Putter-up
I had never worked with a design/engineering company, but I was thoroughly impressed with Kickr Design from beginning to end. I was most impressed with their project management throughout the entire process: establishing and communicating timelines, deadlines and expectations.
Aaron Yarmuth
They also encouraged feedback and critical assessments to ensure they delivered a final product I’d be happy with.
We worked entirely remotely – from first contact to delivery of the final prototype – which would have been concerning (turning over a project that was very important to me); however, their professionalism and enthusiasm were reassuring throughout the process.
The Development Process
Making a Putter Stand On Its Own
Aaron was looking to have a sturdy base that would allow the golf club to stand vertically on a golf course removing the requirement of being in a bag for storage when not in use .
Low Fidelity Modeling
A simple high density foam model carved to determine best fit arrangement.
Engineering Adjustable Features
Part of the solution was to engineer a self-sizing feature that would accommodate putters of variable size.
Patterning the Soft Cover
Clubs are not complete without their covers. Patterns were developed for fabric covers over the entire product.
The Client
On a golf course, the putter cover is meant only as a noise and dirt/scratch protector for golf clubs in storage/travel. Aaron Yarmuth was looking to have a sturdy base that would allow the golf club to stand vertically on a golf course removing the requirement of being in a bag for storage when not in use or just being strewn across the green. Aaron had worked with some college/3D printing workshops as well as sewing his own putter covers with various weights/methods of keeping the golf club vertical.
The Challenge
Designing this putter cover was an exciting challenge for our team. The idea was to create something that looked just like a standard cover but could allow a blade putter to stand vertically on the green, without being bulky or complicated. We had to accommodate various blade putter sizes, between 1″ to 1.75″, ensuring each size fit snugly and stayed stable when placed on a low-slope surface. One of our biggest concerns was keeping the cover lightweight, so the user wouldn’t struggle with carrying or storage, while still integrating a mechanism that kept the putter upright. We focused on using an inner lining that was soft and padded to protect the club, and an outer material that resisted dirt and grass stains, making it easy to clean. Our client had some trouble sewing the prototype himself, but he needed a model that was both attractive and functional to showcase to investors. Balancing form, function, and innovation was key.
The Solution
- We sketched out different versions of what the putter cover could look like and the different mechanisms we could employ to achieve verticality.
- We created some foam mockups to test angles experimentally and used this foam mockup to verify the variations in thickness of different blade putters (in golf store testing).
- Our engineer created a 3D CAD version of the foam mockup that we 3D printed and tested – finding our eureka moment in using a spring to apply force to the flat edge of the putter.
- This coupled with the angle created a multipurpose solution for various thicknesses of blade putters.
- As we optimized the mechanism, we also created a flat pattern that would be optimal for stability – flat bottom like a shoe to rest on a surface.
- We sewed the outer cover and used embedded magnets to attach the 3D printed mechanism to the inside.
The Results
Our team successfully delivered a putter cover that can blend with others while allowing a standard blade putter to stand vertically on the green. We designed a lightweight, practical solution that the client can now showcase to potential investors. With a functional prototype in hand, he is well-positioned to move forward when the time is right.
