The Client
Aaron Yarmuth is an avid golfer and inventor. Frustrated by existing putter covers that only protected the putter, he envisioned a cover that would have a sturdy base and allow the putter to stand vertically on the green. Instead of being stored away in the golf bag or strewn across the green, Aaron conceived Putter Up to keep the clubs clean and within reach during the moments that matter while putting.
The Challenge
Aaron had a strong vision of how he wanted his new cover to function. He had worked with some 3D printing workshops and had sewn a few of his own putter covers. With a vision to show potential investors, he wanted the help of an experienced team to help him create a professional prototype. The design challenges he wanted to solve:
Stable putter cover that remains standing in place vertically whether on a sloped or flat surface
Versatile to accommodate a large range of clubs
Sleek design, similar to a regular putter cover
Protective with a soft interior for the clubs and a rugged exterior to stand up to the elements
The Solution
Our engineers sat down with Aaron to put together a Free Project Outline & Estimate to help him develop his concept and to deliver a prototype he could take to investors. The project included ideation, engineering services, and prototyping services to bring his vision to life. A series of partial prototypes and foam mockups were created to test the fit of various putters. The design team landed on the idea of using a spring mechanism to apply force to the putter which allowed for many putters to be supported.
Concept Sketching/Ideation
The Results
The prototype for Aaron’s new cover looks just like a standard putter cover and allows a large range of golf clubs to stand vertically on the green when out of the bag. His design consists of two main components. The first is an interior mechanism that accepts a large range of putters and keeps them standing vertically. The second component to the putter cover is a soft outer liner that attaches magnetically and covers the putter head to protect the club. This soft outer liner protects the putter and prevents scratches and dents while standing up to grass and mud stains. Aaron now has a fully functioning prototype to show to potential investors and is looking forward to expanding on the concept to other putter types.
Project Gallery
“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.
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.
It was a fun, interesting process, and I really enjoyed working with everyone on the team.
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If you want to bring your product idea to life like Aaron did, talk to an engineer and get a Free Project Outline & Estimate.
