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Callaway redesigns Odyssey R-Ball Prototype using GE’s additive manufacturing

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Callaway has announced the company has signed a consultancy agreement with GE Additive’s AddWorks team, with the aim of improving its equipment through the potential of additive manufacturing. According to GE Additive’s website, additive manufacturing is a process that creates a physical object from digital design, enabling the creation of lighter, stronger parts and systems.

What does this mean for Callaway’s equipment?

The opening project from the agreement is a redesigned Odyssey R-Ball Prototype putter head. Callaway originally developed the Odyssey R-Ball Prototype as a tour preferred model in Japan, which consisted of removing the front ball from the original 2-ball design. Callaway, through additive manufacturing, has optimized the acoustics of the putter while retaining the preferred shape and performance.

 

Brad Rice, director – R&D, Advanced Engineering at Callaway, speaking about the process, stressed that the use of additive manufacturing is the future to the production of equipment in the game of golf, stating

“Additive manufacturing is a new tool; which is quickly going beyond the aspirational phase, and into the functionalization phase of the technology. Callaway needs to learn how to use this tool well because it is inevitable that 3D-Printing of production parts is going to happen – it is the production method of the future.”

So just how has Callaway and GE Additive collaborated to create the ideal acoustics on the Odyssey R-Ball Prototype putter head? Well, the answer is by adding geometry that made it difficult for conventional casting methods, which you can get a feel for in this short video.

For the Odyssey Prototype putter to retain its optimal design and shape while altering the acoustic signature of the putter head, Callaway and GE Additive’s AddWorks’ design and engineering teams implemented additive manufacturing through the following process:

  •  AddWorks provided guidance to Callaway, based on decades of additive design background spanning several industries.
  •  The team refined existing designs to the build direction to ensure all features were self-supported or easily supported during the build. The AddWorks team designed supports for thermal stresses and overhang constraints.
  •  Topology optimization was used in conjunction with acoustical mapping to create the optimal design.

According to GE Additive AddWorks general manager, Chris Schuppe, additive manufacturing is a method which we are going to be hearing of a lot down the line, and he is expecting this to be the first of many collaborations with Callaway

“We’re taking away many new learnings from our first project together, especially around aesthetics. We have also used additive technology to create an acoustic map, which is certainly a first for us. We’re looking forward to driving more successful projects with Callaway, as they continue their additive journey.”

What the future holds for Callaway’s products through the use of additive manufacturing remains to be seen. However, the company’s bold stance on the potential of the process enhancing their equipment could be telling.

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

16 Comments

16 Comments

  1. aga

    Nov 18, 2018 at 7:41 pm

    Can’t wait to get my hands on one of those tour tested R-Ball prototype putters… and price is no deterrent !!!!

  2. Tom

    Nov 17, 2018 at 11:53 pm

    Equipment manufacturers have run out of new product ideas….now just blowing smoke and mirrors…..sellers be sellin!

    • gunmetal

      Dec 5, 2018 at 2:00 pm

      Yep.

      Callaway is King of this. Boeing, Lamborghini, now GE. They partner with companies that can add credibility to their marketing story.

  3. engineer bob

    Nov 17, 2018 at 1:05 am

    GE will attempt to “engineer out” the unnecessary material and make it ring like a bell… how low can you go using high tech capability?!! Pa thetic US technology usage.

    • Engineer Swede

      Nov 20, 2018 at 8:35 am

      EBM or Electronic Beam Manufacturing is for the most part a bought up technology from a Swedish company called Arcam, that is now a part of GE. It’s actually fun to see 3D-printing technologies getting a wider audience. Rapid prototyping might soon become rapid(and local) production! Now wouldn’t that be a thing Bob? Where all you’re golfclubs is not produced in Taiwan but in the neighbouring town? Supporting local business and less shipping?

  4. JP

    Nov 16, 2018 at 10:28 pm

    Has anyone ever complained about the sound the putter makes? If the sound sucks, the design probably sucks. Start over.

    • ogo

      Nov 17, 2018 at 1:07 am

      Geerhead duffers want a good sounding putter because that’s all they look forward to… a ding sound…!

  5. Tiger Noods

    Nov 16, 2018 at 7:30 pm

    So, the short story is they couldn’t figure out how to do this in-house, called a contractor, and they’re spinning it as competence.

    Nice story, bros.

    Maybe they will start making clubs that don’t have high failure rates. That’d be nice.

    • Jamie

      Nov 16, 2018 at 10:24 pm

      That’s called patent infringement, libtard. You don’t just get to take another’s ideas and processes and make them your own.

      • Libtard

        Nov 18, 2018 at 3:44 am

        First, Libtard? Grow up.

        Second, patent infringement? I’m guessing that your use of “libtard” probably precludes a college degree, so maybe, just maybe, leave the litigation to those qualified.

        Third, you clearly weren’t replying to the above, so I suggest you brush up on your interwebbing, Señor AOL…

        Finally, I don’t get the American fascination with insults and someone’s political views. I thought America was “land of the free” and such… you really are an intolerant bunch.

  6. Hogenben

    Nov 16, 2018 at 5:25 pm

    All they are doing is working on acoustics…..just bs marketing hype.

  7. bj

    Nov 16, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    Callaway AND many other manufacturers of ALL kinds of products should have ALREADY been using 3D printing!!! The EXTREME amount of savings in designing ANY proto type is and the ability refine their products is very flexible AND inexpensive!!
    Its about time, they are FAR behind in using this tech that is HAS BEEN WELL PROVEN!!

    • ac

      Nov 16, 2018 at 5:34 pm

      whats the deal with the random all caps? is it code? AND ALL ALREADY EXTREME ANY AND FAR HAS BEEN WELL PROVEN..guess not.

  8. DB

    Nov 16, 2018 at 1:57 pm

    Cool story. I do think additive, 3-D, multi-material, etc. will be the future for some golf clubs. Article would have been better if Callaway had released some pictures of the final product or some information about how they can actually apply this to a product.

  9. Jamie

    Nov 16, 2018 at 1:52 pm

    GE will be bankrupt in a few weeks. Callaway would be smart to buy this unit now.

    • Benny

      Nov 18, 2018 at 6:20 pm

      I certainly hope not. Would love to put a wager on this. Now is a great time to buy!

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Whats in the Bag

Chesson Hadley WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 70 TX

3-wood: Titleist TSR2+ (14.5 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX

Irons: Titleist T200 (3), Titleist 620 CB (4, 5), Titleist 620 MB (6-PW)
Shafts: Graphite Design Tour AD DI 105 X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)

Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-12F, 56-14F), WedgeWorks (60-K)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG 2-Ball
Grip: Odyssey

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Check out more in-hand photos Chesson Hadley’s clubs here.

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Whats in the Bag

Gary Woodland WITB 2024 (March)

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Driver: Cobra Darkspeed X (8 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 70 M5

  • The white circle that appears at the top of the face a removable sticker that’s used for launch monitor tracking, and Woodland removes it for competition!

3-wood: Cobra Darkspeed X (14 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

7-wood: Cobra LTDx LS prototype (20 degrees)
Shaft: Accra TZ5 GW100 Prototype

Irons: Wilson Staff (18 degrees), Cobra King MB (4-PW)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X

Wedges: Cobra SB (48), Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (52-08F, 56-14F), Cobra King (60)
Shafts: KBS Tour C-Taper Limited X (48 degrees), KBS Tour V-Ten 125

Putter: Scotty Cameron T-5 Proto
Grip: SuperStroke Zenergy Tour 3.0P

Ball: Titleist Pro V1x

Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord

See more in-hand photos of Gary Woodland’s WITB in the forums.

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Equipment

Q&A: Martin Trainer on his Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers” putter, 6.5-degree driver, and “butter knife” 2-iron

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As unbiasedly as I can put it, Martin Trainer has one of the coolest club setups in professional golf. (At some point soon, I’ll put together a top-10 list of “coolest club setups on Tour,” but I know that Trainer will be in the top-10)

What a lineup. He plays a 6.5-degree Wilson prototype driver, a 13-degree Wilson prototype 3-wood, a true blade Wilson Staff Model 2-iron, and a Bobby Grace “Greg Chalmers Commemorative” putter!

 

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I mean, look at this 2-iron from address…

To quote the great author R.L. Stine: “Goosebumps.”

On Wednesday at the 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open, I caught up with Trainer to learn more about his bag setup.

Here’s what he had to say:

You have the Internet going crazy over your bag setup, and your putter. Where’d you pick the Bobby Grace-Greg Chalmers putter up? How long have you had it?

MT: This was from when Bobby Grace came to my course in California: Cal Club. And for whatever reason, they just started having them in the shop. So then I took my buddy’s, started using it, and made, like, a million putts in a row, which is how every putter story begins, I guess.

And then, I bought a couple of my own, used it for years, got to the Tour with it, won on Tour with it (the 2019 Puerto Rico Open). Then, about a year later, started using another putter, did that for a couple years, but now it’s back in the bag.

When did it come back in the bag?

MT: December of this past year. So a few months ago.

What year would you say was the first time you threw that in the bag, or, like, when you bought it?

MT: God…Probably, 2016, maybe? 2018?

Do you remember how much you paid for it?

MT: I don’t know, actually. Maybe $100-150 bucks or something. I think that’s the only golf club I’ve bought between high school and now. Well, two, since I bought two of them.

The driver is interesting, too. What went into the prototyping process?

MT: That was a version of the current driver, but it was the prototype that they first came out with for Tour guys to try. And for whatever reason, I just never switched out to the new one.

It’s just 6.5 degrees, right?

MT: Yeah. Very low loft, yeah.

What kind of ball speed do you have with that these days?

MT: Like high 170’s.

Yeah, that’ll work. And then a 2-iron blade? We’re seeing fewer and fewer of those out here.

MT: Yeah. The butter knife.

Very cool thing to have in the bag. Have you done any testing with driving irons? 

MT: Yeah, I used to have a thicker one, but it was a little offset, and I never hit it that well. And then finally, I started messing around with the butter knife. And I remember the first time I looked down at it, I was terrified. And then I ended up getting used to it, putting it in play, and it’s been in place since. It’s a pretty good club for me.

How far do you carry that? 

MT: Like 235.

A good little wind club, I’m sure.

MTL Yeah, exactly. I can hit it very low. It’s great.

I love it. You have people shook looking at that. Thanks for the time, man. 

MT: Absolutely.

To see more photos and discussion of Trainer’s bag, click here.

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