GOLF CLUB HEADS HAVING CONSISTENT PERFORMANCE

Abstract

Golf club heads having the same striking face length regardless of sole configuration are disclosed herein. More specifically, the golf club heads in accordance with the present invention utilize the same leading edge blade length for same-lofted golf club heads to achieve consistent striking face length for different bounce angles and/or grind types on the soles. Additionally, the present invention contemplates creating golf club heads that have similar profiles from address position to further provide the visual consistency.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation-In-Part (CIP) to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/328,297, filed Jun. 2, 2023, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a plurality of golf club heads with the same loft having a same blade length dimension regardless of their sole configurations. More specifically, golf club heads of the same loft in accordance with the present invention have the same striking face dimensions and visual appearance at the address position regardless of their bounce angle and/or grind type.

Additionally, the present invention also contemplates designing a plurality of golf club heads having similar lofts to have a similar profile from the address position to further provide that consistency in visual appearance across different golf clubs within a plurality of two or more golf clubs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Modern day golf club design has evolved since the early days of golf. The good news of all the technological advancements in golf club technology is that it makes the game of golf easier for golfers of all skill levels. However, all these advancements come with tremendous challenges for the golf club engineer.

In order to inspire confidence in shot making, it is important to provide golfers with consistent club head profiles when standing at the address position. Current iron-type golf club head design measures blade length by holding the club in its designed loft angle and lie angle, contacting the sole with a ground plane, establishing a shaft axis intersection point where the shaft axis intersects the ground plane, establishing a vertical plane perpendicular to the ground plane and in contact with the towardmost point of the golf club head, and measuring a distance from the shaft axis intersection point to the vertical plane. A problem exists using the conventional design method when the sole of the golf club head changes. Golf club heads having the same loft but different sole height due to bounce angle or grind differences will have a different shaft axis intersection point on the ground plane. Designing golf club heads to have the same blade length dimension based on conventional measuring thus requires adjusting the position of the vertical plane which changes the length of the striking face as observed from the address position.

Additionally, the same principal of maintaining consistency can often be desirable not just across the blade length of the golf club, but across different silhouette footprint. Often golfers prefer to look down at golf clubs that have the same “look” when looking at the same type of golf clubs, as a change in silhouette can look out of place to the visually discerning golfer. As such, there is a need in the field for a golf club that maintains similar silhouette across different golf clubs that are intended to perform similarly.

The present invention is directed to golf club heads within a given loft having the same striking face length regardless of their sole configurations which provides a consistent appearance at address position. The present invention utilizes a unique design aspect that ensures the length of the striking face in a heel-to-toe direction is not affected by different bounce angles and/or grind types on the sole.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is a plurality of golf club heads including: a first golf club head; and a second golf club head, wherein the first golf club head includes: a first striking face; a first back portion behind the first striking face extending from a first topline to a first sole; a first leading edge at a transition between the first striking face and the first sole; a first hosel configured to receive a first shaft having a first shaft axis, the first hosel located on a first heel portion, the first heel portion located opposite a first toe portion; a first coordinate system centered at a first face center of the first striking face, the first coordinate system including a first y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a first ground plane when the first golf club head is in a first address position at a first prescribed loft angle and a first prescribed lie angle, a first x-axis perpendicular to the first y-axis and parallel to the first striking face, extending towards the first heel portion of the first golf club head, and a first z-axis, perpendicular to the first y-axis and the first x-axis and extending through the first striking face; a first leading edge plane parallel to the first ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of the first leading edge; a first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where the first shaft axis intersects the first leading edge plane; a first vertical heel plane perpendicular to the first ground plane and passing through the first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; a first vertical toe plane perpendicular to the first ground plane and passing through a towardmost point of the first golf club head; a first leading edge blade length defined as a distance along the first x-axis between the first vertical toe plane and the first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; and a first striking face length defined as a distance along the first x-axis between the first vertical toe plane and the first vertical heel plane, wherein the second golf club head includes: a second striking face; a second back portion behind the second striking face extending from a second topline to a second sole; a second leading edge at a transition between the second striking face and the second sole; a second hosel configured to receive a second shaft having a second shaft axis, the second hosel located on a second heel portion, the second heel portion located opposite a second toe portion; a second coordinate system centered at a second face center of the second striking face, the second coordinate system including a second y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a second ground plane when the second golf club head is in a second address position at a second prescribed loft angle and a second prescribed lie angle, a second x-axis perpendicular to the second y-axis and parallel to the second striking face, extending towards the second heel portion of the second golf club head, and a second z-axis, perpendicular to the second y-axis and the second x-axis and extending through the second striking face; a second leading edge plane parallel to the second ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of the second leading edge; a second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where the second shaft axis intersects the second leading edge plane; a second vertical heel plane perpendicular to the second ground plane and passing through the second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; a second vertical toe plane perpendicular to the second ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of the second golf club head; a second leading edge blade length defined as a distance along the second x-axis between the second vertical toe plane and the second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; and a second striking face length defined as a distance along the second x-axis between the second vertical toe plane and the second vertical heel plane, wherein a geometry of the first sole is different than a geometry of the second sole, and wherein the first leading edge blade length is equal to the second leading edge blade length.

In another aspect of the present invention is a plurality of golf club heads including: a first golf club head; and a second golf club head, wherein the first golf club head includes: a first striking face including a first plurality of scorelines having a heelwardmost extent and a toewardmost extent; a first back portion behind the first striking face extending from a first topline to a first sole; a first leading edge at a transition between the first striking face and the first sole; a first hosel configured to receive a first shaft having a first shaft axis, the first hosel located on a first heel portion, the first heel portion located opposite a first toe portion; a first coordinate system centered at a first face center of the first striking face, the first coordinate system including a first y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a first ground plane when the first golf club head is in a first address position at a first prescribed loft angle and a first prescribed lie angle, a first x-axis perpendicular to the first y-axis and parallel to the first striking face, extending towards the first heel portion of the first golf club head, and a first z-axis, perpendicular to the first y-axis and the first x-axis and extending through the first striking face; a first leading edge plane parallel to the first ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of the first leading edge; a first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where the first shaft axis intersects the first leading edge plane; a first vertical heel plane perpendicular to the first ground plane and passing through the first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; a first vertical toe plane perpendicular to the first ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of the first golf club head; a first leading edge blade length defined as a distance along the first x-axis between the first vertical toe plane and the first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; a first striking face length defined as a distance along the first x-axis between the first vertical toe plane and the first vertical heel plane; a first scoreline region defined as a region of the first striking face between the heelwardmost extent of the first plurality of scorelines and the toewardmost extent of the first plurality of scorelines; a first toc region defined as a region of the first striking face between the toewardmost extent of the first plurality of scorelines and the first vertical toe plane; and a first heel region defined as a region of the first striking face between the heelwardmost extent of the first plurality of scorelines and the first vertical heel plane, wherein the second golf club head includes: a second striking face including a second plurality of scorelines having a heelwardmost extent and a toewardmost extent; a second back portion behind the second striking face extending from a second topline to a second sole; a second leading edge at a transition between the second striking face and the second sole; a second hosel configured to receive a second shaft having a second shaft axis, the second hosel located on a second heel portion, the second heel portion located opposite a second toe portion; a second coordinate system centered at a second face center of the second striking face, the second coordinate system including a second y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a second ground plane when the second golf club head is in a second address position at a second prescribed loft angle and a second prescribed lie angle, a second x-axis perpendicular to the second y-axis and parallel to the second striking face, extending towards the second heel portion of the second golf club head, and a second z-axis, perpendicular to the second y-axis and the second x-axis and extending through the second striking face; a second leading edge plane parallel to the second ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of the second leading edge; a second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where the second shaft axis intersects the second leading edge plane; a second vertical heel plane perpendicular to the second ground plane and passing through the second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; a second vertical toe plane perpendicular to the second ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of the second golf club head; a second leading edge blade length defined as a distance along the second x-axis between the second vertical toe plane and the second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; a second striking face length defined as a distance along the second x-axis between the second vertical toe plane and the second vertical heel plane; a second scoreline region defined as a region of the second striking face between the heelwardmost extent of the second plurality of scorelines and the toewardmost extent of the second plurality of scorelines; a second toe region defined as a region of the second striking face between the toewardmost extent of the second plurality of scorelines and the second vertical toe plane; and a second heel region defined as a region of the second striking face between the heelwardmost extent of the second plurality of scorelines and the second vertical heel plane, wherein a maximum height of the first sole along the first y-axis is different than a maximum height of the second sole along the second y-axis, and wherein a length of the first scoreline region along the first x-axis is equal to a length of the second scoreline region along the second x-axis.

In another aspect of the present invention is a plurality of golf club heads including: a first golf club head; and a second golf club head, wherein the first golf club head includes: a first striking face including a first plurality of scorelines having a heelwardmost extent and a toewardmost extent; a first back portion behind the first striking face extending from a first topline to a first sole; a first leading edge at a transition between the first striking face and the first sole; a first hosel configured to receive a first shaft having a first shaft axis, the first hosel located on a first heel portion, the first heel portion located opposite a first toe portion; a first coordinate system centered at a first face center of the first striking face, the first coordinate system including a first y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a first ground plane when the first golf club head is in a first address position at a first prescribed loft angle and a first prescribed lie angle, a first x-axis perpendicular to the first y-axis and parallel to the first striking face, extending towards the first heel portion of the first golf club head, and a first z-axis, perpendicular to the first y-axis and the first x-axis and extending through the first striking face; a first leading edge plane parallel to the first ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of the first leading edge; a first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where the first shaft axis intersects the first leading edge plane; a first shaft axis/ground plane intersection point located where the first shaft axis intersects the first ground plane; a first vertical heel plane perpendicular to the first ground plane and passing through the first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; a first vertical toe plane perpendicular to the first ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of the first golf club head; a first leading edge blade length defined as a distance along the first x-axis between the first vertical toe plane and the first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; a first striking face length defined as a distance along the first x-axis between the first vertical toe plane and the first vertical heel plane; a first scoreline region defined as a region of the first striking face between the heelwardmost extent of the first plurality of scorelines and the toewardmost extent of the first plurality of scorelines; a first toe region defined as a region of the first striking face between the toewardmost extent of the first plurality of scorelines and the first vertical toe plane; and a first heel region defined as a region of the first striking face between the heelwardmost extent of the first plurality of scorelines and the first vertical heel plane, wherein the second golf club head includes: a second striking face including a second plurality of scorelines having a heelwardmost extent and a toewardmost extent; a second back portion behind the second striking face extending from a second topline to a second sole; a second leading edge at a transition between the second striking face and the second sole; a second hosel configured to receive a second shaft having a second shaft axis, the second hosel located on a second heel portion, the second heel portion located opposite a second toe portion; a second coordinate system centered at a second face center of the second striking face, the second coordinate system including a second y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a second ground plane when the second golf club head is in a second address position at a second prescribed loft angle and a second prescribed lie angle, a second x-axis perpendicular to the second y-axis and parallel to the second striking face, extending towards the second heel portion of the second golf club head, and a second z-axis, perpendicular to the second y-axis and the second x-axis and extending through the second striking face; a second leading edge plane parallel to the second ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of the second leading edge; a second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where the second shaft axis intersects the second leading edge plane; a second shaft axis/ground plane intersection point located where the second shaft axis intersects the second ground plane; a second vertical heel plane perpendicular to the second ground plane and passing through the second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; a second vertical toe plane perpendicular to the second ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of the second golf club head; a second leading edge blade length defined as a distance along the second x-axis between the second vertical toe plane and the second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; a second striking face length defined as a distance along the second x-axis between the second vertical toe plane and the second vertical heel plane; a second scoreline region defined as a region of the second striking face between the heelwardmost extent of the second plurality of scorelines and the toewardmost extent of the second plurality of scorelines; a second toe region defined as a region of the second striking face between the toewardmost extent of the second plurality of scorelines and the second vertical toe plane; and a second heel region defined as a region of the second striking face between the heelwardmost extent of the second plurality of scorelines and the second vertical heel plane, wherein the first prescribed loft angle is equal to the second prescribed loft angle, wherein a geometry of the first sole is different than a geometry of the second sole, and wherein a distance between the first shaft axis/ground plane intersection point and the first vertical toe plane is different than a distance between the second shaft axis/ground plane intersection point and the second vertical toe plane.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a plurality of two or more golf club heads including: a first golf club head having a first loft angle and a first clubhead silhouette area, wherein said first clubhead silhouette area is defined as an area of said first golf club head projected on a ground plane when said first golf club head is orientated by (1) setting said first golf club head at said first loft angle, (2) setting said first golf club head such that the scorelines are perpendicular to an intended path of travel, and (3) setting said first golf club head such that a shaft axis is set at an intended lie angle α of about 64 degrees, and a second golf club head having a second loft angle and a second clubhead silhouette area, wherein said second clubhead silhouette area is defined as an area of said second golf club head projected on a ground plane when said second golf club head is orientated by (1) setting said second golf club head at said second loft angle, (2) setting said second golf club head such that the scorelines are perpendicular to an intended path of travel, and (3) setting said second golf club head such that a shaft axis is set at an intended lie angle α of about 64 degrees, wherein a difference between said first loft and said second loft is less than about 4 degrees, wherein a difference between said first clubhead silhouette area and said second clubhead silhouette area is less than about 10%.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a golf club head including: a loft angle; a clubhead silhouette area; wherein said clubhead silhouette area is defined as an area of said golf club head projected on a ground plane when said golf club head is orientated by (1) setting said golf club head at said loft angle, (2) setting said golf club head such that the scorelines are perpendicular to an intended path of travel, and (3) setting said golf club head such that a shaft axis is set at an intended lie angle α of about 64 degrees, wherein said golf club head has a Clubhead Silhouette Area to Loft Ratio of between about 69 mm²/degrees to about 73.5 mm²/degrees, said Clubhead Silhouette Area to Loft Ratio defined as:

$\mathrm{Clubhead}\mathrm{Silhouette}\mathrm{Area}\mathrm{to}\mathrm{Loft}\mathrm{Ratio}=\frac{\mathrm{Clubhead}\mathrm{Silhouette}770\mathrm{Area}}{\mathrm{Loft}}.$

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a golf club head including: a loft angle, a clubhead silhouette area, defined as an area of said golf club head projected on a ground plane when said golf club head is orientated by (1) setting said golf club head at said loft angle, (2) setting said golf club head such that the scorelines are perpendicular to an intended path of travel, and (3) setting said golf club head such that a shaft axis is set at an intended lie angle α of about 64 degrees, and a face projection area defined as a projected silhouette area of said golf club head onto a plan that is parallel to a striking face plane of said golf club head, wherein said golf club head has a Clubhead Silhouette to Face Projection Silhouette Ratio is between about 75% to about 95%, said Clubhead Silhouette to Face Projection Silhouette Ratio is defined as:

$\mathrm{Clubhead}\mathrm{Silhouette}\mathrm{to}\mathrm{Face}\mathrm{Projection}\mathrm{Silhouette}\mathrm{Ratio}=\frac{\mathrm{Clubhead}\mathrm{Silhouette}}{\mathrm{Face}\mathrm{Projection}\mathrm{Silhouette}}.$

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use the invention.

FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a side view of a golf club head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 of the accompanying drawings shows a side view of a golf club head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings shows a front view of the golf club head in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings shows a front view of the golf club head in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 of the accompanying drawings shows a front view of the golf club head in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 of the accompanying drawings shows a front view of the golf club head in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings shows a perspective view of a golf club head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention with a clubhead silhouette;

FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings shows a view of a golf club head from an address position, illustrating its visual profile;

FIG. 9 of the accompanying drawings shows a view of a golf club head together with its club silhouette next to one another from an address position;

FIG. 10 of the accompanying drawings shows a perspective view of a golf club head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention together with a clubhead silhouette as well as a face projection silhouette; and

FIG. 11 of the accompanying drawings shows a view of a golf club head together with its face projection silhouette next to one another from a direction parallel to the striking face plane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description describes the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken as limiting the invention, but is provided for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below and cach can be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

FIGS. 1-6 of the accompanying drawings show golf club heads 100 and 200 to help better understand the present invention. The golf club head 100 has a striking face 110, a back portion 122, a topline 112, a toe portion 114, a sole 116, a heel portion 118, and a hosel 120 configured to receive a shaft (not shown) having a shaft axis SA. The striking face 110 includes a plurality of scorelines 124 extending in a heel-to-toe direction and a face center located midway between a heelwardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 124 and a toewardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 124. The golf club head 100 further comprises a leading edge 130 at a transition from the striking face 110 to the sole 116.

The golf club head 200 has a striking face 210, a back portion 222, a topline 212, a toc portion 214, a sole 216, a heel portion 218, and a hosel 220 configured to receive a shaft (not shown) having a shaft axis SA. The striking face 210 includes a plurality of scorelines 224 extending in a heel-to-toe direction and a face center located midway between a heelwardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 224 and a toewardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 224. The golf club head 200 further comprises a leading edge 230 at a transition from the striking face 210 to the sole 216.

The golf club head 100 includes a coordinate system centered at the face center of the striking face 110. The coordinate system includes a y-axis which extends vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane GP when the golf club head 100 is in an address position at a prescribed loft angle and a prescribed lie angle. The coordinate system includes an x-axis, perpendicular to the y-axis, parallel to the striking face 110 and the ground plane GP, and extending towards the heel portion 118 of the golf club head 100. The coordinate system includes a z-axis, perpendicular to the y-axis and x-axis and extending through the striking face 110. The golf club head 100 further defines a leading edge plane LEP which is parallel to the ground plane GP and passes through a forwardmost point of the leading edge 130. The striking face 110 has a striking face length 150 defined as a distance along the x-axis between a vertical toe plane VTP and a vertical heel plane VHP when the golf club head 100 is in the address position at the prescribed loft angle and the prescribed lie angle; wherein the vertical toe plane VTP is a plane perpendicular to the ground plane GP containing a toewardmost point of the golf club head 100; and wherein the vertical heel plane VHP is a plane perpendicular to the ground plane GP containing a shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point 160, wherein the shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point 160 is a point where the shaft axis SA intersects the leading edge plane LEP. The striking face 110 contains a scoreline region 151, a toe region 153, and a heel region 155. The scoreline region 151 is defined as a region of the striking face 110 between a heelwardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 124 and a toewardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 124. The toe region 153 is defined as a region of the striking face 110 between the toewardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 124 and the vertical toc plane VTP. The heel region 155 is defined as a region of the striking face 110 between the heelwardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 124 and the vertical heel plane VHP.

The golf club head 200 includes a coordinate system centered at the face center of the striking face 210. The coordinate system includes a y-axis which extends vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane GP when the golf club head 200 is in an address position at a prescribed loft angle and a prescribed lie angle. The coordinate system includes an x-axis, perpendicular to the y-axis, parallel to the striking face 210 and the ground plane GP, and extending towards the heel portion 218 of the golf club head 200. The coordinate system includes a z-axis, perpendicular to the y-axis and x-axis and extending through the striking face 210. The golf club head 200 further defines a leading edge plane LEP which is parallel to the ground plane GP and passes through a forwardmost point of the leading edge 230. The striking face 210 has a striking face length 250 defined as a distance along the x-axis between the vertical toc plane VTP and the vertical heel plane VHP when the golf club head 200 is in the address position at the prescribed loft angle and the prescribed lie angle; wherein the vertical toe plane VTP is a plane perpendicular to the ground plane GP containing a towardmost point of the golf club head 200; and wherein the vertical heel plane VHP is a plane perpendicular to the ground plane GP containing a shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point 260, wherein the shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point 260 is a point where the shaft axis SA intersects the leading edge plane LEP. The striking face 210 contains a scoreline region 251, a toe region 253, and a heel region 255. The scoreline region 251 is defined as a region of the striking face 210 between a heelwardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 224 and a toewardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 224. The toc region 253 is defined as a region of the striking face 210 between the toewardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 224 and the vertical toe plane VTP. The heel region 255 is defined as a region of the striking face 210 between the heelwardmost extent of the plurality of scorelines 224 and the vertical heel plane VHP.

Golf club head 100 and golf club head 200 have the same prescribed loft angle and the same prescribed lie angle, but the sole 116 of the golf club head 100 has a different geometry than the sole 216 of the golf club head 200. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-6, a maximum height of the sole 116 along the y-axis is less than a maximum height of the sole 216 along the y-axis. The smaller maximum height of the sole 116 along the y-axis is due to a smaller bounce angle for golf club head 100 than for golf club head 200.

FIGS. 3 and 4 help illustrate the conventional way of measuring blade length, which is being referred to as the ground plane blade length GPBL in this application, for iron-type golf club heads. As shown in FIG. 3, the ground plane blade length GPBL is the distance along the x-axis between the vertical toe plane VTP and a shaft axis/ground plane intersection point 140, wherein the shaft axis/ground plane intersection point 140 is a point where the shaft axis SA intersects the ground plane GP when the golf club head 100 is in the address position at the prescribed loft angle and the prescribed lie angle.

Similar to FIG. 3, FIG. 4 shows the ground plane blade length GPBL is the distance along the x-axis between the vertical toc plane VTP and a shaft axis/ground plane intersection point 240, wherein the shaft axis/ground plane intersection point 240 is a point where the shaft axis SA intersects the ground plane GP when the golf club head 200 is in the address position at the prescribed loft angle and the prescribed lie angle.

Conventional golf club head designs keep the ground plane blade length GPBL constant for same-lofted clubs regardless of the sole configurations; however, this creates the problem of same-lofted golf club heads having different striking face lengths in the heel-to-toe direction. When the sole dimension along the y-axis changes because of different bounce angles and/or grind types, the location along the shaft axis SA where the shaft axis SA intersects the ground plane GP also changes. Since the shaft axis SA has an x-axis component, moving the intersection point of the shaft axis SA and the ground plane GP downward along the shaft axis SA moves the vertical toe plane VTP in a direction opposite the heel portion and results in a greater striking face length. Conversely, moving the intersection point of the shaft axis SA and the ground plane GP upward along the shaft axis SA moves the vertical toe plane VTP in a direction toward the heel portion and results in a shorter striking face length. Therefore, designing same-lofted golf club heads with a fixed ground plane blade length GPBL means changing the length of one or more of the scoreline region, the toe region, or the heel region of the striking face for different sole geometries. This results in golfers seeing inconsistent golf club head sizes at the address position for same-lofted golf club heads.

The present invention addresses the above stated problems with conventional golf club head design. FIGS. 5 and 6 show exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the present invention utilizes a leading edge blade length LEBL defined as the distance along the x-axis between the vertical toe plane VTP and the shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point 160 when the golf club head 100 is in the address position at the prescribed loft angle and the prescribed lie angle. Similar to FIG. 5, FIG. 6 shows the leading edge blade length LEBL defined as the distance along the x-axis between the vertical toe plane VTP and the shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point 260 when the golf club head 200 is in the address position at the prescribed loft angle and the prescribed lie angle.

The present invention uses a constant leading edge blade length LEBL rather than a constant ground plane blade length GPBL to create same-lofted golf club heads. The leading edge blade length LEBL is the same for both golf club head 100 and golf club head 200, which have the same loft, such that the striking face length 150 for the golf club head 100 is the same as the striking face length 250 for the golf club head 200 even though the sole 116 of the golf club head 100 has a smaller maximum height along the y-axis than the sole 216 of the golf club head 200. Since the striking face length 150 of the golf club head 100 is equal to the striking face length 250 of the golf club head 200, individual regions of the striking face 110 may have the same lengths as individual regions of the striking face 210 for greater uniformity. That is, a length of the scoreline region 151 along the x-axis may be equal to a length of the scoreline region 251 along the x-axis; a length of the toe region 153 along the x-axis may be equal to a length of the toe region 253 along the x-axis; and a length of the heel region 155 along the x-axis may be equal to a length of the heel region 255 along the x-axis.

Designing same-lofted golf club heads using a constant leading edge blade length LEBL allows the golf club heads to have the same striking face length and thus appearance at address regardless of sole configurations. Consistent golf club head striking area and appearance at address position is critical for consistent performance across the striking face and providing confidence-inspiring visuals. This is an advantage over conventional designs that use a constant ground plane blade length GPBL for same-lofted golf club heads which causes differences in striking face length and thus different appearances at address when the sole configurations vary.

FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings shows a perspective view of a golf club head 700 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, together with the clubhead silhouette 770 that is projected onto the ground plane GP. The clubhead silhouette 770, as defined in the present invention, is the projection of the overall footprint of the golf club head 700 onto the ground plane GP, with the golf club set up at address position. Address position, especially for a wedge type golf club head 700 as shown, is a term of art commonly used in the golf industry, and it refers to the way the golf club sets up as the golfer is ready to hit a golf shot. It can be defined as (1) setting the club face at the intended loft, with (2) the scorelines being perpendicular to the intended path of travel, and (3) the shaft axis SA of the hosel being set at the intended lie angle α. More specifically, the lie angle α refers to the angle the shaft axis SA forms with the ground plane GP and is shown FIG. 3 of the accompanying drawings. The lie angle α of a golf club head 700 in accordance with the present invention is about 64 degrees.

Although the perspective view of the golf club head 700 shown in FIG. 1 is good at illustrating the clubhead silhouette 770, especially relative to the ground plane GP, it does not show exactly how the golf club head 700 looks to the golfer. FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings shows the golf club head 700 from the address view as the golfer would see it. As it can be seen from FIG. 8, the visual aesthetics of a golf club head from the address position is of the utmost importance and is absolutely critical to the functionality of a golf club head 700 despite it appearing as more of a visual aspect of the golf club head 700. This is visual performance becomes especially important when evaluated across different wedge type golf clubs that are intended to perform similarly. FIG. 9 of the accompanying drawings, in order to further illustrate the visuals of the golf club head 700 compared to its clubhead silhouette 770 when placed side-by-side next to one another, when the clubhead 700 is placed in the address position as defined above. It should be noted here that the clubhead 700 is oriented in the address position because we can see the shaft axis SA is pointed directly down at the golfer. In this side-by-side view shown in FIG. 9, we can see that the clubhead silhouette 770 is the same size and dimension as the visual footprint of the golf club head 700.

Based on the discussion above, we can see how important it is to keep the same visual performance of the golf club head 700 consistent throughout the entire plurality of two or more golf club heads 700 that are designed to perform similarly. As such, it can be said that it is important to keep the area of the clubhead silhouette 770 as consistent as possible throughout a plurality of two or more golf club heads 700 that are designed to perform similarly.

In wedge type golf club heads 700, it is commonly understood that despite the significant number of actual lofts available, wedges generally fall in three different categories, a pitching wedge, a gap wedge, a sand wedge, and a lob wedge; with each of them performing a different objective, with some overlap. The pitching wedge is generally known to be the golf club head 700 that have a loft of between about 44 degrees to about 48 degrees, and it serves to allow a golfer to “pitch” a golf ball a short distance onto the green and close to the hole with an extreme level of accuracy. The gap wedge is generally known to be golf club heads 700 that have a loft of between about 50 degrees and 52 degrees, and it serves to fill in the “gap” between your traditional pitching wedge and your sand wedge. Sand wedges, on the other hand, may generally have lofts of between about 54 degrees to about 56 degrees, and it serves to have enough loft to help a golfer get out of sand traps as well finesse chip shots around the green. Finally, lob wedges may generally have a loft of between about 58 degrees to about 62 degrees, sometimes even above that; and these types of wedges are intended to carry extreme loft to allow a golfer to lob shots that require extreme trajectory height. Collectively speaking, it can be said that the types of golf club heads 700 that benefits from this increased level of consistency may generally have a loft of greater than about 46 degrees.

Although it may be beneficial to design all wedges, irrespective of whether it is a gap wedge, a sand wedge, or a lob wedge to have the same clubhead silhouette 770 area, the reality is that the increase in loft in a golf club head 700 naturally increases the clubhead silhouette 770 as more of the club face is now closer to a horizontal position compared to a clubhead 700 that is more vertical. This inherent increase in clubhead silhouette 770 from the increase in loft makes it less practical to design the entire lineup of wedges from 50 degrees to 62 degrees to all have the same clubhead silhouette 770. As such, the present invention envisions that gap wedges designed in accordance with the present invention will all have substantially the same clubhead silhouette 770, while sand wedges designed in accordance with the present invention will all have substantially the same clubhead silhouette 770, and lob wedges designed in accordance with the present invention will all have substantially the same clubhead silhouette 770.

Gap wedge type golf club heads 700 in accordance with the present invention may generally have a clubhead silhouette 770 area of between about 3,400 mm² and 3,800 mm², more preferably between about 3,410 mm² and 3,790 mm², and most preferably between about 3,420 mm² and 3,780 mm². These values for the clubhead silhouette 770 area are consistent with one another, irrespective of the actual loft of the gap wedge being anywhere in the range from about 50 degrees to about 52 degrees. More importantly, the constrained and narrowed value ranges means that no gap wedges within a plurality of two or more golf clubs will have a clubhead silhouette 770 area that is more than about 10% greater than another gap wedge. Alternatively speaking, it can be said that the difference in clubhead silhouette 770 area between any two gap wedges is less than about 10%, more preferably less than about 9.5%, and most preferably less than about 9%, all without departing from the scope and content of the present invention.

Sand wedge type golf club heads 700 in accordance with the present invention may generally have a clubhead silhouette 770 area of between about 3,850 mm² and about 4,050 mm², more preferably between about 3,860 mm² and about 4,040 mm², and most preferably between about 3,870 mm² and about 4,030 mm², Once again, these values for clubhead silhouette 770 of sand wedges are consistent with one another irrespective of the actual loft of the sand wedge being anywhere in the range of between about 54 degrees to about 56 degrees. More importantly the constrained and narrowed range means that no sand wedges within a plurality of two or more golf clubs will have a clubhead silhouette 770 area that is more than about 4% greater than another sand wedge. Alternatively speaking, it can be said that the difference in clubhead silhouette 770 area between any two sand wedges is less than about 4%, more preferably less than about 3.8%, and most preferably less than about 3.6%, all without departing from the scope and content of the present invention.

Lob wedge type golf club heads 700 in accordance with the present invention may generally have a clubhead silhouette 770 area of between about 4,200 mm² and about 4,400 mm², more preferably between about 4,210 mm² and about 4,390 mm², and most preferably between about 4,220 mm² and about 4,380 mm². Once again, these values for clubhead silhouette 770 of lob wedges are consistent with one another, irrespective of the actual loft of the lob wedge being anywhere in the range of between about 58 degrees to about 62 degrees. More importantly the constrained and narrowed range means that no lob wedges within a plurality of two or more golf clubs will have a clubhead silhouette 770 area that is more than about 4% greater than another lob wedge. Alternatively speaking, it can be said that the difference in clubhead silhouette 770 area between any two lob wedges is less than about 4%, more preferably less than about 3.8%, and most preferably less than about 3.6%, all without departing from the scope and content of the present invention.

Based on the above golf clubhead 700 categories and their range of clubhead silhouette 770 areas articulated, it can be said that a plurality of two or more golf club heads 700 may have a first golf club head 700 and a second golf club head 700, cach having a loft difference of less than 4 degrees from one another, will have a difference in clubhead silhouette 770 area of less than about 10%, more preferably less than about 8%, and most preferably less than about 6%.

Collectively, it can be said that a golf club head 700 in accordance with the present invention may have a clubhead silhouette 770 area of between about 3,400 mm² and 4,400 mm², without departing from the scope and content of the present invention.

Despite the above, and as a way to consistently represent the clubhead silhouette 770 area across multiple golf club heads 700 irrespective of whether the wedge type golf club head 700 is a gap wedge, a sand wedge, or a lob wedge, the present invention can also be quantified as having a Clubhead Silhouette Area to Loft Ratio of between about 69 mm²/degrees to about 73.5 mm²/degrees, more preferably between about 69.5 mm²/degrees to about 72.5 mm²/degrees, and more preferably between about 70.0 mm²/degrees to about 72.0 mm²/degrees, with the Clubhead Silhouette to Loft Ratio defined by Equation (1) below:

$\begin{array}{cc}& \mathrm{Eq}.\left(1\right)\end{array}$ $\mathrm{Clubhead}\mathrm{Silhouette}\mathrm{Area}\mathrm{to}\mathrm{Loft}\mathrm{Ratio}=\frac{\mathrm{Clubhead}\mathrm{Silhouette}770\mathrm{Area}}{\mathrm{Loft}}$

The Clubhead Silhouette Area to Loft Ratio defined by Equation (1) above accounts for the affect that loft has on the clubhead silhouette 770 area and creates a consistent metric for quantifying the consistent aesthetics desired in a golf club head 700 across multiple clubs intended to perform similarly.

FIG. 10 of the accompanying drawings shows a perspective view of a golf club head 700 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention together with a clubhead silhouette 770 and a face projection silhouette 772. More specifically, in addition to recognizing the importance of the clubhead silhouette 770 and the need to keep that value consistent; the present invention also envisions that the inventive golf club head 700 will also have a face projection silhouette 772 that is also consistent within each type of golf club heads 700. The face projection silhouette 772, as defined in the present invention, is the projected silhouette area of the golf club head 700 projected onto a plane that is parallel to the striking face plane.

FIG. 11 of the accompanying drawings, similar to FIG. 9 above, shows the face projection silhouette 772 being placed side-by-side next to the clubhead 700 itself, but viewed from a plane that is parallel to the face plane. The orientation of the projection can be seen in FIG. 11 being different from the orientation in FIG. 9 because the shaft axis SA of the golf club head 700 shown in FIG. 11 is now pointed away from the golfer's view of sight, instead of towards the golfer. Based on a visual comparison of the face projection silhouette 772 and the clubhead silhouette 770, it can be seem that the face projection silhouette 772 area is greater than the clubhead silhouette 770 area, which makes sense, as the face projection silhouette 772 area captures the entirety of the area of the golf club head 700, while the clubhead silhouette 770 area only captures the projection after the golf club head 700 has been tilted.

It should be noted here that because the face projection silhouette 772 is projected along a plane that is parallel to the striking face, the actual loft of the club head does not have a direct affect on the size of the face projection silhouette 772. In fact, it is rather the adjustment of the face projection silhouette 772 area helps control the clubhead silhouette 770 to be consistent throughout the plurality of two or more golf club heads 700 that are designed to perform similarly.

One way to quantify this relationship between the face projection silhouette 772 and the clubhead silhouette 770 is to define the ratio between the two values. In order to do this, a Club Silhouette to Face Projection Silhouette Ratio can be used, as shown below in Equation (2):

$\begin{array}{cc}\mathrm{Clubhead}\mathrm{Silhouette}\mathrm{to}\mathrm{Face}\mathrm{Projection}\mathrm{Silhouette}\mathrm{Ratio}=\frac{\mathrm{Clubhead}\mathrm{Silhouette}}{\mathrm{Face}\mathrm{Projection}\mathrm{Silhouette}}& \mathrm{Eq}.\left(2\right)\end{array}$

A golf club head 700 in accordance with the present invention may generally have a Clubhead Silhouette to Face Projection Silhouette Ratio of between 75% to about 95%, more preferably between about 78% to about 92%, and most preferably between about 80% to about 90%, all without departing from the scope and content of the present invention.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in the specific examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements. Furthermore, when numerical ranges of varying scope are set forth herein, it is contemplated that any combination of these values inclusive of the recited values may be used.

Although specific embodiments and aspects were described herein and specific examples were provided, the scope of the invention is not limited to those specific embodiments and examples. One skilled in the art will recognize other embodiments or improvements that are within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Therefore, the specific structure, acts, or media are disclosed only as illustrative embodiments. The scope of the invention is defined by the following claims and any equivalents therein.

Claims

1. A plurality of two or more golf club heads comprising:

a first golf club head having a first loft angle and a first clubhead silhouette area, wherein said first clubhead silhouette area is defined as an area of said first golf club head projected on a ground plane when said first golf club head is orientated by (1) setting said first golf club head at said first loft angle, (2) setting said first golf club head such that the scorelines are perpendicular to an intended path of travel, and (3) setting said first golf club head such that a shaft axis is set at an intended lie angle α of about 64 degrees, and

a second golf club head having a second loft angle and a second clubhead silhouette area, wherein said second clubhead silhouette area is defined as an area of said second golf club head projected on a ground plane when said second golf club head is orientated by (1) setting said second golf club head at said second loft angle, (2) setting said second golf club head such that the scorelines are perpendicular to an intended path of travel, and (3) setting said second golf club head such that a shaft axis is set at an intended lie angle α of about 64 degrees, wherein a difference between said first loft and said second loft is less than about 4 degrees,

wherein a difference between said first clubhead silhouette area and said second clubhead silhouette area is less than about 10%.

2. The plurality of two or more golf club heads of claim 1, wherein said difference between said first clubhead silhouette area and said second clubhead silhouette area is less than about 8%.

3. The plurality of two or more golf club heads of claim 2, wherein said difference between said first clubhead silhouette area and said second clubhead silhouette area is less than about 6%.

4. The plurality of two or more golf club heads of claim 1, wherein both said first golf club head and said second golf club heads are gap wedge type golf club heads with lofts of between about 50 degrees to about 52 degrees.

5. The plurality of two or more golf club heads of claim 4, wherein both said first clubhead silhouette area and said second clubhead silhouette area are between about 3,400 mm2 and 3,800 mm2.

6. The plurality of two or more golf club heads of claim 1, wherein both said first golf club head and said second golf club heads are sand wedge type golf club heads with lofts of between about 54 degrees to about 56 degrees.

7. The plurality of two or more golf club heads of claim 6, wherein both said first clubhead silhouette area and said second clubhead silhouette area are between about 3,850 mm2 and 4,050 mm2.

8. The plurality of two or more golf club head of claim 1, wherein both said first golf club head and said second golf club heads are sand wedge type golf club heads with lofts of between about 54 degrees to about 56 degrees.

9. The plurality of two or more golf club heads of claim 8, wherein both said first clubhead silhouette area and said second clubhead silhouette area are between about 3,850 mm2 and 4,050 mm2.

10. A golf club head comprising: Clubhead ⁢ Silhouette ⁢ Area ⁢ to ⁢ Loft ⁢ Ratio = Clubhead ⁢ Silhouette ⁢ 770 ⁢ Area Loft.

a loft angle;

a clubhead silhouette area; wherein said clubhead silhouette area is defined as an area of said golf club head projected on a ground plane when said golf club head is orientated by (1) setting said golf club head at said loft angle, (2) setting said golf club head such that the scorelines are perpendicular to an intended path of travel, and (3) setting said golf club head such that a shaft axis is set at an intended lie angle α of about 64 degrees,

wherein said golf club head has a Clubhead Silhouette Area to Loft Ratio of between about 69 mm2/degrees to about 73.5 mm2/degrees, said Clubhead Silhouette Area to Loft Ratio defined as:

11. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said Clubhead Silhouette Area to Loft Ratio is between about 69.5 mm2/degrees to about 72.5 mm2/degrees.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein said Clubhead Silhouette Area to Loft Ratio is between about 70.0 mm2/degrees to about 72.0 mm2/degrees.

13. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said golf club head has a loft of greater than about 46 degrees.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein said golf club head has a clubhead silhouette area of between about 3,400 mm2 and 4,400 mm2.

15. The golf club head of claim 10, wherein said golf club head has a Clubhead Silhouette to Face Projection Silhouette Ratio is between about 75% to about 95%, Clubhead ⁢ Silhouette ⁢ to ⁢ Face ⁢ Projection ⁢ Silhouette ⁢ Ratio = Clubhead ⁢ Silhouette Face ⁢ Projection ⁢ Silhouette.

said Clubhead Silhouette to Face Projection Silhouette Ratio is defined as:

16. A golf club head comprising: Clubhead ⁢ Silhouette ⁢ to ⁢ Face ⁢ Projection ⁢ Silhouette ⁢ Ratio = Clubhead ⁢ Silhouette Face ⁢ Projection ⁢ Silhouette.

a loft angle,

a clubhead silhouette area, defined as an area of said golf club head projected on a ground plane when said golf club head is orientated by (1) setting said golf club head at said loft angle, (2) setting said golf club head such that the scorelines are perpendicular to an intended path of travel, and (3) setting said golf club head such that a shaft axis is set at an intended lie angle α of about 64 degrees, and

a face projection area defined as a projected silhouette area of said golf club head onto a plane that is parallel to a striking face plane of said golf club head,

wherein said golf club head has a Clubhead Silhouette to Face Projection Silhouette Ratio is between about 75% to about 95%,

said Clubhead Silhouette to Face Projection Silhouette Ratio is defined as:

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein said Clubhead Silhouette to Face Projection Silhouette Ratio is between about 78% to about 92%.

18. The golf club head of claim 17, wherein said Clubhead Silhouette to Face Projection Silhouette Ratio is between about 80% to about 90%.

19. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein said golf club head has a loft of greater than about 46 degrees.

20. The golf club head of claim 19, wherein said golf club head has a clubhead silhouette area of between about 3,400 mm2 and 4,400 mm2.