"Forging with heat compression" is PROTO-CONCEPT's patented technology for forging from round titanium rods. By generating a "forged line" of titanium, which cannot be achieved by ordinary pressing methods, and by increasing the compression rate in the center of the face, the structure is forged more precisely, creating unprecedented feel and rebound.
The thickness deviation is appropriately structured to ensure a uniform CT across the face. Thinner at the peripheral areas and thicker near the center, rebound performance just barely within the rules is achieved over a wide area of the face.
The “dimple forging process” in which the forging is partially pressed further improves strength near the face center and stabilizes rebound performance.
This technology enhances mis-hit forgiveness by creating grooves in the direction of the face that tends to deviate from the sweet spot, giving directionality to the face deflection.
Round rod forging that produces exceptionally strong and dense metallic structure *Patented In contrast to conventional drivers with a face made of rolled titanium sheet material, the C01D incorporates round rod forging, PROTO-CONCEPT’s patented technology. The metal structure becomes very dense, improving tensile strength, hardness, and tenacity.
α/β titanium round rods with superior strength are used. Only the middle part is heated and pressurized and compressed at a high pressure of 1,600 tons, a unique process that makes the middle part of the round bar into a large, bulging sphere. The forged lines gather in the center, resulting in a denser metallic structure.
In general, because faces are made by press-forming sheet titanium called “rolled material”, forged lines cannot be produced. They need to be made thicker to maintain hardness and strength.
High press pressure is used to form high-strength titanium material, which requires technology. The metallic structure is forged to produce initial velocity performance and secure feel when hitting.
The reason for adopting round bar forging instea of conventionally used plates is to make the titanium's metallic structure denser and uniform, and to create forged lines that deliver good feel when hitting the ball. This method attains high strength and durability but requires advanced technology for manufacturing, including for temperature control and pressurization method.
Sheet titanium are produced through the rolling process. The microstructure is not as dense or strong as that of the round rod forging process, and no forged lines are created.
The excess surrounding parts that were molded into the cup face in the previous process are removed. Due to the high precision of the manufacturing process, there is little margin needing removal.
The final pressing is done with a load of 500 tons. The complex shapes with thickness deviation can be produced as designed with high-precision forging, which minimizes errors in thickness and weight and reduces the need for polishing work to the very least.
Given complicated shapes with uneven thickness can be produced as designed by high-precision forging, errors in thickness and weight are minimized. There is almost no need to polish the hitting surface or the back of the face, and the high CT value (rebound performance) can be maintained as designed after forging. High rebound performance and satisfying hitting feel are achieved while maintaining strength because the structure is densely packed.
The weld marks made after welding the face are polished by hand. The most common method is to make them large in advance and scrape afterwards. This causes large variations in CT values due to the manual scraping.
Unlike the conventional method of welding inside the face, the cup face is welded at the outer body. Through this method, there is no need to shave the face portion in the final polishing process, and differences among finished products due to polishing can be reduced. There will also be no property changes triggered by the high temperatures from welding.
A common manufacturing method in which the face of plates is welded to the body.
Manual polishing is needed to even out the face surface area. This polishing process tends to cause individual differences in performance such as rebound. The heat from the welding may also affect property.
With precise forged lines, the completed product achieves sophisticated rebound performance just barely within the rules with artistic accuracy.
The loft, lie angle, FA and CT are inspected for all products.
In particular, the CT is inspected at 11 points of the face, and all products are finished with values that just within regulations.
So-called “good” and “bad” results tend to occur because individual differences in manufacturing inevitably scale up.