Abstract: A golf club head formed of multiple materials is disclosed. Those portions of the club head that are subject to high stresses during normal use of the golf club head are formed of a metallic material. Most of the material beyond what is required to maintain structural integrity, however, is removed and replaced with a lightweight material. This freed-up mass that can be redistributed to other, more beneficial locations of the club head. The lightweight material also damps vibrations generated during use of the golf club. This vibration damper may be retained in a state of compression to enhance the vibration damping. One or more weight members may be included to obtain desired center of gravity position, moments of inertia, and other club head attributes. An insert formed of multiple materials and having regions of varying thickness may also be included on a rear surface of the club head.

Abstract: Golf club heads which include an iron type golf club head body including a ball striking face, a rear surface opposite the ball striking face (e.g., including a perimeter weighting member) and an indicator which indicates the location of the center of gravity of the golf club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a set of at least three golf clubs having different club length Lk. The golf clubs 14; 20 comprises a shaft 21 with an upper end and a lower end, a grip section 22 on the upper end of the shaft, and a head 23; 30; 40 with a ball-striking surface mounted on the lower end of the shaft. The club length Lk of each golf club decreasing through the set and a value 61, 65, 75; 62, 66, 76; 63, 67, 77; 64, 68; 78 of at least one torsional moment PCF; HCF; ICF; GCF for each of the at least three golf clubs when swung by a golfer differs from each other. A linear function 71, 72, 73, 74 of club length Lk is based on the values of at least one torsional moment.

Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed that includes a weight integral to a bridge member extending across a cavity back golf club head. The weight modifies a position of a center of gravity of the golf club head. The weight is independently movable in multiple directions to further vary the center of gravity of a golf club head.

Abstract: Described herein are iron golf club heads and sets of iron golf clubs that have variable weight distribution. Each iron golf club head has a cavity and a groove with a raised portion disposed therein. The groove and the raised portion can deepen the center of mass depth and lengthen the effective face length of the iron golf club. The width of the groove may vary between each golf club in a set of iron golf clubs, such that the width of the groove of the long irons is greater that the width of the groove of the middle irons, and the width of the groove of the middle irons is greater than the width of the optional groove of the short irons. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and discussed.

Abstract: Described herein are iron golf club heads and sets of iron golf clubs that have variable weight distribution. Each iron golf club head has a cavity and a y-shaped cavity pad disposed on at least a portion of a back wall of the cavity. The y-shaped cavity pad provide reduced vibrations within the cavity when the iron golf club head strikes a golf ball. The y-shaped cavity pad also provides an enlarged sweet spot to provide increased forgiveness for off-center hits. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.

Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a removable wrapping element proximal to the ball striking face.

Abstract: Golf clubs, club heads, and club weighting systems may include: (a) a club head body member; and (b) one or more weight members removably and/or movably engaged with the club head body member so as to move between a first position and a second position to change an overall exterior shape of the club head. This shape change may result in changes to the overall center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Alternatively or additionally, the weight member(s) may be removed from the club head body member, reoriented, and/or replaced with a different weight member, e.g., to change the overall exterior shape, center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Methods of making and using these clubs, club heads, and weighting systems also are described.

Abstract: Embodiments of club heads with contoured back faces and methods of manufacturing the same are described herein.

Abstract: A set of golf clubs including golf club heads having a progressive effective sole width through the set. The set includes golf club heads having a club head main body including a hitting face and a face support. A portion of the set includes golf club heads having trailing edge sole chamfers that reduce the overall sole width to the effective sole width.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an iron-type golf club that may be included in a set. In particular, the inventive golf club includes an adjustable hosel coupling and a mechanism for altering the sole configuration. The golf club may be included in a set having a progressive sole configuration that provides desired bounce for each club within the set.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with variable moment of inertia and methods of manufacture thereof are described herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with loft-based weights and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: An iron type golf club head includes a club head having a first body component defining a striking face, and a second body component releasably secured to the first body component with a fastener. The second body component defines at least a perimeter portion of a rear face of the club head body and may define substantially an entire rear face of the club head body.

Abstract: At least two golf clubs of a set, according to one or more aspects of the present invention, may include a strike face and a perimeter weighting element disposed behind the strike face. The perimeter weighting element may include an inner peripheral wall having a sole surface, a top surface, a heel surface, and a toe surface. A cavity, having a base surface, may be delimited by the inner peripheral wall and may include an insert disposed therein. The insert may comprise a primary element passively flexurally associated with one or more secondary elements and may be substantially identical for each head within the set. The primary element may be associated with the base surface and the at least one secondary element may be associated with at least one of the sole surface, the top surface, the toe surface, and the heel surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a set of iron-type golf clubs having a progressive sole configuration through the set. In particular, the inventive golf clubs include a consistent relationship between the ground contact and center of gravity throughout the set and a progressive sole configuration that provides desired bounce for each club within the set. The progressive sole configuration includes a progressive sole camber throughout the set of iron-type golf clubs.

Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long, mid- and short irons with channel back configurations and a mass control insert. The mass of the insert is systematically varied through the set such that the mass distribution properties of the set may be systematically varied while retaining a continuous look and feel through the set. The mass of the insert is varied by altering the volume or the density of the insert through the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. In one embodiment, the mass control insert comprises a dense insert and a lightweight cover. The density of the dense insert can be easily varied to change the mass distribution properties of the club head. One application of the mass control insert is to provide customization of the club head at the point of sale or distribution.

Abstract: An iron-type golf club head has a face portion which comprises a central part, a face peripheral part surrounding the central part and protruding backward therefrom to form a cavity, and a badge disposed within the cavity. The central part comprises: a central thin region having a minimum thickness of the face portion and a rear surface to which the badge is attached; a thicker peripheral region surrounding the badge and having an inner circumferential surface raising from the rear surface of the central thin region to position the badge, the thicker peripheral region having at least one breaking part; and at least one radial thin region formed by the breaking part and extending from the central thin region to the face peripheral part.

Abstract: A golf club head having a recess located in a top portion thereof between the heel and the toe and extending toward the sole. The recess may be only in the top line of the club head or extend from the heel around the toe. An insert may be placed within the recess. The insert may have a density that is less than the density of the club head body to lower the center of gravity and moment of inertia or greater than the density of the club head body to raise the center of gravity and moment of inertia.

Abstract: A set of iron clubs where each club in the set has the same or substantially the same ground roll. The set is produced by adjusting at least two club design characteristics of the clubs based upon measured or assumed player swing data. The design characteristics of the clubs include club length, static clubhead loft, location of the center of gravity, shaft flexibility, and groove volume. Preferably, club length and static clubhead loft are adjusted for coarse adjustments, while the other characteristics are used to fine-tune the design.

Abstract: Golf clubs, club heads, and club weighting systems may include: (a) a club head body member; and (b) one or more weight members movably engaged with the club head body member so as to move between a first position and a second position to change an overall exterior shape of the club head. This shape change may result in changes to the overall center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Alternatively or additionally, the weight member(s) may be removed from the club head body member, reoriented, and/or replaced with a different weight member, e.g., to change the overall exterior shape, center of gravity, weighting, and/or moment of inertia characteristics of the club head. Methods of making and using these clubs, club heads, and weighting systems also are described.

Abstract: Iron golf clubs heads and clubs include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) an opposite rear surface; (c) a sole portion extending rearward from the ball striking face and defining a cavity having an open upper portion; (d) an insert element mounted in the cavity, wherein the insert element includes at least one weight port; and (e) a weight member mounted in the port. The insert element may substantially fill the cavity to dampen vibrations and/or noise when a ball is struck. Additionally, the insert element may allow the weight(s) to be selectively placed to enable customization and tuning of the overall weight of the club head (e.g., for swing weighting purposes, for ball flight control purposes, etc.). Methods of making such club heads and clubs also are described.

Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads include: (a) a club head body including heel, toe, crown, sole, and weighted rear portions; and (b) a variable thickness ball striking face. The club head body parts and weighted portion(s) may be arranged such that the club head has a moment of inertia about a vertical axis passing through the club head center of gravity of at least 5000 g-cm2. Such club heads may include: (a) a cup face member including a ball striking face portion and a return portion; (b) sole and crown portions engaged with the return portion; (c) a rear body member engaged with the crown and/or sole portions; (d) a weight member at the club head rear; and/or (e) a hosel member engaged with the cup face member, the crown portion, and/or the sole portion.

Abstract: A cavity back golf club head having a bridge member and a damping element is disclosed. The bridge member extends across a first rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball. For the longer iron clubs, a damping element extends from the sole portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member to define a second cavity to further influence the trajectory of the golf ball. For the shorter iron clubs, the damping element extends from the top portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member. The damping element may reduce the vibration and sound of the golf club head upon impact with a golf ball.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture are generally described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club head comprises a body having a toe region, a heel region, a sole region, and a top region. The golf club head further comprises a front face, a first back, and a second back that extends farther from the front face than the first back. The second back extends from the heel region to the toe region, and extends from the sole region to about a midpoint between the sole region and the top region. The golf cub head also comprises a first cavity between the first back and the second back, and a second cavity integral with the second back at the toe region. This embodiment may further comprise first and second weights that are inserted into the first and second cavities respectively. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs and methods of manufacture are generally described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club bead has a toe region having a top portion and a bottom portion, and a heel region opposite the toe region also having a top portion and a bottom portion. The club head has a hosel at the top portion of the heel region, a back face, and a front face opposite the back face. The club head has a first weight at a perimeter of the back face, and a second weight at the back face. The second weight is located at the bottom portion of the toe region, and farther away from the back face than the first weight. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Golf club heads include an iron type golf club head body having a rear surface (e.g., a perimeter weighting member) that defines a first weight receiving portion, and a weight member is mounted in the first weight receiving portion. The club head body further defines a second weight receiving portion independent of the first weight receiving portion, and a second weight member is removably engaged with the golf club head body at this second weight receiving portion. The weight members may be interchangeably mounted in the two weight receiving portions to thereby allow selective placement of the center of gravity characteristics of the club head body. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf club and golf club heads also are described.

Abstract: A set of golf clubs having a plurality of construction types. The clubs of each construction type are constructed to have a volumetric bias in a pre-selected range.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs, golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. According to certain embodiments, an example golf club head comprises (i) a body portion made from a first material that includes a perimeter portion, (ii) a face portion coupled to the body portion, which is made from a second material that is less dense than the first material, and (iii) a support portion disposed in a cavity located in the backside of the golf club head. In certain embodiments, the support portion is formed as a secondary cavity in the backside of the golf club head.

Abstract: A golf club comprising a head having a series of tracks forming a three-dimensional pattern along a surface of the head; a plurality of weights for positioning along the channels; and a mechanism for securing the weights at arbitrary positions along the channels so as to customize at least one of center of gravity and moment of inertia of the head. The channels can all interconnect with one another to allow a weight to be moved from one to another. The golf club can further comprising a removable cover for at least a portion of the surface, the cover being for covering the channels and the weights positioned along the channels. The weights can comprise a spherical member disposed in a channel; an external member having a portion external to a surface of the head; and a coupling between the spherical member and the external member to allow the spherical member and the external member to securely capture between them a wall in which a track is formed.

Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with channel back configurations and short irons with cavity back configurations. The rear face configurations transition from channel backs through to pure cavity backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. At least one of the clubs of the set includes a sandwich-type construction for the hitting face having a dampening element disposed between a hitting face insert and a lightweight reinforcing core. In one embodiment, at least one club head is oversized.

Abstract: A tri-weight correlated set of iron-type golf clubs, wherein at least two of the clubs of the set have a combined sole weight and center weight which reinforces the most likely hitting surface of the club to add distance behind well hit center shots, and a periphery weight system along the heel and toe to straighten out off-center hit shots.

Abstract: Disclosed therein is a golf club for preventing a hook and a slice, which can allow a golfer to easily control the golf club while swinging the golf club since a sole progression having a side width extending backwardly from a club head face and a sole plate having a bottom area are formed small by cutting a part of the rear side of a club head, thereby preventing the hook and slice due to a light weight of the club head and minimization of a frictional area between the ground and the club head.

Abstract: A golf club, particularly a “putter” or “chipper”, is provided with a concave ball striking face that establishes line contact with a golf ball rather than the usual point contact and enhances the capability of a user to control the direction of ball movement resulting from a golf stroke. The concave ball striking surface may be curved and may have the same or greater curvature than the curvature of a golf ball and may have smoothly and gently merging surface regions of compound curvature. The concave ball striking face surface may have compound regions including a curved region and a planar region being smoothly and gently merged. The concave ball striking surface may be defined on an integral metal club head structure or may be defined by a polymer insert that is recessed into an insert receiving receptacle of the club head.

Abstract: A golf club having an increased moment of inertia and improved ball-hitting directionality is provided. A metal hollow golf club head comprises: a face portion; a crown portion; and a sole portion, and when the golf club has a lie angle of 60° with its club head volume being within 470 cm3, a moment of inertia about the axial line centered on the plumb line passing through the golf club head center of gravity is 5000 to 6000 g-cm2. In order to increase the moment of inertia, the thickness of the center portion of the crown portion is reduced by chemical etching, and a mass, including the portion of mass reduction, is positioned in the sole portion on the side of the toe portion; moreover, the separation distance from the center of gravity to the mass is increased.

Abstract: A set of at least three iron-type golf club heads where each golf club head includes a forward wall having a front surface arranged for impacting a golf ball, a back surface disposed generally parallel to the front surface and a thickness dimension measured between the front and back surfaces. A rearward wall is spaced from the forward wall, and a pocket is defined between the back surface of the forward wall and an inner surface of the rearward wall. A weight member is disposed in the pocket. The forward wall thickness dimension of a first golf club head with a medium loft angle such as a six iron is greater than the forward wall thickness dimension of a second golf club head with a low loft angle such as a three iron but less than the forward wall thickness dimension of a third golf club head with a high loft angle such as a nine iron.

Abstract: At least three clubs of a set of golf clubs may have an average volume between about 75 cm3 and about 90 cm3. The transverse dimensions of the at least three clubs may progressively decrease from a highest volume club to a lowest volume club. At least one club of a set may include a constraining member in a cavity. A linear distance between a sweet spot and a center of gravity may progressively decrease from a lower lofted club to a higher lofted club within a set. At least one golf club of a set may include a face plate portion, and at least two golf clubs of the set may include a cup face portion. At least two clubs of a set may include a progressively increasing hosel length from a lowest lofted club to a highest lofted club. The strike face of at least one club of a set may include a bulge and a roll. A first club of a set may have a face thickness that is less than a face thickness of a second club of the set.

Abstract: A multi-piece iron-type golf club head with a substantial weight member is disclosed and claimed. The golf club head includes a plurality of body members. A first body member includes a face, a rear surface, and a hosel. A viscoelastic material is attached to the rear surface, and a second body member is attached to the viscoelastic material. The second body member, which may be a weight member, has a substantially larger mass than in known golf clubs.

Abstract: The present invention provides an iron type golf club set of n (n: an integer equal to or more than three) numbers of iron type golf clubs having different head loft angles, wherein the head comprises a face plate, and a head main body provided with a face receiving portion supporting a peripheral edge portion of the face plate around an opening portion, the face plate has one thin portion having the smallest thickness and at least one thick portion having a larger thickness than the thin portion, in a free deflection area in which a back surface faces to the opening portion, and in a standard state, a horizontal distance Xi along a hitting face between a face center and a center of figure of the thin portion satisfies the following conditions (1) and (2): X1?X2? . . . ?Xn; and ??(1) X1<Xn.

Abstract: A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with channel back configurations and short irons with cavity back configurations. The rear face configurations transition from channel backs through to pure cavity backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. At least one of the clubs of the set includes a sandwich-type construction for the hitting face having a dampening element disposed between a hitting face insert and a lightweight reinforcing core. In one embodiment, at least one club head is oversized.

Abstract: Forged cavity back iron-type clubs and oversize clubs are disclosed. These forged clubs have thin, durable hitting face and relatively large cavity volumes. These clubs have high rotational moments of inertia to minimize distance and accuracy penalties associated with off-center hits. Long irons with hitting face of about 0.100 inch thick are achievable by the present invention. Also disclosed are forged irons made from stainless steels and annealed to achieve the desired hardness and ductility.

Abstract: Forged cavity back iron-type clubs and oversize clubs are disclosed. These forged clubs have thin, durable hitting face and relatively large cavity volumes. These clubs have high rotational moments of inertia to minimize distance and accuracy penalties associated with off-center hits. Long irons with hitting face of about 0.100 inch thick are achievable by the present invention. Also disclosed are forged irons made from stainless steels and annealed to achieve the desired hardness and ductility.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a set of golf club irons in which some of the club heads have a hollow space, and some of the club heads do not have a hollow space. The hollow space is preferably defined by a lower portion of the front face, a portion of the sole, and a rear wall. The presence of the hollow space moves the club head center of gravity back (away from the face) and down (toward the sole), making it easier to get a golf ball airborne. The volumes of the hollow spaces generally transition or get progressively smaller with an increase in the club loft angle, thus altering the center of gravity location and moments of inertia by different amounts for different clubs. The hollow spaces may be empty or filled, in whole or part.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a golf club head with a disparate metallic material provided on a hosel side of the head, which can improve degree of freedom in the design of a head. A head body is made up of a columnar material body 13 made from a forgeable metallic material such as copper and a disparate metallic member 12 as an axial member. The disparate metallic member 12 has its proximal end 12A inserted into a bore 14 formed along a center of axis of the material body 13, while its distal end 12B protruded in the axial direction X. The material body 13 is placed on a lower die 22 which is formed with a mold 21 defining a contour of the head body 11, and then an upper die is pressed thereto. Thus, hot forging process is carried out to form a golf club head.

Abstract: A tri-weight correlated set of iron-type golf clubs, wherein at least two of the clubs of the set have a combined sole weight and center weight, which reinforces the most likely hitting surface of the club to add distance behind well hit center shots, and a periphery weight system along the heel and toe to straighten out off-center hit shots.

Abstract: An iron golf club and a set of iron golf clubs that have a variable weight distribution. Each iron golf club head has a cavity and a raised wall portion that extends upward from the sole and offset from the cavity. The raised wall portion is separated from the cavity by a groove set at an oblique angle to the face portion of the iron golf club The groove deepens the center of mass depth and lengthens the effective face length of the iron golf club. The width of the groove may vary between each golf club in a set of iron golf clubs, such that the width of the groove of the long irons is greater that the width of the groove of the middle irons, and the width of the groove of the middle irons is greater than the width of the groove of the short irons.

Abstract: A golf club head is formed by integrally welding a face portion and a back portion with each other. The face portion has a circumferential edge portion in its back surface. The circumferential edge portion is made of a flat surface all over its circumference. In the rear surface of the face portion, the part other than the circumferential edge portion is formed as a recess portion. In the bottom surface of the recess portion, a first bottom surface which is the deepest, a second bottom surface which is the second deepest, a third bottom surface which is the third deepest, and a fourth bottom surface which is the shallowest are formed in descending order. Three ribs are provided vertically to extend through the recess portion.

Abstract: A set of golf club irons of the blade type is characterized by a weight pad behind the impact area of the club face which progressively increases in height through the set from the long irons to the short irons. In addition, the thickness of the sole portion of each head increases through the set to progressively increase the weight at the bottom of the club heads. The clubs provide improved feel to the golfer which enable the golfer to work the ball more easily during execution of a golf shot.

Abstract: A cavity back golf club head having a bridge member is disclosed. The bridge member extends across a first rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball. For the longer iron clubs, a wall extending from the sole portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member defines a second cavity to further influence the trajectory of the golf ball. For the shorter iron clubs, the wall extends from the top portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member.

Abstract: A wood-type golf club having an enlarged club head in the range of 250 to 300 cm.3 constructed of a material lighter than steel to maintain the total club head weight within normal limits including the weight of novel power shaft according to the present invention. The club head, without the power shaft, is approximately 175 gms. and the power shaft weighs approximately 25 gms., so the total club head weight is approximately 200 gms. and within normal limits. The power shaft, integral with the rear of the ball striking face wall at its forward end and integral or cast into the rear of the club head at its rear end, while reinforcing the ball striking face wall, increases the resonant frequency of the face wall to synchronize face wall rebound to the player's swing speed. Face wall resonant frequency is varied by changing the size and weight of the power shaft.