HIGH LAUNCH AND LOW SPIN GOLF BALL AND GOLF CLUB COMBINATION

• US 20100234125A1
• Filed: 03/16/2009
• Published: 09/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Curtis, Andrew, Aoyama, Steven, Stone, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/404,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20100234125A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/324
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0003 Golf balls
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0047 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0066 Density; Specific gravity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0076 Multi-piece balls, i.e. having two or more intermediate layers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 37/0087 Deflection or compression
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a golf club and golf ball combination that maximizes the distance of travel when the golf club strikes the golf ball. More specifically, a golf club and golf ball combination capable of generating a higher launch angle combined with the lower spin rate to maximize the distance. The golf club in accordance with the present invention may generally have a lower center of gravity, a higher loft angle, or may even have a coating on the club face that optimizes the coefficient of friction between the golf club and the golf ball. The golf ball in accordance with the present invention may generally have a ratio of the coefficient of lift (C_L) near the beginning of flight to the coefficient of lift near the end of the flight within a range that maximizes flight distance, with similar ratios in appropriate ranges for the coefficient of drag (C_D) and the lift-to-drag ratio (C_L/C_D).

Claims

1. A golf club and golf ball combination comprising:

a golf club and a golf ball;

wherein said golf ball achieves a launch angle (α

) and an initial spin rate (ω

_i) satisfying a relationship defined as 86α

+ω

_i≦

4310 when struck by said golf club.

2. The golf club and golf ball combination of claim 1, wherein said golf club is swung at an exemplary swing;

and wherein said exemplary swing is further comprising;

a velocity of about 110 miles per hour;

an attack angle of about 2 degrees;

an effective loft of about 13 degrees; and

a static loft of about 9.5 degrees;

wherein said golf ball contacts said golf club at the geometric center of the face of said golf club.

3. The golf club and ball combination of claim 2, wherein said launch angle (α

) is at least about 15 degrees.

4. The golf club and ball combination of claim 2, wherein said launch angle (α

) is at least about 18 degrees.

5. The golf club and ball combination of claim 2, wherein said launch angle (α

) is at least about 20 degrees.

6. The golf club and ball combination of claim 3, wherein said launch angle (α

) and said initial spin rate (ω

_i) relationship is defined as 86α

+ω

_i≦

4310 when struck by said golf club.

7. The golf club and ball combination of claim 3, wherein said launch angle (α

) and said initial spin rate (ω

_i) relationship is defined as 86α

+ω

_i≦

3710 when struck by said golf club.

8. The golf club and ball combination of claim 3, wherein said launch angle (α

) and said initial spin rate (ω

_i) relationship is defined as 86α

+ω

_i≦

3310 when struck by said golf club.

9. The golf club and ball combination of claim 3, wherein said golf club head has a center of gravity located about 10 mm to about 30 mm above a ground level of said golf club.

10. The golf club and ball combination of claim 3, wherein said golf club head has a center of gravity located about 15 mm to about 25 mm above a ground level of said golf club.

11. The golf club and ball combination of claim 9, wherein said golf ball has a beginning to end coefficient of lift ratio of about 0.64 to about 3.20;

a beginning to end coefficient of drag ratio of about 0.76 to about 0.99; and

a beginning to end ratio of lift to drag ratio of about 0.65 to about 3.40.

12. The golf club and ball combination of claim 9, wherein said golf ball has

a beginning to end coefficient of lift ratio of about 0.72 to about 2.03;

a beginning to end coefficient of drag ratio of about 0.82 to about 0.96; and

a beginning to end ratio of lift to drag ratio of about 0.76 to about 2.25.

13. The golf club and ball combination of claim 9, wherein said golf ball has

a beginning to end coefficient of lift ratio of about 0.80 to about 0.86;

a beginning to end coefficient of drag ratio of about 0.87 to about 0.93; and

a beginning to end ratio of lift to drag ratio of about 0.86 to about 1.10.

14. A golf club and ball combination comprising:

a golf club with a center of gravity located about 10 mm to about 30 mm above a ground level; and

a golf ball that has a beginning to end coefficient of lift ratio of about 0.64 to about 3.20;

a beginning to end coefficient of drag ratio of about 0.76 to about 0.99; and

a beginning to end ratio of lift to drag ratio of about 0.65 to about 3.40 when struck by said golf club.

15. The golf club and ball combination of claim 14, wherein said golf ball achieves a launch angle (α

) and an initial spin rate (ω

_i) satisfying a relationship defined as 86α

+ω

_i≦

3710 when struck by said golf club.

16. The golf club and ball combination of claim 15, wherein said golf club is swung at an exemplary swing;

and wherein said exemplary swing is further comprising;

a velocity of about 110 miles per hour;

an attack angle of about 2 degrees;

an effective loft of about 13 degrees; and

a static loft of about 9.5 degrees;

wherein said golf ball contacts said golf club at the geometric center of the face of said golf club.

17. The golf club and ball combination of claim 14, wherein said golf ball achieves a launch angle (α

) and an initial spin rate (ω

_i) satisfying a relationship defined as 86α

+ω

_i≦

3310 when struck by said golf club.

18. The golf club and ball combination of claim 17, wherein said golf club is swung at an exemplary swing;

and wherein said exemplary swing is further comprising;

a velocity of about 110 miles per hour;

an attack angle of about 2 degrees;

an effective loft of about 13 degrees; and

a static loft of about 9.5 degrees;

wherein said golf ball contacts said golf club at the geometric center of the face of said golf club.

19. The golf club and ball combination of claim 16, wherein said launch angle (α

) is at least about 18 degrees.

20. The golf club and ball combination of claim 16, wherein said launch angle (α

) is at least about 20 degrees.

21. A method of maximizing a travel distance of a golf ball comprising:

adjusting a center of gravity of a golf club to be located about 10 mm to about 30 mm above a ground level of said golf club;

adjusting a beginning to end coefficient of lift ratio for said golf ball to be about 0.64 to about 3.20;

adjusting a beginning to end coefficient of drag ratio of said golf ball to be about 0.76 to about 0.99; and

adjusting a beginning to end ratio of lift to drag ratio of said golf ball to be about 0.65 to about 3.40;

wherein said golf ball achieves a launch angle (α

) and an initial spin rate (ω

_i) satisfying a relationship defined as 86α

+ω

_i≦

4310 when struck by said golf club.

22. The method of maximizing said travel distance of said golf ball according to claim 21, further comprising of swinging said golf club at an exemplary swing;

wherein said exemplary swing is further comprising;

a velocity of about 110 miles per hour;

an attack angle of about 2 degrees;

an effective loft of aboutl3 degrees; and

a static loft of about 9.5 degrees;

wherein said golf ball contacts said golf club at a center of a face of said golf club.

23. The method of maximizing said travel distance of said golf ball according to claim 21, wherein said launch angle (α

) is at least about 18 degrees.