Abstract: A golf club comprising an adjustable fitting member semi-permanently attached rearwardly on a sole is disclosed herein. The fitting member can be rotated to adjust the measured and perceived face angle of the golf club head at address without changing the relative relationship of the club with respect to the shaft, which would alter the lie and loft of the golf club head.

Abstract: A golf club iron having a head center of gravity that is low and forward enough to provide a better swing, good striking and swinging feel, and improved ball flight is disclosed. The iron has a recess in a leading edge region and a high density insert disposed within the recess to achieve the desired center of gravity location.

Abstract: A golf putter head is made entirely of pottery clay and can have a glazed body and an unglazed striking face. This putter head is preferably fabricated by forming a basic disc shape on a potter's wheel and then removing a portion of the disc shape away to form a striking face. A putter with a mallet shaped head can be formed. After drying, the clay can be glazed and then fired. The putter head can alternatively be fabricated using a ram press molding technique.

Abstract: A wedge type golf club head is disclosed herein where the wedge type golf club head has enhanced performance characteristics such as improved backspin, ball speed, and launch angle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wedge type golf club head having an adjustable center of gravity, where the center of gravity may be adjusted based on different backing profiles that comprises at least one hollow chamber. The wedge type golf club head disclosed above may also have a thickened topline, wherein the thickness of the topline progressively changes as a function of the loft angle of the wedge type golf club head.

Abstract: A golf club head having a good feel of hitting a ball, comprising a head body 1A having a face 2 for hitting a ball on a front side of the head body and having at least one recess portion 10 in an outer surface 1S thereof except the face 2, and at least one vibration absorbing member made of a viscoelastic material and disposed in the recess portion 10, the recess portion 10 including a bottom surface 10a and a sidewall surface 10b extending from the bottom surface 10a to the outer surface 1S, and the vibration absorbing member 11 being fixed to the bottom surface 10a to provide a free vibration portion 11A extending up to a position corresponding to the outer surface 1S of the head body 1A without coming into contact with the sidewall surface 10b of the recess portion 10.

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. Some embodiments of the club head form a club head for a fairway wood that has a high moment of inertia, a low center-of-gravity and a thin crown.

Abstract: A customizable golf club head is disclosed herein. The customizable golf club head includes a body comprising a crown and a sole and a removable skid plate attached to the sole, wherein the removable skid plate affects the face angle of the golf club head at address. The face angle of the golf club can be further altered by removing the first skid plate and replacing it with a second skid plate having a structure that, when the second skid plate is affixed to the golf club head, causes the golf club head to have a different face angle at address.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs head sets with varying characteristics are disclosed herein. Other examples and related methods are also generally described herein.

Abstract: This invention provides a hollow golf club head including a face portion, a crown portion, and a sole/side portion including a sole portion and a side portion. This golf club head includes a rib which extends from the toe side to the heel side in the sole portion, and a weight portion which is provided in the sole portion on the side of the face portion with respect to the rib or the back side with respect to the rib, and increases the amplitude of vibration of the sole portion.

Abstract: A golf club head with sound tuning composite members forming at least a portion of the surface of the golf club head is disclosed herein. The composite members being a composite layer made out of a sandwiched core layer that is interposed inside the midsection of the composite member to provide vibration damping and sound tuning characteristics.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with weight redistribution channels are described herein. Other examples and related embodiments are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A hollow golf club head comprises a main body member provided with a face opening and a sole opening, a face member brazed/soldered to the main body member to close the face opening, and a sole member brazes/soldered/welded to the main body member to close the sole opening. The main body member has a thin front edge part of the sole opening and a thick heat blocking part between the thin front edge part and the face portion. The sole member has a front edge part connected to the sole opening's front edge part and a thicker sole reinforcing part positioned backward thereof. The thicknesses of the sole member's front edge part and the sole opening's front edge part are not less than 0.5 mm and less than 2.5 mm. The thicknesses of the sole reinforcing part and the heat blocking part are 2.5 to 10.0 mm.

Abstract: A plurality of golf club heads wherein the difference in spin is minimized is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a plurality of fairway wood type golf club head with a volume of between about 110 cubic centimeters (cc) and about 250 cc, wherein the change in backspin between any two clubs within the plurality of metal wood type golf club heads is less than about 600 revolutions per minute (rpm). A plurality of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention may generally have all of its clubs maintain a center of gravity (CG) location that is less than about 8.0 mm away from a neutral axis of the golf club head regardless of the difference in loft of the specific golf club head within the plurality of golf club heads.

Abstract: A golf club that utilizes multiple materials to achieve improved performance is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club that utilizes different materials to construct different portions of the iron type golf club head allowing weight to be removed from portions of the golf club head that doesn't require such weighting. The current invention utilizes a lightweight material to form a blade portion of the golf club head while utilizing a standard steel material to form the hosel portion of the golf club head to allow the malleability characteristics of a golf club head to be maintained. The weight saved from the lightweight material used to create the blade portion can then be used to create a sole insert that is made out of a dense and heavy material to improve the CG and MOI characteristics of the golf club head to dramatically improve the performance of the golf club head.

Abstract: A golf club head having at least two discrete weight members positioned on the sole to optimize moment of inertia is disclosed. A first weight member is located toward and substantially parallel with the face edge of the sole. A second member is located toward the back of the sole and substantially centered between the heel and toe edges of the sole. In one embodiment, a golf club head includes a sole comprising four sections and wherein a rib of material connects two of said sections. In another embodiment, a golf club head includes a cavity formed between the crown and sole and having an opening at the back of the club head. In yet another embodiment, a golf club head is tapered to form a waist and has a back that has a bowed-shape.

Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads have dent resistant crowns with surface areas configured so that at least about 50% of the crown surface area is associated with a crown thickness substantially equivalent to a critical thickness. A critical thickness is generally associated with a higher dent resistance than crowns that are substantially thinner or thicker. Wood-type golf club heads also have crowns with radii and spans that are substantially equivalent to critical crown radii and critical crown spans. Such wood-type golf club heads also exhibit surprisingly superior dent resistance than would be expected for a crown of such thickness.

Abstract: A hollow golf club is provided having an outer shell and an inner frame. The outer shell comprises one or more lightweight members, such as the crown or the skirt, and preferably fits within an envelope of about 5 inches×5 inches×2.8 inches. The inner frame fits within a smaller envelope and sits on the sole of the club head. One or more weights are located either on or within the inner frame to optimize the moment of inertia of the club head about both the vertical axis running through the center of gravity or geometric center of the club head, hereinafter referred to as the “y-axis,” and the axis running through the center of the shaft of the golf club, hereinafter referred to as the “hosel axis.” The weights can be attached to the inner frame or can be distributed within the inner frame.

Abstract: A golf club (40) having a club head (42) with a face component (60), an aft body (61), and a sound modifying sole and crown design is disclosed herein. The face component, which may be composed of a metal material, (60) has a striking area portion (72) and a return portion (74). The aft-body (61), which may be composed of a non-metal material such as composite or thermoplastic material, is composed of a crown portion (62) and a sole portion (64). The sound modifying design, which may include deep pockets or pillars extending from the sole portion (64) to the crown portion (62), alters the sound of the golf dub head (42) when it impacts a golf ball.

Abstract: A golf club head enables the initial velocity of a ball to be increased and enables the carry to be lengthened. In some example structures, the golf club includes a face plate formed from metal and club head body (e.g., a crown and sole) formed from fiber reinforced plastic. A weighted body is provided inside the rearmost portion of the golf club head and a low rigidity portion whose width becomes gradually narrower as it approaches the rearmost portion is provided in the crown extending from the vicinity of the face plate to the rearmost portion.

Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a main cavity having at least one auxiliary cavity and a base surface. An insert may be associated with the base surface and may comprise at least two contact elements, with a bridge member disposed therebetween. Different contact elements of the insert may be disposed in separate respective auxiliary cavities, such that each contact element may be associated with the base surface. The bridge member of the insert may be dissociated from the base surface. Moreover, a surface coating may be selectively applied to the head to permit a durable adhesive bond between the insert and the base surface.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a hosel section and a head main body. The head main body is composed of a face section, and an upper structural section and a lower structural section. The upper structural section and the lower structural section are provided on a back side of the face section. The upper structural section and the lower structural section are secured on the face section by welding, brazing, bonding, screwing, or the like. The upper structural section is configured so to be heavier than the lower structural section.

Abstract: A golf club head having a recess located in a top portion thereof is described and claimed. The recess is located between the heel and the toe and extends toward the sole. The recess may be in the top line of the club head. An insert may be placed within the recess. The insert has a density that is less than the density of the club head body, and the insert preferably is a light-weight insert. The insert may include one or more damping materials. The recess removes material from the club head, which in turn may do one or more of the following: increase the overall size of the club head, expand the size of the club head sweet spot, lower the club head center of gravity, and/or produce a greater club head moment of inertia. Thus, the recess and insert produce a more forgiving and playable golf club. As an alternative to a recess, a thin protrusion may be provided at the top line of the club head and the insert provided with a corresponding groove to facilitate attachment.

Abstract: A golf club head can comprise a head body and a protrusion weight coupled thereto. The protrusion weight can protrude from at least the heel portion of the head body. The head center of gravity of the golf club head can be defined by both a mass of the head body and a mass of the protrusion weight. The body center of gravity of the head body can be defined by the mass of the head body independent of the mass of the protrusion weight. A weight center of gravity of the protrusion weight can be defined by the mass of the protrusion weight independent of the mass of the head body, and can be external to a body volume of the head body. The protrusion weight can be at least partially visible from an exterior of the club head. Other embodiments and related methods are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to composite articles, and in particular a composite face plate for a golf club-head, and methods for making the same. In certain embodiments, a composite face plate for a club-head is formed with a cross-sectional profile having a varying thickness. The face plate comprises a lay-up of multiple, composite prepreg plies. At least a portion of the plies comprise a plurality of elongated prepreg strips arranged in a predetermined criss-cross pattern in the lay-up. The prepreg strips create one or more areas of increased thickness where the strips overlap each other, thereby creating a desired profile for the plate. Metallic or polymer covers or cover layers can be used to define a striking surface.

Abstract: A driver type golf club head comprising a body having a face, a crown and a sole, wherein the highest point of the crown surface is located within a crown apex zone, and a portion of the crown contour exists above a radius arc of approximately 5.25 inches.

Abstract: This invention provides a putter head comprising a head body and a face insert mounted on a face surface of the head body. Slits are vertically aligned in multiple stages so as to extend in the face insert in a toe-to-heel direction. A depending portion is provided in the slit on a side of the face surface so as to reduce a vertical dimension of the slit. The slit is filled with a viscoelastic material.

Abstract: A golf club head with an increased moment of inertia (MOI) about the X axis and the Z axis. Generally, the MOI about the Z axis is at least about 4400 g·cm2 and the MOI about the X axis is at least about 2500 g·cm2. The radius of the bulge of the club face is increased while the radius of the roll is reduced to compensate for the gear effect produced by the increased MOIs. The bulge curvature is generally between about 0.016 cm?1 and about 0.028 cm?1, and the roll curvature is between about 0.033 cm?1 and about 0.066 cm?1. The roll curvature is greater than the bulge curvature.

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: A golf putter head with a front portion comprising traditional shape and appearance, with an integral face insert extending through the head to an alignment and weighting portion extending beyond the main body of the putter, adding improved alignment, increased moment of inertia (MOI) and adjustable weighting and adjustable balance and optimizable center of percussion. The putter head comprises a central face insert portion extending through the body and above the traditional weight flange, with mass relieved portions below the top of the alignment piece in order to receive one or more optional weights, and the upper side of the rearwardly extending portion being engraved or marked with various alignment indicia, and the whole through-head insert face portion and rearwardly extending portion being affixed to the base portion of the head at least in part with threaded fasteners.

Abstract: A golf putter with an offset and shaft-attachment design is disclosed and claimed. The club includes a head having a strike surface, a sole, and a top line. A tube is coupled to the head, a coupling member is coupled to the distal end of the tube, and a shaft is also coupled to the coupling member. The coupling member connects the tube and the shaft such that they are relatively offset. The longitudinal axes of the tube and the shaft may be substantially parallel. An alignment indicia is provided on the club head. The tube is coupled to the head at an angle such that it blocks the indicia from a user's view at address when the head is aligned properly. If the club head is not properly aligned, the golfer will be able to see the indicia and therefore know to adjust the club head before putting.

Abstract: A metal wood golf club with externally protruding weights that improves the performance of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a metal wood type golf club head that is capable of pushing the boundaries of performance all while maintaining the size and shape of a classic pear shaped golf club.

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 including a golf club head having improved mass distribution characteristics. The golf club includes a golf club head that is constructed multiple materials and includes a body member, a mass member, and an interface that allows the mass member to be coupled to the body member.

Abstract: An iron-type golf club including a golf club head having improved mass distribution characteristics. The golf club includes a golf club head that is constructed from multiple pieces and that has a multi-material construction.

Abstract: A ball striking device includes a ball striking plate having a front surface configured to strike a ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The ball striking plate has a desired-contact region and a perimeter. One or more spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface and may radiate away from the desired-contact region toward the perimeter. At least one of the spoke-like reinforcement ribs may be located in an upper-toe quadrant or in an upper-heel quadrant of the rear surface. One or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be located on the rear surface. The one or more encircling reinforcement ribs may be at least partially encircling the desired-contact region. A thickened portion of the ball striking plate may be positioned behind the desired-contact region of the ball striking plate. The ball striking device may be a golf club head.

Abstract: A golf club component, such as a golf club head and/or a golf club shaft, can comprise a golf club component substrate having an outer layer of titanium carbide, typically comprising at least forty percent (40%) carbon content. Alternatively, a golf club component can comprise a golf club component substrate, at least a portion of which is enveloped by a first coating layer of, for example, electroplated nickel, a second coating layer of, for example, electroplated chromium or palladium, and a third coating layer of titanium carbide applied by physical vapor deposition. The titanium carbide layer is durable and can provide the golf club component with a desired aesthetic appearance, such as a black color. Additionally, the golf club component can be coated with a fourth coating layer, such as a layer comprising a sealant or clear coat material.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a driver, or other types of golf club, includes inducing residual compressive stress by high intensity laser shock peening to form an array of laser shock peened impact zones on the club face. Laser pulses having irradiance greater than 4 GW/cm2, with spot size greater than 4 mm2 are used, including a pulse with on the order of 16 ns, with spot size greater than 9 mm2. Residual compressive stress of more than 400 MPa penetrating with a depth of more than 0.2 mm are imparted, without increased hardening in or damage to the face of the club. Laser shock peening a pattern that covers an interior area leaves the perimeter unpeened, inducing a stress gradient between interior area and the perimeter of the club face. Multiple layers of arrays of laser shock impact zones are applied on the club. The technology is readily applied to assembled club heads.

Abstract: A golf club with a new innovative construction to attach a high density weight to an external surface of the sole of a golf club head is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention relates to utilizing a thickened sole portion having a specific surface area to thickness ratio to provide adequate support for a high density weight having a significant amount of mass. The new innovative method of attachment also incorporates a unique mechanical lock to properly secure the high density weight to the club head, as materials used for high density weighting may not be easily weldable to the titanium material currently used for metalwood type golf club head. The present invention's mechanical lock mechanism utilizes a protruding extension stemming from an internal surface of the weight and an attachment socked located within an internal cavity of the golf club head to engage one another to help secure the weight to the golf club head.

Abstract: A putter head has a moment of inertia that can be adjusted easily by the golfer himself or herself. A putter head includes a body member having a face surface for hitting a ball and a back member turnably installed at the body member. The back member includes a plurality of movable parts, and the movable parts are turnably fixed to the body part. The movable part is turnably installed with one screw only.

Abstract: A golf club head having good forgiveness and playability characteristics 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, a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown, and a strike face positioned at the front of the body. The body has a forward section, a mid-section and a back section. The mass of the forward section is at least as great as the combined mass of the mid-section and back section and the mass ratio of the back section to the mid-section is greater than 80%. Some embodiments of the club head include lightweight panels positioned within openings formed in the sole and crown of the body.

Abstract: A putter head includes a head main body having a depressed portion and a face insert disposed within the depressed portion so that the face insert is mounted in a face surface of the head main body. The face insert includes at least one low hardness portion and at least one high hardness portion. The face insert has a boundary face between the at least one low hardness portion and the at least one high hardness portion which is inclined relative to a back-to-forth direction of the putter head. The boundary face may decline toward the rear or may rise toward the rear. The face insert may comprise a plurality of the low hardness portions and a plurality of the high hardness portions so that the low and high hardness portions are arranged vertically in multiple layers. The sectional shapes taken perpendicularly to the back-to-forth direction of the high hardness portion and the low hardness portion may be substantially of a right triangle.

Abstract: A golf club comprises a shaft, a club head, and a connection assembly that allows the shaft to be easily disconnected from the club head. In particular embodiments, a sleeve including a top portion, a middle portion connected to the top portion is described. The middle portion includes a thin wall thickness. A bottom portion is connected to the middle portion including a plurality of engaging surfaces. A central longitudinal axis and an offset angle offset from the central longitudinal axis is described. The offset angle allows a maximum loft change of about 0.5 degrees to about 4.0 degrees. The total weight of the sleeve is less than 9 g.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to golf clubs with adjustable mass properties. In certain aspects, the invention provides methods and mechanisms for adjusting a club head center of gravity in a vertical direction. Changing a center of gravity in the vertical direction can be done without substantially changing the center of a gravity in other directions.

Abstract: A golf club head comprises a metal member made of at least one kind of metal material and a resin member made of a resin material welded to the metal member. A method for manufacturing the golf club head comprises a step of welding the resin member to the metal member.

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. A face member formed primarily of a metallic material forms the face, and a body member is connected to the face member and extends rearward from the face member to form at least a portion of the body. The body member is formed at least partially of a polymer material, and has a doped portion containing a doping material dispersed within the polymer material. The doping material may have a different density than the polymer material, such that the doped portion has a different density than the portions of the body member not containing the doping material. A co-molding method may be used to form the ball striking device.

Abstract: A golf club head and a method for forming a golf club head are disclosed. The golf club head may include a low density portion and a high density portion. The high density portion includes at least a sole, a face, and at least one support member. The support member is operatively connected to the face and the sole, and maintains the structural integrity of the golf club head. The low density portion comprises the crown and the skirt of the club head. When the low density portion is attached to the at least one support member, a golf club head may be formed. In this manner, the center of gravity of the club head may be lowered and moved away from the face of the club.

Abstract: A golf club head (40) with a face component (50), an aft body (70), and an aerodynamic hosel (50) is disclosed herein. The hosel (50) is connected to the club head (40) at a head connection point (55) and to a shaft at a shaft connection point (57), and a YZ plane (85) defined by a y-axis and an x-axis that intersects the center of gravity (80) also intersects the head connection portion (55) of the hosel (50). In one further embodiment, a plane (95) aligned with the hosel (50) is parallel to an XZ plane (90) defined by the horizontal x-axis and the vertical z-axis. In another further alternative embodiment, a plane (95) aligned with the hosel (50) intersects the XZ plane 90.

Abstract: A golf club head is described, in one embodiment, including a body with an exterior surface defining a first body volume of at least about 400 cm3. The body has a bottom portion, a top portion, a front portion, and a back portion. A face positioned at the front portion of the body and is configured to receive an impact. A top portion silhouette profile located along a perimeter of the top portion is further described. The top portion silhouette profile defines the outer bounds of the top portion in an X-direction and Y-direction. At least one indentation is located on the bottom portion below the crown silhouette profile. The removal of the at least one indentation from the bottom portion creates a second body volume that is at least 12 cm3 larger than the first body volume.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf club heads with weight redistribution channels are described herein. Other examples and related embodiments are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A fairway wood type golf club head and method for forming is disclosed herein. The golf club head preferably has a cast body, a compression molded crown, and weight pads. The weight pads can be manipulated to create different mass property configurations for the golf club head using the same body and crown.