Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as iron heads, may include an iron body and a ball striking plate engaged with the iron body. The ball striking plate may include a face layer and a backing layer. The face layer of the ball striking plate may be formed of a metal material, while the backing layer may be formed of a polymeric material. The backing layer isolates the face layer from the iron body. In some arrangements, the backing layer of the insert may be visible at the top, the bottom, the side and/or the front surfaces of the iron head. Methods for making such iron devices are also described.

Abstract: A face insert comprising a planar member composed of a rigid material such as plastic or metal and a polymeric backing is disclosed herein. The planar member, which makes contact with a golf ball during use, includes a plurality of geometrically-shaped holes, each of which comprises a perimeter edge that has a variable radius to further optimize performance of the face insert. In some embodiments, one or more of the holes extends completely through the planar member, i.e. is a through-hole, and the polymeric backing includes at least one protrusion with an angled upper surface that is sized to extend into a through-hole and further improve performance of the face insert. The face insert described herein can be used with any type of golf club head, including putters, woods, irons, and hybrids, and the holes may take any shape, including oval, hexagonal, and chevron.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, and a front portion. The golf club head may include an interior cavity. The interior cavity may be filled with an elastic polymer material. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A composite material golf club head is provided having a body made from a first metal and a face insert press fitted to a portion of the body and made from a second metal The metals are chosen so that the first metal is heavier than the second metal. The second metal is disposed towards the front and top of the body, and is preferably hard-anodized. In addition, an interlocking structure, for example rectangular or dove tail shaped channels, is provided in the body so that the face insert becomes embedded in the interlocking structure to anchor the face insert to the body. Portions of the golf club head, such as the face insert or sole plate, are anodized to protect against corrosion. The anodized coating is colored to improve aesthetic characteristics or infused with a polymer to increase or reduce friction. Disclosed herein is a golf club head having a body portion and a face insert. The front of the body portion further comprises a cutout sized and dimensioned to receive the face insert.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with deflection junctions are described herein. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.

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: Some embodiments include a reinforced face of a club head. Other embodiments for related reinforced faces of club heads and related methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aerodynamic golf club head that produces reduced aerodynamic drag forces. A crown section imparts beneficial aerodynamic properties due in part to the location of a crown apex and the curvature of the crown section.

Abstract: A golf club head having a replaceable striking face is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head where at least a portion of the frontal striking surface of the face is detachable and replaceable to improve performance. The replaceable striking face may be connected to the body of the golf club head using at least one screw engaging at least one screw well and said at least one screw receptacle. A golf club in accordance with the present invention may generally have a thinned striking face with a thickness of less than about 3.0 mm yielding a golf club head with a larger sweet spot that's greater than 6% of the frontal striking surface.

Abstract: A golf club head having a thin topline and improved sound is disclosed herein. The golf club head, which preferably is a three-piece iron-type head, comprises a body with truss supports linking a lower body portion of the iron with a top portion. This configuration creates an iron with the sound and feel of a closed cavity back iron and the performance and mass properties of an open cavity back iron. The golf club head also includes a partial face cup comprising a striking face and a lower flange and a dampening element filling at least a portion of a cavity between the body and the face cup. The dampening element comprises a portion that is compressed within the cavity and another portion that is adhered to the rear surface of the striking face.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. A golf club head may include a body portion having a face portion with regions of varying thickness. In one example, the golf club head may include a center portion with a first thickness, an outer wall portion with a second thickness less than the first thickness, and a plurality of inner wall portion with a third thickness less than the second thickness. The golf club head may include a body portion and a plurality of weight portions. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a custom golf club, the method including measuring swing dynamics of a user, determine club design parameters based on the measure swing dynamics of the user, generating a computer model representing an custom golf club head based on the determined design parameters, and manufacturing the custom golf club head based on the generated computer model using additive layer manufacturing processes using powder material and a high energy beam.

Abstract: A golf club head with improved striking face performance is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head having a thickened central region surrounded by an internal and an external transition region; wherein the thickened central region has an inner perimeter that takes on a shape that substantially resembles the shape of an outer perimeter of the striking face of the golf club head.

Abstract: A face insert comprising a planar member composed of a rigid material such as plastic or metal and a polymeric backing is disclosed herein. The planar member, which makes contact with a golf ball during use, includes a plurality of geometrically-shaped holes, each of which comprises a perimeter edge that has a variable radius to further optimize performance of the face insert. In some embodiments, one or more of the holes extends completely through the planar member, i.e. is a through-hole, and the polymeric backing includes at least one protrusion with an angled upper surface that is sized to extend into a through-hole and further improve performance of the face insert. The face insert described herein can be used with any type of golf club head, including putters, woods, irons, and hybrids, and the holes may take any shape, including oval, hexagonal, and chevron.

Abstract: An iron-type golf club head comprises a head main body and a face plate attached thereto. The face plate has an annular outer edge portion fixed to the head main body, and a noncontact portion not contacting with the head main body. The noncontact portion includes a first thin part and a second thin part having a thickness less than that of the outer edge portion. The first thin part extends in a peripheral side along the upper edge, the toe-side edge and the lower edge of the face plate. The second thin part is formed to have a thickness less than that of the first thin part. The area of the first thin part is 10% to 35% of the area of the noncontact portion. The area of the second thin part is 65% to 90% of the area of the noncontact portion.

Abstract: A face insert comprising a planar member composed of a rigid material such as plastic or metal and a polymeric backing is disclosed herein. The planar member, which makes contact with a golf ball during use, includes a plurality of geometrically-shaped holes, each of which comprises a perimeter edge that has a variable radius to further optimize performance of the face insert. In some embodiments, one or more of the holes extends completely through the planar member, i.e. is a through-hole, and the polymeric backing includes at least one protrusion with an angled upper surface that is sized to extend into a through-hole and further improve performance of the face insert. The face insert described herein can be used with any type of golf club head, including putters, woods, irons, and hybrids, and the holes may take any shape, including oval, hexagonal, and chevron.

Abstract: A golf iron clubhead configuration for increasing and controlling face flexure while stabilizing the face in all directions other than the flexure direction and reducing face vibration. The two features that contribute to these results are firstly to free the facewall from z axis restraint by the other portions of the clubhead to the maximum extent possible, limited by clubhead integrity. The second is to stabilize the free face in x and y coordinates of the facial plane with a horizontally elongated tongue or piston attached indirectly, not directly to the face. This tongue slides and is stabilized in a tight-fitting lubricated groove in the rear of the clubhead positioned downwardly from the geometric center of the clubface.

Abstract: An improved striking face of a golf club head and a method of manufacturing thereof is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses an improved method of stamped forging variable face geometry onto the rear surface of a striking face from a frontal portion of the striking face; wherein the improved process allows for more precise finished parts with less need for complicated machining. The resulting striking face of a golf club head comprises of a substantially planar frontal surface and a substantially non-planar rear surface, wherein the substantially non-planar rear surface is created via a stamped forging process while the substantially planar frontal surface is created via a machining process.

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: The present invention provides a golf club head that enables increasing the moment of inertia while also improving durability, and a manufacturing method for the same. The golf club head of the present invention includes a crown portion. The crown portion has a first region having a first thickness and multiple second regions having a second thickness that is smaller than the first thickness. The second regions are distributed in a radiating fashion so as to extend from an origin toward a peripheral portion of the crown portion excluding the face side, the origin being located within 15 mm of the center of gravity of the golf club head in the toe-heel direction and also being located in the vicinity of the face side in the face-back direction in a plan view.

Abstract: A face insert for golf club head in one embodiment can comprise a substrate comprising a score line groove-free front surface. A cover layer is provided at least on the front surface of the substrate. The cover layer can alternatively overlay at least a portion of the peripheral edge of the substrate. The cover layer comprises a ball-striking surface spaced by the cover layer from the substrate. Plural elongated score line grooves can extend into the polymer layer from the ball-striking surface. In addition, visible markings are interposed between the cover layer and the front surface of the substrate, the visible markings being visible through the cover layer. In one form the visible markings comprise elongated score line markings and target markings in a central portion of the substrate. The visible markings can be screen-printed markings, which are then protected by the cover layer from wear. The cover layer can be molded and can be a polymer layer.

Abstract: A method of forming a golf club head includes forming a core of the golf club head from a material having a first melting temperature and affixing a club face to the core. The club face includes a first, hitting surface, a second surface that is opposite the first surface, and a locking feature. A body is then molded about the core and such that it surrounds at least a portion of the locking feature, the body formed from a polymeric material having a second melting temperature that is greater than the first melting temperature. Finally, the core is removed from within the body.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a club face and a body. The club face is formed from a metallic material and includes a first, hitting surface, a second, rear surface that is opposite the first surface, and a flange that is separated from the second surface by a transverse distance. The body is formed from a polymeric material and includes a crown, a sole, a hosel, and a face support. The club face and the body cooperate to define a closed volume, and the face support extends to opposing sides of the flange and is operative to couple the club face to the body.

Abstract: Logic gates using Schmitt trigger circuits are provided. An AND gate using the Schmitt trigger circuit includes: a NAND gate configured to receive two input signals, perform a NAND logic operation, and output a first output signal; and a DTMOS inverter configured to invert the first output signal, and output the inverted first output signal as a second output signal, and a threshold voltage of the NAND gate is controlled using the second output signal. A OR gate using the Schmitt trigger circuit includes: a NOR gate configured to receive two input signals, perform a NOR logic operation, and output a first output signal; and a DTMOS inverter configured to invert the first output signal, and output the inverted first output signal as a second output signal, and a threshold voltage of the NOR gate is controlled using the second output signal.

Abstract: A golf club head has a main body and a front recess that includes a flange. A rear portion of the main body includes a perimeter-weighting element. A striking face insert is secured within the front recess. A face center is located on the front surface of the striking face insert. A rear cavity is at least partially delimited by the perimeter-weighting element and a rear surface of the striking face insert. A rear insert is secured to the rear surface of the striking face insert. In an imaginary horizontal plane passing through a portion of the rear insert, proximate a heel portion of the club head, a heelwardmost point of the rear insert is spaced further from a vertical center plane than a minimum distance between the flange and the center plane. The club head comprises an auxiliary recess that extends outward from the rear cavity.

Abstract: A golf club head having an insert mechanically coupled to a frame. The construction allows a golf club head to be fabricated with a combination of dissimilar materials, resulting in a club head with improved performance. In some embodiments, the insert comprises an outer insert material, an inner insert material, and a sandwiched material. The sandwiched material may be constructed with a plurality of voids having a varying distribution, thereby resembling a biological structure. Methods for forming a golf club having an insert mechanically coupled to a frame are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aerodynamic golf club head that produces reduced aerodynamic drag forces. A crown section imparts beneficial aerodynamic properties due in part to the location of a crown apex and the curvature of the crown section. A sole section imparts beneficial aerodynamic properties due in part to the location of a sole apex and the curvature of the sole section.

Abstract: A face insert comprising a planar member composed of a rigid material such as plastic or metal and a polymeric backing is disclosed herein. The planar member, which makes contact with a golf ball during use, includes a plurality of geometrically-shaped holes, each of which comprises a perimeter edge that has a variable radius to further optimize performance of the face insert. In some embodiments, one or more of the holes extends completely through the planar member, i.e. is a through-hole, and the polymeric backing includes at least one protrusion with an angled upper surface that is sized to extend into a through-hole and further improve performance of the face insert. The face insert described herein can be used with any type of golf club head, including putters, woods, irons, and hybrids, and the holes may take any shape, including oval, hexagonal, and chevron.

Abstract: A wedge type golf club head with improved performance characteristic is disclosed herein where at least a striking surface of the wedge type golf club head is coated with a polymer coating to decrease the coefficient of friction as well as create a hydrophobic surface to remove dirt and debris. More specifically, the present invention discloses a wedge type golf club head with a hydrophobic polymer coating that creates a contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees as well as decreases the coefficient of friction to be less than about 0.1.

Abstract: A golf club head for playing golf made by a method including providing a powdered metal; and applying a controlled source of energy to the powdered metal layer by layer to form a golf club head, wherein the golf club head is formed as a one-piece golf head having a hollow or partially hollow section and no welds.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a golf club with a channel area. The channel area includes a groove disposed alongside a ramp having a shallow slope with respect to the horizontal when the club head is at address. The channel area may extend across a portion of the club head such as the crown or the sole. The ramp is oriented such that, during a high speed drive, the ramped portion of the sole may distribute and neutralize torsional stresses, dampening unwanted and unpredictable twisting, preventing the ball from flying in unpredictable directions while the deeper groove contributes to a high coefficient of restitution of a ball-striking face, a large sweet spot area, or both, thus causing the ball to fly a long distance.

Abstract: A putter-type golf club head having a face insert comprising a metal sheet and a urethane backing is disclosed herein. The metal sheet, which makes contact with a golf ball during use, includes a plurality of oval-shaped holes extending through the entire thickness of the sheet and having a specific size and spacing, and the urethane backing has a hardness that optimizes performance of the face insert, and thus the putter.

Abstract: A golf club head with an improved Moment of Inertia (MOI) is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with a releasable hosel mechanism that is leaner and more lightweight, it allows a significant amount of weight to be saved from the hosel portion of the golf club head and used to improve Center of Gravity (CG) location of the golf club head; which contributes to the improvement of the MOI of the golf club head.

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

Abstract: A manufacturing method of an iron-type golf club head has acts of preparing a formed bar-shaped steel substrate, rough-hot forging the bar-shaped steel substrate, mid-hot forging the rough blank, fine-cold forging the mid-blank, cold stamping the striking surface and drilling a hosel of the iron-type golf club head. The cold forging reduces the thermal expansion and contraction of the blank, and the shape of the forged blank is more accurate therefore. As a result, the following grinding processes of the blank are reduced. Therefore, the weight of the blank is more accurate, and the manufacturing time and cost are also reduced. The blank does not have to be heated to high-temperature state prior to cold forging so that the blank can be cooled down faster, and the cost of the heating is reduced.

Abstract: A golf putter includes a putter head, a shaft and hand grip. The putter head includes a lower curved striking face and a substantially straight upper striking face. The straight striking face extends upward vertically from an upper end of the curved striking face. A height as measured from a bottom surface to a junction of the straight striking face and the curved striking face is at least one half the outer diameter of a regulation golf ball. An alignment striking line is created on a top and middle of the putter head. The hand grip is attached to one end of the shaft. The other end of the shaft is inserted into a top of the putter head. An impact plate is attached to a bottom and front of the putter head. A plurality of horizontal grooves are formed in the impact plate.

Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head that includes a face having a ball striking surface configured for striking a ball and a body connected to the face and extending rearward from the face. The face has an area of highest response located proximate a center of the ball striking surface. The face is formed of a first material and a second material that forms at least a portion of the area of highest response. The second material has a thermal modulus response that is different from a thermal modulus response of the first material.

Abstract: A golf club head with a multi-material face is disclosed herein. The layers of the multi-material face are preferably attached to the club head using adhesive and mechanical methods.

Abstract: A golf club head is described having a club head body having an external surface with a heel portion, a toe portion, a crown portion, a sole portion, and a front opening. The golf club head also includes a face insert support structure located at the front opening. The support structure includes a rear support member. The rear support member includes a support portion interior surface contour defining an apex point and an undercut distance in an undercut region within at least one major or minor plane. A non-undercut region is located in at least one major or minor plane intersecting the crown to face transition region.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a club head with a bounded face to body yield strength ratio. Other embodiments of related club heads and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: Putter heads include a ball striking head body member and a rear body member. In some putter heads, the ball striking head body member includes a rearwardly extending body support having an opening defined therein, and the rear body member extends through this opening. In other putter heads, the rear body member includes a forwardly projecting platform that includes an alignment aid thereon. In still other putter heads, the ball striking head body member includes rearward extending arms at the heel and toe sides that extend rearward at an angle to a location outside the heel and toe edges, respectively, of the ball striking face. Additionally, the rear body member of other putter heads have a first end engaged at a heel side of the ball striking head body member and a free second end that is not engaged with any portion of the putter head.

Abstract: A golf club head which may include an iron-type golf club head body, a face plate, and a filler positioned behind the ball striking face. According to aspects of the disclosure, the face plate may include score lines which define holes in the face plate. Further, according to aspects of the disclosure, the filler may be comprised of a material that readily absorbs the deflection of the face plate during impact with a golf ball during a golf swing and dampens the impact between the golf club head and the golf ball.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a club face and a body. The club face is formed from a metallic material and includes a first, hitting surface, a second, rear surface that is opposite the first surface, and a flange that is separated from the second surface by a transverse distance. The body is formed from a polymeric material and includes a crown, a sole, a hosel, and a face support. The club face and the body cooperate to define a closed volume, and the face support extends to opposing sides of the flange and is operative to couple the club face to the body.

Abstract: A hollow golf club head comprises a face and a face peripheral portion extending rearward from the face, the face periphery portion provided with a toe-side reduced-rigidity portion and a heel-side reduced-rigidity portion consisting of a concave portion or a slit, wherein under a standard state, the toe-side portion has a center point of length located higher and at the toe side than a face centroid, wherein an angle of a first straight line passing through the face centroid and the center point P1 to the horizontal plane is 20 to 60 degrees, and the heel-side portion has a center point P2 of length located lower and the heel side than the face centroid, wherein an angle of a second straight line passing through the face centroid and the center point P2 to the horizontal plane is 10 to 70 degree.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs with grooves and methods of manufacture thereof are described herein. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: An improved putter and method of use utilizing a putter shaft having a rectangular grip extending approximately half the shaft length. A polygonal-like ring provides a flat face with an extended toe and a short heel. The face of the putter head has a polymeric insert for weight redistribution and for better putting feel. The sides of the putter include triangular shaped indents also for weight redistribution. The rear of the putter head is arched to prevent ground contact during putting and further to increase head stability during the stroke.

Abstract: A metal wood golf club wherein a portion of the golf club head made from more than one material is disclosed. More specifically, due to the unique construction of a golf club head having multiple materials, the present invention utilizes diffusion bonding, liquid interface diffusion, or even super plastic forming techniques to achieve the desirable bond between the more than one material used to form different portions of the golf club head. The different materials could even be the same base material with different compositions as long as they have different Young's modulus.

Abstract: A golf club incorporating a stress reducing feature in contact with 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 maintain stability of the shaft connection system.

Abstract: An iron-type golf club head is disclosed having a first piece including a portion of an iron-type face. A second piece including a heel portion, a sole portion, a toe portion, a top-line portion, a hinge region, and a front opening for receiving the first piece is also disclosed. A first contact surface of the first piece is connected with a second contact surface of the second piece at a contact interface. A continuous weld extends along the contact interface attaching the first and second pieces together at the contact interface. The continuous weld includes a fusion zone occurring substantially on the iron-type face outside the hinge region of the club head.

Abstract: A golf club head, comprising a striking surface having an outer cover layer comprising a polyurethane or polyurea having a material Shore D hardness of 40 to 70, a layer thickness of 0.2 to 0.6 mm, and a flexural modulus of 5 to 110 kpsi.