Abstract: A golf club head is provided having a substantially increased sweet spot across its club face. A preferred construction includes an annular area on a rear surface having increased thickness surrounding a central region with a balance point of the club face. The central region of the face has a generally reduced thickness that is less than the maximum of the annular area but greater than a minimum thickness at the peripheral area. The face material may be metallic, but in alternative embodiments the effective bending stiffness profiles represented by this annular area may be achieved by appropriate use of composites, for example. Methods for manufacturing a golf club head having a face with the bending stiffness profiles of the present invention include forging and machining techniques as well as laser deposition and inertia welding.

Abstract: A golf club head is provided having a substantially increased sweet spot across its club face. A preferred construction includes an annular area on a rear surface having increased thickness surrounding a central region with a balance point of the club face. The central region of the face has a generally reduced thickness that is less than the maximum of the annular area but greater than a minimum thickness at the peripheral area. The face material may be metallic, but in alternative embodiments the effective bending stiffness profiles represented by this annular area may be achieved by appropriate use of composites, for example. Methods for manufacturing a golf club head having a face with the bending stiffness profiles of the present invention include forging and machining techniques as well as laser deposition and inertia welding.

Abstract: A golf club shaft having a hollow body comprised of a fiber and resin composite and a tube-shaped stiffener substantially surrounding a lower portion of the body which comprises a material other than a fiber and resin composite. The stiffener is preferably a metal and comprises a pre-formed sheath.

Abstract: A golf club shaft that is light in weight but which avoids problems related to a bending deformation of the section where these phenomena might otherwise occur. The bending strength of the shaft in the area sensitive to these phenomena is improved and the flexional and torsional stiffness characteristics are not significantly affected. Further, the mass and the mass distribution of the shaft are not significantly affected. According to one embodiment, the golf club shaft is tubular and includes a variable cross section along its length. The shaft has an enlarged butt at one end an a smaller radius tip at the opposite end. The shaft includes several layers of reinforcing fibers having different orientations with respect to the longitudinal axis, at least one of the layers being oriented at, or approximately at, 90.degree. with respect to the longitudinal axis at least over a portion of the shaft where the external radius/thickness ratio is greater than or equal to 4.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a golf club shaft and to a process for manufacturing same. The golf club shaft is made of a fiber- and resin-base composite material, the shaft including, along a part of its length, a neck portion in which a ring is inserted, such ring being made of a material having a density higher than the density of the composite material and the ring having a first end portion and a second end portion each having an inner surface in contact with the surface of the neck portion which flares out gradually up to the ends of the ring.