Abstract: A hollow golf club head for a "metal wood" is disclosed wherein an internally-mounted backing plate gives strength and stability to the striking face of the club. Additionally, in the preferred embodiments, an internal apparatus is present whereby the backing plate is compressively loaded to more rigidly support the striking face of the club, thereby to make it more unyielding upon impact with a golf ball. In further embodiments, weights may be added behind the backing plate in alignment with an axis that is normal to the center of the striking face.