US2025099825A1PendingUtilityA1

Synergistic golf club and golf ball combination

Assignee: ACUSHNET COPriority: Dec 7, 2021Filed: Dec 6, 2024Published: Mar 27, 2025
Est. expiryDec 7, 2041(~15.3 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
A63B 37/0096A63B 37/009A63B 37/0089A63B 37/0087A63B 37/0084A63B 37/0083A63B 37/008A63B 37/0078A63B 37/0074A63B 60/006A63B 53/10A63B 53/0437A63B 53/0433A63B 53/023A63B 53/0466A63B 37/0006A63B 2225/01
61
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Claims

Abstract

Synergistic pairing of golf clubs with golf balls both with improved aerodynamic properties to help improve the performance of both. In an example, a golf club has a golf club head; a grip; and a shaft having a tip end and a butt end. The golf club head is coupled to the shaft at the tip end, and the grip is coupled to the shaft at the butt end. The golf ball has at least a core and a cover having a plurality of dimples arranged in a dimple pattern.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf club comprising:
 a golf club head;
 wherein the golf club head has a Clubhead Coefficient of Drag (C D-Clubhead ) of less than about 0.40 at a Reynolds number of about 384,000, 
   a grip; and   a shaft having a tip end and a butt end, the golf club head being coupled to the shaft at the tip end, the grip being coupled to the shaft at the butt end,
 wherein a tip end portion of the shaft has a bending stiffness less than about 150 kg/in. 
   
     
     
         2 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the bending stiffness of the tip end portion of the shaft is less than about 140 kg/in. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein the bending stiffness of the tip end portion of the shaft is less than about 130 kg/in. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club of  claim 3 , wherein the Clubhead Coefficient of Drag (C D-Clubhead ) is less than about 0.38 at the Reynolds Number of about 384,000. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club of  claim 4 , wherein the Clubhead Coefficient of Drag (C D-Clubhead ) is less than about 0.36 the Reynolds Number of about 384,000. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club of  claim 5 , wherein a butt end portion of the shaft has a bending stiffness of greater than about 250 kg/in. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club of  claim 6 , wherein the bending stiffness of the butt end portion is greater than about 260 kg/in. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club of  claim 7 , wherein the bending stiffness of the butt end portion is greater than about 170 kg/in. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a Launch Characteristic Ratio of greater than about 0.100, the Launch Characteristic Ratio defined as: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 Launch 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 Characteristic 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 Ratio 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     Butt 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     End 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     Stiffness 
                     * 
                     Torque 
                   
                   
                     Tip 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     End 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     Stiffness 
                     * 
                     Weight 
                   
                 
                 . 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     
         10 . The golf club of  claim 9 , wherein the Launch Characteristic Ratio of the shaft is greater than about 0.150. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club of  claim 10 , wherein the Launch Characteristic Ratio of the shaft is greater than about 0.200. 
     
     
         12 . A synergistic golf club and golf ball comprising:
 a golf club further comprising:
 a golf club head,
 wherein the golf club head has a Clubhead Coefficient of Drag (C D-Clubhead ) of less than about 0.40 at a Reynolds number of about 384,000, 
 
 a grip, and 
 a shaft having a tip end and a butt end, the golf club head being coupled to the shaft at the tip end, and the grip being coupled to the shaft at the butt end, 
 wherein a tip end portion of the shaft has a bending stiffness less than about 150 kg/in; 
   a golf ball comprising at least a core and a cover,
 the golf ball having a weight of 1.600 ounces-1.620 ounces, 
 the golf ball having a diameter of 1.680 inches-1.700 inches, 
 the golf ball having a series of Coefficients of Drag (C D ) and a series of Coefficients of Lift (C L ) over a range of Reynolds numbers and spin ratios; 
 the cover comprising a plurality of dimples arranged in a dimple pattern having the following aerodynamic characteristics: 
 wherein 0.230≤C D ≤0.250 at a Reynolds number of 220,000 and a spin ratio of 0.070, and 0.230≤C D ≤0.250 at a Reynolds number of 160,000 and a spin ratio of 0.095, and 0.230≤C D ≤0.250 at a Reynolds number of 120,000 and a spin ratio of 0.100. 
   
     
     
         13 . The synergistic golf club and golf ball of  claim 12 , wherein a Tip Stiffness to a C D /C L  Value of the golf ball is less than about 270, the Tip Stiffness to C D /C L  Value defined as: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 Tip 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 Stiffness 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 to 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 
                   
                     C 
                     D 
                   
                   / 
                   
                     C 
                     L 
                   
                 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 Value 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   ( 
                   
                     Tip 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     Stiffness 
                   
                   ) 
                 
                 * 
                 
                   
                     ( 
                     
                       
                         C 
                         D 
                       
                       
                         C 
                         L 
                       
                     
                     ) 
                   
                   . 
                 
               
             
           
         
       
       and where C D /C L  is established at a Reynolds number of 225,000 and a spin ratio 0.070. 
     
     
         14 . The synergistic golf club and golf ball of  claim 13 , wherein the Tip Stiffness to C D /C L  Value is less than about 240. 
     
     
         15 . The synergistic golf club and golf ball of  claim 14 , wherein the Tip Stiffness to C D /C L  Value is less than about 200. 
     
     
         16 . A synergistic golf club and golf ball comprising:
 a golf club further comprising:
 a golf club head; 
 a grip, and 
 a shaft having a tip end and a butt end, the golf club head being coupled to the shaft at the tip end, and the grip being coupled to the shaft at the butt end, 
 wherein a tip end portion of the shaft has a bending stiffness less than about 150 kg/in, and 
   a golf ball comprising at least a core and a cover,
 the golf ball having a weight of 1.600 ounces-1.620 ounces, 
 the golf ball having a diameter of 1.680 inches-1.700 inches, 
 the golf ball having a series of Coefficients of Drag (C D ) and a series of Coefficients of Lift (C L ) over a range of Reynolds numbers and spin ratios;
 the golf ball having a coefficient of restitution of at least 0.800, a compression of at least 80, and an initial velocity of at least 250 feet/second, 
 the cover comprising a plurality of dimples arranged in a dimple pattern having an integrated drag area (DA) defined by: 
 
   
       
         
           
             
               DA 
               = 
               
                 
                   ∫ 
                   
                     
                       1 
                       ⁢ 
                       6 
                       ⁢ 
                       0 
                     
                     , 
                     
                       0 
                       ⁢ 
                       0 
                       ⁢ 
                       0 
                     
                   
                   
                     225 
                     , 
                     000 
                   
                 
                 
                   
                     
                       C 
                       D 
                     
                     ( 
                     Re 
                     ) 
                   
                   ⁢ 
                   dRe 
                 
               
             
           
         
         
           
             where C D (Re) is established at a setup condition including a golf ball speed of 182.0 mph, a launch angle of 10.0 degrees, and a spin rate of 2,700 rpm, and 
             wherein 14,500≤DA≤15,500. 
           
         
       
     
     
         17 . The synergistic golf club and golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein the bending stiffness of the tip end portion of the shaft is less than about 140 kg/in. 
     
     
         18 . The synergistic golf club and golf ball of  claim 16 , wherein a Tip Stiffness to Integrated Drag Area Ratio is greater than about 80, the Tip Stiffness to Integrated Drag Area Ratio is defined as: 
       
         
           
             
               
                 Tip 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 Stiffness 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 to 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 Integrated 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 Drag 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 Area 
                 ⁢ 
                     
                 Ratio 
               
               = 
               
                 
                   
                     Integrated 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     Drag 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     Area 
                   
                   
                     Tip 
                     ⁢ 
                         
                     Stiffness 
                   
                 
                 . 
               
             
           
         
       
     
     
         19 . The synergistic golf club and golf ball of  claim 18 , wherein the Tip Stiffness to Integrated Drag Area Ratio is greater than about 105. 
     
     
         20 . The synergistic golf club and golf ball of  claim 19 , wherein the Tip Stiffness to Integrated Drag Area Ratio is greater than about 115.

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