GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH BALL SPEED CONTROL

Abstract

A golf club head including a striking face and a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face. The golf club head includes at least one weight member having a particular shape to achieve a target center of gravity projection and also increase the moment of inertia.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 18/948,982, filed on November 15, 2024, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 18/787,017, filed on July 29, 2024, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Patent Application No. 18/679,007, filed on May 30, 2024, which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

It is a goal for golfers to reduce the total number of swings needed to complete a round of golf, thus reducing their total score. To achieve that goal, it is generally desirable to for a golfer to have a ball fly a consistent distance when struck by the same golf club and, for some clubs, also to have that ball travel a long distance. For instance, when a golfer slightly mishits a golf ball, the golfer does not want the golf ball to fly a significantly different distance. At the same time, the golfer also does not want to have a significantly reduced overall distance every time the golfer strikes the ball, even when the golfer strikes the ball in the “sweet spot” of the golf club. Additionally, it is also preferable for a golf club head to produce a pleasant sound to the golfer when the golf club head strikes the golf ball.

SUMMARY

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a golf club head including: a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a periphery portion extending rearward from the striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite the sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite the heel side, and a back portion extending from the sole to the topline and from the heel side to the toe side; a hosel configured to receive a shaft, the hosel located on the heel side; a cavity formed between the periphery portion and the striking face; a support pad within the cavity attached to the back portion; and a damping element positioned between the support pad and the rear surface of the striking face.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of manufacturing a golf club head including: providing a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; providing a periphery portion extending rearward from the striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite the sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite the heel side, and a back portion extending from the sole to the topline and from the heel side to the toe side, wherein a cavity is formed between the periphery portion and the striking face; providing a hosel configured to receive a shaft, the hosel located on the heel side; providing an aperture extending through the back portion and into the cavity; and inserting a damping element through the aperture into the cavity.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a golf club head including: a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a periphery portion extending rearward from the striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite the sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite the heel side, and a back portion extending from the sole to the topline and from the heel side to the toe side; a hosel configured to receive a shaft, the hosel located on the heel side; a cavity formed between the periphery portion and the striking face; a support pad within the cavity attached to the back portion; and a damping element positioned between the support pad and the rear surface of the striking face, wherein the damping element does not contact the sole, the topline, the heel side, or the toe side of the periphery portion.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of manufacturing a golf club head including: providing a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; providing a periphery portion extending rearward from the striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite the sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite the heel side, and a back portion extending from the sole to the topline and from the heel side to the toe side, wherein a cavity is formed between the periphery portion and the striking face; providing a hosel configured to receive a shaft, the hosel located on the heel side; providing an aperture extending through the back portion and the toe side of the periphery portion into the cavity; and inserting a damping element through the aperture into the cavity.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a golf club head including: a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a periphery portion extending rearward from the striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite the sole, a heel side, and a toe side opposite the heel side; a hosel configured to receive a shaft, the hosel located on the heel side; a first weight member positioned proximate the toe side; and a coordinate system centered at a face center of the striking face, wherein the coordinate system has a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when the golf club head is in an address position at a prescribed loft angle and a prescribed lie angle; an x-axis perpendicular to the y-axis and parallel to the striking face, extending towards the heel side of the golf club head; and a z-axis, perpendicular to the y-axis and the x-axis and extending through the striking face, wherein the first weight member has an upper surface which is angled with respect to the ground plane in an x-y plane such that the first weight member has a maximum height in a sole-to-topline direction at a toewardmost point and a minimum height in the sole-to-topline direction at a heelwardmost point.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a golf club head including: a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a periphery portion extending rearward from the striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite the sole, a heel side, and a toe side opposite the heel side; a hosel configured to receive a shaft, the hosel located on the heel side; and a first weight member positioned proximate the toe side, wherein the first weight member has an upper surface which is perpendicular to the front surface of the striking face.

In some aspects, the techniques described herein relate to a method of making a golf club head including: providing a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; providing a periphery portion extending rearward from the striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite the sole, a heel side, and a toe side opposite the heel side; providing a hosel configured to receive a shaft, the hosel located on the heel side; and positioning a first weight member proximate the toe side, wherein the first weight member has an upper surface which is perpendicular to the front surface of the striking face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples are described with reference to the following Figures.

FIG. 1 depicts a front perspective view of a golf club head in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a rear perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts an exploded perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a rear perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 with a cap removed;

FIG. 5 depicts a front view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 with the striking face removed;

FIG. 6 depicts a front view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 with the striking face removed;

FIG. 7 depicts a rear view of a striking face;

FIG. 8 depicts a side cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 depicts a top cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 depicts a front view of an interior of the golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 depicts a side cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 depicts a front perspective view of a golf club head in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 depicts a rear perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 depicts an exploded front perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. 12;

FIG. 15 depicts an exploded rear perspective view of the golf club head of FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 depicts an exploded front perspective view of a rear portion of the golf club head of FIG. 12;

FIG. 17 depicts a rear perspective view of a front portion of the golf club head of FIG. 12;

FIG. 18 depicts toe side view of the golf club head of FIG. 12;

FIG. 19 depicts a front view of a golf club head with the striking face removed in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 20 depicts a side cross-sectional view of the golf club head of FIG. 19.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The technologies described herein contemplate an iron-type golf club head that incorporates a damping element to promote more uniform ball speed across the striking face of the golf club head. Traditional thin-faced iron-type golf clubs generally produce less uniform launch velocities across the striking face due to increased compliance at the geometric center of the striking face. For example, when a golf club strikes a golf ball, the striking face of the club deflects and then springs forward, accelerating the golf ball off the striking face. While such a design may lead to large flight distances for a golf ball when struck in the center of the face, any off-center strike of the golf ball causes significant losses in flight distance. In comparison, an extremely thick face causes more uniform ball flight regardless of impact location, but it causes a significant loss in launch velocities. The present technology incorporates a damping element between a back portion of the hollow iron and the rear surface of the striking face. By including the damping element, the magnitude of the launch velocity may be reduced for strikes at the center of the face while improving uniformity of launch velocities across the striking face. The damping element compression and/or material may be selected to achieve desired deflection of the striking face depending on particular swing types and golfer needs.

FIGS. 1-11 depict a golf club head 100 having a damping element 125 positioned behind the striking face 118. FIG. 1 depicts a front perspective view of the golf club head 100. FIG. 2 depicts a rear perspective view of the golf club head 100. FIG. 3 depicts an exploded perspective view of the golf club head 100. FIG. 4 depicts a rear perspective view of the golf club head 100 with a cap 136 removed. FIG. 5 depicts a front view of the golf club head 100 with the striking face 118 removed. FIG. 6 depicts a front view of the golf club head 100 with the striking face 118 removed. FIG. 7 depicts a rear view of the striking face 118. FIG. 8 depicts a side cross-sectional view of the golf club head 100. FIG. 9 depicts a top cross-sectional view of the golf club head 100. FIG. 10 depicts a front view of an interior of the golf club head 100. FIG. 11 depicts a cross-sectional view of the golf club head 100.

The golf club head 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1-11 is an iron type golf club head having a hollow body construction and includes a periphery portion 101 surrounding and extending rearward from a striking face 118. The periphery portion 101 includes a sole 105, a topline 107 opposite the sole 105, a heel side 104, and a toe side 106 opposite the heel side 104. The periphery portion 101 also includes a back portion 112 extending from the sole 105 to the topline 107 and extending from the heel side 104 to the toe side 106. The golf club head 100 includes a hosel 109 located on the heel side 104 configured to receive a shaft (not shown). A cavity 120 is formed between the periphery portion 101 and the striking face 118. The striking face 118 can be formed separately and welded to the periphery portion 101. In other embodiments, the striking face 118 may be formed integrally with the periphery portion 101.

The golf club head 100 includes a coordinate system centered at a face center of the striking face 118. The coordinate system has a y-axis extending 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; an x-axis perpendicular to the y-axis and parallel to the striking face 118, extending towards the heel side 104 of the golf club head 100; and a z-axis, perpendicular to the y-axis and the x-axis and extending through the striking face 118.

The golf club head 100 further includes a damping element 125 located within the cavity 120. The damping element 125 has a front portion that contacts a rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. A rear portion of the damping element 125 contacts a support pad 132. The support pad 132 is attached to the back portion 112 of the golf club head 100. The support pad 132 includes a raised lip 133 projecting towards the striking face 118 which is critical for positioning the damping element 125 in the proper orientation on the support pad 132 during assembly when visual inspection is obscured. The raised lip 133 has a shape which complements the shape of the rear portion of the damping element 125 to prevent the damping element 125 from sliding or otherwise moving out of position once installed. In a preferred embodiment, the raised lip 133 has an arcuate shape to complement a rounded rear portion of the damping element 125. In addition to the raised lip 133, the damping element 125 is generally held in place due to compression of the damping element 125 between the support pad 132 and the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. The damping element 125 is configured to be installed in a set position during assembly and remain in that position. The support pad 132 and the raised lip 133 help to ensure the damping element 125 is installed consistently and that the damping element 125 properly and consistently engages the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118 for optimal performance. An epoxy may be used to further secure the damping element 125 to the support pad 132 and/or the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. The epoxy may also provide acoustic damping for desired sound characteristics.

The damping element 125 may have a generally frustoconical shape. In other examples, the damping element 125 may have a cylindrical, hemispherical, cuboid, or prism shape. The support pad 132 is formed to substantially match the shape of the rear portion of the damping element 125. The support pad 132 may be welded or otherwise attached to the back portion 112, or the support pad 132 may be formed as part of the back portion 112 during a casting or forging process. The back portion 112 may also be machined to include the support pad 132. The support pad 132 is oriented substantially parallel to the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. The support pad 132 does not come into contact with the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118 at maximum deflection thereof. The support pad 132 itself may be made of the same material as the back portion 112, such as a steel. The support pad 132 may also be made from titanium, aluminum, composite, or ceramic materials.

The periphery portion 101 includes an aperture 131 on the back portion 112 to allow installation of the damping element 125 within the cavity 120. This is critical for allowing the damping element 125 to be positioned between the support pad 132 and the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118 after the striking face 118 has been welded or otherwise attached to the periphery portion 101. In one embodiment where the striking face 118 is welded to the periphery portion 101, installing the damping element 125 after the striking face 118 has been welded protects the damping element 125 from adverse heat effects that the damping element 125 would be subjected to if it were installed prior to the welding process. In another embodiment where the striking face 118 is formed integrally with the periphery portion 101, installing the damping element 125 through the aperture 131 provides a minimally invasive assembly without the need for larger access openings and more complex finishing steps to enclose the cavity 120. The aperture 131 is sized to allow the damping element 125 to slide through the aperture 131 and be positioned between the support pad 132 and the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. In one embodiment, the aperture 131 has a maximum height in the sole-to-topline direction that approximately equals or is less than the maximum height of the damping element 125, and the aperture 131 has a maximum length in the heel-to-toe direction that approximately equals the maximum length of the damping element 125. The raised lip 133 assists in guiding the damping element 125 to its proper position. Once the damping element 125 is installed, a cap 136 covers the aperture 131 to prevent unwanted debris and moisture from entering the cavity 120. The cap 136 may be attached using an adhesive. Alternatively, the cap 136 may be attached by welding, preferably pulse welding. Pulse welding the cap 136 over the aperture 131 involves welding smaller sections of the weld path in multiple passes. This is critical for allowing the golf club head 100 to cool down in between welding passes to prevent excessive heat exposure to the damping element 125. Preferably, the aperture 131 is sized just big enough to permit the damping element 125 to pass through during assembly. The relatively small size of the aperture 131 provides minimal heat exposure time for the damping element 125 when the cap 136 is welded over the aperture 131. The aperture 131 may be located on the back portion 112 proximate the topline 107 and proximate the toe side 106 to provide separation distance from the final location of the damping element 125 to reduce heat exposure to the damping element 125 when the cap 136 is welded over the aperture 131.

In a preferred method of manufacturing the golf club head 100, the striking face 118 is welded to, or integrally formed with, the periphery portion 101. The damping element 125 is then inserted into the cavity 120 through the aperture 131 located on the back portion 112. The damping element 125 is positioned between the support pad 132 and the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. The raised lip 133 assists in locating the proper positioning of the damping element 125 and helps prevent unwanted movement of the damping element 125 once properly installed. The cap 136 is then welded or adhered to the back portion 112 to cover the aperture 131 and enclose the cavity 120.

In traditional thin face golf clubs, strikes at the geometric center of the striking face display the largest displacement of the striking face, and thus the greatest ball speeds. By disposing the damping element 125 proximate the geometric center of the striking face 118, the deflection of the striking face 118 at that point is reduced, thus reducing the ball speed. Portions of the striking face 118 not backed by the damping element 125, however, continue to deflect into the cavity 120 contributing to the speed of the golf ball. As such, a more uniform distribution of ball speeds resulting from ball strikes across the striking face 118 from the heel side 104 to the toe side 106 may be achieved.

The elasticity of the damping element 125 affects the deflection of the striking face 118. For instance, a material with a lower elastic modulus allows for further deflection of the striking face 118, providing for higher maximum ball speeds but less uniformity of ball speeds. In contrast, a material with a higher elastic modulus further prevents deflection of the striking face 118, providing for lower maximum ball speeds but more uniformity of ball speeds. For some applications, a range of elastic moduli for the damping element 125 from about 4 MPa to about 15 GPa may be used. In other applications, a range of elastic moduli for the damping element 125 from about 15 to about 40 GPa may be used. To achieve the goal of having the carry distance of off-center shots closer to the carry distance of center shots, the material for the damping element 125 may have an elastic modulus of about 40 GPa or greater, and more preferably about 70 GPa or greater. The material for the damping element 125 may be a polymer, preferably silicone, to achieve the lower elastic modulus for higher ball speeds or a metal such as aluminum, steel, or titanium to achieve the higher elastic modulus for more consistent carry distances across the striking face 118. Although the maximum ball speed for impacts at the center decreases when the damping element 125 has a higher elastic modulus, the speed retention across the striking face 118 is improved. This is desirable for golfers who want more consistent carry distance from strikes across the striking face 118 rather than maximizing overall carry distance.

The damping element 125 has a free thickness and an installed thickness measured in the front-to-rear direction. In some embodiments, the free thickness and the installed thickness of the damping element 125 can be substantially the same. In this case, there would be little to no preload of the damping element 125 against the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. In other embodiments, the installed thickness can be lower than the free thickness, creating a preload force on the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118. This preload force can change the coefficient of restitution of the striking face 118. In an additional embodiment, multiple versions of the damping element 125 may be available with different free thicknesses to achieve a particular coefficient of restitution. Alternatively, the material of the damping element 125 could be altered to change its stiffness, thus altering the coefficient of restitution of the golf club head.

A higher compression of the damping element 125 against the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118 further restricts the deflection of the striking face 118. In turn, further restriction of the deflection causes more uniform ball speeds across the striking face 118. However, the restriction on deflection also lowers the maximum ball speed from the center of the striking face 118. To achieve a golf club head 100 that produces further maximum distance but does not need uniform ball speed across the striking face 118, the initial set compression of the damping element 125 can be reduced, or a damping element 125 having a lower elastic modulus can be used. In contrast, to achieve a golf club head 100 that has more uniform ball speed across the striking face 118, the initial set compression of the damping element 125 can be increased, or a damping element 125 having a higher elastic modulus can be used. This adjustability is critical for meeting a variety of specific performance needs for different individuals.

The inclusion of the damping element 125 in the golf club head 100 provides benefits in durability for the striking face 118 by reducing stress values displayed by the striking face 118 upon impact with a golf ball. Without the damping element 125, the von Mises stress levels are high and indicate that the striking face 118 may be susceptible to failure and/or early deterioration. Such von Mises stress values are lower with the damping element 125 and are indicative of a more durable golf club head 100 that is less likely to fail.

Another goal of the damping element 125 described herein is to dissipate energy of the golf club head after it strikes a golf ball. As the striking face 118 and other portions of the golf club head vibrate, the damping element 125 in contact with those surfaces can dissipate the energy. This can change the sound produced by the golf club head 100 by reducing the loudness and/or duration of the sound produced when the golf club head 100 strikes a golf ball.

As shown in FIGS. 3, 6, 10, and 11 the periphery portion 101 is configured to receive a first weight member 111a positioned proximate the toe side 106 and a second weight member 111b positioned proximate the heel side 104. The first weight member 111a has an upper surface 111a1 which is angled such that the first weight member 111a has a maximum height in a sole-to-topline direction at a toewardmost point and a minimum height in the sole-to-topline direction at a heelwardmost point. This shape of the first weight member 111a allows increased weight concentration toeward and soleward for higher moment of inertia and forgiveness. The second weight member 111b has an upper surface 111b1 which is angled such that the second weight member 111b has a maximum height in the sole-to-topline direction at a heelwardmost point and a minimum height in the sole-to-topline direction at a toewardmost point. This shape of the second weight member 111b allows increased weight concentration heelward and soleward for higher moment of inertia and forgiveness. In the address position, the upper surface 111a1 of the first weight member 111a forms a first angle θ₁ with respect to a ground plane GP in an x-y plane between 10 degrees and 50 degrees, more preferably between 20 degrees and 40 degrees. A first virtual line 110a in the x-y plane passes over the upper surface 111a1 and intersects with the ground plane GP at a first weight member/ground plane intersection point 110a1. Furthermore, in the address position, the upper surface 111b1 of the second weight member 111b forms a second angle θ₂ with respect to the ground plane GP in the x-y plane between 10 degrees and 60 degrees, more preferably between 20 degrees and 50 degrees. A second virtual line 110b in the x-y plane passes over the upper surface 111b1 and intersects with the ground plane GP at a second weight member/ground plane intersection point 110b1. In a preferred embodiment the first angle θ₁ and the second angle θ₂ are within 5 degrees of each other. The first weight member 111a and the second weight member 111b may be made of a material having a density greater than the density of the periphery portion 101. In a preferred embodiment, the first weight member 111a and the second weight member 111b are made of tungsten. In one embodiment of the present invention, the first weight member 111a and the second weight member 111b have a density between 10 g/cc and 15 g/cc and more preferably between 12 g/cc and 14 g/cc. The first weight member 111a and the second weight member 111b have a combined mass greater than 50 g.

FIG. 11 depicts a cross-sectional view of the golf club head 100 taken through a portion of the first weight member 111a. Conventional weight members have upper surfaces which are parallel to the ground plane GP at the address position. However, in an embodiment of the present invention, the upper surface 111a1 of the first weight member 111a is within 20 degrees of perpendicular to the front surface 117 of the striking face 118 in a y-z plane, more preferably within 10 degrees of perpendicular to the front surface 117 of the striking face 118 in the y-z plane, and most preferably within 5 degrees of perpendicular to the front surface 117 of the striking face 118 in the y-z plane. The upper surface 111b1 of the second weight member 111b is within 20 degrees of perpendicular to the front surface 117 of the striking face 118 in the y-z plane, more preferably within 10 degrees of perpendicular to the front surface 117 of the striking face 118 in the y-z plane, and most preferably within 5 degrees of perpendicular to the front surface 117 of the striking face 118 in the y-z plane. An important aspect is having a forwardmost edge 111a2 of the upper surface 111a1 at a higher elevation in the sole-to-topline direction than a rearwardmost edge 111a3 of the upper surface 111a1 in the y-z plane and having a forwardmost edge 111b2 of the upper surface 111b1 at a higher elevation in the sole-to-topline direction than a rearwardmost edge 111b3 of the upper surface 111b1 in the y-z plane. This is critical for achieving a target Center of Gravity Projection (CGP) which is a major determinate of the launch characteristics and performance of the golf club head 100. The CGP is the line passing through the center of gravity which is perpendicular to the front surface 117 of the striking face 118. Having the forwardmost edge 111a2 of the upper surface 111a1 at a higher elevation than the rearwardmost edge 111a3 and having the forwardmost edge 111b2 of the upper surface 111b1 at a higher elevation than the rearwardmost edge 111b3 creates a lower CGP than the conventional weight member shaping because it moves the center of gravity forward. Changing the shape of the upper surface 111a1 of the first weight member 111a and the upper surface 111b1 of the second weight member 111b as described above allows the center of gravity to be manipulated to a more favorable position without changing the mass of the first weight member 111a or the mass of second weight member 111b.

In a preferred method of making the golf club head 100, the first weight member 111a and the second weight member 111b are each shaped such that the upper surface 111a1 of the first weight member 111a and the upper surface 111b1 of the second weight member 111b are within 20 degrees of perpendicular to the front surface 117 of the striking face 118 in the y-z plane, more preferably within 10 degrees of perpendicular to the front surface 117 of the striking face 118 in the y-z plane, and most preferably within 5 degrees of perpendicular to the front surface 117 of the striking face 118 in the y-z plane. The first angle θ₁ of the upper surface 111a1 of the first weight member 111a and the second angle θ₂ of the upper surface 111b1 of the second weight member 111b are then determined to meet a precise CGP location based on target launch characteristics for the golf club head 100. By shaping the first weight member 111a and the second weight member 111b in the above-described fashion, the CGP specification is met while achieving an increased MOI such that target launch conditions are met and forgiveness is increased. Additionally, the first weight member/ground plane intersection point 110a1 and the second weight member/ground plane intersection point 110b1 may be independently manipulated along the x-axis direction while maintaining the first angle θ₁ and the second angle θ₂ in order to adjust the center of gravity in the x-direction (CGX) which is critical for ensuring a golfer can square the golf club head 100 at impact and achieve tight ball flight dispersion. In a preferred embodiment, the CGX is located between 0 mm and 3.0 mm heelward from the face center of the striking face 118, more preferably between 1.0 mm and 2.5 mm heelward from the face center of the striking face 118.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the striking face 118 has a thickness that varies from a front surface 117 to the rear surface 119 to further promote more uniform ball speed across the striking face 118 of the golf club head 100. The striking face 118 includes a thickened portion 122 which at least partially overlaps a vertical plane perpendicular to the ground plane GP and passing through the face center of the golf club head 100 when in an address position. The thickened portion 122 is preferably between 1.6 mm and 2.6 mm thick, more preferably between 1.8 mm and 2.4 mm thick, and most preferably between 1.9 mm and 2.2 mm thick. The striking face 118 also includes a thinned portion 123 at least partially surrounding the thickened portion 122. The thinned portion 123 is preferably between 1.1 mm and 2.1 mm thick, more preferably between 1.35 mm and 1.85 mm thick, and most preferably between 1.5 mm and 1.7 mm thick. The thickness of the striking face 118 may gradually taper from the thickened portion 122 to the thinned portion 123 which may be located at an outer periphery of the striking face 118. The thickened portion 122 is preferably between 10% and 50% thicker than the thinned portion 123, more preferably between 20% and 40% thicker than the thinned portion 123, and most preferably between 25% and 35% thicker than the thinned portion 123. These thicknesses and relative dimensions are critical for maintaining consistent ball speeds across the striking face 118 and controlling stresses experienced by the striking face 118. The front surface of the damping element 125 engages the rear surface 119 of the striking face 118 at the thickened portion 122.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4 and 8, the back portion 112 of the golf club head 100 may include a pocket 113 to allow a back weight 115 to be inserted into the pocket 113 from a rear of the golf club head 100. The back weight 115 allows the swing weight of the golf club head 100 to be customized based on player preference. The back weight 115 may be selected from a plurality of different masses having the same shape and volume to achieve a specific swing weight in a later stage of club head production. This allows for greater flexibility in customization of the golf club head 100. The back weight 115 may be fixed within the pocket 113 by welding or adhesive bonding to prevent unwanted removal once the proper back weight 115 is selected. In another embodiment, the back weight 115 may be removably secured within the pocket 113 by clamping or threaded engagement to allow greater interchangeability of the back weight 115.

FIGS. 12-18 depict a golf club head 200 according to another embodiment of the present invention having a damping element 225 positioned behind the striking face 218. FIG. 12 depicts a front perspective view of the golf club head 200. FIG. 13 depicts a rear perspective view of the golf club head 200. FIG. 14 depicts an exploded front perspective view of the golf club head 200. FIG. 15 depicts an exploded rear perspective view of the golf club head 200. FIG. 16 depicts an exploded front perspective view of a back portion 212 of the golf club head 200. FIG. 17 depicts a rear perspective view of a front portion of the golf club head 200. FIG. 18 depicts toe side view of the golf club head 200.

The golf club head 200 illustrated in FIGS. 12-18 is an iron type golf club head having a hollow body construction and includes a periphery portion 201 surrounding and extending rearward from a striking face 218. The periphery portion 201 includes a sole 205, a topline 207 opposite the sole 205, a heel side 204, and a toe side 206 opposite the heel side 204. The periphery portion 201 also includes a back portion 212 extending from the sole 205 to the topline 207 and extending from the heel side 204 to the toe side 206. The golf club head 200 includes a hosel 209 located on the heel side 204 configured to receive a shaft (not shown). A cavity 220 is formed between the periphery portion 201 and the striking face 218. The striking face 218 may be formed integrally with at least a portion of the periphery portion 201. In another embodiment, the striking face 218 may be formed separately and welded to the periphery portion 201.

The golf club head 200 further includes a damping element 225 located within the cavity 220. The damping element 225 has a front portion that contacts a rear surface 219 of the striking face 218. A rear portion of the damping element 225 contacts a support pad 232. The support pad 232 is attached to the back portion 212 of the golf club head 200. The support pad 232 includes a raised lip 233 projecting towards the striking face 218 which is critical for positioning the damping element 225 in the proper orientation on the support pad 232 during assembly when visual inspection is obscured. The raised lip 233 has a shape which complements the shape of the rear portion of the damping element 225 to prevent the damping element 225 from sliding or otherwise moving out of position once installed. In a preferred embodiment, the raised lip 233 has an arcuate shape to complement a rounded rear portion of the damping element 225. In addition to the raised lip 233, the damping element 225 is generally held in place due to compression of the damping element 225 between the support pad 232 and the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218. The damping element 225 is configured to be installed in a set position during assembly and remain in that position. The support pad 232 and the raised lip 233 help to ensure the damping element 225 is installed consistently and that the damping element 225 properly and consistently engages the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218 for optimal performance. An epoxy may be used to further secure the damping element 225 to the support pad 232 and/or the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218. The epoxy may also provide acoustic damping for desired sound characteristics.

The damping element 225 may have a generally frustoconical shape. In other examples, the damping element 225 may have a cylindrical, hemispherical, cuboid, or prism shape. The support pad 232 is formed to substantially match the shape of the rear portion of the damping element 225. The support pad 232 may be welded or otherwise attached to the back portion 212, or the support pad 232 may be formed as part of the back portion 212 during a casting or forging process. The back portion 212 may also be machined to include the support pad 232. The support pad 232 is oriented substantially parallel to the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218. The support pad 232 does not come into contact with the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218 at maximum deflection thereof. The support pad 232 itself may be made of the same material as the back portion 212, such as a steel. The support pad 232 may also be made from titanium, aluminum, composite, or ceramic materials.

The periphery portion 201 includes an aperture 231 on the back portion 212 and the toe side 206 to allow installation of the damping element 225 within the cavity 220. This is critical for allowing the damping element 225 to be positioned between the support pad 232 and the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218 after the striking face 218 has been welded or otherwise attached to the periphery portion 201. In one embodiment where the striking face 218 is welded to the periphery portion 201, installing the damping element 225 after the striking face 218 has been welded protects the damping element 225 from adverse heat effects that the damping element 225 would be subjected to if it were installed prior to the welding process. In another embodiment where the striking face 218 is formed integrally with the periphery portion 201, installing the damping element 225 through the aperture 231 provides a minimally invasive assembly without the need for larger access openings and more complex finishing steps to enclose the cavity 220. The aperture 231 is sized to allow the damping element 225 to slide through the aperture 231 and be positioned between the support pad 232 and the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218. In one embodiment, the aperture 231 has a maximum height in the sole-to-topline direction that approximately equals or is less than the maximum height of the damping element 225, and the aperture 231 has a maximum length in the heel-to-toe direction that approximately equals the maximum length of the damping element 225. The raised lip 233 assists in guiding the damping element 225 to its proper position. Once the damping element 225 is installed, a cap 236 covers the aperture 231 to prevent unwanted debris and moisture from entering the cavity 220. The cap 236 may be attached using an adhesive. Alternatively, the cap 236 may be attached by welding, preferably pulse welding. Pulse welding the cap 236 over the aperture 231 involves welding smaller sections of the weld path in multiple passes. This is critical for allowing the golf club head 200 to cool down in between welding passes to prevent excessive heat exposure to the damping element 225. Preferably, the aperture 231 is sized just big enough to permit the damping element 225 to pass through during assembly. The relatively small size of the aperture 231 provides minimal heat exposure time for the damping element 225 when the cap 236 is welded over the aperture 231. The aperture 231 may be located on the back portion 212 proximate the topline 207 and overlapping the toe side 206 to provide separation distance from the final location of the damping element 225 to reduce heat exposure to the damping element 225 when the cap 236 is welded over the aperture 231.

In a preferred method of manufacturing the golf club head 200, the striking face 218 is welded to, or integrally formed with, the periphery portion 201. The damping element 225 is then inserted into the cavity 220 through the aperture 231 located on the back portion 212 and toe side 206. The damping element 225 is positioned between the support pad 232 and the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218. The raised lip 233 assists in locating the proper positioning of the damping element 225 and helps prevent unwanted movement of the damping element 225 once properly installed. The cap 236 is then welded or adhered to the back portion 212 and toe side 206 to cover the aperture 231 and enclose the cavity 220.

In traditional thin face golf clubs, strikes at the geometric center of the striking face display the largest displacement of the striking face, and thus the greatest ball speeds. By disposing the damping element 225 proximate the geometric center of the striking face 218, the deflection of the striking face 218 at that point is reduced, thus reducing the ball speed. Portions of the striking face 218 not backed by the damping element 225, however, continue to deflect into the cavity 220 contributing to the speed of the golf ball. As such, a more uniform distribution of ball speeds resulting from ball strikes across the striking face 218 from the heel side 204 to the toe side 206 may be achieved.

The elasticity of the damping element 225 affects the deflection of the striking face 218. For instance, a material with a lower elastic modulus allows for further deflection of the striking face 218, providing for higher maximum ball speeds but less uniformity of ball speeds. In contrast, a material with a higher elastic modulus further prevents deflection of the striking face 218, providing for lower maximum ball speeds but more uniformity of ball speeds. For some applications, a range of elastic moduli for the damping element 225 from about 4 MPa to about 15 GPa may be used. In other applications, a range of elastic moduli for the damping element 225 from about 15 GPa to about 40 GPa may be used. To achieve the goal of having the carry distance of off-center shots closer to the carry distance of center shots, the material for the damping element 225 may have an elastic modulus of about 40 GPa or greater, and more preferably about 70 GPa or greater. The material for the damping element 225 may be a polymer, preferably silicone, to achieve the lower elastic modulus for higher ball speeds or a metal such as aluminum, steel, or titanium to achieve the higher elastic modulus for more consistent carry distances across the striking face 218. Although the maximum ball speed for impacts at the center decreases when the damping element 225 has a higher elastic modulus, the speed retention across the striking face 218 is improved. This is desirable for golfers who want more consistent carry distance from strikes across the striking face 118 rather than maximizing overall carry distance.

The damping element 225 has a free thickness and an installed thickness measured in the front-to-rear direction. In some embodiments, the free thickness and the installed thickness of the damping element 225 can be substantially the same. In this case, there would be little to no preload of the damping element 225 against the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218. In other embodiments, the installed thickness can be lower than the free thickness, creating a preload force on the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218. This preload force can change the coefficient of restitution of the striking face 218. In an additional embodiment, multiple versions of the damping element 225 may be available with different free thicknesses to achieve a particular coefficient of restitution. Alternatively, the material of the damping element 225 could be altered to change its stiffness, thus altering the coefficient of restitution of the golf club head 200.

A higher compression of the damping element 225 against the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218 further restricts the deflection of the striking face 218. In turn, further restriction of the deflection causes more uniform ball speeds across the striking face 218. However, the restriction on deflection also lowers the maximum ball speed from the center of the striking face 218. To achieve a golf club head 200 that produces further maximum distance but does not need uniform ball speed across the striking face 218, the initial set compression of the damping element 225 can be reduced, or a damping element 225 having a lower elastic modulus can be used. In contrast, to achieve a golf club head 200 that has more uniform ball speed across the striking face 218, the initial set compression of the damping element 225 can be increased, or a damping element 225 having a higher elastic modulus can be used. This adjustability is critical for meeting a variety of specific performance needs for different individuals.

The inclusion of the damping element 225 in the golf club head 200 provides benefits in durability for the striking face 218 by reducing stress values displayed by the striking face 218 upon impact with a golf ball. Without the damping element 225, the von Mises stress levels are high and indicate that the striking face 218 may be susceptible to failure and/or early deterioration. Such von Mises stress values are lower with the damping element 225 and are indicative of a more durable golf club head 200 that is less likely to fail.

Another goal of the damping element 225 described herein is to dissipate energy of the golf club head 200 after it strikes a golf ball. As the striking face 218 and other portions of the golf club head 200 vibrate, the damping element 225 in contact with those surfaces can dissipate the energy. This can change the sound produced by the golf club head 200 by reducing the loudness and/or duration of the sound produced when the golf club head 200 strikes a golf ball.

As shown in FIG. 14, the periphery portion 201 is configured to receive a first weight member 211a positioned proximate the toe side 206 and a second weight member 211b positioned proximate the heel side 204. The first weight member 211a has an angled upper surface 211a1 such that the first weight member 211a has a maximum height in a sole-to-topline direction at a toewardmost point and a minimum height in the sole-to-topline direction at a heelwardmost point. This shape of the first weight member 211a allows increased weight concentration toeward and soleward for higher moment of inertia and forgiveness.

As shown in FIGS. 15 and 17, the striking face 218 has a thickness that varies from a front surface 217 to the rear surface 219 to further promote more uniform ball speed across the striking face 218 of the golf club head 200. The striking face 218 includes a thickened portion 222 which at least partially overlaps a vertical plane perpendicular to a ground plane GP and passing through the face center of the golf club head 200 when in an address position. The thickened portion 222 may extend from the sole 205 to the topline 207 and have a substantially uniform width in a heel-to-toe direction. The thickened portion 222 has a substantially constant thickness preferably between 1.6 mm and 2.6 mm, more preferably between 1.8 mm and 2.4 mm, and most preferably between 1.9 mm and 2.2 mm. The striking face 218 includes a toe side thinned portion 223 located toeward of the thickened portion 222. The toe side thinned portion 223 has a substantially constant thickness preferably between 1.1 mm and 2.1 mm, more preferably between 1.35 mm and 1.85 mm, and most preferably between 1.5 mm and 1.7 mm. The striking face 218 includes a heel side thinned portion 227 located heelward of the thickened portion 222. The heel side thinned portion 227 has a substantially constant thickness preferably between 1.1 mm and 2.1 mm, more preferably between 1.35 mm and 1.85 mm, and most preferably between 1.5 mm and 1.7 mm. The striking face 218 includes a toe side taper 224 with a variable thickness transition between the thickened portion 222 and the toe side thinned portion 223. The striking face 218 includes a heel side taper 226 with a variable thickness transition between the thickened portion 222 and the heel side thinned portion 227. The thickened portion 222 is preferably between 10% and 50% thicker than the toe side thinned portion 223 or the heel side thinned portion 227, more preferably between 20% and 40% thicker than the toe side thinned portion 223 or the heel side thinned portion 227, and most preferably between 25% and 35% thicker than the toe side thinned portion 223 or the heel side thinned portion 227. These thicknesses and relative dimensions are critical for maintaining consistent ball speeds across the striking face 218 and controlling stresses experienced by the striking face 218. The front surface of the damping element 225 engages the rear surface 219 of the striking face 218 at the thickened portion 222.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show a golf club head 300 including a sole 305, a topline 307 opposite the sole 305, a heel side 304, and a toe side 306 opposite the heel side 304. The golf club head 300 includes a hosel 309 located on the heel side 304 configured to receive a shaft (not shown). The golf club head 300 has a first weight member 311a and a second weight member 311b. The first weight member 311a is positioned above the second weight member 311b in a topline direction. The first weight member 311a has a lower density than the second weight member 311b. In one embodiment, the first weight member 311a is made of stainless steel and the second weight member is made of tungsten. The first weight member 311a is sintered or brazed to the second weight member 311b.

Other than in the operating examples, or unless otherwise expressly specified, all of the numerical ranges, amounts, values, and percentages may be read as if prefaced by the word "about" even though the term "about" may not expressly appear with the value, amount, or range. Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the following description and claims are approximations that may vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by the present invention. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope of the invention are approximations, the numerical values set forth in any 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.

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 golf club head comprising: a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface; a periphery portion extending rearward from said striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite said sole, a heel side, and a toe side opposite said heel side; a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on said heel side; a first weight member positioned proximate said toe side; and a coordinate system centered at a face center of said striking face, wherein said coordinate system has a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when said golf club head is in an address position at a prescribed loft angle and a prescribed lie angle; an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to said striking face, extending towards said heel side of said golf club head; and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face, wherein said first weight member has an upper surface which is angled with respect to said ground plane in an x-y plane such that said first weight member has a maximum height in a sole-to-topline direction at a toewardmost point and a minimum height in said sole-to-topline direction at a heelwardmost point, and wherein said first weight member has a density between 10 g/cc and 15 g/cc.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a second weight member positioned proximate said heel side, wherein said second weight member has an upper surface which is angled with respect to said ground plane in said x-y plane such that said second weight member has a maximum height in said sole-to-topline direction at a heelwardmost point and a minimum height in said sole-to-topline direction at a toewardmost point, and wherein said second weight member has a density between 10 g/cc and 15 g/cc.

3. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said upper surface of said first weight member forms a first angle with respect to said ground plane in said x-y plane between 10 degrees and 50 degrees.

4. The golf club head of claim 3, wherein said first angle is between 20 degrees and 40 degrees.

5. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said upper surface of said second weight member forms a second angle with respect to said ground plane in said x-y plane between 10 degrees and 60 degrees.

6. The golf club head of claim 5, wherein said second angle is between 20 degrees and 50 degrees.

7. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said upper surface of said first weight member forms a first angle with respect to said ground plane in said x-y plane, wherein said upper surface of said second weight member forms a second angle with respect to said ground plane in said x-y plane, and wherein said first angle is within 5 degrees of said second angle.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein said upper surface of said first weight member is within 10 degrees of perpendicular to said front surface of said striking face in a y-z plane.

9. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said upper surface of said second weight member is withing 10 degrees of perpendicular to said front surface of said striking face in a y-z plane.

10. The golf club head of claim 2, wherein said upper surface of said first weight member is within 5 degrees of perpendicular to said front surface of said striking face in a y-z plane, and wherein said upper surface of said second weight member is within 5 degrees of perpendicular to said front surface of said striking face in said y-z plane.

11. A golf club head comprising: a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface; a periphery portion extending rearward from said striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite said sole, a heel side, and a toe side opposite said heel side; a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on said heel side; a first weight member positioned proximate said toe side; and a coordinate system centered at a face center of said striking face, wherein said coordinate system has a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when said golf club head is in an address position at a prescribed loft angle and a prescribed lie angle; an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to said striking face, extending towards said heel side of said golf club head; and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face, and wherein said first weight member has a density between 10 g/cc and 15 g/cc.

12. The golf club head of claim 11, further comprising a second weight member positioned proximate said heel side, wherein said second weight member has a density between 10 g/cc and 15 g/cc.

13. The golf club head of claim 11, wherein said first weight member has an upper surface which is within 20 degrees of perpendicular to said front surface of said striking face in a y-z plane, and wherein said upper surface of said first weight member forms a first angle with respect to said ground plane in an x-y plane between 10 degrees and 50 degrees.

14. The golf club head of claim 13, wherein said first angle is between 20 degrees and 40 degrees.

15. The golf club head of claim 14, wherein said golf club head has a center of gravity between 1.0 mm and 2.5 mm heelward of said face center of said striking face.

16. A method of making a golf club head comprising:

providing a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;

providing a periphery portion extending rearward from said striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite said sole, a heel side, and a toe side opposite said heel side;

providing a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on said heel side;

positioning a first weight member proximate said toe side; and

defining a coordinate system centered at a face center of said striking face,

wherein said coordinate system has a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when said golf club head is in an address position at a prescribed loft angle and a prescribed lie angle; an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to said striking face, extending towards said heel side of said golf club head; and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face,

wherein said first weight member has an upper surface which is within 20 degrees of perpendicular to said front surface of said striking face in a y-z plane, and

wherein said first weight member has a density between 10 g/cc and 15 g/cc.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising positioning a second weight member proximate said heel side, wherein said second weight member has an upper surface which is within 20 degrees of perpendicular to said front surface of said striking face in said y-z plane, and wherein said second weight member has a density between 10 g/cc and 15 g/cc.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said upper surface of said first weight member forms a first angle with respect to said ground plane in an x-y plane between 10 degrees and 50 degrees.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said upper surface of said second weight member forms a second angle with respect to said ground plane in said x-y plane between 10 degrees and 60 degrees.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said first angle is within 5 degrees of said second angle.