Equipment
Latest patent filings: Cobra, Ping pursuing slots
A new year, a new batch of patent filings: It’s time to take a look at what the major OEMs are working on.
Last time, we saw TaylorMade experimenting with multi-layer driver face, Callaway toying with some very interesting adjustable irons, and Ping working on highly adjustable irons.
In this edition, we’ll take a look at some of the avenues TaylorMade, Titleist, Nike, Cobra, and Ping are exploring.
TaylorMade: Pursuing aerodynamic heads
In a filing for a patent “high volume aerodynamic golf club head” TaylorMade’s designers seem to be turning their eyes toward (you guessed it) aerodynamics in driver head design.
As the filing states:
“In the past the aerodynamics of golf club heads were studied and it was found that the aerodynamics of the club head had only minimal impact on the performance of the golf club.
Golf club designers pay little attention to the aerodynamics of these large golf clubs; often instead focusing solely on increasing the club head’s resistance to twisting during off-center shots.”
TaylorMade also filed a patent for the design below.
The company lays out the thinking behind the triangular design in an interesting couple of paragraphs:
“Often, golf club manufacturers are faced with the choice of increasing one performance characteristic at the expense of another. For example, the shape and size of some conventional golf club heads approach the maximum envelope dimensions in an attempt to increase the moments of inertia of the heads. Such designs, however, most likely require a decrease in the face size, or ball striking surface area, in order to comply with the USGA regulations. As another example, some conventional golf club heads have an increased face size in an attempt to optimize the ball striking surface of the golf club head. Such golf club head designs, however, typically have decreased moments of inertia.
Golf club designers and manufacturers have struggled to design golf club heads having increased moments of inertia while maintaining other desirable golf club head characteristics and abiding by the USGA regulations.”
Titleist: A progressive CG iron set
Fairhaven, Mass.-based Titleist is working on a set of progressive irons, per a recent filing. The irons feature “a progressive center of gravity allocation” in order improve launch angles.
Nike: A new golf ball
Nike is working on some new pellets. It’s always difficult to determine exactly what a company is shooting for in a golf ball patent filing, because of, well, language like this:
“A thermoplastic multi-layer golf ball has a core center having a diameter from about 21 mm to about 29 mm and including a first thermoplastic material having a first flexural modulus of less than about 15,000 psi, a core layer disposed radially outward from the core center with a thickness of at least about 4 mm and a second thermoplastic material having a second flexural modulus of up to about 15,000 psi that is greater than the first flexural modulus, and a cover disposed radially outward from the core layer. The cover comprises a third thermoplastic material having a third flexural modulus. The first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material each includes an ionomer resin, and these ionomer resins may be the same as or different from each other.”
Anyway, here’s the ball:
See the full filing here.Cobra: Channeled woods
In a filing that includes actual photos, Cobra is putting forth woods with a recessed channel.
However, as Cobra points out, there is a potential problem with “channeled” clubs. The company lays out the perceived problem and their solution in the section clipped below.
“During a high speed drive, the ramped portion of the sole may distribute and neutralize torsional stresses, dampening unwanted and unpredictable twisting that can be introduced or amplified by prior art channel structures.
“One insight of the invention is that adding an elastically deformable channel to a driver head can destabilize the structure, allowing the club head to twist, shear, or compress non-uniformly and transfer momentum non-uniformly to the strike face during the down stroke of a high-speed drive or at impact.
“Thus a club head that includes a channel area with a groove that is buttressed by a shallow ramp will resist non-uniform deformation and non-uniform momentum transfer to the face with the result that shots will fly straight, and the club head will provide the full and intended benefit of a channel in the sole—a high coefficient of restitution and a large sweet spot in a club head that hits true. The channel area or groove preferably runs in a heel-to-toe direction substantially parallel to the face and close (e.g., within a few centimeters) to the face.”
Ping: Slitted (or slotted) woods
Ping looks to be getting into the slot/channel game with the design pictured below. And as the filing says “slit” or “slot” about 300 times, the technology seems to be the core of the next generation of the Phoenix-based manufacturers designs.
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TaylorMade is continuing its UDI/DHY series with the successor to the Stealth UDI and DHY utility irons: PUDI and PDHY (which the company styles as P·UDI and P·DHY). TaylorMade is folding the designs in with its P Series of irons.
TaylorMade outlined the process of developing its new utilities this way. The company started with the data on utility iron usage. Not surprisingly, better players — i.e. those who generate more clubhead speed and strike the ball more precisely — were found to gravitate toward the UDI model. DHY usage, however, covered a wider swath than the company might have expected with six-to-18 handicappers found to be bagging the club.
TaylorMade also found that the majority of golfers playing UDI or DHY utilities were playing P Series irons at the top of their iron configurations.
Can you see where this is going?
Matt Bovee, Director of Product Creation, Iron and Wedge at TaylorMade: “As we look to the future, beyond the tech and the design language, we are excited about repositioning our utility irons into the P·Series family. P·UDI is an easy pair for players that currently play P·Series product and P·DHY is an extremely forgiving option for players of all skill levels. It is a natural fit to give these players the performance in this category that they are looking for.”
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TaylorMade PUDI
TaylorMade PUDI technology cutaway (via TaylorMade)
Crafted with tour player input, TaylorMade sought to develop a confidence-inspiring utility iron that blends with the rest of the P Series irons. Also of note: Interestingly, the PUDI has a more compact head than the P790.
In comparison to past UDI products, the PUDI has a more traditional iron shape, slimmer toplines, and less offset with a little of the backbar visible at address.
TaylorMade PDHY
TaylorMade PDHY tech cutaway (via TaylorMade).
Larger in profile than the PUDI, the PDHY seeks to position center of gravity (CG) lower in the club for ease of launch. The toe height is larger and the profile is larger at address — roughly five millimeters longer than PUDI — the sole of the club is wider for improved forgiveness.
Club Junkie’s take
Golfers who feel like they are missing something at the top of the bag could find the PUDI or PDHY a great option. The look of the PUDI should fit the most discerning eye with a more compact look, less offset, and a thinner topline. If you want a little more confidence looking down the P-DHY will be slightly larger while still being a good-looking utility iron.
For being small packages both models pack a pretty good punch with fast ball speeds, even off-center. The feel is soft and you get a solid feel of the ball compressing off the face when you strike it well. Your ears are greeted with a nice heavy thud as the ball and club come together. The PDHY will launch a little higher for players who need it while the PUDI offers a more penetrating ball flight. Both utility irons could be the cure for an open spot in the top end of the bag.
PUDI, PDHY, or Rescue?
TaylorMade offers the following notes to assist golfers in filling out their bags:
- PUDI has mid-CG right behind the center face to create a more penetrating mid-to-low ball flight
- PDHY has a lower center of gravity to produce an easier-to-launch mid-to-high ball flight.
- Both PUDI and PDHY are lower-flying than the company’s hybrid/Rescue clubs.
- PUDI is more forgiving than P790.
- PDHY is the most forgiving iron in the entire TaylorMade iron family
Pricing, specs, and availability
Price: $249.99
At retail: Now
Stock shafts: UST Mamiya’s Recoil DART (105 X, 90 S and 75 R – only in PDHY)
Stock grip: Golf Pride’s ZGrip (black/grey)
PUDI lofts: 2-17°, 3-20°, 4-22° in both left and right-handed
PDHY lofts: 2-18°, 3-20° and 4-22° in both left and right-handed
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (5/3/24): Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
From the seller: (@wwcl): “Has been gamed as pics show. 33.5 includes original h/c and grip. $575 includes shipping and PP fees.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Scotty Cameron Champions Choice 2.5+ putter
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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- Richy Werenski what’s in the bag accurate as of the CJ Cup Houston Open.
Driver: Titleist TSR3 (10 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana PD 60 TX
3-wood: Titleist TSR2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Red 8 X
Hybrid: Titleist TSR3 (19 degrees, D1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro White Hybrid 90 TX
Irons: Titleist T100 (4-9)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 105 S
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM9 (46-10F, 50-12F), Titleist Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (54-M, 58-L @60)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 Onyx (46-50), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 Onyx (54-60)
Putter: Scotty Cameron prototype
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x Left Dash
Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord
Check out more in-hand photos of Richy Werenski’s clubs in the forums.
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John Seiter
Jan 10, 2015 at 1:43 pm
Did anyone recognize Adams was the first with “slots’?? That’s why Adidas was interested in acquiring Adams. I have Adams clubs that are about 8 yrs old with “Velocity Slots”. Look it up!!
Slat
Jan 10, 2015 at 4:04 am
Can Ping get that patent? I’m guessing that as long as it is slightly different to the ones already out there? Crazy
talljohn777
Jan 9, 2015 at 2:18 pm
If the first company that patented the slot did so, then how are any other companies using this same concept? And why would the patent office allow any other patents for the same concept?
Cash
Jan 12, 2015 at 3:53 am
MONEY
KP
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:50 pm
It looks like the turbulators are not on the slotted club diagrams. Although not being an IP atty the patent may only be showing the item being applied for and when actually produced may incorporate the turbulators.
labillyboy
Jan 9, 2015 at 1:50 pm
I play with someone who uses a TM slotted fairway… the slot picks up dirt on every practice swing, causing an annoying swing routine which involves cleaning the slot between the practice swing and the real one…
Maybe they can invent a slot that cleans itself?
My non-slotted TEE still works a lot better, BTW.
Regis
Jan 9, 2015 at 2:50 pm
That criticism of the original Rocketblade slots has long since been corrected by subsequent models. Try keeping current. Maybe its why Titleist and now Ping and Cobra are moving into slots. Sorry Titleist calls it the “Active Recoil Channel”.
JEFF
Jan 9, 2015 at 12:37 pm
Its all a scam to sell. Nothing is going to be easier to hit than it is right now.
Nigel
Jan 9, 2015 at 5:50 pm
Funny how there are factual, statistical gains in distance etc from all reviews on YouTube by professionals that use launch monitors. Also strange how the slot ‘gimmick’ is being used by all of the companies, even the honest and old school Titleist and Ping. Get with the new generation of golf grandad.
Pingbling23
Jan 11, 2015 at 8:05 pm
People said this 20 years ago too. Everything might not stick, but when every company is striving for something better, I think it will lead to better things.
Dpavs
Jan 8, 2015 at 2:21 pm
The industry knows we are nothing but a bunch of Ho’s, so it’s no surprise they are turning into a bunch of slots. 🙂
Kenner
Jan 9, 2015 at 2:47 am
Brilliant comment. 10/10
Rich
Jan 9, 2015 at 8:14 am
+1 LOL!
Bill
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:43 am
Well done@!
g patock
Jan 9, 2015 at 10:52 am
One thing for sure, the choices of quality products have never been greater… which is good for us.
The only downside is that pricing is getting a bit ridiculous.
Jim
Jan 9, 2015 at 6:26 pm
Well done Dpavs
Teaj
Jan 8, 2015 at 1:14 pm
hit the aeroburner last night… Brutal club. Feels really light, so much so that it feels like there is no mass behind the ball when hitting it which for me lead to shorter drives.
Ping Taking on the Slot or Slit im fine with that after seeing what it did for the Titleist this year.
Chuck
Jan 8, 2015 at 11:41 am
Here’s the thing that I like about slotted woods, based solely on my personal experience and preferences…
You can tee the ball lower, hit it lower on the face, and still get a high-quality strike.
When I tee the ball lower, I feel like I have more control of the spin and I have less margin for error. I well remember the days of the TaylorMade R510 TP, and a thousand other similar designs, when you had to hit the ball well up into the top half of the clubface.
The TaylorMade fairway woods beginning with the Rocketballs series of a few years ago really took off with players for a reason. Those fairway woods were hitting lower on the face.
That’s just my thinking. Now a real expert can weigh in.
I am REALLY looking forward to a new slotted Ping driver design.
TR1PTIK
Jan 8, 2015 at 12:41 pm
I certainly can’t argue with the performance of slots. I just don’t like them from a visual standpoint. Especially the way TM has done it with AeroBurner.
Regis
Jan 9, 2015 at 2:52 pm
You do know the bottom of the club points to the ground? Just kidding
TR1PTIK
Jan 8, 2015 at 10:35 am
Not sure how I feel about so many slotted clubs entering the market, but I do like the 915 line from Titleist and the Nike Vapor and VR lines so as long as it’s done “tastefully” I guess it will be alright. But, if club manufacturers start churning out clubs that mimic the TM AeroBurner then you will have to pry my 905r from my cold dead hands!