Abstract: A hollow golf club head includes a face portion. The head includes a hollow head body, a face member that forms the face portion, and a connecting portion provided between the head body and the face member connects the head body and the face member. The head body includes a front surface to which the face member is connected through the connecting portion. The front surface of the head body includes an opening portion and a first concave portion formed around the opening portion and on which the connecting portion is arranged. The back surface of the face member includes a second concave portion on which the connecting portion is arranged.

Abstract: An impact diverting mechanism having a top layer and a bottom layer is provided. The two layers are connected such that the top layer is configured to move in relation to the bottom layer when impacted, and therefore is able to divert impact and reduce rotational and linear acceleration on the bottom layer. The impact diverting mechanism may be attached to, or configured to attach to, an object in need of protection, such as a helmet.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a head body and a face member. The head body includes a body face, a sole, and a crown. The face member is joined to an opening formed in the body face. A depression is provided between the opening and the sole in the head body.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a faceplate with a strike surface, a toe end opposite a heel end, a back end opposite the faceplate, and a sole opposite a top rail, the faceplate is connected to the sole and configured to pivot about the sole.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a golf club head. The golf club head includes a front body having a front body front portion with a front body front surface and having a front body rear portion, and includes a rear body having a rear body front portion, a rear body rear portion, and multiple protrusions. The golf club head is configured such that (i) when the front body front surface strikes a golf ball with a first amount of force, the front body deflects toward the rear body with a first amount of deflection, and (ii) when the front body front surface strikes the golf ball with a second amount of force less than the first amount of force, the front body deflects toward the rear body with a second amount of deflection greater than the first amount of deflection. Other embodiments of related club heads and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Golf club heads with slit features are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture such a golf club heads are generally described herein. In some embodiments, the golf club head may include a ball-striking face and a protective aluminum oxide layer coupled to the ball-striking face of the golf club head. The protective aluminum oxide layer is associated with a hardness that is greater than that of the ball-striking face. In further embodiments, golf club heads may include a top portion and at least one of a plurality of interchangeable alignment indicia coupled thereto, which are configured to guide the golf club head relative to a golf ball.

Abstract: Embodiments of grooves of golf club heads and methods to manufacture grooves of golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a forward section and a body section to define a closed internal volume. The forward section has a strike face, a frame that surrounds the strike face, and a flange extending from the frame. The body section is formed from a molded polymeric material, and includes a forward edge that defines a receiving portion adapted to receive the flange and a weight receiving feature spaced apart from the forward edge. The body section further includes a reinforcing structure protruding into the internal volume and extending between the weight receiving feature and the forward edge. The reinforcing structure is operative to transfer impact loads between the weight receiving feature and the metallic forward section.

Abstract: A sole 6 of a head 2 includes a groove 20 extending from a toe side to a heel side. The groove 20 includes a center groove part 20c, a toe groove part 20t, and a heel groove part 20h. A toe boundary line kt is formed on a boundary between the center groove part 20c and the toe groove part 20t due to the change of a groove depth D. A heel boundary line kh is formed on a boundary between the center groove part 20c and the heel groove part 20h due to the change of the groove depth D. The toe groove part 20t and the heel groove part 20h extend so as to be inclined with respect to a face-back direction. The head 2 is a hollow golf club head.

Abstract: A golf club head has a body member and a sole plate member where each form a portion of the sole surface of the golf club head. A layer of resilient material is disposed between body member and the sole plate member.

Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face. The body has an impact-influencing structure positioned adjacent at least one peripheral edge of the face. A majority of a force generated by impact with a ball is absorbed by the impact-influencing structure, and a majority of a response force generated by the head upon impact with the ball is generated by the impact-influencing structure. The face may have increased stiffness as compared to existing faces, and may include a stiffening structure to create the increased stiffness. In one embodiment, the face may have a stiffness proximate the geometric center that is from about 46,000 to 56,000 lb-in2.

Abstract: An enhanced club head for a golf club that improves the distance achieved on a golf shot. ‘Metal head’ golf clubs, such as drivers, fairway metals, and hybrids have metallic sidewalls defining an interior cavity of the club head. A clubface of the metal head is enhanced by inserting a plurality of screws in a spaced apart relation to improve the sweet spot of clubface. It is believed that the plurality of screws in the clubface reduces the deflection of the clubface when the club strikes the golf ball, thereby imparting greater energy into the ball to obtain a greater distance.

Abstract: A resilient face insert for a golf club head, preferably a putter head, is disclosed herein. In particular, the face insert comprises a plurality of hinge features spaced from a striking surface to ensure consistent ball speed across the striking surface. At least a portion of each hinge feature extends parallel to the striking surface without making contact with the striking surface. In the preferred embodiment, each hinge feature comprises a tab portion that is spaced from the striking surface by a stem portion and that extends parallel to the striking surface. The hinge features may be co-molded with a polymeric backing material having a plurality of parallel grooves in order to further improve performance of the face insert.

Abstract: A golf club head including a crown, a sole, a hosel, a face and a flexure. The flexure provides compliance during an impact between the golf club head and a golf ball, and is tuned to vibrate, immediately after impact, at a predetermined frequency. A slot is included in a portion of the golf club head and works with the flexure to further tune performance.

Abstract: A head 2 includes a head body h1 and a face plate p1 fixed to the head body h1. The face plate p1 includes a plate front surface f1 having a hitting face, a plate back surface b1, and a plate side surface s1. The head body h1 includes a body side surface v1 opposed to the plate side surface s1. A gap gp is provided at at least a part between the plate side surface s1 and the body side surface v1.

Abstract: Putters include a putter body having a ball striking face member made of a material having a first hardness characteristic. A cavity is defined in the putter body behind the ball striking face member, and plural openings are defined in the ball striking face member extending rearward with respect to the ball striking face member and into the cavity. A polymeric material at least partially fills the openings and the cavity, wherein the polymeric material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic. The ball striking face member and the polymeric material exposed in at least some of the openings provide a ball striking surface of the putter. The ball striking surface may include grooves or scorelines to affect the launch angle, spin, and/or roll of the ball during a putt. Methods for making such putter devices also are described.

Abstract: A golf club providing improved golf ball launch conditions is disclosed herein. The golf club includes a face component and a sole comprising an elongated recess disposed proximate the face component. The elongated recess preferably is tube shaped, and preferably has an opening with a smaller width than an innermost surface of the elongated recess. The elongated recess may be a separate piece that is permanently affixed within an opening in the sole. Some embodiments of the golf club also comprise a cover affixed to the sole and at least partially covering the opening of the elongated recess, while other embodiments comprise a filler material disposed within the elongated recess or between the elongated recess and an internal surface of the face.

Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball, a body connected to the face, an elongated, inwardly recessed channel located on the body and extending across a portion of the body, and an insert mounted within the channel. The insert includes a resiliently deflectable base member that engages the channel to retain the insert within the channel and a rigid outer member connected to the base member and forming at least a portion of the outer surface of the insert, where the outer member is made from a different material than the base member. Additionally, the insert has an outer surface that is substantially flush with at least one immediately adjacent surface of the body.

Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface, an inner surface opposite the ball striking surface, and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. The head has a deformation limiting member located behind the face and having an end spaced a distance from the inner surface of the face. The face and the deformation limiting member are adapted such that an impact of the ball on the ball striking surface causes deformation of the face toward the deformation limiting member. When the deformation of the face is sufficient to cause the inner surface of the face to engage the deformation limiting member, the deformation limiting member exerts a force on the face to resist further deformation of the face.

Abstract: Embodiments of grooves of golf club heads and methods to manufacture grooves of golf club heads are generally described herein. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A resilient face insert for a golf club head, preferably a putter head, is disclosed herein. In particular, the face insert comprises a plurality of hinge features spaced from a striking surface to ensure consistent ball speed across the striking surface. At least a portion of each hinge feature extends parallel to the striking surface without making contact with the striking surface. In the preferred embodiment, each hinge feature comprises a tab portion that is spaced from the striking surface by a stem portion and that extends parallel to the striking surface. The hinge features may be co-molded with a polymeric backing material in order to further improve performance of the face insert.

Abstract: A wood-type golf club head includes a main body and a striking wall associated with the main body. The striking wall has a striking face including a face center, a first imaginary plane tangent to the face center, and a rear surface opposite the striking face. In a second imaginary plane perpendicular to the first imaginary plane and passing through the face center, the striking face includes a first point associated with a maximum thickness, tmax, of the striking wall, and a second point associated with a minimum thickness, tmin, of the striking wall, such that a ratio, tmax/tmin, is no less than 1.70. Also, in the second imaginary plane, the striking wall gradually tapers in thickness entirely from the first point to the second point.

Abstract: A golf club head having multiple structural columns is disclosed herein. A body comprises a face section, a sole section, and a crown or return section, and defines a hollow interior. Each of the structural columns extends from the crown or return section to the sole section within the hollow interior to reduce stresses placed on the face section during impact with a golf ball. The structural columns are all located within 1 inch of a rear surface of the face section measured along a plane normal to the center of the face, and are spaced a distance of 0.500 to 2.00 inch from one another within the hollow interior.

Abstract: A golf club incorporating a stress reducing feature and a shaft connection system socket. The location and size of the stress reducing feature and the shaft connection system socket, and their relationship to one another, selectively increase deflection of the face and provide stability of the shaft connection system.

Abstract: A golf club incorporating a stress reducing feature, including an aperture, located at least partially on the sole of the club head. The location and size of the stress reducing feature and aperture, and their relationship to one another, play a significant role in selectively improving the performance of the golf club.

Abstract: A putter type golf club head having a frontal face formed with ball striking, land areas in a repeating patter between the toe and heel and complementary recesses between the land areas. The land areas are smaller than the recesses at the midpoint of the striking face and are progressively larger away from the midpoint on the face providing a progressively larger ball contact area the further the land area is displaced from the midpoint of the striking face.

Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body, an elevated weight bar, and a plurality of carbon tubes is disclosed herein. The body comprises a hollow interior, a face section, a sole section, and a crown section, and the elevated weight bar bridges at least a portion of the sole and may be formed separately from the rest of the body and then affixed to the body by welding or a mechanical fastener. In one embodiment, each of the carbon tubes extends from the crown section and terminates at the elevated weight bar, while in another embodiment each of the carbon tubes extends from the crown section to the sole section and passes through the elevated weight bar without making contact with the floating weight bar.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a first portion joined to a second portion to at least partially define an interior club head volume. The first portion includes a wall defining an outer boundary of the club head volume, and a support rib extending from the wall to operatively stiffen the first portion. The second portion of the golf club head defines a slot that receives a portion of the support rib, and the support rib is adhered within the slot to join the first portion and the second portion.

Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face. The body has an impact-influencing structure in the form of a channel positioned on at least one surface of the body. A majority of a force generated by impact with a ball is absorbed by the impact-influencing structure, and a majority of a response force generated by the head upon impact with the ball is generated by the impact-influencing structure. The face may have increased stiffness as compared to existing faces, and may include a stiffening structure to create the increased stiffness, such as a porous or cellular stiffening structure.

Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club head, includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the face. The body has an impact-influencing structure in the form of a channel positioned on at least one surface of the body. A majority of a force generated by impact with a ball is absorbed by the impact-influencing structure, and a majority of a response force generated by the head upon impact with the ball is generated by the impact-influencing structure. The face may have increased stiffness as compared to existing faces, and may include a stiffening structure to create the increased stiffness, such as a porous or cellular stiffening structure.

Abstract: A golf club head having multiple structural columns is disclosed herein. A body comprises a face section, a sole section, and a crown or return section, and defines a hollow interior. Each of the structural columns extends from the crown or return section to the sole section within the hollow interior to reduce stresses placed on the face section during impact with a golf ball. The structural columns are all located within 1 inch of a rear surface of the face section measured along a plane normal to the center of the face, and are spaced a distance of 0.500 to 2.00 inch from one another within the hollow interior.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf club face plates with internal cell lattices are presented herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A golf club head having two adjoining flush surfaces and method of manufacturing same is disclosed. In one embodiment, a golf club head includes a main body comprising an opening and a recessed flange formed along at least a portion of a peripheral edge defining the opening; at least one compressible shim disposed on a surface of the flange, the at least one compressible shim being compressible to at least 50% of its original uncompressed thickness; and a cover plate shaped and sized to fit within the opening, wherein a first portion of a mating surface of the cover plate is affixed to the surface of the flange and a second portion of the mating surface is disposed on top of the at least one compressible shim, wherein the compressible shim is in a compressed state such that an outer surface of the cover plate is flush with an adjacent surface of the main body.

Abstract: A golf club head having multiple structural columns is disclosed herein. A body comprises a face section, a sole section, and a crown or return section, and defines a hollow interior. Each of the structural columns extends from the crown or return section to the sole section within the hollow interior to reduce stresses placed on the face section during impact with a golf ball. The structural columns are all located within 1 inch of a rear surface of the face section measured along a plane normal to the center of the face, and are spaced a distance of 0.500 to 2.00 inch from one another within the hollow interior.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a first golf club head and a second golf club head. The first golf club head includes a body having a face portion, and the second golf club head includes a body having a face portion. Meanwhile, the first club face portion comprises a face surface and at least one first club groove, and the second club face portion comprises a face surface and at least one second club groove. An edge radius of the first club head groove(s) can be less than an edge radius of the second club head groove(s), a base width of the first club head groove(s) can be less than a base width of the second club head groove(s), and/or a sidewall angle of the first club head groove(s) can be greater than a sidewall angle of the second club head groove(s). Other embodiments of related club heads and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Golf club heads include at least one part having a side wall extending completely around the golf club head, wherein the side wall ends at an edge (a free end) that defines an open side of the part. An interior surface of this side wall has a draft angle of ?1° or more as it extends to its edge. In some club heads, the interior surface of at least one club head part will be shaped so that the interior surface does not converge as the side wall of that part extends to its edge. For some club head parts, the planar cross sectional area defined inside the interior surface of the part will either stay the same or get larger as one moves to the part edge. By avoiding or limiting features of negative draft angles, converging interior surfaces, and/or smaller cross sectional areas on interior surfaces of a part, manufacturing and tooling may be simplified.

Abstract: Golf club heads include an exposed ball striking surface at a top-to-bottom center line of the ball striking face having a first material and a second material of different hardnesses. A top-to-bottom cross section of the exposed ball striking surface at the top-to-bottom center line of the ball striking face has a structure that includes a plurality of grooves including: (a) a first groove having a first edge made of the first material and a second edge made from the second material, and (b) a second groove having its opposing edges made of the first material.

Abstract: A golf club head including a crown, a sole, a hosel, a face and a flexure. The flexure provides compliance during an impact between the golf club head and a golf ball, and is tuned to vibrate, immediately after impact, at a predetermined frequency.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a forward section and a body section. The forward section has a strike face, a frame that surrounds the strike face, and a flange extending from the frame. The body section is formed from a molded polymeric material, and includes a forward edge that defines a receiving portion adapted to receive the flange. When assembled, the flange extends within the receiving portion and the body section is adhered to opposing sides of the flange.

Abstract: An iron-type golf club head having a sole channel extending from an exterior of a sole portion toward a face. The sole channel has an axis that intersects the face at an axis-to-face intersection point for at least one position along a channel length, and preferably at least 25% of the channel length. The elevation of the intersection point may below the Ycg distance and the axis defines an angle from the vertical that may be related to the loft. The iron-type golf club head may be incorporated in a set containing club heads with varying degrees of unsupported face area.

Abstract: A putter-type golf club head with a sound chamber is disclosed herein. The club head comprises a body and a two-piece face insert disposed over the sound chamber. The sound chamber comprises a central sound sub-chamber and an outer sound sub-chamber, while the face insert comprises a first, metallic piece that includes a central recess, which is filled with a second, polymeric piece. The metallic piece is welded to the body, and the polymeric piece is adhered to the metallic piece. The body also includes at least one through-bore extending from the sound chamber through a back wall of the body. The body, the sound chamber, the face insert, and the through-bore amplify the sound generated by the putter-type golf club head striking a golf ball.

Abstract: A golf club providing improved golf ball launch conditions is disclosed herein. The golf club includes a face component and a sole comprising an elongated recess disposed proximate the face component. The elongated recess preferably is tube shaped, and preferably has an opening with a smaller width than an innermost surface of the elongated recess. The elongated recess may be a separate piece that is permanently affixed within an opening in the sole. Some embodiments of the golf club also comprise a cover affixed to the sole and at least partially covering the opening of the elongated recess, while other embodiments comprise a filler material disposed within the elongated recess or between the elongated recess and an internal surface of the face.

Abstract: Golf club heads include a golf club head body, a ball striking face, and a shaft engaging member configured to engage a golf club shaft with the golf club head body. The golf club head may be configured with a first piece and a second piece, which may be in the form of the shaft engaging member and a body member connected to the shaft engaging member. The shaft engaging member includes a base member and an arm extending from the base member, and the body member includes a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball and a club head body positioned behind the face, the second piece having a receiving slot positioned behind the face, where the base member of the first piece is at least partially received within the receiving slot.

Abstract: A sole surface f8 of a head 2 includes a first sole region R1. An outer edge of the region R1 includes a first edge line Eg1, a second edge line Eg2, a third edge line Eg3, and a fourth edge line Eg4. The line Eg1 is inclined so as to come closer to a face surface toward a toe side. The line Eg2 is inclined so as to come closer to the face surface toward a heel side. The line Eg3 is inclined so as to come closer to the face surface toward the heel side. The line Eg4 is inclined so as to come closer to the face surface toward the toe side. The lines Eg1 to Eg4 are joined to form a single line.

Abstract: A golf club head including a crown, a sole, a hosel, a face and a flexure. The flexure provides compliance during an impact between the golf club head and a golf ball, and is tuned to vibrate, immediately after impact, at a predetermined frequency to improve the performance of the golf club head. More specifically, the present invention decouples the flexure from the remainder of the golf club head.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown positioned at a top portion, and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. The body has a forward portion and a rearward portion. The club head includes a face positioned at the forward portion of the body. The face defines a striking surface having an ideal impact location at a golf club head origin. Embodiments include club heads for a fairway wood that at least one of a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity, a thin crown and a high coefficient of restitution. A sleeve for easily disconnecting a shaft to the club head allows for selective adjustment of the head's loft and lie angle.

Abstract: A golf club head having multiple structural columns is disclosed herein. A body comprises a face section, a sole section, and a crown or return section, and defines a hollow interior. Each of the structural columns extends from the crown or return section to the sole section within the hollow interior to reduce stresses placed on the face section during impact with a golf ball. The structural columns are all located within 1 inch of a rear surface of the face section measured along a plane normal to the center of the face, and are spaced a distance of 0.500 to 2.00 inch from one another within the hollow interior.

Abstract: A ball striking device has a face with a striking surface and a body extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face. A channel extends across at least a portion of the sole, and includes a trough defined between front and rear edges and extending in a heel-toe direction. The body further includes a spacing portion that forms a generally flattened surface extending from the front edge to proximate the outer periphery of the face. The rear edge of the channel is spaced rearwardly a different distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion of the channel as compared to the heel portion and/or the toe portion. One or more stiffening ribs may also be provided rearwardly of the channel, to increase the stiffness of the sole.

Abstract: A golf club head comprising a body, an elevated weight bar, and a plurality of carbon tubes is disclosed herein. The body comprises a hollow interior, a face section, a sole section, and a crown section, and the elevated weight bar bridges at least a portion of the sole and may be formed separately from the rest of the body and then affixed to the body by welding or a mechanical fastener. In one embodiment, each of the carbon tubes extends from the crown section and terminates at the elevated weight bar, while in another embodiment each of the carbon tubes extends from the crown section to the sole section and passes through the elevated weight bar without making contact with the floating weight bar.