Iron-Type Golf Club Head Or Other Ball Striking Device
A ball striking device, such as an iron-type golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface defined thereon and a body connected to the face. The body has a sole member extending rearward from a bottom edge of the face, and the sole member has a sole surface configured to confront the playing surface. The head has an elongated channel located in the sole member, and the channel is recessed from the sole surface, extends along at least a portion of the bottom edge of the face and is spaced from the bottom edge.
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The invention relates generally to ball striking devices, such as iron-type golf clubs and heads. Certain aspects of this invention relate to iron-type golf clubs having multi-piece heads with a “hot zone” that extends proximate the bottom edge of the face.
BACKGROUNDGolf is enjoyed by a wide variety of players—players of different genders, and players of dramatically different ages and skill levels. Golf is somewhat unique in the sporting world in that such diverse collections of players can play together in golf outings or events, even in direct competition with one another (e.g., using handicapped scoring, different tee boxes, etc.), and still enjoy the golf outing or competition. These factors, together with increased golf programming on television (e.g., golf tournaments, golf news, golf history, and/or other golf programming) and the rise of well known golf superstars, at least in part, have increased golfs popularity in recent years, both in the United States and across the world.
Golfers at all skill levels seek to improve their performance, lower their golf scores, and reach that next performance “level.” Manufacturers of all types of golf equipment have responded to these demands, and recent years have seen dramatic changes and improvements in golf equipment. For example, a wide range of different golf ball models now are available, with some balls designed to fly farther and straighter, provide higher or flatter trajectory, provide more spin, control, and feel (particularly around the greens), etc.
Being the sole instrument that sets a golf ball in motion during play, the golf club also has been the subject of much technological research and advancement in recent years. For example, the market has seen improvements in golf club heads, shafts, and grips in recent years. Additionally, other technological advancements have been made in an effort to better match the various elements of the golf club and characteristics of a golf ball to a particular user's swing features or characteristics (e.g., club fitting technology, ball launch angle measurement technology, etc.).
Despite the various technological improvements, golf remains a difficult game to play at a high level. For a golf ball to reliably fly straight and in the desired direction, a golf club must meet the golf ball square (or substantially square) to the desired target path. Moreover, the golf club must meet the golf ball at or close to a desired location on the club head face (i.e., on or near a “desired” or “optimal” ball contact location) to reliably fly straight, in the desired direction, and for a desired distance. Off-center hits may tend to “twist” the club face when it contacts the ball, thereby sending the ball in the wrong direction, imparting undesired hook or slice spin, and/or robbing the shot of distance. Club face/ball contact that deviates from squared contact and/or is located away from the club's desired ball contact location, even by a relatively minor amount, also can launch the golf ball in the wrong direction, often with undesired hook or slice spin, and/or can rob the shot of distance. When the club face is not square at the point of engagement, the golf ball may fly in an unintended direction and/or may follow a route that curves left or right, ball flights that are often referred to as “pulls,” “pushes,” “draws,” “fades,” “hooks,” or “slices,” or may exhibit more boring or climbing trajectories. Accordingly, club head features that can help a user keep the club face square with the ball would tend to help the ball fly straighter and truer, in the desired direction, and often with improved and/or reliable distance.
The energy or velocity transferred to the ball by a golf club also may be related, at least in part, to the “coefficient of restitution” (or “COR”) of the club face at the point of contact. The maximum COR for golf club heads is currently limited by the USGA at 0.83. Generally, a club head will have an area of highest response relative to other areas of the face, such as having the highest COR, which imparts the greatest energy and velocity to the ball, and this area is typically positioned at the desired ball contact location, usually at the center of the face. Iron-type golf clubs are often used to hit a ball sitting directly on the playing surface, and thus, frequently impact the ball at locations below the center of the face. Occasionally, a golfer may mis-hit a ball with an iron-type golf club such that the center of impact is on or near the bottom edge of the ball striking face, which can cause much lower ball flight than desired. This lower ball flight can rob the shot of distance, such as for longer irons, or can cause the ball to overshoot the desired target, such as for shorter irons or shorter shots. Accordingly, an iron-type golf club may benefit from a design that assists in imparting greater loft to a golf ball that is mis-hit too low on the face.
The present device and method are provided to address the problems discussed above and other problems, and to provide advantages and aspects not provided by prior ball striking devices of this type. A full discussion of the features and advantages of the present invention is deferred to the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF SUMMARYThe following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a general form as a prelude to the more detailed description provided below.
Aspects of the invention relate to ball striking devices, such as golf clubs, with a head that includes a face configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face, the body being adapted for connection of a shaft thereto. Various example structures of heads described herein include an iron-type head that has a face having a ball striking surface defined thereon and a body connected to the face. The body has a sole member extending rearward from a bottom edge of the face, and the sole member has a sole surface configured to confront the playing surface. The head has an elongated channel located in the sole member, and the channel is recessed from the sole surface, extends along at least a portion of the bottom edge of the face and is spaced from the bottom edge.
According to one aspect, the channel is generally parallel to the bottom edge of the face.
According to another aspect, the channel has a depth of recession from the sole surface. In one embodiment, the depth of the channel is tapered, such that the depth of the channel is greater at a center of the channel than at opposed ends of the channel. In another embodiment, the depth of the channel is constant over a majority of a length of the channel.
According to yet another aspect, the channel has an elongated length defined between a first end and a second end, and the first end and the second end of the channel are located on the sole surface.
According to a further aspect, the channel is elongated between a first and a second end, and the channel is defined by two edges extending between the first and second ends. In one embodiment, the edges are linear and parallel to each other. In another embodiment, the edges are curvilinear. In a further embodiment, at least one of the edges is generally parallel to the bottom edge of the face.
According to a still further aspect, the channel comprises a trough and opposed side walls extending from the trough to edges of the channel. In one embodiment, at least one of the side walls is parallel to the face when viewed in cross-section. In another embodiment the trough has a rounded shape when viewed in cross-section. In a further embodiment, the channel has a width measured between the side walls that tapers inwardly or outwardly.
Additional aspects of the invention relate to an iron-type golf club head that includes a face having a ball striking surface and a body connected to the face. The body includes peripheral walls extending rearward from outer edges of the face and a rear cavity defined by the rear surface of the face and the peripheral walls. The head further includes an elongated channel located in a first of the peripheral walls adjacent to a first of the outer edges of the face that adjoins the first peripheral wall. Additionally, the channel is defined by a first end, a second end, and two edges extending between the first and second ends, and the channel includes a trough that is recessed from the first peripheral wall and two opposed side walls extending from the trough to the edges of the channel. The channel is spaced rearwardly from the first outer edge of the face, and the edges of the channel are generally parallel to the first outer edge of the face.
Further aspects of the invention relate to an iron-type golf club head that includes a face having a ball striking surface and a body connected to the face. The body includes a plurality of peripheral walls extending rearward from outer edges of the face. The peripheral walls include a sole member extending rearward from a bottom edge of the face, with the sole member having a sole surface configured to confront the playing surface. An elongated channel is located in the sole member, and the channel is defined by a first end located on the sole surface, a second end located on the sole surface, and two edges extending across the sole surface between the first and second ends. The channel includes a trough that is recessed from the sole surface and two opposed side walls extending from the trough to the edges of the channel, such that the channel is spaced rearwardly from the bottom edge of the face and the edges of the channel are generally parallel to the bottom edge.
Other aspects of the invention relate to golf clubs that include a golf club head as described above and a shaft connected to the head. Such golf clubs may be iron-type golf clubs.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.
To allow for a more full understanding of the present invention, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
In the following description of various example structures according to the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example devices, systems, and environments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “side,” “rear,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures or the orientation during typical use. Additionally, the term “plurality,” as used herein, indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention. Also, the reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
The following terms are used in this specification, and unless otherwise noted or clear from the context, these terms have the meanings provided below.
“Ball striking device” means any device constructed and designed to strike a ball or other similar objects (such as a hockey puck). In addition to generically encompassing “ball striking heads,” which are described in more detail below, examples of “ball striking devices” include, but are not limited to: golf clubs, putters, croquet mallets, polo mallets, baseball or softball bats, cricket bats, tennis rackets, badminton rackets, field hockey sticks, ice hockey sticks, and the like.
“Ball striking head” means the portion of a “ball striking device” that includes and is located immediately adjacent (optionally surrounding) the portion of the ball striking device designed to contact the ball (or other object) in use. In some examples, such as many golf clubs and putters, the ball striking head may be a separate and independent entity from any shaft or handle member, and it may be attached to the shaft or handle in some manner.
The terms “shaft” and “handle” are used synonymously and interchangeably in this specification, and they include the portion of a ball striking device (if any) that the user holds during a swing of a ball striking device.
“Integral joining technique” means a technique for joining two pieces so that the two pieces effectively become a single, integral piece, including, but not limited to, irreversible joining techniques, such as adhesively joining, cementing, and welding (including brazing, soldering, or the like), where separation of the joined pieces cannot be accomplished without structural damage thereto.
“Generally parallel” means that a first line, segment, plane, edge, surface, etc. is approximately (in this instance, within 5%) equidistant from with another line, plane, edge, surface, etc., over at least 50% of the length of the first line, segment, plane, edge, surface, etc.
“Transverse” means extending across or in a cross direction to a line, plane, edge, surface, etc., defined at an actual or virtual intersection point, but does not necessarily imply a perpendicular intersection.
“Substantially flush” means that a surface of one article is level and aligned with the surface of an adjacent article, such that the two surfaces form a substantially flat single surface, within a tolerance of +/−0.005 inches.
In general, aspects of this invention relate to ball striking devices, such as golf club heads, golf clubs, putter heads, putters, and the like. Such ball striking devices, according to at least some examples of the invention, may include a ball striking head and a ball striking surface. In the case of a golf club, the ball striking surface is a substantially flat surface on one face of the ball striking head. Some more specific aspects of this invention relate to iron-type golf clubs and golf club heads, including long irons, short irons, wedges, etc. Alternately, some aspects of this invention may be practiced with hybrid clubs, chippers, and the like, or wood-type golf clubs and the like.
According to various aspects of this invention, the ball striking device may be formed of one or more of a variety of materials, such as metals (including metal alloys), ceramics, polymers, composites (including fiber-reinforced composites), and wood, and may be formed in one of a variety of configurations, without departing from the scope of the invention. In one illustrative embodiment, some or all components of the head, including the face and at least a portion of the body of the head, are made of metal. It is understood that the head may contain components made of several different materials, including carbon-fiber and other components. Additionally, the components may be formed by various forming methods. For example, metal components (such as titanium, aluminum, titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, steels (including stainless steels), and the like) may be formed by forging, molding, casting, stamping, machining, and/or other known techniques. In another example, composite components, such as carbon fiber-polymer composites, can be manufactured by a variety of composite processing techniques, such as prepreg processing, powder-based techniques, mold infiltration, and/or other known techniques.
The various figures in this application illustrate examples of ball striking devices according to this invention. When the same reference number appears in more than one drawing, that reference number is used consistently in this specification and the drawings refer to the same or similar parts throughout.
At least some examples of ball striking devices according to this invention relate to golf club head structures, including heads for wood-type golf clubs, such as drivers, as well as long iron clubs (e.g., driving irons, zero irons through five irons), short iron clubs (e.g., six irons through pitching wedges, as well as sand wedges, lob wedges, gap wedges, and/or other wedges), hybrid clubs, and putters. Such devices may include a one-piece construction or a multiple-piece construction. Example structures of ball striking devices according to this invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with
As shown in
The face 112 is located at the front 124 of the head 102, and has a ball striking surface 110 located thereon. The head 102 has a rear surface 111 located opposite the ball striking surface 110, which may be considered an inner surface of the face 112. The face 112 is defined by a plurality of peripheral edges, including a top edge 113, a bottom edge 115, a heel edge 117, and a toe edge 119. Additionally, the face 112 may be recognized as a portion of the head 102 that is intentionally smoothed and/or flattened to be configured for striking the ball, and the edges 113, 115, 117, 119 may be recognized as the borders or boundaries of this intentionally smoothed and/or flattened area.
The ball striking surface 110 is typically an outer surface of the face 112 configured to face a ball (not shown) in use, and is adapted to strike the ball when the device 100 is set in motion, such as by swinging. As shown, the ball striking surface 110 is relatively flat, occupying most of the face 112. The ball striking surface 110 may include grooves 121 (e.g., generally horizontal grooves 121 extending across the face 112 in the illustrated example) for the removal of water and grass from the face 112 during a ball strike. Of course, any number of grooves, desired groove patterns, and/or groove constructions may be provided (or even no groove pattern, if desired), including conventional groove patterns and/or constructions, without departing from this invention.
For reference purposes, the portion of the face 112 nearest the top face edge 113 and the heel 120 of the head 102 is referred to as the “high-heel area”; the portion of the face 112 nearest the top face edge 113 and toe 122 of the head 102 is referred to as the “high-toe area”; the portion of the face 112 nearest the bottom face edge 115 and heel 120 of the head 102 is referred to as the “low-heel area”; and the portion of the face 112 nearest the bottom face edge 115 and toe 122 of the head 102 is referred to as the “low-toe area”. Conceptually, these areas may be recognized and referred to as quadrants of substantially equal size (and/or quadrants extending from a geometric center of the face 112), though not necessarily with symmetrical dimensions. The face 112 may include some curvature in the top to bottom and/or heel to toe directions (e.g., bulge and roll characteristics), as is known and is conventional in the art. In other embodiments, the ball striking surface 110 may occupy a different proportion of the face 112, or the body 108 may have multiple ball striking surfaces 110 thereon. As seen in the illustrative embodiments in
The body 108 of the golf club head 102 may be constructed from a wide variety of different materials, including materials conventionally known and used in the art, such as steel, titanium, aluminum, tungsten, graphite, polymers, or composites, or combinations thereof. Also, if desired, the club head 102 may be made from any number of pieces (e.g., having a separate face plate, etc.) and/or by any construction technique, including, for example, casting, forging, welding, and/or other methods known and used in the art.
The ball striking device 100 may include a shaft 104 connected to or otherwise engaged with the ball striking head 102, as shown schematically in
In one exemplary embodiment, shown in
In general, the ball striking heads 102 according to the present invention contain features on the body 108 that influence the impact of a ball on the face 112. Such features include one or more compression channels 140 positioned on the body 108 of the head 102 that allow at least a portion of the body 108 to flex, produce a reactive force, and/or change the behavior or motion of the face 112, during impact of a ball on the face 112. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the compression channel(s) 140 may extend parallel or generally parallel to one of the adjacent edges of the face 112. In the golf club 100 shown in
The golf club 100 shown in
The channel 140 is recessed inwardly with respect to the immediately adjacent surfaces of the head 102 that are in contact with the sides 146, 148 of the channel 140, as shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Further, in the embodiment shown in
The compression channel 140 on the golf club 100 shown in
It is understood that the head 102 may have one or more channels 140 in a different configuration in other embodiments. In one embodiment, the head 102 may have one or more channels on the top 116, the heel 120, and/or the toe 122, either instead of or in combination with a channel 140 on the sole 118. In a further embodiment, the head 102 may have one or more channels on an interior surface of the body 108, rather than on the exterior, such as within the rear cavity 130. In yet another embodiment, the head 102 may have two or more channels 140 spaced different distances from the face 112, and these channels 140 may “overlap” each other, creating a bellows-like effect in compression, as illustrated in
The head 202 of
The head 202 of
The head 302 of
The head 302 of
The head 402 of
The head 402 of
The channels 440 in
The heads 202, 302, 402 in the embodiments illustrated in
The head 502 of
The head 602 of
The channels 640 in this embodiment each have a trough 650 that is smoothly curvilinear in cross-section and sloping, depending side walls 652 extending from the trough 650 to the respective sides 646, 648 of the channel 640, as shown in
The channels 640A-B in this embodiment can provide increased loft and increased energy and/or velocity transfer on a ball 106 struck by the head 602, as similarly described above. Additionally, the parallel and adjacent channels 640A-B arranged in series can also produce a bellows-like effect, which may enhance the performance of these functions. Further, the channels 640A-B result in a greater proportion of the mass of the head 602 being removed as compared to a head having only a single such channel, which can shift the weight distribution of the head 602 toward the rear 626 of the head 602 and increase the moment of inertia of the head 602.
Several different embodiments have been described above, including the iron-type golf clubs 100, 200, 300 and heads 102, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602. It is understood that any of the features of these various embodiments may be combined and/or interchanged. For example, as described above, various different combinations of club heads 102, et seq. with differently configured channels 140, et seq. may be used, including the configurations described herein, variations or combinations of such configurations, or other configurations. In further embodiments, at least some of the features described herein can be used in connection with other configurations of iron-type clubs, or with other non-iron-type clubs.
Heads 102, et seq. incorporating the features disclosed herein may be used as a ball striking device or a part thereof. For example, a golf club 100 as shown in
The ball striking devices and heads therefor as described herein provide many benefits and advantages over existing products. For example, as described above, the flexing of the sole 118 at the channel 140 can create greater energy and/or velocity transfer to the ball 106 on impacts, including impacts where the ball hits away from the center or traditional sweet spot of the face, such as too close to the bottom edge 115 of the face 112 and/or too close to the heel 120 or toe 122 of the face 112. As another example, the addition of the channel 140 removes mass from the body 108 proximate the face 112, which shifts the center of gravity of the head 102 rearward and increases the moment of inertia of the head 102. As a further example, any material lost from the forward areas of the club head 102 created by the presence of the channel can be strategically located elsewhere on the club head 102 as desired, while maintaining a proper total weight of the club head 102. For instance, additional weight can be added to various portions of the club head including the heel 120, the toe 122, the rear 126, etc. Further benefits and advantages are readily recognizable to those skilled in the art.
While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and methods. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.
Claims
1. A head for a ball striking device, comprising:
- a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball;
- a body connected to the face, the body having a sole member extending rearward from a bottom edge of the face, the sole member having a sole surface configured to confront a playing surface; and
- an elongated channel located in the sole member, the channel being recessed from the sole surface and extending along at least a portion of the bottom edge of the face and being spaced from the bottom edge,
- wherein the channel has a depth of recession from the sole surface, and wherein the depth of the channel is tapered, such that the depth of the channel is greater at a center of the channel than at opposed ends of the channel.
2. The head of claim 1, wherein the channel is generally parallel to the bottom edge of the face.
3. The head of claim 1, wherein the depth of the channel decreases smoothly from the center of the channel toward the ends of the channel.
4. The head of claim 1, wherein the channel has an elongated length defined between a first end and a second end, and wherein the first end and the second end of the channel are located on the sole surface.
5. The head of claim 1, wherein the channel is elongated between a first and a second end, and the channel is defined by two edges extending between the first and second ends, wherein the edges are linear and parallel to each other.
6. The head of claim 1, wherein the channel is elongated between a first and a second end, and the channel is defined by two edges extending between the first and second ends, wherein the edges are curvilinear.
7. The head of claim 1, wherein the channel is elongated between a first and a second end, and the channel is defined by two edges extending between the first and second ends, wherein at least one of the edges is generally parallel to the bottom edge of the face.
8. The head of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a trough and opposed side walls extending from the trough to edges of the channel, and wherein at least one of the side walls is parallel to the face when viewed in cross-section.
9. The head of claim 1, wherein the channel comprises a trough and opposed side walls extending from the trough to edges of the channel, and wherein the trough has a rounded shape when viewed in cross-section.
10. A golf club comprising the head of claim 1 and a shaft connected to the head.
11. A head for an iron-type golf club, comprising:
- a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a rear surface opposite the inner surface;
- an iron-type body connected to the face, the body comprising a plurality of peripheral walls extending rearward from outer edges of the face, the peripheral walls including a sole member extending rearward from a bottom edge of the face, the sole member having a sole surface configured to confront a playing surface; and
- an elongated channel located in a first of the peripheral walls of the body adjacent to a first of the outer edges of the face that adjoins the first peripheral wall, the channel being defined by a first end, a second end, and two edges extending between the first and second ends, and the channel comprising a rounded trough having a smoothly curvilinear cross-sectional profile, the trough being recessed from the first peripheral wall, and two opposed side walls extending from the trough to the edges of the channel, wherein the channel is spaced rearwardly from the first outer edge of the face and the edges of the channel are generally parallel to the first outer edge of the face.
12. The head of claim 11, wherein the first peripheral wall is the sole member, such that the channel is located on the sole surface and is spaced rearwardly from a bottom edge of the face, such that the edges of the channel are generally parallel to the bottom edge of the face.
13. The head of claim 11, wherein the channel has a depth of recession from the first peripheral wall, and wherein the depth of the channel is tapered, such that the depth of the channel is greater at a center of the channel than at opposed ends of the channel.
14. The head of claim 11, wherein the channel has a depth of recession from the first peripheral wall, and wherein the depth of the channel is constant over a majority of a length of the channel.
15. The head of claim 11, wherein the edges of the channel are linear and parallel to each other.
16. The head of claim 11, wherein the edges of the channel are curvilinear.
17. The head of claim 11, wherein at least one of the side walls of the channel is parallel to the face when viewed in cross-section.
18. An iron-type golf club comprising the head of claim 11 and a shaft connected to the head.
19. A head for an iron-type golf club, comprising:
- a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball;
- an iron-type body connected to the face, the body comprising a plurality of peripheral walls extending rearward from outer edges of the face, the peripheral walls including a sole member extending rearward from a bottom edge of the face, the sole member having a sole surface configured to confront a playing surface;
- an elongated channel located in the sole member, the channel being defined by a first end located on the sole surface, a second end located on the sole surface, and two edges extending across the sole surface between the first and second ends, the channel having a length defined between the first and second ends, and the channel comprising a trough that is recessed from the sole surface and two opposed side walls extending from the trough to the edges of the channel, wherein the channel is spaced rearwardly from the bottom edge of the face and the edges of the channel are generally parallel to the bottom edge; and
- a flexible insert connected to the body and mounted within the channel, wherein the insert has a length that is shorter than the length of the channel, such that opposed ends of the insert are spaced from the first and second ends of the channel.
20. The head of claim 19, wherein the channel has a depth of recession from the sole surface, and wherein the depth of the channel is tapered, such that the depth of the channel is greater at a center of the channel than at opposed ends of the channel.
21. The head of claim 19, wherein the channel has a depth of recession from the sole surface, and wherein the depth of the channel is constant over a majority of a length of the channel.
22. The head of claim 19, wherein the edges of the channel are linear and parallel to each other.
23. The head of claim 19, wherein the edges of the channel are curvilinear.
24. The head of claim 19, wherein at least one of the side walls of the channel is parallel to the face when viewed in cross-section.
25. An iron-type golf club comprising the head of claim 19 and a shaft connected to the head.
26. A head for a ball striking device, comprising:
- a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball;
- a body connected to the face, the body having a sole member extending rearward from a bottom edge of the face, the sole member having a sole surface configured to confront a playing surface;
- a first elongated channel located in the sole member, the first channel being recessed from the sole surface and extending between a first end and a second end along at least a portion of the bottom edge of the face and being spaced from the bottom edge; and
- a second elongated channel located in the sole member, the second channel being recessed from the sole surface and extending between a first end and a second end along at least a portion of the bottom edge of the face and being spaced from the bottom edge, the first and second channels extending toward each other along a common axis of elongation and being spaced approximately equal distances from the bottom edge of the face,
- wherein the second end of the first channel is spaced from the first end of the second channel, such that a gap is defined between the first and second channels, the gap being positioned approximately at a center of the sole surface.
27. The head of claim 26, wherein the first and second channels are generally parallel to the bottom edge of the face.
28. The head of claim 26, wherein the first and second ends of the first channel and the first and second ends of the second channel are located on the sole surface.
29. The head of claim 26, wherein each of the first and second channels is defined by two edges extending between the first and second ends, wherein the edges are linear and parallel to each other.
30. The head of claim 26, wherein the first and second channels each comprise a trough and opposed side walls extending from the trough to edges of the respective channel, and wherein at least one of the side walls of each of the first and second channels is parallel to the face when viewed in cross-section.
31. The head of claim 26, wherein the first and second channels each comprise a trough and opposed side walls extending from the trough to edges of the respective channel, and wherein the troughs of each of the first and second channels has a rounded shape when viewed in cross-section.
32. A golf club comprising the head of claim 26 and a shaft connected to the head.
33. A head for a ball striking device, comprising:
- a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball;
- a body connected to the face, the body having a sole member extending rearward from a bottom edge of the face, the sole member having a sole surface configured to confront a playing surface;
- a first elongated channel located in the sole member, the first channel being recessed from the sole surface and extending between a first end and a second end along at least a portion of the bottom edge of the face and being spaced rearwardly from the bottom edge; and
- a second elongated channel located in the sole member, the second channel being recessed from the sole surface and extending between a first end and a second end along at least a portion of the bottom edge of the face,
- wherein the second channel is spaced rearwardly from the first channel to define a spacing portion between the first and second channels, such that the first and second channels have directions of elongation that are generally parallel to each other and to the bottom edge of the face.
34. The head of claim 33, wherein each of the first and second channels is defined by two edges extending between the first and second ends, wherein the edges of each of the first and second channels are linear and parallel to each other.
35. The head of claim 33, wherein the first and second channels each comprise a trough and opposed side walls extending from the trough to edges of the respective channel, and wherein at least one of the side walls of each of the first and second channels is parallel to the face when viewed in cross-section.
36. The head of claim 33, wherein the first and second channels each comprise a trough and opposed side walls extending from the trough to edges of the respective channel, and wherein the troughs of each of the first and second channels has a rounded shape when viewed in cross-section.
37. A golf club comprising the head of claim 33 and a shaft connected to the head.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 27, 2011
Publication Date: Aug 2, 2012
Applicant: NIKE, INC. (Beaverton, OR)
Inventor: Raymond J. Sander (Benbrook, TX)
Application Number: 13/015,412
International Classification: A63B 53/04 (20060101);