How A Golf Club Head Design >>> Comes To Life!
Posted December 9, 2009 by mygolfspy
Inside Look At Golf Club Design
I thought you guys might like to see these drawings of a golf club design in development. A golf club design can come to life in many different ways. Some companies start with what they think will function the best and then design the graphics around that head. They are thinking performance first and looks second. For instance Mizuno tends to design their iron functionality first and then once they get a incredible performing head that has all the right properties to assist the golfer they then figure out a way to make it look appealing.
Form Before Function?
Some other companies tend to think graphics first and then function later. For instance we previously wrote an article titled, “Shocking! The Secret to TaylorMade Success” where we uncovered the firm that actually does most of the early product development for Taylormade. And from the looks of their designs since they have taken over you can tell that graphics play a big role.
“The debate amongst designers and engineers – especially industrial designers, who design everything from cars to hearing aids – has always centered on the question of form versus function.
Form is the look of the object, gizmo or widget. Function is, not only what the widget does, but how well (and how long) it does it. And the goal of these nuts-and-bolts artists is to strike a balance between style and substance or form and function.”
* So, what do (YOU) think is more important?
Wilson Di7 – Concept and Prototype Drawings
Below are drawings done for the Wilson Di7 irons. Although these were not used on the final design you do get to see the actual brainstorming process and stages of development that often go on when coming up with next years wildest and most hyped prototypes.
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December 10th, 2009 at 4:54 am
Great article MGS they’re very similar to cars designs in progression the first few not really looking like golf clubs (almost like the Cleveland Vas iron) then becoming more realistic. I still enjoy doodling golf clubs and putters on scrap paper.
December 10th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Great stuff guys. I just can’t get enough of this site. That is why I am glad you are going to be launching a forum soon, that way I can stay on all day. Hope my boss doesn’t block this new site.
December 10th, 2009 at 7:50 am
You are right Chris…it is similar to concept car design. Send us some doodles…would love to see some.
December 10th, 2009 at 7:49 am
Love this type of stuff. Always wondered about golf club design. Keep up the good work spy. You have a new loyal reader.
December 11th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Well one can clearly see this new design has no function. Adding a stiffing element to the hosel area shits the sweet spot to the neck. I.E. funny with no thinking.
Golf Spy 10 thumbs up for sharing this!!!!
Wilson 10 thumbs down for a brain dead design.
December 11th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Actually no stiffening element there might just look like that in the drawing. Hope you enjoyed it Max.
December 11th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Sketches are cool… but I miss the old school approach, of adding some lead tape here and grinding it down on the grinding wheel there. Can imagine some of the 3D modeling going on nowadays with the software out there? Is 3D modeling done in clay or wood much anymore? FUNCTION over form for me. Wilson could 8802 me till the end of time and I’d be alright with that.
December 15th, 2009 at 8:30 am
Burnz – most of the modeling is done in 3D softwares where you can test about everything…then once the protos are close they rapid prototype them in plastic or metal. Clay and wood is still used but very rarely.
December 15th, 2009 at 4:55 am
I’m in favor of function over form. I also prefer more traditional irons and don’t really like a lot of dressed up designs. As avid golfers, I believe most of us would prefer function but I understand that companies can’t ignore form to stay competitive.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:44 am
What is your favorite iron of all-time David?
December 15th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
well I have a certain bias towards the Maxfli Revolutions. I played well with Bridgestone GCOS’s this year (not the most pleasant looking iron, haha) and am breaking the rev’s out of the closet for next year.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:34 am
No clay or wood modeling. Prototypes are done via SLS (Select Laser Sintering) machine using powdered plastic material. This gives you a non-functional prototype use for asthetic purposes. The touchy feely stuff. Short run tooling (soft tooling) is then made to make cast functional prototypes.
December 15th, 2009 at 7:45 am
Actually now they have rapid prototypes with metal not just plastic. Still not 100% functional for all purposes but for casting it is great. A major plus over rapid prototyping in plastics.
December 15th, 2009 at 9:16 am
As a former Director of Opperations, I always hated it when Design would come up with a really great product, Engineer would come up with a great way to produce it, and then Marketing and Accounting would come up with their “slight adjustments” which would ruin the whole idea. My job often degenerated to balancing office politics between a bunch of guys protecting their little turfs. Many great products died because of egos. I often preached that the road to business greatness is paved with the ability to work together towards a common goal. Check your egos at the door.
December 15th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
More than ever its all about tech and hype. Its what it does between the ears that makes it a great product… oh yeah and staff players boasting about their (sponsors) products.
Inverted cone on a iron… its just a medallion glued to the back, c’mon! But it looks super coool! I’m sold!!!
December 16th, 2009 at 8:30 am
LOL…well put Darren.
December 22nd, 2009 at 10:08 pm
[...] How A Golf Club Head Design >>> Comes To Life! – EXCLUSIVE! – Callaway C-Shaped Driver [...]
July 6th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
So how does the average Joe get his ‘great idea’ to prototype stage? Is it expensive or is it better to go to a club making company and show them ? Ive made a few heads that are totally ‘function’.
July 6th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Depends on what you have…if you want you can contact me at contact(at)mygolfspy.com if you seriously want to inquire what it would take.
July 6th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
I’ll send you an email and I think you’ll be surprised at what Ive been swinging !!