GOLF CLUB HEAD

Abstract

A golf club head is of an iron type. The golf club head includes a face portion that includes a face surface configured to hit a ball, and score lines recessed from the face surface and extending in a toe-heel direction. A first region, a second region, and a third region are sequentially defined in the face surface located between the score lines next to each other. The first, second, and third regions are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the score lines. The first region includes first fine grooves recessed from the face surface and extending in the direction perpendicular to the score lines. The second region includes second fine grooves recessed from the face surface and extending in a direction oblique to the score lines. The third region includes third fine grooves recessed from the face surface and extending in the direction perpendicular to the score lines.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-214626 filed on Dec. 20, 2023, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a golf club head.

2. Description of the Related Art

The face surface of a golf club head is provided with a plurality of grooves that are referred to as score lines. By providing the score lines, the spin rate of a ball can be increased. Also, a golf club head in which a plurality of fine grooves are formed in the face surface, in addition to the score lines, is disclosed (see Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Nos. 2016-221098, 2016-135357, and 2015-107227).

Such fine grooves increase water drainage. Thus, the fine grooves can be expected to be effective in suppressing the reduction in the spin rate in a wet state in which water is adhered to the face surface. However, depending on how the fine grooves are provided, the spin rate may be reduced in a dry state in which no water is adhered to the face surface.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A golf club head of the present disclosure is of an iron type. The golf club head includes a face portion that includes a face surface configured to hit a ball, and a plurality of score lines recessed from the face surface and extending in a toe-heel direction. A first region, a second region, and a third region are sequentially defined in the face surface located between the score lines that are next to each other. The first region, the second region, and the third region are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the score lines. The first region includes a plurality of first fine grooves recessed from the face surface and extending in the direction perpendicular to the score lines. The second region includes a plurality of second fine grooves recessed from the face surface and extending in a direction oblique to the score lines. The third region includes a plurality of third fine grooves recessed from the face surface and extending in the direction perpendicular to the score lines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of a golf club head according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of a portion A of FIG. 1 (part 1); and

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the portion A of FIG. 1 (part 2).

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure provides a golf club head that suppresses the reduction in the spin rate in a wet state and increases the spin rate in a dry state.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference symbols, and duplicate descriptions thereof may be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating an example of the golf club head according to the present embodiment. Here, the front view is a view in which the golf club head is seen in a direction perpendicular to the face surface. In FIG. 1, an arrow di indicates a toe-heel direction (left-right direction along the face surface), and an arrow de indicates a top-sole direction (up-down direction along the face surface). The arrows di and de are also illustrated in the other drawings.

The golf club head 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is an iron-type golf club head. The golf club head 1 is applicable to a long iron, a middle iron, a short iron, and a wedge.

The golf club head 1 may be formed, for example, of a metal material, such as soft iron, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, chromium molybdenum steel, or the like. The golf club head 1 may be produced by forging, casting, machining, or the like. Alternatively, the golf club head 1 may be produced by any combination of forging, casting, machining, and the like. However, a production method of the golf club head 1 is not limited thereto.

The golf club head 1 includes a face portion 11, a sole portion 13, a top portion 14, and a hosel portion 15. The face portion 11 includes a face surface 11f serving as a hitting surface for hitting a ball, and a plurality of score lines 11s recessed from the face surface 11f and extending in the toe-heel direction.

In the face portion 11, a region of the face surface 11f in which the score lines 11s are formed is a portion that hits the ball. The face portion 11 has a predetermined thickness. The thickness of the thinnest part of the face portion 11 without considering the score lines 11s is, for example, 2.5 millimeters (mm) or more and 5.0 millimeters (mm) or less.

The score lines 11s are disposed at substantially equal intervals in the top-sole direction. The score lines 11s are parallel to each other. The maximum transverse width of each score line 11s is, for example, 0.7 mm or more and 0.9 mm or less. The maximum depth of each score line 11s from the face surface 11f is, for example, 0.3 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

The sole portion 13 forms a bottom portion of the golf club head 1. The top portion 14 extends backward from the upper edge of the face portion 11. The top portion 14 faces the sole portion 13 across the face surface 11f in the top-sole direction. The top portion 14 extends from a toe side to a heel side. The hosel portion 15 is a portion connected to a shaft.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of the portion A in FIG. 1 (part 1). As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the face portion 11, a first region R1, a second region R2, and a third region R3 are sequentially defined in the face surface 11f located between score lines 11s that are next to each other, and the first region R1, the second region R2, and the third region R3 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s (top-sole direction). In the present application, an error of ±5 degrees shall be allowed for the reference to being parallel and being perpendicular.

The first region R1 is provided with a plurality of first fine grooves 111 recessed from the face surface 11f and extending in the direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s. The second region R2 is provided with a plurality of second fine grooves 112 recessed from the face surface 11f and extending in directions oblique to the score lines 11s. The third region R3 is provided with a plurality of third fine grooves 113 recessed from the face surface 11f and extending in the direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s.

Here, the fine groove refers to a groove whose maximum transverse width is smaller than the maximum transverse width of the score line 11s and whose maximum depth from the face surface 11f is smaller than the maximum depth of the score line 11s from the face surface 11f. The cross-sectional shapes of the first fine groove 111, the second fine groove 112, and the third fine groove 113 may be a U shape, a V shape, or any other shape.

The first fine groove 111, the second fine groove 112, and the third fine groove 113 may be formed through milling or the like. The first fine groove 111, the second fine groove 112, and the third fine groove 113 may be formed through laser machining. With milling, it is easier to control surface roughness compared to laser machining. On the other hand, with laser machining, it is easier to form fine grooves with a narrow pitch compared to milling. The milling and the laser machining may be performed in combination.

For example, the first fine groove 111 and the third fine groove 113 may be formed through milling, and the second fine groove 112 may be formed through laser machining. In this case, the surface roughness of the first region R1 and the third region R3 can be higher than the surface roughness of the second region R2. The larger the surface roughness of the face surface 11f, the greater the frictional force between the face surface 11f and the ball. Thus, the spin rate increases.

In the example of FIG. 2, the plurality of second fine grooves 112 include a plurality of fine grooves 112a extending in a first direction oblique to the score lines 11s, and a plurality of fine grooves 112b extending in a second direction that is oblique to the score lines 11s and crosses the first direction. The plurality of second fine grooves 112 can be disposed, for example, in the form of a mesh as viewed in the direction perpendicular to the face surface 11f. The first direction and the second direction may be orthogonal to each other, but do not need to be. The plurality of second fine grooves 112 may have a structure including either the plurality of fine grooves 112a or the plurality of fine grooves 112b.

In this manner, according to the golf club head 1, the face surface 11f is provided with the plurality of first fine grooves 111 and the plurality of third fine grooves 113 extending in the direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s. With this structure, water droplets adhered to the face surface 11f flow into the score lines 11s via the first fine grooves 111 and the third fine grooves 113. Thus, water drainage of the golf club head 1 can be increased. As a result, the contact between the face surface 11f and the ball is improved at the time of hitting, and the reduction in the spin rate in the wet state can be suppressed.

Further, according to the golf club head 1, the face surface 11f is provided with the plurality of second fine grooves 112 extending in directions oblique to the score lines 11s. With this structure, the roughness of the face surface can be increased in a direction in which a golf ball is to be hit, compared to a case of providing only the first fine grooves 111 and the third fine grooves 113 extending in the direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s. Thus, the spin rate in the dry state can be increased.

A wedge having a loft angle of 45 degrees or more has water drainage that is worse than that of a golf club having a smaller loft angle. Also, the wedge having a loft angle of 45 degrees or more is expected to achieve a high spin rate. Therefore, the structure having the first fine grooves 111, the second fine grooves 112, and the third fine grooves 113 exhibits an especially significant effect when applied to a wedge. That is, the golf club head 1 is especially suitable when applied to a golf club head of a wedge type, such as a sand wedge, a pitching wedge, an approach wedge, or the like.

Preferably, one end of the plurality of first fine grooves 111 reaches one of the score lines 11s that are next to each other, and the other end of the plurality of first fine grooves 111 is connected to one end of the plurality of second fine grooves 112. Also, preferably, the other end of the plurality of second fine grooves 112 is connected to one end of the plurality of third fine grooves 113, and the other end of the plurality of third fine grooves 113 reaches the other of the score lines 11s that are next to each other. A configuration different from the above-described configuration can also provide the effect of increasing the drainage of water droplets adhered to the face surface 11f. However, the above-described configuration can further increase the drainage of water droplets adhered to the face surface 11f.

When the plurality of second fine grooves 112 include the plurality of fine grooves 112a and 112b extending obliquely to the score lines and crossing each other, it is possible to enhance the effect of increasing the spin rate in the dry state. However, in the case in which the plurality of second fine grooves 112 include either the plurality of fine grooves 112a or the plurality of fine grooves 112b, a predetermined effect of increasing the spin rate in the dry state can also be obtained.

A pitch P1 of the first fine grooves 111, a pitch P2 of the second fine grooves 112, and a pitch P3 of the third fine grooves 113 are, for example, 0.06 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less. The pitch P1 of the first fine grooves 111, the pitch P2 of the second fine grooves 112, and the pitch P3 of the third fine grooves 113 are preferably 0.06 mm or more and 0.15 mm or less. When the respective fine grooves are provided in the above-described ranges of pitch, the reduction in the spin rate in the wet state can be further suppressed, and the spin rate in the dry state can be further increased. The maximum widths, the maximum depths, and/or the pitches of the first fine grooves 111, the second fine grooves 112, and the third fine grooves 113 may be the same as or different from each other in the above-described numerical ranges.

In the direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s, the length of the second region R2 is preferably greater than the length of each of the first region R1 and the third region R3. By this, it is possible to increase the effect of increasing the spin rate in the dry state.

In the direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s, the length of the first region R1 may be the same as or different from the length of the third region R3.

In the direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s, a distance L between the score lines 11s that are next to each other is, for example, 3 mm or more and 5 mm or less. In this case, in the direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s, the length of each of the first region R1 and the third region R3 is preferably 0.1 L or more and 0.3 L or less, and the length of the second region R2 is preferably 0.4 L or more and 0.8 L or less.

When the golf club head 1 is of a wedge, the golf club head 1 may hit a ball not only at the normal loft angle but also at a loft angle different from the normal loft angle. Specifically, there are cases in which the face surface 11f is sometimes opened at the time of hitting and sometimes closed at the time of hitting. In such cases, according to the golf club head 1, the first fine grooves 111, the second fine grooves 112, and the third fine grooves 113 can also exhibit the above-described functions.

Specifically, the angle of the first and third fine grooves 111 and 113 with respect to the score lines 11s is different from the angle of the second fine groove 112 with respect to the score lines 11s. Therefore, when the face surface 11f is opened or closed at the time of hitting, the functions of the first and third fine grooves 111 and 113 and the function of the second fine groove 112 are opposite to those in the case of hitting at the normal loft angle.

That is, the first and third fine grooves 111 and 113 become oblique to the direction in which the ball is to be hit, and the second fine groove 112 becomes closer to being perpendicular to the direction in which the ball is to be hit. Thus, the first fine grooves 111, the second fine grooves 112, and the third fine grooves 113 can exhibit the above-described functions. In order to exhibit such effects, the oblique angle θ of the second fine grooves 112 with respect to the score line 11s is preferably from 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less, and more preferably 35 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less. The oblique angle with respect to the score line 11s is defined with an acute angle.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the portion A of FIG. 1 (part 2). As illustrated in FIG. 3, the plurality of first fine grooves 111 may extend inward of one of the score lines 11s that are next to each other. Also, the plurality of third fine grooves 113 may extend inward of the other of the score lines 11s that are next to each other. The first fine grooves 111 and the third fine grooves 113 may partially extend inward of the score lines 11s, or may entirely extend inward of the score lines 11s.

In this manner, when the first fine grooves 111 and the third fine grooves 113 at least partially extend inward of the score lines 11s, the spin rate can be increased mainly by virtue of the effects of the first fine grooves 111 and the third fine grooves 113 formed at the ends of the score lines 11s on the face surface 11f side.

According to the disclosed technology, it is possible to provide a golf club head that suppresses the reduction in the spin rate in the wet state and increases the spin rate in the dry state.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above in detail, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims recited.

Claims

1. A golf club head that is of an iron type, the golf club head comprising: a face portion that includes a face surface configured to hit a ball, anda plurality of score lines recessed from the face surface and extending in a toe-heel direction, whereina first region, a second region, and a third region are sequentially defined in the face surface located between the score lines that are next to each other, the first region, the second region, and the third region being arranged in a direction perpendicular to the score lines,the first region includes a plurality of first fine grooves recessed from the face surface and extending in the direction perpendicular to the score lines,the second region includes a plurality of second fine grooves recessed from the face surface and extending in a direction oblique to the score lines, andthe third region includes a plurality of third fine grooves recessed from the face surface and extending in the direction perpendicular to the score lines.

2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein one end of the plurality of first fine grooves reaches one of the score lines that are next to each other,another end of the plurality of first fine grooves is connected to one end of the plurality of second fine grooves,another end of the plurality of second fine grooves is connected to one end of the plurality of third fine grooves, andanother end of the plurality of third fine grooves reaches another of the score lines that are next to each other.

3. The golf club head according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of first fine grooves extend inward of the one of the score lines that are next to each other, andthe plurality of third fine grooves extend inward of the another of the score lines that are next to each other.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of second fine grooves include a plurality of fine grooves extending in a first direction oblique to the score lines, anda plurality of fine grooves extending in a second direction that is oblique to the score lines and crosses the first direction.

5. The golf club head according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of second fine grooves are disposed in a form of a mesh as viewed in a direction perpendicular to the face surface.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein in the direction perpendicular to the score lines, a length of the second region is greater than a length of each of the first region and the third region.

7. The golf club head according to claim 6, wherein in the direction perpendicular to the score lines, the length of each of the first region and the third region is 0.1 L or more and 0.3 L or less, and the length of the second region is 0.4 L or more and 0.8 L or less,where L denotes a distance between the score lines that are next to each other, in the direction perpendicular to the score lines.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a pitch of the first fine grooves, a pitch of the second fine grooves, and a pitch of the third fine grooves are 0.06 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

9. The golf club head according to claim 8, wherein the pitch of the first fine grooves, the pitch of the second fine grooves, and the pitch of the third fine grooves are 0.06 mm or more and 0.15 mm or less.

10. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein an oblique angle of the second fine grooves with respect to the score lines is 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less.

11. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a loft angle of the golf club head is 45 degrees or more.