Patent Application
20250222312
The performance of golf clubs is evaluated on the basis of many factors, which vary dependent on the type of club. For example, iron-type golf clubs are intended to exhibit consistent shot dispersion, have desirable feel, and some degree of workability. Wood-type golf clubs, e.g. drivers and fairway woods, preferably also are evaluated of the basis of shot dispersion, feel, and workability. However, for wood-type golf clubs, golfers tend to place disproportionate weight on shot distance, including carry and roll distances.
Often, golf clubs may be designed to perform well under ideal conditions including for impacts at an ideal location on the striking face. However, overvaluing success under ideal conditions may not result in a golf club that performs well for a particular golfer overall. For example, golf clubs, particularly wood-type clubs, are often designed such that impacts at or near a face center lead to most effective overall results. However, such principle may not be universally true, particularly for some classes of golfer.
An object, therefore, of the present disclosure is to provide a golf club head that is both adapted for ideal impact at a location offset from face center and designed such that the ideal impact location is perceived by a golfer to be the most desirable location of impact.
In one aspect of the present disclosure, a golf club head includes a crown, a heel portion, a toe portion opposite the heel portion, a sole opposite the crown, and a striking face. The striking face includes a striking face periphery, a heel-wardmost extent, a toe-wardmost extent, a lowermost extent, an uppermost extent, and a face center. A central zone is delimited by the striking face periphery, a first virtual vertical plane perpendicular to the striking face and spaced heel-ward from the face center by xx, and a second virtual vertical plane perpendicular to the striking face and spaced toe-ward of the face center by xx. A geometric center is a point on the striking face vertically halfway between the uppermost extent and the lowermost extent, and laterally halfway between the heel-wardmost extent and toe-wardmost extent. A maximum characteristic time (CT) corresponds with a point P1 on the striking face. P1 is located outside of the central zone.
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a golf club head includes a crown, a sole opposite the crown, a heel portion, a toe portion opposite the heel portion, and a striking face. The striking face includes a heel-wardmost extent, a toe-wardmost extent, a lowermost extent, an uppermost extent, and a face center. A geometric center is a point on the striking face vertically halfway between the uppermost extent and the lowermost extent, and laterally halfway between the heel-wardmost extent and toe-wardmost extent. The geometric center is laterally spaced from the face center by a distance D1 that is no less than 2 mm
In another aspect of the present disclosure, a golf club head includes a crown having alignment indicia thereon, a sole opposite the crown, a heel portion, a toe portion opposite the heel portion, and a striking face. The striking face includes a face center. The alignment indicia is laterally spaced from the face center by a distance D4 that is greater than 2 mm.
These and other features and advantages of the golf club heads, their implementations, and the methods of manufacture thereof according to the various aspects of the present disclosure will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description, drawings, and appended claims. The description and drawings described below are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any manner.
The drawings described below are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Exemplary implementations will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In one aspect of the present disclosure, referring to
The striking face xx is preferably planar or quasi-planar. For example, the striking face xx, in some cases (e.g. in the case of iron-type club heads) may generally exhibit a planar contour. However, in other cases, particularly for wood-type club heads, preferably the contour of striking face xx is generally planar, but includes curvature of relatively high radius (i.e. no less than 7 in.). For example, preferably, the striking face xx includes a roll of about 8 in and a bulge of about 8.5 in. In some aspects, both roll and bulge remain constant from location to location about the striking face xx. However, in other aspects, preferably, bulge and/or roll vary across the striking face xx in a vertical direction and/or a horizontal direction.
The striking face xx is delimited by a striking face periphery xx. The striking face periphery xx is defined by the loci of points circumscribing the quasi-planar region defining the striking face xx as described above. In some cases, the striking face periphery is readily ascertainable, e.g. as an abrupt change in contour forming an angled peripheral edge. However, in other cases, the transition from striking face xx to main body is less discernible. In such cases, the striking face periphery xx is understood to be the loci of points circumscribing the quasi-planar striking face where transition occurs from high radius of curvature to low radius of curvature, i.e. 4 in or less. The striking face xx may transition to a return portion xx that includes the crown xx, the sole xx, and the rear portion xx. The region of transition from the striking face xx to the return portion xx, herein, is referred to as the shoulder portion xx.
The golf club head xx is shown in a reference position. “Reference position,” as used herein, denotes a position of the club head xx where the hosel axis xx is oriented at a lie angle of 60° with respect to a virtual ground plane, e.g. virtual ground plane xx, and lies in an imaginary vertical hosel plane xx, which contains an imaginary horizontal line generally parallel to the striking face, e.g. striking face xx. Unless otherwise denoted, attributes described herein are presumed to apply to the club head xx as oriented in a reference position.
The striking face xx of the club head xx includes a face center xx. For all purposes herein, “face center” (e.g. face center xx) refers to a point on a striking face of a club head that is simultaneously: (a) laterally equidistance the heel-side and toe-side of the periphery of the striking face xx; and (b) vertically equidistance the top-side and sole-side of the periphery of the striking face xx of the club head xx.
From a practical standpoint, face center (e.g. face center xx as shown in
Preferably, the club head xx is a wood-type club head. More preferably, the club head xx is a driver-type club head, e.g. configured to impact a golf ball off a tee. Accordingly, the golf club head xx preferably has a volume no less than 390 cc, more preferably between about 410 cc and 470 cc, even more preferably between about 440 cc and 465 cc. Additionally, or alternatively, the club head xx has a head mass no less than 170 g, more preferably no less than 185 g, and even more preferably within the range of 185 g to 210 g. Lighter club heads (e.g. those with masses under 185 g) may exhibit particular advantages for certain classes of golfers. However, for purposes herein, greater head mass may be preferably. For example, greater club head mass provides for a greater proportion of discretionary mass, which is of particular significance in adapting the club head xx for ideal impact in an off-centered location, as will be discussed in more detail below.
Additionally, or alternatively, the club head xx preferably includes a center of gravity xx. The club head xx further exhibits a moment of inertia, Izz, about a vertical axis passing through the center of gravity xx. Preferably, Izz is no less than 3500 g·cm2, more preferably no less than 4000 g·cm2, even more preferably no less than 4400 g·cm2, and yet even more preferably between about 4600 g·cm2 and 5900 g·cm2.
Referring specifically to
Referring to
Where a golfer perceives an ideal impact location, absent any particular alignment aid, may vary from golfer to golfer. However, it is generally believed that the extremities of the striking face xx are more influential in suggesting the location of an ideal impact location than, say, the face center xx. In fact, the measured location of the face center xx, in many cases, may be non-intuitive and non-representative of the overall shape of the striking face xx as perceived by a golfer.
Referring to
In some aspects, the geometric center xx may be coincident with the face center xx. However, preferably, the geometric center xx is offset, at least in a lateral (i.e. heel to toe) direction, from the face center xx. In particular, the geometric center xx of the striking face xx is preferably laterally offset from the face center xx by a distance D1 that is no less than 2 mm, more preferably no less than 4 mm, and even more preferably no less than 5 mm. In some such aspects, the geometric center xx is preferably offset from the face center xx toward the toe portion xx. However, in alternative aspects, the geometric center xx is laterally offset from the face center xx in a direction toward the heel portion xx. Additionally or alternatively, preferably, the geometric center xx is offset vertically from the face center xx. The vertical offset of the geometric center xx is preferably in a direction toward the crown (or an upward direction). Preferably the degree of vertical offset is no less than 2 mm, more preferably no less than 3 mm, and even more preferably no less than 4 mm.
Such offset between the geometric center xx and the face center xx may be achieved by selectively shaping the striking face periphery xx. For example, with particular reference to
Referring to
Preferably, the alignment indicia xx is of a size sufficient to assist the golfer in aligning the club head xx with a golf ball to be impacted, e.g. between about 1 mm and 5 mm in width. Additionally, the alignment feature xx is preferably of a geometric shape, e.g. a line, dot, rectangle, triangle, circle, ellipse, diamond, caret, chevron, or arrow. The alignment feature xx may include plural, e.g. two, features that are spaced apart, but assist in enabling a golfer to visualize a preferred axis of alignment. For example, two dots aligned in a front to rear direction may better assist the golfer in orienting the club head xx than a single dot, as the plural dots provide a better indication of rotational offset.
Preferably, the alignment feature xx, by virtue of its shape, defines a central axis, which in turn preferably aligns in a heel to toe direction with an intended ideal impact location. In such aspects, preferably, a central axis xx of the alignment feature xx is laterally spaced from the geometric center xx by a distance D5 no greater than 4 mm, and more preferably no greater than 2 mm. Even more preferably, the alignment feature xx is substantially aligned with the geometric center xx. Accordingly, the alignment feature xx is laterally spaced from the face center xx by a distance D4 that is preferably greater than 2 mm, more preferably no less than 4 mm, and even more preferably no less than 5 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the alignment feature xx is laterally spaced toe-ward of the face center xx for its preferred association with the geometric center xx.
Several advantages result from adapting the club head xx such that a perceived ideal impact location is laterally offset from the face center xx. First, notwithstanding other attributes such as mass properties and bulge/roll, locations on the club head xx toward the toe portion xx may exhibit greater velocity at impact due to such locations exhibiting greater rotational velocity as they are outward from common axes of rotation during a typical golf swing. Greater velocity at impact may result in greater transfer of momentum from the golf club xx to the golf ball, resulting in overall greater carry distances. Secondly, some classes of golfer, particularly those with relatively high handicaps, are believed generally to impact golf balls at toe-ward locations. By adapting the golf club head xx such that a perceived ideal impact location corresponds to such toe-ward impact locations, the golfer's confidence may increase, resulting in greater shot consistency. Third, a toe-wardly located ideal impact point provides greater design freedom in improving mass properties, as will be described below.
Any shift in perceived ideal impact location, e.g. by cosmetic design and/or structural shaping/contouring, is preferably coupled with modification of the club head's latent attributes to ensure greatest overall performance. In some aspects, shifting perceived ideal impact location toe-ward may provide for greater moment of inertia, particularly Izz. This may be the result of a large proportion of structural mass being tied up by the hosel portion xx. A shift in ideal impact location would preferably be coupled with a commensurate shift in center of gravity xx location. Accordingly, particularly because of the mass of the hosel portion xx, overall head mass may be pushed further from the center of gravity xx than otherwise possible.
In addition, the mass of the hosel xx may disproportionately affect stiffness on the striking face xx. For example, striking face locations proximate the heel portion xx naturally may be associated with lower characteristic time (CT) values than locations proximate the toe portion xx. Thus, shifting the perceived ideal impact location toe-ward may result in greater ability to reduce energy loss on impact, thereby increasing CT at the location of preferred impact. In turn, taking advantage of regions naturally susceptible to higher CT may increase discretionary weight as less mass intervention is necessary to artificially increase CT.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) specifically sets forth rules limiting the ability of a golf club to transfer power to a golf ball, thereby limiting any advantage a golfer may seek over a competitor by equipment alone. This is generally accomplished by imposition of a characteristic time (CT) limit of the face of the club head. Characteristic time, for all purposes herein, refers to characteristic time as laid out, defined, and indicated as measured in the United States Golf Association's PROCEDURE FOR MEASURING THE FLEXIBILITY OF A GOLF CLUBHEAD, Rev. 1.0.0 (May 1, 2008).
Another property useful in quantifying the springiness of a face of a club head is coefficient of restitution (COR). COR had long been the standard property for evaluating springiness by the USGA and is still a useful property. Accordingly, it is to be appreciated that any discussion herein regarding COR or CT—including measuring or using COR or CT at any particular location on the striking face xx of the club head xx—is to be understood as an implicit disclosure of the respective value of CT or COR. Although COR and CT may not necessarily be analogous measurements, for all practical purposes herein, any disclosed COR value (or change in COR) or CT value (or change in CT value) should be considered an implicit disclosure of a corresponding CT or COR value (or change thereof), respectively, in accordance with the following empirically-derived formula:
The center of gravity xx, when projected onto the striking face xx in a direction perpendicular to the striking face xx, corresponds to a sweet spot xx located on striking face xx. Preferably, for the reasons described above, the sweet spot xx is laterally spaced from the geometric center xx by a distance D2 no greater than 4 mm and more preferably no greater than 2 mm. Even more preferably, the sweet spot xx is substantially laterally aligned with the geometric center xx of the striking face xx. Alternatively, or in addition, the sweet spot xx is preferably laterally spaced from the face center xx by a distance D3 no less than 2 mm, more preferably no less than 4 mm, and even more preferably no less than 5 mm.
Relocating the center of gravity xx of the club head xx may be carried out by the strategic positioning of discretionary mass. As described above, preferably, the club head xx has a relatively high club head mass, e.g. greater than 185 g. Accordingly, a relatively large proportion of head mass may be designated as discretionary mass, providing greater ability to shift the center of gravity to a more desirable location than its natural position based on the allocation of structural mass alone. Also, such discretionary mass may be applied particularly to increase moment of inertia values.
Specifically, to shift the center of gravity further toe-ward of the face center xx, a unitary mass pad may be cast into the sole portion xx and/or the crown portion xx, resulting in a thickened region of the respective sole portion xx and/or crown portion xx. Alternatively, an aft-attached mass insert may be secured to the club head xx subsequent casting, forging, bending or other formation of the club head main body. For example, in some embodiments, a mass insert is welded or brazed to an internal surface of the sole portion or alternatively an internal surface of the crown portion. Alternatively, attachment of the mass insert includes mechanical fasteners, interference fit, or other mechanical interlocking mechanism.
Preferably the mass insert density is no less than the main body density, more preferably greater than the main body density. Alternatively, or additionally, the mass insert density is preferably no less than 7 g/cm3, more preferably no less than 8 g/cm3, and even more preferably no less than 10 g/cm3. Additionally, or alternative, the overall density of the main body is no greater than 7 g/cm3, more preferably no greater than 5 g/cm3, and even more preferably no greater than 4.5 g/cm3.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring again to
The desired CT values described above may be achieved by limiting and/or appropriately varying the thickness of the striking face xx. E.g. reducing thickness in a particular location of the striking face xx may tend to increase a CT value exhibited by such location. Additionally, or alternatively, structural stiffeners such as ribs, annuli or struts secured to portions of the striking face xx and either the sole xx or crown xxx may be used to further control CT on a location by location basis. Additionally or alternatively, choice of material of the striking face xx may result in a more effective strength to mass profile and as a result may impart greater flexibility to the striking face xx while adhering to acceptable strength or structural integrity thresholds.
Additionally, or alternatively, the curvature of the striking face xx is modified such that impacts at the geometric center xx result in preferable ball flight shape. For example, preferably the bulge and rolls are configured such that the geometric center xx is associated with a neutral or zero face angle (assuming a club head that is intended to exhibit neutral ball flight). Alternatively, for club heads intended to exhibit draw or fade bias, the face angle measured at the geometric center preferably exhibit a positive or negative face angle intended to correspond to the intended draw or fade bias designated by the club head product. Regarding roll, preferably, as measured at the geometric center xx, the striking face xx exhibits a loft substantially equal to the designated or intended loft of the club head xx.
In the foregoing discussion, the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary aspects thereof. However, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these exemplary aspects without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing discussion and the accompanying drawings are to be regarded as merely illustrative of the present invention rather than as limiting its scope in any manner.
This application claims priority to Provisional Application No. 63/617,859, filed on Jan. 5, 2024, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63617859 | Jan 2024 | US |
