michael j cohen

As a Research and Business Solutions Engineer, I collaborated with industrial designers and marketing teams to create a customizable hybrid iron. Designing the club with computer aided design (UGNX and SolidWorks) and finite element analysis, I led the engineering design and manufacturing processes to launch and invent the first customizable hybrid irons.

i. Background

Professional golfers customize their clubs by tweaking the loft and lie angles based on their swing. As club fitting becomes more common, amateurs are expecting golf makers to offer them the same customizability. This requires clamping the club head into bending apparatus.

ii. Research

However, the clamping required to bend the clubs causes scarring and in some cases denting, especially in hollow hybrid clubs commonly used by beginner golfers.

iii. Modeling

Modeling the clamping process, I analyzed the stress on the club head during clamping and teamed up with industrial designers to sketch a smooth topline to minimize stresses during bending while maintaining a smooth finish.

To ensure that the clubs wouldn't crack or dend during bending, I optimized a ribbing structure to ensure bendability. These were engineered into the club to ensure ideal sound at impact and and mechanical properties for unrivaled performance.

iv. Final Production

Interacting with marketing and design teams through rapid prototyping to finalize an entire line of golf irons. Negotiating manufacturability with vendors in China to ensure a final, on the shelf product.

v. Patent Protection

Corroborating with patent lawyers at Cleveland Golf, I authored claims and illustrations for prosecution of a  patent covering the topline and ribbing structure.