CN107823860B

CN107823860B - Glof club head and correlation technique with optimization characteristics

Info

Publication number: CN107823860B
Application number: CN201711017581.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 布拉德利·D·施韦格特; 赖恩·M·斯托克
Original assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 2013-03-14
Filing date: 2014-03-14
Publication date: 2019-05-10
Anticipated expiration: 2034-03-14
Also published as: GB2577841B; GB2527002A; JP2023153896A; KR20150126057A; GB202000613D0; AU2014236547A1; JP2019080971A; KR20210041111A; JP2023164820A; KR102269441B1; GB2577848B; CA2994141A1; GB2577848A; GB2527002B; GB2577841A; JP2023153897A; JP2016512155A; JP2016512154A; GB2527004B; JP7332758B2

Abstract

This paper presents the glof club heads with optimization characteristics.Glof club head includes head main body, active face portion, head center of gravity and the first optimization characteristics and/or the second optimization characteristics.Active face portion includes impact surface central point, impact surface periphery and the face height defined by impact surface periphery.The high strike face of glof club head and impact surface central point are tangent.Head depth plane is parallel to head trunnion axis and extends through impact surface central point perpendicular to high strike face.CG altitude axis extends through head center of gravity and intersects vertically in the first point of intersection and head depth plane.Between head center of gravity and the first intersection point, along the head CG height of the nose heave heart of CG altitude axis measuring rod.The performance of golf club is improved for the further exploitation for the feature of golf club to balance each other.There is disclosed herein other examples and correlation techniques.

Description

Golf club heads with optimized characteristics and related methods

Cross Reference to Related Applications

The present application is an international patent application claiming priority from:

us patent application No. 13/804,859 filed on 3/14 of 2013 to the united states patent and trademark office;

us patent application No. 13/804,917 filed on 3/14 of 2013 to the united states patent and trademark office; and

us patent application No. 13/826,111, filed 3/14 in 2013 to the united states patent and trademark office.

The disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to athletic equipment, and more particularly to golf club heads having optimized characteristics and related methods.

Background

Golf club heads often include various features that may be designed or configured to enhance one or more performance characteristics of the golf club head. However, there is often an inherent interplay between these different features such that adjusting or configuring one feature may inherently change another feature, and such changes are often disadvantageous. For example, enlarging the striking face of a golf club to provide a larger striking area may adversely alter the position of the center of gravity of the golf club, and undesirable performance results may ensue if the features are not configured or designed in a balanced manner to account for the interplay between the different features.

In view of the above, further developments in the characteristics of golf clubs that balance each other will improve the performance of golf clubs.

Drawings

The disclosure may be better understood by reading the following detailed description of examples of embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 illustrates a front view of a golf club head according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the golf club head along line II-II of FIG. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the golf club head of fig. 1-2.

Fig. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a method that may be used to provide, form, and/or manufacture a golf club head according to the present disclosure.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figures show the general manner of construction, and descriptions and details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the disclosure. Additionally, elements in the drawings figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," and the like in the description and in the claims, may be used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a particular sequential or chronological order. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments described herein are, for example, capable of operation in sequences other than those illustrated or otherwise described herein. Furthermore, the terms "comprises," "comprising," and "having" and any variations thereof, are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, such that a process, method, system, article, apparatus, or device that comprises a list of elements is not necessarily limited to those elements, but may include other elements inherent to such process, method, system, article, apparatus, or device, or not expressly listed.

The terms "left," "right," "front," "back," "top," "bottom," "on … …," "under … …," and the like in the description and in the claims, as may be present, are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing permanent relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances such that the embodiments of the apparatus, methods, and/or articles of manufacture described herein are, for example, capable of operation in other orientations than those illustrated or otherwise described herein.

The terms "coupled", "coupling", and the like are to be construed broadly and refer to the mechanical or other joining of two or more elements. The coupling (whether mechanical or otherwise) may be of any length of time, such as permanent or semi-permanent or only momentary.

The absence of the words "removable," "removable," etc. near the words "coupled" etc. does not imply that the coupling, etc. in question is removable or non-removable.

As defined herein, two or more elements are "unitary" if they are comprised of the same piece of material. As defined herein, two or more elements are "non-integral" if each of the two or more elements is comprised of a different piece of material.

Detailed Description

In one example, a golf club head may include a head body including a head interior and a hosel structure. The club head interior may be defined by a club head front, a club head rear, a club head heel, a club head toe, a club head top, and a club head sole. The hosel structure may have a bore for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein the bore may have a hosel shaft. The golf club head may further include a head center of gravity, a head horizontal axis, a hosel moment of inertia about the hosel axis, and a horizontal moment of inertia about the head horizontal axis, wherein the head horizontal axis extends through the head center of gravity from the heel portion to the toe portion and is parallel to the ground plane when the golf club head is at an address position above the ground plane. The horizontal moment of inertia may be greater than or equal to 39% of the hosel moment of inertia.

In one example, a golf club head may include a head body including a head interior and a hosel structure. The club head interior may be defined by a club head front, a club head rear, a club head heel, a club head toe, a club head top, and a club head sole. The hosel structure may have a bore for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein the bore may have a hosel shaft. The golf club head may also include a head center of gravity, a head vertical axis, a hosel moment of inertia about the hosel axis, and a vertical moment of inertia about the head vertical axis, wherein the head vertical axis extends through the head center of gravity from a head top to a head bottom and is perpendicular to a ground plane when the golf club head is at address above the ground plane. The vertical moment of inertia may be greater than or equal to 59% of the hosel moment of inertia.

In one embodiment, a method of providing a golf club head includes providing a head body having a head interior and a hosel structure. The club head interior may be defined by a club head front, a club head rear, a club head heel, a club head toe, a club head top, and a club head sole. The hosel structure may have a bore for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein the bore may have a hosel shaft. The method may also include coupling the golf club shaft to the hosel structure. The head horizontal axis may extend through a head center of gravity of the golf club head from the head heel to the head toe and parallel to the ground plane when the golf club head is at an address position on the ground plane. The head vertical axis may extend through the head center of gravity from the head top to the head sole and be perpendicular to the ground plane when the golf club head is at address over the ground plane. Further, providing a head body may include at least one of: (a) establishing a horizontal moment of inertia about a horizontal axis of the club head, wherein the horizontal moment of inertia is greater than or equal to 39% of a hosel moment of inertia about the hosel axis; or (b) establishing a vertical moment of inertia about the vertical axis of the club head, wherein the vertical moment of inertia is greater than or equal to 59% of the hosel moment of inertia about the hosel axis.

In one example, a golf club head may include a head body including a front head portion, a rear head portion, a heel head portion, a toe head portion, a sole portion, a crown portion, and a hosel structure having an aperture for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein the aperture may have a hosel shaft. The golf club head may also include a face at the front of the head, a head volume, a head center of gravity, and an optimization characteristic, wherein the face comprises a face center point, and the head volume is measured in cc and comprises a head volume having a value greater than 420. When the golf club head is located at an address position above the ground plane, a head vertical axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the ground plane, and a head horizontal axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the head vertical axis. The loft surface of the golf club head may be tangent to the face center point. The front plane of the golf club head may extend through the striking face center point and parallel to the hosel axis. The head depth plane may extend through the strikeface centerpoint parallel to the head horizontal axis and perpendicular to the loft plane. The CG height axis may extend through the head center of gravity and may perpendicularly intersect the head depth plane at a first intersection point. The CG height of the head may be measured along the CG height axis between the head center of gravity and the first intersection point. The CG depth of the head may be measured parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the front plane between (a) a second intersection point located at the intersection between the front plane and the ground plane and (b) a third intersection point located at the intersection between the head vertical axis and the ground plane. The optimization characteristic may be defined by (a) the head volume value plus (b) the ratio between the CG depth divided by the absolute value of the CG height. The optimization characteristic may be greater than or equal to 425.

In one example, a golf club head may include a head body including a front head portion, a rear head portion, a heel head portion, a toe head portion, a sole portion, a crown portion, and a hosel structure having a bore for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein the bore may have a hosel shaft. The golf club head may also include a striking face located at the front of the club head and including a striking face centerpoint, and a club head center of gravity. When the golf club head is located at an address position above the ground plane, the head vertical axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the ground plane, and the head horizontal axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the head vertical axis. The loft surface of the golf club head may be tangent to the face center point. The front plane of the golf club head may extend through the striking face center point and parallel to the hosel axis. A head depth plane may extend through the strikeface centerpoint parallel to the head horizontal axis and perpendicular to the loft plane. The CG height axis may extend through the head center of gravity and may perpendicularly intersect the head depth plane at a first intersection point. The CG height of the head at the head center of gravity may be measured along the CG height axis between the head center of gravity and the first intersection point. The CG depth of the head may be measured parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the front plane between (a) a second intersection point located at the intersection between the front plane and the ground plane and (b) a third intersection point located at the intersection between the head vertical axis and the ground plane. The absolute value of the height of the CG may be less than or equal to 2.54 mm. The head CG depth may be greater than or equal to 40.64 mm.

In one embodiment, a method for providing a golf club head may include providing a head body, wherein the head body includes a front club head portion, a rear club head portion, a heel club head portion, a toe club head portion, a sole portion, a crown portion, and a hosel structure having an aperture for receiving a golf club shaft, the aperture having a hosel shaft. The method may also include coupling the striking face at the front of the club head and establishing optimized characteristics of the golf club head. The striking face includes a striking face center point. The head volume of the golf club head may be measured in cc and may include a head volume value greater than 420. When the golf club head is located at an address position above the ground plane, the head vertical axis may extend through the head center of gravity and may be orthogonal to the ground plane. The head horizontal axis may extend through the head center of gravity and may be orthogonal to the head vertical axis. The loft surface of the golf club head may be tangent to the face center point. The front plane of the golf club head may extend through the striking face center point and parallel to the hosel axis. A head depth plane may extend through the strikeface centerpoint parallel to the head horizontal axis and perpendicular to the loft plane. The CG height axis may extend through the head center of gravity and may intersect the head depth plane perpendicularly at a first intersection point. The CG height of the head at the head center of gravity may be measured along the CG height axis between the head center of gravity and the first intersection point. The CG depth of the head may be measured parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the front plane between (a) a second intersection point located at the intersection between the front plane and the ground plane and (b) a third intersection point located at the intersection between the head vertical axis and the ground plane. The optimization characteristic may be established by (a) a ratio between the head volume value plus the CG depth divided by the absolute value of the CG height, wherein the optimization characteristic may be greater than or equal to 425.

In one example, a golf club head may include a head body, a face portion, and a head center of gravity, and at least one of a first performance characteristic or a second performance characteristic. The club head body may include a front club head portion, a rear club head portion, a heel club head portion, a toe club head portion, a sole portion, a crown portion, and a hosel structure having an aperture for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein the aperture may have a hosel shaft. The face portion may be located at the front of the club head and may include a striking face center point, a striking face edge, and a face height defined by the striking face edge. When the golf club head is in an address position above ground plane, the head vertical axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the ground plane, and the head horizontal axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the head vertical axis. The loft surface of the golf club head may be tangent to the face center point. The front portion of the golf club head may extend through the face center point and parallel to the hosel axis. A head depth plane may extend through the strikeface centerpoint parallel to the head horizontal axis and perpendicular to the loft plane. The CG height axis may extend through the head center of gravity and may intersect the head depth plane at a first intersection point. The CG height of the head at the head center of gravity may be measured along the CG height axis between the head center of gravity and the first intersection point. The CG depth of the head may be measured parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the front plane between (a) a second intersection point located at the intersection between the front plane and the ground plane and (b) a third intersection point located at the intersection between the head vertical axis and the ground plane. The working face height, measured parallel to the loft plane, may be about 33mm to about 71 mm. The first performance characteristic may include a head CG height of less than or equal to about 5.08 mm. The second performance characteristic may include a CG performance ratio of less than or equal to 0.56, for example, the CG performance ratio defined by (a)76.2mm minus face height divided by (b) head CG depth.

In one example, a golf club head may include a head body, a face portion, and a head center of gravity. The club head body may include a front club head portion, a rear club head portion, a heel club head portion, a toe club head portion, a sole portion, a crown portion, and a hosel structure having a bore for receiving a golf club shaft, the bore having a hosel shaft. The face portion may be coupled to the head front portion and may include a striking face having a striking face center point, a striking face edge, and a face height. When the golf club head is in an address position above ground plane, the head vertical axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the ground plane, and the head horizontal axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the head vertical axis. The loft surface of the golf club head may be tangent to the face center point. The front portion of the golf club head may extend through the face center point and parallel to the hosel axis. A head depth plane may extend through the strikeface centerpoint parallel to the head horizontal axis and perpendicular to the loft plane. The CG height axis may extend through the head center of gravity and may intersect the head depth plane at a first intersection point. The CG height of the head at the head center of gravity may be measured along the CG height axis between the head center of gravity and the first intersection point. The CG depth of the head may be measured parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the front plane between (a) a second intersection point located at the intersection between the front plane and the ground plane and (b) a third intersection point located at the intersection between the head vertical axis and the ground plane. The face height may be about 33mm to about 71mm, as defined by the edge of the striking face and measured parallel to the striking face. A CG performance ratio between (a)76.2mm minus face height and (b) head CG depth of less than or equal to 0.56. The head body may comprise a tee body. The head volume of the golf club head may be about 420cc to about 470 cc. The head weight of the golf club head may be about 185 grams to about 225 grams. The head CG height may be about 0mm to about 3.18 mm. The head CG depth may be about 25mm to about 102 mm. The club head body may include a weight structure disposed toward the sole and the rear of the club head body.

In one embodiment, a method for providing a golf club head may include providing a head body having a front club head portion, a rear club head portion, a heel club head portion, a toe club head portion, a sole portion, a crown portion, and a hosel structure having an aperture for receiving a golf club shaft, the aperture having a hosel shaft. The method may also include coupling a face portion to the front of the club head, the face portion including a striking face having a striking face center point, a striking face edge, and a face height defined by the striking face edge. The method also includes establishing at least one of a first performance characteristic of the golf club head or a second performance characteristic of the golf club head. When the golf club head is in an address position above the ground plane, a head vertical axis extends through a head center of gravity of the golf club head and is orthogonal to the ground plane, and a head horizontal axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the head vertical axis. The loft surface of the golf club head may be tangent to the face center point. The front portion of the golf club head may extend through the face center point and parallel to the hosel axis. A head depth plane may extend through the strikeface centerpoint parallel to the head horizontal axis and perpendicular to the loft plane. The CG height axis may extend through the head center of gravity and may intersect the head depth plane at a first intersection point. The CG height of the golf club head may be measured along the CG height axis between the head center of gravity and the first intersection point. The CG depth of the head may be measured parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the front plane between (a) a second intersection point located at the intersection between the front plane and the ground plane and (b) a third intersection point located at the intersection between the head vertical axis and the ground plane. The working face height, measured parallel to the loft plane, may be about 33mm to about 71 mm. The first performance characteristic may include a head CG height of less than or equal to about 5.08 mm. The second performance characteristic may include a CG performance ratio of less than or equal to 0.56, for example, the CG performance ratio defined by (a)76.2mm minus face height divided by (b) head CG depth.

Other examples and embodiments are also disclosed herein. Such examples and embodiments may be found in the figures, claims, and/or specification.

Turning to the drawings, fig. 1 shows a front view of a golf club head 1000, the golf club head 1000 including a head body 1100 and a face portion 1200. The face portion 1200 includes a striking surface 1210. Fig. 2 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of the golf club head 1000 along line II-II of fig. 1. Fig. 3 illustrates a bottom view of the golf club head 1000. Fig. 1-3 illustrate the golf club head 1000 in an address position relative to a ground plane 1010. Wherein, referring to the front view of the golf club head 1000 (fig. 1), the hosel axis 1710 is located at an angle of 60 degrees to the ground plane 1010; and referring to a side view of the golf club head 1000 (fig. 2), the hosel axis 1710 is substantially orthogonal to the ground plane 1010.

In this embodiment, the head body 1100 and face portion 1200 comprise separate pieces of material that are coupled together, such as by a welding process. However, in other examples, the face portion 1200 may comprise a single piece of material having one or more portions of the club head body 1100, such as the club head front 1110, the club head top 1120, the club head sole 1130, the club head heel 1140, the club head toe 1150, and/or the club head rear 2160. Head forward surface 1160 of golf club head 1000 includes striking face 1210, face portion 1200, and at least a portion of head front portion 1110. In some embodiments, the club head forward surface 1160 may also include at least a portion of the sole portion 1130. In the same or different embodiments, head front portion 1110 may include striking face 1210 and/or face portion 1200.

The face portion 1200 includes a striking face 1210, the striking face 1210 having a striking face center point 1211, a striking face edge 1212, and a face height 1213. The face center point 1211 is located at the geometric center point of the face edge 1212 and at the midpoint of the face height 1213 in this example. In the same or other examples, striking face center point 1211 may also be centrally located with respect to a designed impact zone 1250, which designed impact zone 1250 may be defined by an area of recess 1259 of striking face 1210. As another approach, the strike face center point 1211 may be set according to the definition of the Golf ball administration, such as the United States Golf Association (USGA). For example, the face center point 1211 may be determined from section 6.1 of the USGA specification for measuring the flexibility of a golf club head (USGA-TPX 3004, version 1.0.0, 2008, month 5 and day 1) (accessible:

http:// www.usga.org/equipment/testing/protocols/Procedure-For-Measuring-The-Flexibility-Of-A-Golf-Club-Head /) ("Flexibility specification").

The golf club head 1000 includes a striking surface 2270 (fig. 2), the striking surface 2270 being tangent to the striking surface centerpoint 1211 at least at the striking surface 1210. Face height 1213 may be measured parallel to the loft 2270 between the face tip 1215 and the face base 1216 of the face edge 1212, and in this example or other examples, the face height 1213 may be about 33 millimeters (mm) to about 71 mm.

The face edge 1212, including face top 1215 and face bottom 1216 defining face height 1213, does not necessarily bound the entire face portion 1200. For example, as shown in fig. 1, striking face 1210 is bounded by striking face edge 1212 and is only a portion of face portion 1200. In some examples, striking face 1210 may include a roll radius and/or a convex radius, and striking face edge 1212 may be defined along a transition boundary of the contour of face portion 1200 away from the roll radius and/or convex radius of striking face 1210. For example, fig. 2 includes an enlarged view of a portion of the top transition boundary of golf club head 1000 highlighting vertical roll radius 2170 extending along strikeface 1210 and showing how strikeface apex 1215 is disposed at the top transition boundary where head forward surface 1160 departs from vertical roll radius 2170. Fig. 2 also includes an enlarged view of a portion of the sole transition boundary of golf club head 1000, highlighting vertical roll radius 2170 extending vertically along striking face 1210, and showing how striking face sole 1216 is disposed at the sole transition boundary where head forward surface 1160 departs from vertical roll radius 2170.

In the same or other embodiments, the striking face edge 1212 may be determined from the edge of the striking plate that includes the striking face. For example, face portion 1200 includes striking plate 1220, wherein striking surface 1210 forms an exterior surface of face plate 1220, and striking plate 1220 is joined to head front 1110 along striking plate edge 1221. In this example, the striking plate edge 1221 defines at least a portion of the striking face edge 1212, the portion of the striking face edge 1212 including top and bottom portions of the striking face edge 1212 in which the striking face tip 1215 and the striking face base 1216 are respectively disposed to define the face height 1213, although other examples may exist in which the striking plate edge of the striking plate can define most or all of the striking face edge.

As shown in fig. 2, golf club head 1000 further includes a head Center of Gravity (CG)2500, a head depth plane 2310, and a CG height axis 2320, where head depth plane 2310 extends through strikeface center point 1211 and perpendicular to strikeface 2270, and CG height axis 2320 extends through head center of gravity 2500 and perpendicularly intersects head depth plane 2310 at intersection point 2801.

Head center of gravity 2500 includes CG height 2520 and CG depth 2510, with CG height 2520 and CG depth 2510 providing head center of gravity 2500 associated with golf club head 1000. In this example, CG height 2520 may be measured along CG height axis 2320 between head center of gravity 2500 and intersection point 2801. As shown in FIG. 2, the CG depth 2510 may be measured parallel to the ground plane 1010 between intersection points 2802-2803. In this example, intersection point 2802 is defined by the intersection between ground plane 1010 and front plane 2280, where front plane 2280 extends through strike face center point 1211, is parallel to hosel axis 1710, and is orthogonal to ground plane 1010 when golf club head 1000 is in the address position. Further, intersection point 2803 is defined by the intersection between ground plane 1010 and head vertical axis 1610, where head vertical axis 1610 extends through head center of gravity 2500 and is orthogonal to ground plane 1010 when golf club head 1000 is in the address position. Head center of gravity 2500 may also be located relative to ground plane 1010, where head CG elevation 2530 of head center of gravity 2500 may be measured along head vertical axis 1610 between weight center 2750 and ground plane 1010.

The head body 1100 of the golf club head 1000 also includes a hosel structure 1217 (fig. 1) and a hosel shaft 1710, the hosel shaft 1710 extending along a center of the bore of the hosel structure 1217. In this example, the hosel coupling mechanism of the golf club head 1000 includes a hosel structure 1217 and a sleeve 1411, where the sleeve 1411 may be coupled to one end of the golf club 1410. The sleeve 1411 may be coupled with the hosel structure 1217 in a variety of configurations, allowing the golf club 1410 to be secured to the hosel structure 1217 at a variety of angles relative to the hosel axis 1710. However, there may be other examples where the club 1410 is not adjustably secured to the hosel structure 1217.

Golf club heads according to the present disclosure may be configured to exhibit one or more optimization characteristics that optimize or balance the performance of the golf club head. For example, one characteristic of a golf club head that the present design seeks to optimize is a characteristic of face height and/or face size. Maximizing the face height and/or face size of a golf club head may have several benefits, such as increasing the target impact area of the striking face in order to relax the requirements on the club head to produce better results for golf shots that are off center from the center point of the striking face. In addition, a greater striking face height and/or size may better transfer energy to a golf ball upon impact of the striking face with the golf ball, and thus may increase the characteristic time or "spring effect" of the golf club head to achieve a longer range golf shot. In some examples, the height or size of the striking face may be increased to reach a characteristic time limit set by golf ball management authorities, such as the characteristic time limit of 239 microseconds (μ β) set by USGA in its compliance specifications.

However, indiscriminately increasing the face height and/or size may adversely affect performance in other ways, such as affecting the launch angle, ball spin, and/or ball speed of the golf ball after it impacts the striking surface. For example, increasing the working surface height and/or size may decrease the depth of the CG between the center of gravity and the striking surface center point of the golf club head to cause the center of gravity to move forward, thereby decreasing the dynamic loft angle of the golf club head and thereby decreasing the launch angle of the golf ball. As another example, increasing the face height and/or size may increase the CG height between the center of gravity and the head depth plane to raise the center of gravity away from the sole of the golf club head to prevent gear effects between the striking face and the golf ball, thereby preventing the golf club head from reducing the amount of backspin of the golf ball that occurs after impact and thus reducing the distance the ball will travel due to backspin.

In view of the above, the height or size of the working surface of the golf club head should be balanced with the location of the center of gravity. With respect to golf club head 1000, striking surface 1210 has been increased to include an increased face size and/or face height 1213 to provide a greater impact area and transfer more energy to golf ball 2900. In particular, the golf club head 1000 may be configured such that the working surface height 1213 may be about 33mm to about 71mm to provide a larger impact area and transfer more energy after impact with the golf ball 2900Amount of the compound (A). In some examples, the area of striking face 1210 that includes the increased working surface area may be about 23.6 square centimeters (cm)²) To about 45.2cm²。

Although the face size and/or face height 1213 have been increased, the golf club head 1000 still limits the CG height 2520 from increasing toward the head top portion 1120 and/or deviating too far from the head depth plane 2310. For example, golf club head 1000 includes a first optimization characteristic that satisfies the following relationship 1:

height of CG₂₅₂₀Less than or equal to 5.08mm (relation 1)]

There may be examples where the CG height 2520 may be about 0mm to the limit of 5.08mm of the relation l. In other examples, CG height 2520 may also be up to a maximum of about 4.45mm, 3.81mm, or 3.18 mm. In some embodiments, the first optimized characteristic may reduce backspin of golf ball 2900 by a gearing effect between striking surface 1210 and golf ball 2900 for better performance. Although head center of gravity 2500 is shown in fig. 2 as being located below depth plane 2310 such that CG height 2520 extends between depth plane 2310 and head sole 1130, embodiments may exist in which head center of gravity 2500 may be located above depth plane 2310 such that CG height 2520 extends between depth plane 2310 and head top 1120 while still satisfying relationship 1 above.

Additionally, in view of the increased face size and/or face height 1213 described above, golf club head 1000 still limits the movement of center of gravity 2500 toward striking surface 1212, thereby preventing the CG depth 2510 from being excessively reduced. For example, golf club head 1000 includes a second optimization characteristic that satisfies the following relationship 2:

thus, the relationship between the working face height 1213 and the CG depth 2510 is balanced according to relationship 2 to maintain the second optimized characteristic of less than or equal to 0.56, thereby limiting the amount by which the CG depth 2510 can decrease toward the striking face 1210. There may be examples where the CG depth 2510 may be about 25mm to about 102 mm. In the same or other examples, the CG depth 2510 may be at least about 39 mm. In some embodiments, the second optimization characteristic may increase or optimize at least one of a dynamic loft angle of the golf club head 1000 or a launch angle of the golf ball 2900 after impact between the golf club head 1000 and the golf ball 2900 occurs.

In some examples, golf club head 1000 may be configured to include only one of the first or second optimization characteristics described above. For example, golf club head 1000 may include the first optimization characteristic and not the second optimization characteristic, and thus satisfy relationship 1 and not necessarily relationship 2. As another example, the golf club head 1000 may include the second optimization characteristic without the first optimization characteristic, thus satisfying relationship 2 and not necessarily relationship 1. Further, there may be embodiments where the golf club head 1000 satisfies both of relationship 1 and relationship 2, and thus includes the first and second optimized characteristics.

The golf club head 1000 may also include a third optimization characteristic with respect to a Head Volume (HV)2600 of the golf club head 1000. In this example, the head body 1000 of the golf club head 1000 includes a driver body having a head volume greater than or equal to 420 cubic centimeters (cc), and thus the head body 1000 has a head volume value greater than or equal to 420. For example, the head body 1000 may include a head volume of 420cc, thus having a head volume value of 420. As another example, the golf club head 1000 may include a head volume of 460cc, and thus have a head volume value of 460. The golf club head 1000 may include a head volume of up to about 470cc, in some embodiments, and/or may include a total head weight of about 185 grams to about 225 grams. In some particular examples, the total head weight may be about 202 grams, and/or the head volume may be about 460 cc.

The third optimization characteristic may control a relationship between head volume 2600 and the position of center of gravity 2500, and may be defined to satisfy the following relationship 3:

in some cases, head volume 2600 may be increased to adjust, for example, the moment of inertia (MOI) of golf club head 1000. However, increasing the head volume without limitation may have a negative impact on other characteristics of the golf club head. For example, increasing head volume 2600 may cause head center of gravity 2500 to shift toward head front 1110, toward head top 1120, toward other undesired directions, and/or away from a desired center of gravity location or direction, thereby impeding performance of golf club head 1000. These undesirable changes in the location of the center of gravity may adversely affect one or more characteristics of the golf club head, such as launch speed, launch angle, gear effect, backspin, and/or launch distance. Accordingly, a third optimization characteristic for balancing the relationship between head volume 2600 and the location of head center of gravity 2500 may be established to produce desired and balanced properties for golf club head 1000. For example, the weight distribution of golf club head 1000 may be configured to satisfy relationship 3 such that golf club head 1000 may exhibit a third optimized characteristic, allowing head volume 2600 to increase for greater moment of inertia and transfer more energy to golf ball 2900 after a golf ball impact between striking surface 1210 and golf ball 2900. In the same or other embodiments, the weight distribution of golf club head 1000 may be configured to limit the CG depth 2510 from decreasing toward head front 1110 due to increased head volume 2600, thereby increasing at least one of the dynamic loft angle of striking surface 1210 or the launch angle of golf ball 2900 after golf ball impact. Additionally, the weight distribution of golf club head 1000 may be configured to limit CG height 2520 from increasing toward head top 1120 due to increased head volume 2600, thereby reducing backspin of golf ball 2900 after golf ball impact by gearing between striking surface 1210 and golf ball 2900.

In view of the above, in order to obtain the third optimized characteristic conforming to the relation 3, the CG depth 2510 may be configured to be greater than or equal to 40.64 mm. In the same or other embodiments, the absolute value of the CG height 2520 may be less than or equal to 2.54 mm. It should be noted that CG height 2520 is characterized as an absolute value, considering that in some embodiments head center of gravity 2500 may be above or below head depth plane 2310. While the third optimization characteristic has a lower limit of at least 425, there may be other embodiments in which the third optimization characteristic may be defined according to other lower limits. For example, in some embodiments, the third optimization characteristic may include a lower limit of at least 435 or 445. The location of head center of gravity 2500 may also be designed or configured according to other features of golf club head 1000 to satisfy relationship 3 and/or to achieve a third optimized characteristic. For example, the location of head center of gravity 2500 may be configured such that CG depth 2510 is included between about 25% and about 80% of head depth length 2312, where head depth length 2312 is measured from strikeface center point 1211 to the point where the exterior of head rear portion 2160 intersects head depth plane 2310. As another example, the location of head center of gravity 2500 may be configured such that CG height 2520 is included between about 0% and about 13% of CG height axis length 2322, wherein CG height axis length 2322 is measured from the intersection of the exterior of head top portion 1120 and CG height axis 2320 to the intersection of the exterior of sole portion 1130 and CG height axis 2320.

The golf club head 1000 may also include a fourth optimized characteristic corresponding to a balance between the hosel MOI1711 (fig. 1) and the horizontal MOI1811 (fig. 1). A hosel MOI1711 is defined to surround the hosel shaft 1710. A horizontal MOI1811 is defined about a head horizontal axis 1810, head horizontal axis 1810 extending through head center of gravity 2500 from head heel portion 1140 to head toe portion 1150, and parallel to ground plane 1010 when golf club head 1000 is located at an address position above ground plane 1010.

In some examples, the horizontal MOI1811 may be increased to limit the rotation of the golf club head 1000 about the club head horizontal axis 1810 as the striking surface 1210 impacts the golf ball 2600 biased toward the club head top 1120 or club head sole 1130, thereby relaxing the requirements on the golf club head 1000 for these high or low mis-hits. For example, to increase the horizontal MOI1811, weight may be added or position may be changed toward the head front 1110 and/or the head rear 2160. In the same or other examples, golf club head 1000 may be elongated toward head front 1110 and/or head rear 2160.

However, these adjustments or changes made to increase the level MOI1811 may be set to appropriate points before they begin to affect other golf club head characteristics. For example, if not properly balanced, unlimited adjustments to increase the horizontal MOI1811 may result in an excessive increase in the hosel MOI1711, thereby increasing the resistance of the golf club head 1000 to rotation about the hosel axis 1710, and thus making it difficult for an individual to "turn" the golf club during a golf club swing toward a particular setting or "square" with the golf club head 1000 when the golf club head 1000 impacts a golf ball 2600. The addition of hosel MOI1711 may also limit or reduce gear effects between golf ball 2600 and striking surface 1210, which would otherwise affect some proper spin of golf ball 2600 during off-center impacts.

To reduce the hosel MOI1711, the golf club head 1000 may be designed to limit the distance between the hosel shaft 1710 and any additional or arbitrary mass of the golf club head 1000. These methods for reducing the hosel MOI1711, if not properly balanced, may be incompatible with some of the above-described methods for increasing the level MOI 1811. Thus, the weight addition or redistribution to the golf club head 1000 to increase the horizontal MOI1811 should be balanced with maintaining or limiting the increase in the hosel MOI 1711.

In accordance with the above, the fourth optimized characteristic of the golf club head 1000 controls the relationship between the level MOI1811 and the hosel MOI1711 to satisfy the following relationship 4:

(horizontal MOI)₁₈₁₁) Not less than 39% (hosel MOI)₁₇₁₁) [ relationship 4 ]]

There may be examples where the golf club head 1000 may be configured such that the fourth optimization characteristic of the golf club head 1000 may exceed the requirements of equation 4. For example, in some embodiments, the fourth optimized characteristic of the golf club head 1000 may be configured such that the horizontal MOI1811 is greater than or equal to 40% of the hosel MOI1711, greater than or equal to 45% of the hosel MOI1711, or greater than or equal to 50% of the hosel MOI 1711. In this example, the horizontal MOI1811 is about 3740 grams square centimeter (g-²) However, there may be an example where the horizontal MOI1811 may be between about 2800 g. cm²To about 4300 g-²Within the range of (1). In this example, the hosel MOI1711 is about 9370g cm²However, in the same or other examples, the hosel MOI1711 can be between about 7000g ∑ cm²With about 11000 g-²Within the range.

The golf club head 1000 may also include a fifth optimization characteristic corresponding to a balance between the hosel MOI1711 and the vertical MOI1611 (fig. 1). A vertical MOI1611 is defined about a head vertical axis 1610, which head vertical axis 1610 extends through head center of gravity 2500 from head top 1120 to head bottom 1130 and is orthogonal to ground plane 1010 when golf club head 1000 is in the address position. In this example, the vertical MOI1611 was about 5300g ∑ cm²However, in the same or other examples, the vertical MOI1611 can be between about 4700 g/cm²With about 6000 g-²Within the range of (1).

In some examples, the vertical MOI1611 may be increased to limit rotation of the golf club head 1000 about the head vertical axis 1610 when the striking surface 1210 impacts the golf ball 2600 biased toward the head heel 1140 or toward the head toe 1150, thereby relaxing the golf club head 1000 from mis-hits on these heel or toe sides. For example, to increase the vertical MOI1611, weight may be added or repositioned toward the head heel 1140 and/or the head toe 1150. In the same or other examples, the golf club head may extend toward the heel portion 1140 and/or the toe portion 1150.

However, these adjustments or changes made to increase the vertical MOI1611 may reach an appropriate point before they begin to affect other golf club head characteristics. For example, as described above, if not properly balanced, an unlimited adjustment to increase the vertical MOI1611 may result in an excessive increase in the hosel MOI1711, thereby increasing the resistance to rotation of the golf club head 1000 about the hosel axis 1710. Furthermore, some methods for reducing the hosel MOI1711 may not be compatible with some of the methods for increasing the vertical MOI1611 described above, if not properly balanced. Thus, the weight addition or redistribution to the golf club head 1000 to increase the vertical MOI1611 should be balanced with maintaining or limiting the hosel MOI1711 increase.

In accordance with the above, a fifth optimized characteristic of the golf club head 1000 controls the relationship between the vertical MOI1611 and the hosel MOI1711 to satisfy the following relationship 5:

(vertical MOI)₁₆₁₁) Not less than 59% (hosel MOI)₁₇₁₁) [ relationship 5]

There may be examples where golf club head 1000 may be configured such that its fifth optimization characteristic can exceed the requirements of relationship 5. For example, in some embodiments, the fifth optimized characteristic of the golf club head 1000 may be configured such that the vertical MOI1611 is greater than or equal to 60% of the hosel MOI1711, greater than or equal to 65% of the hosel MOI1711, or greater than or equal to 70% of the hosel MOI 1711. In some examples, golf club head 1000 may be configured such that its fourth optimization characteristic satisfies relationship 4 while its fifth optimization characteristic also satisfies relationship 5.

In some embodiments, golf club head 1000 may be configured to exhibit the first, second, third, fourth, and/or fifth optimized characteristics described above by adjusting the distribution of mass or the relationship between the different elements of golf club head 1000. To this end, the golf club head 1000 may include a weight structure 2700, as shown in fig. 2-3, the weight structure 2700 being disposed toward the sole portion 1130 and the rear portion 2160. In some configurations, weight structure 2700 may be designed and/or arranged to satisfy the constraints imposed by relation 1, relation 2, relation 3, relation 4, and/or relation 5 to balance the face height or size of striking surface 1210, head volume 2600, location of center of gravity 2500, and/or different moments of inertia of golf club head 1000.

As can be seen in fig. 3, weight structure 2700 may be arranged with reference to clock grid 3500, clock grid 3500 being alignable with striking face 1210. For example, the clock grid 3500 includes a 12 o' clock ray 3512 that is aligned with the strike face center point 1211 in this embodiment. The 12 o' clock ray 3512 is orthogonal to the anterior intersection line 3271, the anterior intersection line 3271 being defined by the intersection of the loft plane 2270 (fig. 2-3) and the ground plane 1010 (fig. 1-2). The clock grid 3500 may be centered along the 12 o' clock ray 3512 at a midpoint between the front end of the front 1110 and the back end of the back 2160. In the same or other examples, clock grid centerpoint 3515 may be centrally located proximate a geometric centerpoint of golf club head 1000. The clock grid 3500 also includes a 3 o 'clock ray 3503 extending toward the head heel 1140 and a 9 o' clock ray 3509 extending toward the head toe 1150.

In this embodiment, the weight perimeter 2705 of the weight structure 2700 is disposed toward the club head rear 2160 at least partially between the 4 o 'clock ray 3504 and the 8 o' clock ray 3508 of the clock grid 3500, while the weight center 2750 is located between the 5 o 'clock ray 3505 and the 7 o' clock ray 3507. In an example such as this example, the weight perimeter 2705 is completely bounded between the 4 o 'clock ray 3504 and the 8 o' clock ray 3508. While the weight perimeter 2705 is defined in this example outside of the golf club head 1000, other examples may exist in which the weight edge may extend into the golf club head 1000 or be defined to be located inside the golf club head 1000. In some examples, the position of weight 2700 may be established with reference to a wider area. For example, in these examples, the weight perimeter 2705 of the weight structure 2700 may be disposed toward the club head rear 2160 at least partially between the 4 o 'clock ray 3504 and the 9 o' clock ray 3509 of the clock grid 3500, while the weight center 2750 may be located between the 5 o 'clock ray 3505 and the 8 o' clock ray 3508.

In the same or other embodiments, weight structure 2700 can extend or shift toward heel 1140. For example, in addition to being toward the 9 o 'clock ray 3509, the weight perimeter 2705 and/or the weight center 2750 can be shifted toward the 4 o' clock ray 3504. The operation of biasing the weight structure 2700 toward the head heel end 1140 may allow for a reduction in hosel MOI1711 about the hosel axis 1710 by limiting the distance between the hosel axis 1710 and the weight structure 2700, which may allow the golf club head 1000 to more easily rotate about the hosel axis 1710 during a swing.

In some examples, weight structure 2700 may include a mass of about 2 grams to about 50 grams, and/or a volume of 1cc to about 30 cc. In this example, weight structures 2700 protrude from, and thus are at least partially outside of, the outer profile of sole portion 1130 to allow greater adjustment of club head center of gravity 2500.

In the same or other examples, weight structure 2700 may include a detachable weight 2790, where detachable weight 2790 may include a mass of about 0.5 grams to about 30 grams, and detachable weight 2790 may be replaced with one or more other similar weights to adjust the position of club head center of gravity 2500 if needed to satisfy relation 1, relation 2, relation 3, relation 4, and/or relation 5. In the same or other examples, the weight center 2750 can include at least one of a center of gravity of the weight structure 2700, a center of weight of the detachable weight 2790, a geometric center of the weight structure 2700, and/or a geometric center of the detachable weight 2790.

The weight center 2750 may be disposed relative to the ground plane 1010 and a weight center elevation axis 2340, the weight center elevation axis 2340 extending between the weight center 2750 and the ground plane 1010. When the golf club head 1000 is in the address position, the weight center elevation axis 2340 is in the address position orthogonal to the ground plane 1010. Thus, the center of weight elevation 2730 for the center of weight 2750 can be measured along the center of weight elevation axis 2340 between the center of weight 2750 and the ground plane. Further, a weight center depth 2710 for the weight center 2750 may be measured parallel to the ground plane 1010 between the intersection points 2802 and 2804. In this example, intersection 2804 is defined by the intersection between ground plane 1010 and weight center elevation axis 2340 when golf club head 1000 is in the address position. In the same or other embodiments, the center of weight 2750 can be disposed such that the weight distance 2751 (fig. 2) can be about 25mm to about 102mm, where the weight distance 2751 separates the club head center of gravity 2500 from the center of weight 2750.

Embodiments may also exist wherein face portion 1200 may include a reduced thickness that may be reinforced with one or more stiffening structures on the back side of striking face 1210 and/or at the junction between face portion 1200 and head front 1110, as desired. Other mass redistribution mechanisms may also be used if it is desired to satisfy relationship 1, relationship 2, relationship 3, relationship 4, and/or relationship 5.

In some embodiments, the relationship or ratio between head center of gravity 2500 and center of weight 2750 may be configured to allow one or more of relationship 1, relationship 2, formula 3, formula 4, or formula 5 to be satisfied. For example, an elevation ratio, defined by the ratio of center of weight elevation 2730 to head CG elevation 2530, may be greater than 0.44 to help keep head center of gravity 2500 closer to head sole 1130. As another example, the depth ratio, defined by the ratio of the center of weight depth 2710 over the head CG depth 2510, may be less than 2.54 to prevent the CG depth 2510 from decreasing excessively toward the head front 1110. Some embodiments may exist wherein head CG elevation 2530 may be less than about 28.5mm, center of weight elevation 2730 may be less than about 12.5mm, and/or center of gravity depth 2710 may be greater than about 99.7 mm.

Fig. 4 illustrates a flow diagram of a method 4000, the method 4000 being usable to set up, form and/or manufacture a golf club head according to the present disclosure. In some examples, the golf club head may be similar to golf club head 1000 described above (fig. 1-3).

The method 4000 includes a block 4100 for providing a head body of a golf club head including a head front portion. In some examples, the club head body may be similar to club head body 1100 (fig. 1-3), and the club head front may be similar to club head front 1110 (fig. 1-3).

Block 4200 of the method 4000 includes coupling the face portion to a club head front portion, wherein the club head front portion includes a striking surface having an increased face size. In some examples, the face portion may be similar to face portion 1200 (fig. 1-2), and striking face 1210 has an increased face size as described above with respect to striking face 1210. For example, in some examples, the increased face size of the striking face may allow the striking face to have a face height of up to about 71 mm.

The method 4000 may include block 4300 for configuring a golf club head to include a first optimized characteristic in which a CG height between a center of gravity of the golf club head and a head depth plane of the golf club head may be about 0mm to about 5.08mm or 0.200 inches. In some examples, the first optimization characteristic may be similar to the optimization characteristic described above with reference to relation 1 for balancing the golf club head face height or size with respect to the center of gravity height. In some examples, the CG height may be similar to CG height 2520 (fig. 2); the center of weight may be similar to head center of gravity 2500 (FIG. 2); and the head depth plane may be similar to head depth plane 2310 (fig. 2).

Embodiments may exist wherein the method 4000 may include block 4400 for configuring a golf club head to include a second optimized characteristic in which a ratio between (a) a 76.2mm (or about 3.0 inches) minus a difference in face height and (b) a CG depth between a center point of the striking face and a center of gravity is less than 0.56. In some examples, the second optimization characteristic may be similar to the optimization characteristic described above with reference to relationship 2 for balancing the golf club head face height or size with respect to the depth of center of gravity. For example, the working surface height may be similar to the working surface height 1213 and the CG depth may be similar to the CG depth 2510.

In some examples, the method 4000 may include block 4500 for configuring a golf club head to include a third optimized characteristic in which a result of a head volume value plus a ratio between CG depth and CG height is greater than or equal to 425. In some embodiments, the third optimization characteristic may be similar to the optimization characteristic described above with reference to relationship 3 for balancing the head volume with respect to the position of the center of gravity. For example, the head volume value may be similar to that of head volume 2600 (fig. 2), the CG depth may be similar to CG depth 2510, and the CG height may be similar to CG height 2520.

In some embodiments, a method 4000 may include block 4600, block 4600 for configuring a golf club head to include a fourth optimized characteristic in which the horizontal moment of inertia of the golf club head is greater than or equal to 39% of its hosel moment of inertia. In some embodiments, the fourth optimization characteristic may be similar to the optimization characteristic described above with reference to relationship 4 for balancing the horizontal MOI1811 with respect to the hosel MOI1711 (fig. 1). In the same or other examples, the value of the horizontal moment of inertia may be similar to the value of the horizontal moment of inertia described above with reference to horizontal MOI 1811. Further, the value of the hosel moment of inertia may be similar to the value of the hosel moment of inertia described above with reference to hosel MOI 1711. Examples may also exist where the horizontal moment of inertia and/or the hosel moment of inertia may be balanced according to other characteristics, such as according to the vertical moment of inertia of the golf club head.

Block 4700 of method 4000 may be performed in some embodiments, block 4700 for configuring a golf club head to include a fifth optimized characteristic in which a vertical moment of inertia of the golf club head is greater than or equal to 59% of a hosel moment of inertia of the golf club head. In some embodiments, the fifth optimization characteristic may be similar to the optimization characteristic described above with reference to relationship 5 for balancing the vertical MOI1611 with respect to the hosel MOI1711 (fig. 1). In the same or other examples, the value of the vertical moment of inertia may be similar to the value of the vertical moment of inertia described above with reference to the vertical MOI 1611. Further, the value of the hosel moment of inertia may be similar to the value of the hosel moment of inertia described above with reference to hosel MOI 1711. There may also be examples where the vertical moment of inertia and/or the hosel moment of inertia may be balanced according to other features, such as the horizontal moment of inertia according to block 4500.

In this example, the method 4000 also includes block 4800, where block 4800 is used to provide a mass redistribution mechanism to adjust the center of gravity of the golf club head. In some examples, the mass redistribution mechanism may be configured to allow the golf club head to meet the requirements of block 4300, block 4400, block 4500, block 4600, and/or block 4700 of method 4000. The mass redistribution mechanism may include a weight structure, such as weight structure 2700 (fig. 2-3), which may adjust the position of the center of weight toward the bottom and/or rear of the golf club head, if desired. In the same or other embodiments, the mass redistribution mechanism may comprise a reduced thickness of the working surface portion of the golf club head, which may be reinforced with one or more reinforcing structures, if desired, such as at the back of the striking surface and/or at the junction between the working surface portion and the club head body of the golf club head.

In some examples, one or more different blocks of method 4000 may be combined into a single block or performed simultaneously, and/or the order of the blocks may be changed. For example, in some embodiments, the boxes 4100 and 4200 may be incorporated, such as in the face portion and at least a portion of the club head body comprising a single piece of material. In the same or other examples, block 4800 may be incorporated with one or more of blocks 4100, 4300, 4400, 4500, 4600, and/or 4700 and may be simultaneously implemented (e.g., via the mass redistribution mechanism of block 4800) by adjusting the center of gravity, face height, face size, head volume, and/or one or more moments of inertia of the golf club head. In the same or other examples, some of the blocks of method 4000 may be subdivided into several sub-boxes. For example, the frame 4100 may be subdivided into several subframes for providing different portions of the head body of the golf club head. There may also be examples where method 4000 may include additional or different blocks. For example, the method 4000 may include another frame for providing or coupling a golf club to the head body of frame 4100. Further, there may be an example in which the method 4100 may include only a portion of the blocks described above. For example, in some embodiments, one or more of blocks 4300, 4400, 4500, 4600, and/or 4700 may be optional, and/or block 4800 may be skipped if the requirements of blocks 4300, 4400, 4500, 4600, and/or 4700 need not be met. Other variations for method 4000 may be implemented without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Although golf club heads and associated methods having optimized characteristics have been described herein with reference to particular embodiments, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. For example, although the above examples may be described in connection with a driver-type golf club, the apparatus, methods, and articles described herein may be applicable to other types of golf clubs, such as fairway wood-type golf clubs, hybrid-type golf clubs, iron-type golf clubs, wedge-type golf clubs, or putter-type golf clubs. Alternatively, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may be adapted for use with other types of athletic equipment, such as hockey sticks, tennis rackets, fishing rods, ski poles, and the like.

Additional examples of these and other changes have been given in the foregoing specification. Likewise, other variations of different embodiments having one or more features of each figure are contemplated. Accordingly, the specification, claims and drawings herein are intended to be illustrative of the scope of the disclosure and are not intended to be limiting thereof. It is intended that the scope of the application be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

The golf club heads with optimized characteristics and related methods discussed herein may be implemented in a variety of embodiments, and some of the embodiments discussed previously do not necessarily represent a complete description of all possible embodiments. Rather, the detailed description of the drawings and the drawings themselves disclose at least one preferred embodiment and may disclose alternative embodiments.

All elements claimed in any particular claim are essential to the claimed embodiments. Accordingly, replacement of one or more claimed elements constitutes reconstruction rather than repair. Additionally, benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of any or all the claims, unless such benefits, advantages, solutions, or elements are expressly stated in such claims.

Because the rules of golf may change from time to time (e.g., old rules may be removed or modified or new rules may be adopted by a golf standards organization and/or regulatory agency, such as the United States Golf Association (USGA), the imperial andruss royal ancient golf club (R & a), etc.), golf equipment associated with the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may or may not comply with golf rules at any particular time. Accordingly, golf devices associated with the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may advertise, offer for sale, and/or sell as a rule-compliant or non-rule-compliant golf device. The apparatus, methods, and articles described herein are not limited in this regard.

Further, if embodiments and/or limitations disclosed herein: (1) are not explicitly claimed in the claims; and (2) equivalents to the elements and/or limitations that are or may be explicitly claimed in the claims, such embodiments and limitations are not intended to be dedicated to the public on a donation basis.

Claims

1. A golf club head, comprising:

a head body comprising:

the front part of the club head; the back part of the club head;

a head heel portion; a toe portion of the club head;

the bottom of the club head; the top of the club head; and

a hosel structure having a bore for receiving a golf club shaft, the bore having a hosel shaft;

a face portion located at the head front portion and including:

a hitting surface center point;

the periphery of the striking face; and

a face height defined by the face periphery, the face center point located at a midpoint of the face height;

the center of gravity of the club head; and

at least one of:

a first optimization characteristic; or

A second optimization characteristic;

wherein:

when the golf club head is at an address position over a ground plane: a head vertical axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the ground plane; and a head horizontal axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the head vertical axis;

the loft surface of the golf club head is tangent to the face center point;

a front plane of the golf club head extends through the striking face centerpoint parallel to the hosel axis and orthogonal to the ground plane;

a head depth plane extends through the strikeface centerpoint parallel to the head horizontal axis and perpendicular to the loft plane;

a CG height axis extends through the head center of gravity and perpendicularly intersects the head depth plane at a first intersection point;

measuring a head CG height of the head center of gravity along the CG height axis between the head center of gravity and the first intersection point;

measuring a head CG depth of the head center of gravity parallel to and orthogonal to the ground plane between: a second intersection point located at the intersection between the front plane and the ground plane, and a third intersection point located at the intersection between the head vertical axis and the ground plane;

the depth of the club head CG is 25mm to 102 mm;

the working face height measured parallel to the loft surface is 33mm to 71 mm;

the first optimization characteristic comprises: the absolute value of the height of the head CG is less than or equal to 5.08mm, an

The second optimization characteristic comprises: a CG performance ratio less than or equal to 0.56, wherein the CG performance ratio is determined by:

(a)76.2mm minus the height of the work surface, divided by

(b) The head depth;

the head body including a weight structure positioned toward the sole portion and the rear portion of the head body, the weight structure protruding at least partially from an outer contour of the sole portion;

the clock grid comprises at least:

a 12 o' clock ray;

3 o' clock ray;

4 o' clock ray;

a 5 o' clock ray;

an 8 o' clock ray; and

a 9 o' clock ray;

when the golf club head is in an address position above the ground plane, the 12 o' clock ray is aligned with the strike face centerpoint and orthogonal to a front intersection between the high strike face and the ground plane as viewed from a bottom view of the golf club head;

the center of the clock grid is located at the midpoint between the front end of the head front part and the rear end of the head rear part along the 12 o' clock ray;

the 3 o' clock ray extends toward the heel portion;

the 9 o' clock ray extends toward the toe portion; and

the center of gravity of the weight structure is positioned between the 5 o 'clock ray and the 8 o' clock ray.

2. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the golf club head includes the first optimized characteristic and the second optimized characteristic.

3. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the golf club head includes the first optimization characteristic.

4. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the golf club head includes the second optimized characteristic.

5. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the face portion including a striking plate joined to the club head forward portion along a striking plate edge of the striking plate;

the striking plate edge defines at least a portion of a striking face periphery of the striking face;

the striking face periphery comprises: the top end of the striking face and the bottom end of the striking face; and

the face height is measured from the face bottom end to the face top end.

6. The golf club head of claim 1, further comprising:

a club head forward surface comprising the striking face;

wherein:

the striking face includes:

a vertical roll radius extending along the striking face and through a center point of the striking face; and

the striking face periphery comprises:

a striking face tip at a top transition boundary where the contour of the club head forward surface deviates from the vertical roll radius; and

a striking face bottom end at a bottom transition boundary where the profile of the face portion deviates from the vertical roll radius;

and

the face height is measured from the face bottom end to the face top end.

7. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the weight structure is as follows:

allowing the striking face to include an increased face size limited by the face height such that, upon a golf impact between the striking face and a golf ball, a larger striking area is obtained and more energy is transferred to the golf ball;

limiting a decrease in the club head CG depth toward the club head front due to the increased face size, thereby increasing at least one of a dynamic loft angle of the striking face or a launch angle of the golf ball after the golf impact; and

limiting the increase in height of the CG of the club head toward the top of the club head due to the increased face size, thereby reducing backspin of the golf ball after the golf impact by a gearing effect between the striking surface and the golf ball.

8. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the area of the striking surface is 23.6cm²To 45.2cm²。

9. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the head body comprises a tee body;

the head volume of the golf club head is 420cc to 470 cc; and

the golf club head has a head weight of 185 grams to 225 grams.

10. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the weight structure includes:

a mass of 2 grams to 50 grams;

a volume of 1cc to 30 cc.

11. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the height of the club head CG is 0mm to 5.08 mm.

12. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the perimeter of the weight structure is bounded between the 4 o 'clock ray and the 9 o' clock ray.

13. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the distance between the head center of gravity and the weight center of the weight structure is 25mm to 102 mm.

14. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

a weight center elevation axis extending between the weight center and the ground plane orthogonal to the ground plane when the golf club head is at the address position;

measuring a head CG elevation along the head vertical axis between the head center of gravity and the ground plane;

measuring a weight center elevation along the weight center elevation axis between the head center of gravity and the ground plane; and

an elevation ratio defined by the center of weight elevation to the head CG elevation is greater than 0.44.

15. The golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

measuring a weight center depth of the weight center parallel to the ground plane between: a second intersection point located at the intersection between the front plane and the ground plane; and a fourth intersection point located at the intersection between the weight center elevation axis and the ground plane; and

a depth ratio defined by the center-of-weight depth being less than 2.54 relative to the depth of the club head CG.

16. A golf club head, comprising:

a head body comprising:

the front part of the club head; the back part of the club head;

a head heel portion; a toe portion of the club head;

the bottom of the club head; the top of the club head; and

a face portion coupled at the head front portion and including a striking face, the striking face including: the central point of the striking surface is positioned at the midpoint of the height of the working surface; and

the center of gravity of the club head;

wherein,

the loft surface of the golf club head is tangent to the face center point;

measuring a head CG depth of the head center of gravity parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the front plane between: a second intersection point located at the intersection between the front plane and the ground plane; and a third intersection point located at the intersection between the head vertical axis and the ground plane;

the working face height defined by the striking face periphery and measured parallel to the loft face is 33mm to 71 mm;

the first optimization characteristic includes: the absolute value of the height of the head CG is less than or equal to 5.08 mm;

a second optimization characteristic comprises a CG performance ratio, wherein the CG performance ratio is between (a)76.2mm minus the face height and (b) the head CG depth, less than or equal to 0.56;

the head body comprises a tee body;

the head volume of the golf club head is 420cc to 470 cc;

the golf club head has a head weight of 185 grams to 225 grams;

the depth of the club head CG is 25mm to 102 mm; and

the head body including a weight structure positioned toward a sole portion and a rear portion of the head body, the weight structure at least partially protruding from an outer contour of the sole portion;

the clock grid comprises at least:

a 12 o' clock ray;

3 o' clock ray;

4 o' clock ray;

a 5 o' clock ray;

an 8 o' clock ray; and

a 9 o' clock ray;

the 3 o' clock ray extends toward the heel portion;

the 9 o' clock ray extends toward the toe portion; and

17. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein:

the weight structure is as follows:

allowing the striking face to include an increased face size defined by the face height to achieve a larger striking area and greater energy transferred to a golf ball following a golf impact between the striking face and the golf ball;

limiting a decrease in the CG depth of the head toward the striking face due to the increased face size to increase at least one of a dynamic loft angle of the striking face or a launch angle of the golf ball after the golf impact; and

18. The golf club head of claim 16, wherein:

19. A method for providing a golf club head, the method comprising:

set up the head main part, the head main part includes:

the front part of the club head; the back part of the club head;

a head heel portion; a toe portion of the club head;

the bottom of the club head; the top of the club head; and

coupling a face portion to the front club head;

the face portion includes a striking face having:

a striking face center point, a striking face periphery, and a working face height defined by the striking face periphery, the striking face center point located at a midpoint of the working face height; and

establishing at least one of:

a first optimized characteristic of the golf club head; or

A second optimized characteristic of the golf club head;

wherein:

when the golf club head is at an address position over a ground plane: a head vertical axis extends through a head center of gravity of the golf club head and is orthogonal to the ground plane; and a head horizontal axis extends through the head center of gravity and is orthogonal to the head vertical axis;

the loft surface of the golf club head is tangent to the face center point;

measuring a head CG depth of the head center of gravity parallel to the ground plane and orthogonal to the front plane between: a second intersection point disposed at an intersection between the front plane and the ground plane; and a third intersection point disposed at an intersection between the head vertical axis and the ground plane;

the working face height measured parallel to the loft surface is 33mm to 71 mm;

the depth of the club head CG is 25mm to 102 mm;

the height of the club head CG is 0mm to 5.08 mm;

the first optimization characteristic comprises:

the absolute value of the height of the head CG is less than or equal to 5.08 mm; and the second optimization characteristic comprises:

a CG performance ratio defined by (a)76.2mm minus the face height divided by (b) the head CG depth of less than or equal to 0.56;

the head body comprising a weight structure positioned toward the sole portion and the rear portion of the head body, wherein the weight structure at least partially protrudes from an outer contour of the sole portion;

the clock grid comprises at least:

a 12 o' clock ray;

3 o' clock ray;

4 o' clock ray;

a 5 o' clock ray;

an 8 o' clock ray; and

a 9 o' clock ray;

the 3 o' clock ray extends toward the heel portion;

the 9 o' clock ray extends toward the toe portion; and

20. The method of claim 19, wherein: