response of the club head during the strike, the swing characteristics of the club head (e.g., weight, center of gravity position, etc.), and the like.

Extreme Weighted Hybrid And Other Wood-Type Golf Clubs And Golf Club Heads

Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a club head body member defining an interior chamber; (b) a weight system engaged with a rear perimeter portion of the club head body member; and (c) a connection system connecting the weight system with the club head body (e.g., with the rear of the ball striking face portion). The club heads further may include one or more damping members in the interior chamber to alter the sound and/or otherwise attenuate a vibrational response of the club head. The damping members may extend between the ball striking face and the weight system, and optionally may engage the connection system. The damping member(s) may constitute a foam material compressed within the interior chamber of the club head. Methods of making such golf club head structures also are described.

Golf Club Head

Golf Club Head

Golf Club Head

Golf Club Head

Golf Club Head

Golf Club Head

FEA and experimental investigations of principal strains and contact times during impact of golf club head and ball

In order to widen a sweet area of a golf club head, it has been attempted to increase a coefficient of restitution in the peripheral portion of a face with a variable thickness distribution design. To do so, both the restitution and the strength performance are required, and technology for the estimation of the golf club head strength is necessary. In these investigations, principal strains of the face during the impact were compared between finite element analysis and experiments. As a result, following two conclusions were made. First, the finite element size of 0.4mm is suitable to obtain the principal strains during the impact. Second, the sequential waveforms of the maximum principal strains show a similar tendency between analytical and experimental results. Also, following two points were considered. First, the magnitude of the principal strain of the face in the simulation was considered to show much better agreement with that of experiment when the contact times between simulation and experiment coincide with each other through the ball material modeling. Second, the bending of the face in the vertical direction was considered to be a major influential factor of the maximum principal strain.

Failure Analysis of a Titanium Golf Club Head

This article details the investigation of a failed head of a golf club driver that developed multiple cracks during normal use. The golf club head was manufactured from a titanium alloy, and the analysis revealed a progressive failure initiated on the interior surface of the club head face plate at a deep, concentric groove created from a forming during manufacturing. In addition, the welding operation used to assemble the head permitted contamination and, consequently, embrittlement, which could have also contributed to the failure of the golf club head.

Screw Form Rolling of Beta Type Titanium Alloy Preliminary Worked by Torsion

Beta type titanium alloys in a cold processability are light, have high strength, excellent corrosion resistance and the same level as Young's modulus of human bone. Therefore, beta type titanium alloys are used for plant facilities such as nuclear plants, architectural materials, aircraft, car, biomaterial, medical equipment, glasses and golf club head, etc. Microstructure and mechanical properties of beta type titanium alloys processed by rolling and heat treatment have been reported [1]. Additionally, screw form rolling using beta type titanium alloys has also been reported [2]. However, the development in those characteristics after the preliminary working by torsion has been unknown.

Development of a method for monitoring clubhead path and orientation through impact

This study reports the development of a golf clubhead trajectory monitoring system which utilises PONTOS, a 3D motion analysis package from GOM. This paper demonstrates how this system can be used to monitor clubhead path and orientation and position throughout impact with future scope to simultaneously measure ball launch conditions. Six subjects performed 10 swings with a driver and a selection of these shots were analysed in detail. Face angle and dynamic loft were calculated as indicators of clubhead orientation and the effect of off-centre impacts on head rotation were quantified. When considering clubhead velocity, the flexibility of the system allowed velocities at different locations to be monitored. It was found that the velocity of the toe and heel differed by up to 5.7 ms−1 at the moment of impact.

Golf club head

Golf club head

Golf club head

Golf club head

Iron golf club with improved mass properties and vibration damping

A golf club is provided having improved playing characteristics based upon a multiple material construction. This construction involves a club body in combination with a face insert that defines a hollow channel therebetween. This hollow channel is substantially filled with a heterogeneous viscoelastic material, such as urethane containing tungsten powder. The heterogeneous material is formulated such that the density of the material is varied based upon the location of that material within the hollow channel of the golf club head. In particular, lower density portions of the material are located near the top of the club head, and higher density portions are located near the bottom or sole of the club head. This moves the center of gravity of the club head downward and rearward, yielding improved feel and improved weight distribution and enhancing performance of the club.