A COMMERCIAL SPORTING GOODS APPLICATION FOR CUSTOMIZED DENSITY PREPREGS

摘要

The basic variables surrounding composite golf club shaft design are well known. Therefore, a new product generally requires a substantial change in design or the introduction of a novel material. In an attempt to create a new product, a customized density prepreg was developed and substituted into an existing golf club pattern. Controlled density shafts were fabricated and subjected to standard quality control testing as well as player testing by Wilson Golf. Results from the quality control tests indicated that the application of the customized density prepreg delivered quantifiable differences in shafts. However, professional and advanced amateur golfers either found no difference in clubs made with particle modified prepregs, or preferred clubs that did not include the novel material.