How the SPDR Net was Prototyped and Tested
- rukket
- May 1, 2014
- 3 min read
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As we mentioned before, the SPDR Net started out as a vision that included the all attributes that professionals and amateurs were asking for in a golf net. It also had to fit in to our current lineup of products. In order turn an idea into a physical product, we started by designing CAD models, making samples, and finally real world testing.
The SPDR golf net is by far the most complicated product Rukket Sports has ever undertaken. It became clear early on that we would need some outside design help. We accomplished this by hiring an engineering firm with a background in durable equipment frames. We sat down in a room with several engineers and a white board and went over all our ideas. The engineers would Auto CAD the design and we would go back and forth, combining our knowledge of nets with their insight on frames and production. Finally, when a design was finalized the firm made the first sample. That first sample was quite different from what you see today. It had four folding legs, the fiberglass arms went from top to bottom, and the folding joints were much smaller. Once the sample frame was built, a net was added to test the concept. It worked, although there were some usability issues that needed to be worked out as we progressed through the sampling process.
Next the product was taken to a manufacturer. Most manufacturers have their own engineers. In working with these engineers we saw the design needed to be further refined and simplified. The lower half of the fiberglass arms were replaced by steel to add rigidity, the back legs were removed, different rubber feet were tested, new buttons had to be created, the folding joints had to be “beefed” up for stability, and steel reinforcements were added to counteract the strain of a 200 mph golf ball hitting the net. During this process the engineers will have their own idea of what the product should look like too. This is when it’s most important to keep in mind the original vision and stick with it. It is very easy to get lost in the details and forget who and what the product is built for. After about 10 frame samples it was time to work on the net.
The netting is just as important as the frame. The tension has to be exact; too much and the ball will bounce back at the user, too little and the ball won't roll back at all. Since easy ball return is a feature on all our nets a lot of thought was put into making the net tension consistent. The netting also has to be strong enough to keep the ball from going through it and the frame has to be able to fold and unfold without having to remove it. This turned out to be one of the hardest challenges. Designing the net so it wouldn’t get tangled or hung up as well as making sure dimensions allowed for easy movement and folding of the arms was a huge undertaking. As the netting design progressed we had to go back again to rework the frame to make sure everything came together seamlessly.
Once the net was deemed close to completion a sample was made for presentation. This prototype was shown at the PGA golf show in Orlando Florida and is what you see in our video. After getting feedback from golf professionals, we began another round of testing and changes. The net testing continued by simply using it as much as possible, folding and unfolding, bashing it around and just generally trying to make any mistakes that could be made in the general use of the net. By this point changes are easy and it usually doesn’t require building an entirely new sample. What you see in the video is close to what you will receive minus some last minute improvements. The final design incorporates changes that make it easier to set up, more portable, and generally more sturdy. For example we're reinforcing the center folding point of the net and adding loops for tie-downs to the legs.
The SPDR golf net is now at the point that it works and works really well. We're still testing and checking, as it’s a process that never stops but we're certain that when your SPDR golf net arrives it will exceed your expectations.
Stay tuned, next week we'll be talking about setting up the actual production line for the SPDR! If you have any questions or comments please let us know!
-The Rukket Team
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