CN114699746A

CN114699746A - Multi-piece golf club head

Info

Publication number: CN114699746A
Application number: CN202111541194.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: M·格雷尼; S·克劳斯; 郑国桂; 郑凯铭; M·格林史密斯; C·哈伯特; T·比奇; M·D·约翰逊
Original assignee: Taylor Golf Co
Current assignee: Taylor Golf Co
Priority date: 2020-12-16
Filing date: 2021-12-16
Publication date: 2022-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2041-12-16
Also published as: TW202224728A; CN114699746B; CN117531179A; TWI789121B; JP7247312B2; JP2023068033A; JP2022095552A; TW202337531A

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a driver golf club head made from at least one first material having a density between 0.9g/cc and 3.5g/cc, at least one second material having a density between 3.6g/cc and 5.5g/cc, and at least one third material having a density between 5.6g/cc and 20.0 g/cc. The first mass of the first material is no greater than 55% and no less than 25% of the total mass of the golf club head. The second mass of the second material is no greater than 65% and no less than 20% of the total mass of the golf club head. The third mass of the third material is equal to the total mass of the golf club head minus the first mass of the first material and the second mass of the second material.

Description

Multi-piece golf club head

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to golf clubs, and more particularly to golf club heads constructed of multiple parts bonded together with an adhesive.

Background

In the early history of golf, golf club heads were primarily made from a single material, such as wood. Later, golf club heads evolved from being made primarily of wood to being made primarily of metal. Golf club heads, originally made of metal, were made of steel alloys. Over time, the golf club heads began to be made from titanium alloys. Some (but not all) golf club head manufacturers have shifted from using a single material to using multiple materials and multiple piece constructions. The use of multiple pieces and the use of multiple materials may provide various manufacturing and performance advantages. The pieces of the multi-piece golf club head may be joined together in a variety of ways, such as adhesive bonding and welding.

Generally, the bond strength between the members of a multi-piece golf club head affects the durability of the golf club head and, therefore, the performance of the golf club head over time. Weak bonds tend to accelerate degradation of the bond when the golf club head is used to strike a golf ball. Degradation of the bond between the bonding elements may result in reduced performance of the golf club head, such as via reduced stiffness and lack of proper load transfer, at best, and complete failure of the golf club head, at worst. Typically, the striking face of a driver golf club head impacts a golf ball thousands of times during its life. Each impact may apply a force to the ball striking face in a range from 10,000g to 20,000g, where g equals the force per unit mass due to gravity. Repeated hits with such high forces tend to cause degradation of the bond forming the golf club head. Accordingly, a strong initial and permanent bond between the bonding elements of the golf club head is desired.

Because welding generally provides a stronger initial bond and may exhibit greater durability compared to other bonding techniques, many conventional components of a multi-piece golf club head use materials that facilitate welding, such as compatible metals. However, many metals used to construct multi-piece golf club heads are of higher quality than non-metallic materials. As a result, the mass (also referred to as the discretionary mass) available for distribution around such golf club heads that may be used to enhance the performance of the golf club head may be limited. To this end, it may be difficult to provide a multi-piece golf club head that has a strong and durable bond between the components of the golf club head and that promotes discretionary mass increase.

Disclosure of Invention

The subject matter of the present application has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the shortcomings of golf club heads having a multi-piece construction that have not yet been fully solved. Accordingly, the subject matter of the present application has been developed to provide a golf club head that overcomes at least some of the above-discussed shortcomings of conventional golf club heads.

Disclosed herein is a driver golf club head. The ball-serving bar golf club head includes a forward portion including a ball striking face, a rearward portion opposite the forward portion, a crown portion, a sole portion opposite the crown portion, a heel portion, and a toe portion opposite the heel portion. The volume of the driver golf club head is between 390 cubic centimeters (cc) and 600 cc. The total mass of the driver-type golf club head is between 185 grams (g) and 210 grams. A driver golf club head is made from at least one first material having a density between 0.9g/cc and 3.5g/cc, at least one second material having a density between 3.6g/cc and 5.5g/cc, and at least one third material having a density between 5.6g/cc and 20.0 g/cc. The first mass of the at least one first material is no greater than 55% and no less than 25% of the total mass of the driver golf club head. The second mass of the at least one second material is no greater than 65% and no less than 20% of the total mass of the driver golf club head. The third mass of the at least one third material is equal to the total mass of the driver golf club head minus the first mass of the at least one first material and the second mass of the at least one second material. The foregoing subject matter of this paragraph characterizes one example of the present disclosure.

The described features, structures, advantages, and/or characteristics of the subject matter of the present disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments and/or implementations. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of embodiments of the presently disclosed subject matter. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the subject matter of the present disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific features, details, components, materials, and/or methods of a particular embodiment or implementation. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments and/or implementations that may not be present in all embodiments or implementations. Additionally, in some instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the presently disclosed subject matter. The features and advantages of the disclosed subject matter will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the subject matter as set forth hereinafter.

Drawings

In order that the advantages of the subject matter may be more readily understood, a more particular description of the subject matter briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the subject matter and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the subject matter will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the golf club head of fig. 1 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 3 is a schematic side elevation view of the golf club head of fig. 1, according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is another schematic side elevation view of the golf club head of FIG. 1, according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 5 is a schematic front view of the golf club head of fig. 1, according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 6 is a schematic rear view of the golf club head of fig. 1 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 7 is a schematic top plan view of the golf club head of fig. 1 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 8 is a schematic bottom plan view of the golf club head of fig. 1 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9A is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of the golf club head of FIG. 1 taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 5, according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 9B is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of a detail of the golf club head of fig. 9A, according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

Fig. 10 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the golf club head of fig. 1 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 11 is another schematic exploded perspective view of the golf club head of fig. 1 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 12 is an schematic top plan view of a body of the golf club head of FIG. 1 according to one or more examples of this disclosure;

FIG. 13 is an schematic bottom plan view of the body of the golf club head of FIG. 1 according to one or more examples of this disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a schematic exploded perspective view of a body of the golf club head of FIG. 1 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is another schematic exploded perspective view of the body of the golf club head of FIG. 1 according to one or more examples of this disclosure;

fig. 16 is a schematic perspective view of another golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 17 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of the golf club head of FIG. 16 taken along line 16-16 of FIG. 16 in accordance with one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 18 is a schematic exploded perspective view of another golf club head in accordance with one or more examples of the present disclosure;

Fig. 19 is a schematic exploded perspective view of yet another golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 20 is a schematic exploded perspective view of the golf club head of fig. 19 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 21 is an schematic front view of a ring of the golf club head of fig. 19 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 22 is a schematic rear view of a face portion of a golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 23 is a schematic rear view of a face portion of a golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 24 is a schematic perspective view of the face portion of fig. 23 in accordance with one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 25 is a schematic rear view of a face portion of a golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 26 is a schematic front view of a striking plate of a golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 27 is a schematic bottom view of a striking plate of a golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 28A is a schematic bottom cross-sectional view of a heel portion of a striking plate of a golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 28B is a schematic bottom cross-sectional view of the toe portion of the striking plate of a golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 29 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a polymer layer of a striking plate of a golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 30 is a schematic cross-sectional bottom plan view of a golf club head taken along a line similar to line 30-30 of FIG. 9B in accordance with one or more examples of this disclosure;

FIG. 31 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of a forward portion and a crown portion of the golf club head of FIG. 30 taken along line 31-31 of FIG. 30 in accordance with one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 32 is a schematic cross-sectional side elevation view of a forward portion and a crown portion of the golf club head of FIG. 30 taken along line 32-32 of FIG. 30 according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

fig. 33 is a schematic side elevational view of a first portion of a golf club head laser ablated by a first laser according to one or more examples of this disclosure;

fig. 34 is a schematic side elevational view of a second portion of a golf club head laser ablated by a second laser according to one or more examples of this disclosure;

Fig. 35 is a schematic side elevation view of a first portion of a golf club head bonded to a second portion of the golf club head according to one or more examples of this disclosure;

FIG. 36 is a schematic perspective view of an ablation pattern of peaks and valleys of an ablation surface of a portion of a golf club head according to one or more examples of this disclosure;

FIG. 37 is a schematic side elevational view of an ablation pattern of peaks and valleys of an ablation surface of a portion of a golf club head according to one or more examples of this disclosure;

FIG. 38 is a schematic perspective view of a striking plate of a laser ablated golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 39 is a schematic perspective view of a body of a laser ablated golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 40 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a body of a striking plate and golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 41 is a schematic perspective exploded view of a body of a striking plate and golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure;

FIG. 42 is a schematic flow diagram of a method of manufacturing a golf club head according to one or more examples of this disclosure;

Fig. 43 is a schematic flow diagram of a method of manufacturing a golf club head according to one or more examples of this disclosure;

fig. 44 is a schematic side elevational view of a first portion of a golf club head bonded to a second portion of the golf club head according to one or more examples of this disclosure;

fig. 45 is a schematic top plan view of an ablation pattern on a portion of a golf club head according to one or more examples of this disclosure; and

fig. 46 is a schematic top view of an ablation pattern on a portion of a golf club head according to one or more examples of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

Examples of golf club heads are described below in the context of a driver golf club head having a multi-piece construction, but the principles, methods, and designs described may be applied in whole or in part to fairway wood-type golf club heads, utility-type golf club heads (also known as hybrid golf club heads), iron-type golf club heads, and the like, as such golf club heads may also be made in a multi-piece construction.

In some examples disclosed herein, a golf club head has a ball striking face formed from a non-metallic material, such as a fiber-reinforced polymeric material. Fracture of the bond joint formed between the body of the golf club head and the non-metallic striking plate can result in Characteristic Time (CT) creep. The USGA regulations require that the CT of a golf club head be maintained within specified limits regardless of the number of hits of the golf club head with a golf ball. The CT of a conventional driver golf club head tends to increase after multiple shots with a golf ball. The increase in CT due to impact with a golf ball is known as CT creep. In some examples disclosed herein, the golf club head is configured to reinforce the bond formed between the body of the golf club head and the non-metallic striking plate, such as by optimizing the surface structure of the golf club head for a stronger bond.

U.S. patent application publication No. 2014/0302946a1 (the' 946 application), published on 9/10/2014, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, describes a "reference location" similar to a targeting location for measuring various parameters discussed throughout the application. The address or reference location is based on the procedure described in the united states gaffer association and R & a rules limited "measurement procedure for club head size of wood clubs" revision 1.0.0 (11/21/2003). Unless otherwise noted, all parameters are specified when the club head is in the reference position.

Fig. 3, 4, 5, and 9A are examples illustrating the golf club head 100 in an address or reference position. When the hosel axis 191 of the golf club head 100 is at an angle θ of 60 degrees relative to the ground plane 181 (see, e.g., fig. 5) and the striking face 145 of the golf club head 100 is square relative to the imaginary target line 101 (see, e.g., fig. 7), the golf club head 100 is in an address or reference position. As shown in fig. 3, 4, 5, and 9A, positioning the golf club head 100 in the address or reference position lends itself to use of a club head origin coordinate system 185 centered about the geometric center of the ball striking face 145 (e.g., the center plane 183) for making various measurements. Various parameters described throughout this application, including head height, club head Center of Gravity (CG) position, and moment of inertia (MOI), may be measured relative to the club head origin coordinate system 185 or relative to another reference or references using the USGA method when the golf club head is at an address or reference position.

For more detailed information or clarity, the reader is advised to refer to the measurement methods described in the' 946 application and the USGA program. It is noteworthy, however, that the origin and axes associated with the club head origin coordinate system 185 used in this application may not necessarily be aligned or oriented in the same manner as those described in the' 946 application or the USGA program. More details regarding locating the club head origin coordinate system 185 are provided below.

In some examples, the golf club heads described herein include driver golf club heads that can be identified, at least in part, as having a total surface area of at least 3,500mm ^2, preferably at least 3,800mm ^2, and even more preferably at least 3,900mm ^2 (e.g., 3,500mm in one example)²To 5,000mm²Less than 5,000mm in various examples²And in another example at 3,700mm²To 4,300mm²In between) the striking face of the golf club head. In some examples, such as when the ball striking face is defined by a non-metallic material, the total surface area of the ball striking face is no greater than 4,300mm²And not less than 3,300mm². The total surface area of the ball striking face is an outermost area of the ball striking face, which may be an outermost area of the face insert in some examples. In some examples, the total surface area of the ball striking face is the surface area of the surface of the ball striking face defined at its periphery by all points at which the ball striking face rolls from a substantially uniform convex radius (i.e., the radius of curvature of the heel to the toe of the ball striking face) and a substantially uniform roll radius (i.e., the radius of curvature of the crown to the sole of the ball striking face) to the body of the golf club head. In certain examples, the ball striking face of the golf club heads disclosed herein is defined in the same manner as one or more of U.S. patent application publication No. 2020/0139208 filed 2019, 10, 22, 2014, U.S. patent No. 8,801,541 filed 8, 12, 2014, and U.S. patent No. 8,012,039 filed 2011, 9, 6, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In still other examples, the ball striking face has a uniform convex radius and a uniform rolling radius, except for portions having a higher raised toe and a lower raised heel, such as described in U.S. patent application No. 17/006,561 filed on 28.8.2020, U.S. patent No. 9,814,944 filed on 14.11.2017, U.S. patent No. 10,265,586 filed on 23.4.2019, and U.S. patent application publication No. 2019/0076705 filed on 15.10.2018, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Further, in some examples, a driver golf club head includes a Center of Gravity (CG) projection parallel to the horizontal (y-axis), in one example, at most 3mm above or below the center plane of the ball striking face, and preferably at most 1mm above or below the center plane, as measured along the vertical axis (z-axis), or in another example, at most 5mm below the center plane of the ball striking face, and preferably at most 4mm below the center plane, as measured along the vertical axis (z-axis). In some examples, the CG projection is in a toe direction of a geometric center of the ball striking face. Further, in some examples, a driver golf club head has a relatively high moment of inertia (e.g., Izz) about a vertical axis (e.g., the CG z-axis passing through the CG and parallel to the z-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185) >400kg-mm 2, and preferably Izz>450kg-mm 2, and more preferably Izz>500kg-mm 2, but in some embodiments less than 590kg-mm 2), a relatively high moment of inertia (e.g., Ixx) about a horizontal axis (e.g., the CG x-axis passing through the CG and parallel to the x-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185)>250kg-mm 2, and preferably Ixx>300kg-mm 2 or 320kg-mm 2, and more preferably Ixx>350kg-mm 2, more preferablyIxx>375kg-mm 2, more preferably Ixx>385kg-mm 2, more preferably Ixx>400kg-mm 2, more preferably Ixx>415kg-mm 2, more preferably Ixx>430kg-mm 2, more preferably Ixx>450kg-mm 2, but in some examples no more than 590kg²) And preferably the ratio of Ixx/Izz>0.70. More details about inertias Izz and Ixx may be found in U.S. patent application publication No. 2020/0139208, published 5-7-2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

According to certain examples, the sum of Ixx and Izz is greater than 780kg-mm ^2, 800kg-mm ^2, 820 kg-mm ^2, 825kg-mm ^2, 850kg-mm ^2, 860kg-mm ^2, 875kg-mm ^2, 900 kg-mm ^2, 925kg-mm ^2, 950kg-mm ^2, 975kg-mm ^2, or 1000kg-mm ^2, but less than 1,100kg-mm ^ 2. For example, the sum of Ixx and Izz can be between 740kg-mm 2 and 1,100kg-mm 2, such as about 869kg-mm 2. In some examples, Ixx is at least 65% of Izz, in some examples even more preferably Ixx is at least 68% of Izz. In some examples, the golf club head mass may range from 190 grams to 210 grams, preferably between 195 grams to 205 grams, and even more preferably no more than 203 grams. The golf club head mass includes the mass of any FCT system and fasteners securing the FCT system, but does not include the shaft of the golf club head or the grip of the golf club head. The maximum distance from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the club head, measured parallel to the y-axis, is preferably between 112mm and 127mm, preferably between 115mm and 127mm, even more preferably between 119mm and 127 mm.

By including a forward weight and a rearward weight, a greater inertia value and a lower CG projection, e.g., no more than 3mm above the center plane, may be achieved, as discussed in more detail below. The forward counterweight may be a single forward counterweight or two or more forward counterweights. The forward weight may be located proximate to an imaginary vertical plane passing through the y-axis, or the forward weight may be offset to the toe or heel side of an imaginary vertical plane passing through the y-axis, or both the toe and heel sides of an imaginary vertical plane passing through the y-axis of the golf club head. The forward weight may be formed separately and attached, welded, or bonded to the golf club head by threads, or the forward weight may be a thickened region of the golf club head, or in some cases, the forward weight may be molded or overmolded into a forward portion of the golf club head. See, e.g., U.S. patent No. 10,220,270, issued 3/5 in 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, to further discuss the various positions of the forward and rearward counterweights. The forward weight is located forward of the center of gravity of the golf club head, and the rearward weight is located rearward of the center of gravity of the golf club head.

In some examples, the golf club heads described herein have a Δ 1 value of no more than 25mm, preferably between 20mm and 25 mm. Δ 1 for a driver golf club head is the distance between the CG and XZ planes of the golf club head along the y-axis of the head center plane origin coordinate system 185 through the x-axis and z-axis of the head center plane origin coordinate system 185 and through the hosel axis 191. In some examples, the Ixx of the golf club head is at least 335kg mm²And Δ 1 is not more than 25mm, and Ixx of the golf club head is at least 345 kg-mm²And Δ 1 is not more than 25mm, and Ixx of the golf club head is at least 355 kg-mm²And Δ 1 is not more than 25mm, Ixx of the golf club head is at least 365 kg-mm²And Δ 1 is not more than 25mm, or Ixx of the golf club head is at least 375kg · mm²And Δ 1 does not exceed 25 mm.

In some examples, the golf club heads described herein have a Δ 1 value between 20mm and 35 mm. In some examples, the Ixx for the golf club head is at least 335 kg-mm²And Δ 1 is between 22mm and 32mm, the Ixx of the golf club head is at least 345 kg-mm²And Δ 1 is between 22mm and 32mm, the Ixx of the golf club head is at least 355 kg-mm²And Δ 1 is between 22mm and 32mm, the Ixx of the golf club head is at least 365 kg-mm ²And Δ 1 is between 22 mm and 32mm, the Ixx of the golf club head is at least 375 kg-mm²And Δ 1 is between 23mm and 32mm, the Ixx of the golf club head is at least 385kg mm²And Δ 1 is between 24mm and 32mm, the Ixx of the golf club head is at least 395 kg-mm²And Δ 1 is between 25mm and 32mm, or the Ixx of the golf club head is at least 405 kg-mm²And Δ 1 is between 27mm and 32 mm.

Referring to fig. 1 and 2, according to some examples, a golf club head 100 of the present disclosure includes a toe portion 114 and a heel portion 116 opposite the toe portion 114. In addition, the golf club head 100 includes a forward portion 112 (e.g., a face portion) and a rearward portion 112 opposite the forward portion 112. The golf club head 100 additionally includes a sole portion 117 at a sole region of the golf club head 100 and a crown portion 119 opposite the sole portion 117 and at a top region of the golf club head 100. Furthermore, the golf club head 100 includes a skirt portion 121 that defines a transition region where the golf club head 100 transitions between the crown portion 119 and the sole portion 117. Thus, skirt portion 121 is located between crown portion 119 and sole portion 117 and extends around the perimeter of golf club head 100. Referring to fig. 9A, the golf club head 100 further includes an interior cavity 113 collectively defined and enclosed by the forward portion 112, the rearward portion 112, the crown portion 119, the sole portion 117, the heel portion 116, the toe portion 114, and the skirt portion 121.

A ball striking face 145 extends along the forward portion 112 from the sole portion 117 to the crown portion 119 and from the toe portion 114 to the heel portion 116. Further, the ball striking face 145 and at least a portion of the interior surface 166 of the forward portion 112 opposite the ball striking face 145 are flat in a top-to-bottom direction. As further defined, the ball striking face 145 faces in a generally forward direction. In some examples, the ball striking face 145 is co-formed with the body 102. In such an example, the minimum thickness of the forward portion 112 at the ball striking face 145 is between 1.5mm and 2.5mm and the maximum thickness of the forward portion 112 at the ball striking face 145 is less than 3.7 mm. In some examples, the inner surface 166 of the forward portion 112 opposite the striking face 145 is not chemically etched and has an alpha shell thickness of no more than 0.30 mm.

Referring to fig. 9B and 41, in some examples, the golf club head 100 includes a striking plate 143 that is not co-formed with the body 102. The striking plate 143 is formed separately from the body 102 and attached to the body 102, such as via bonding, welding, brazing, fastening, or the like. As shown, the striking plate 143 defines a striking face 145 of the golf club head 100. In these examples, the body 102 includes a plate opening 149 at the forward portion 112 of the golf club head 100 and a plate opening recess flange 147 that extends continuously around the plate opening 149. In some examples, the plate opening recess flange 147 is non-flat or curved. The inner periphery of plate opening recess flange 147 defines a plate opening 149. The plate opening recess ledge 147 is divided into at least a top plate opening recess ledge 147A extending adjacently in the heel-to-toe direction along the crown portion 119 of the golf club head 100 and a bottom plate opening recess ledge 147B extending adjacently in the heel-to-toe direction along the sole portion 117 of the golf club head 100. Although not shown, the plate opening recess flange is further divided into a toe plate opening recess flange and a heel plate opening recess flange. Some of the characteristics of the panel opening recessed flange can be found in U.S. patent No. 9,278,267 issued on 8.3.2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

As shown in fig. 9B, the ceiling opening recess flange 147A has a width (TPLW) and a thickness (TPLT). The width TPLW is defined as the distance from the inner periphery of the flange 147A defining the plate opening 149 to the farthest extent of the adhering surface of the flange 147A away from the inner periphery. The thickness TPLT is defined as the thickness of the material defining the adhesive surface of the flange 147A. In some examples, the recess 190 (e.g., an internal recess) is formed in an interior surface of the body 102 and has a depth extending in a rear-to-front direction such that the recess 190 is located between the roof opening recess ledge 147A and the top of the golf club head 100 in a sole-to-crown direction. In other words, the recess 190 overlaps the ceiling opening recess flange 147A in the crown-to-sole direction. Notably, behind the recess 190, the thickness of the crown may increase locally such that the thickness of the crown portion near where the crown insert engages the club head is thicker than at the recess 190. This may strengthen the overall structure of the crown joint and relieve stresses in the composite crown joint. Otherwise, the composite crown joint may be prone to cracking in this area, resulting in premature failure of the composite crown joint due to casting cracking and/or glue failure.

30-32, in some examples, the golf club head 100 further includes an inner mass pad 129 formed in the crown portion 119 at a location adjacent to the roof opening recess ledge 168. The internal mass pad 129 is also located between and offset (e.g., spaced apart) from the heel portion 116 and the toe portion 114 of the golf club head 100. In some examples, a portion of the recess 190 is formed in the inner mass pad 129. The inner mass pad 129 extends along only a portion of the length of the top plate opening recessed flange 168. The length of the top panel opening recess flange 168 extends in the heel to toe direction. Further, in some examples, the top plate opening recess flange 168 is non-flat or curved. According to some examples, the thickness (WT) of the crown portion at the recess 190 is thicker at the inner mass pad 129 (see, e.g., fig. 31) than away from the inner mass pad 129 (see, e.g., fig. 32).

In certain examples, the width TPLW of the ceiling opening recess flange 147A is greater than 4.5mm (e.g., greater than 5.0mm in some examples, and greater than 5.5mm but less than 8.0mm in other examples, preferably less than 7.0mm in some examples). In some examples, the ratio of the width TPLW to the maximum height of the striking plate 143 is between 0.08 and 0.15. In the same or a different example, the ratio of the width TPLW to the maximum height of the plate opening 149 is between 0.07 and 0.15, such as 0.1, with the maximum height of the plate opening 149 in some examples being between 50-60mm, e.g., 53 mm.

According to some examples, the thickness TPLT of the roof opening recess flange 147A is between a minimum of 0.8mm to a maximum of 1.7mm (e.g., between 0.9mm to 1.6mm in some examples, and between 0.95mm to 1.5mm in other examples). As shown, the thickness TPLT away from the inner periphery of the flange 147A is greater than the thickness at the inner periphery of the flange 147A. Thus, in some examples, the thickness TPLT varies along the width TPLW of the flange 147A. For example, as shown, the thickness TPLT tapers or decreases in the crown-to-sole direction (e.g., toward the center of the plate opening 149). In some examples, the top flange thickness TPLT of the roof opening recess flange 147A varies such that the maximum value of the top flange thickness TPLT is 30% to 60% greater than the minimum value of the top flange thickness TPLT. In certain examples, the ratio of the thickness TPLT to the thickness of the striking plate is between 0.2 and 1.2. According to certain examples, the ratio of the width TPLW to the thickness TPLT is between 2.6 and 10.

The floor opening recess flange 147B has a width (BPLW) and a thickness (BPLT). The width BPLW is defined as the distance from the inner periphery of the flange 147B defining the plate opening 149 to the farthest extent of the adhesive surface of the flange 147B from the inner periphery. Thickness BPLT is defined as the thickness of the material defining the adhesive surface of flange 147B.

In certain examples, the width BPLW of the floor opening recess flange 147B is greater than 4.5mm (e.g., greater than 5.0mm in some examples, and greater than 5.5mm but less than 8.0mm in other examples, preferably less than 7.0mm in some examples). In some examples, the ratio of the width BPLW to the maximum height of the striking plate 143 is between 0.08 and 0.15. In the same or a different example, the ratio of the width BPLW to the maximum height of the plate opening 149 is between 0.07 and 0.15, such as 0.1, with the maximum height of the plate opening 149 in some examples being between 50-60mm, e.g., 53 mm.

According to some examples, the floor opening recess flange 147B has a thickness BPLT of between 0.8mm and 1.7mm (e.g., between 0.9mm and 1.6mm in some examples, and between 0.95mm and 1.5mm in other examples). As shown, the thickness BPLT away from the inner periphery of the flange 147B is greater than the thickness at the inner periphery of the flange 147B. Thus, in some examples, the thickness BPLT varies along the width BPLW of the flange 147B. For example, as shown, the thickness BPLT decreases in the sole-to-crown direction (e.g., toward the center of the plate opening 149). In some examples, the bottom flange thickness BPLT of the floor opening recess flange 147B varies such that the maximum value of the bottom flange thickness BPLT is 30% to 60% greater than the minimum value of the bottom flange thickness BPLT. In some examples, the ratio of the thickness BPLT to the thickness of the striking plate is between 0.2 and 1.2. According to certain examples, the ratio of the width BPLW to the thickness BPLT is between 2.6 and 10.

As shown, the striking plate 143 is attached to the body 102 by securing the striking plate 143 in seated engagement with at least the top plate opening recess flange 147A and the bottom plate opening recess flange 147B. When engaged to the roof opening recess flange 147A and the sole opening recess flange 147B in this manner, the striking plate 143 covers or closes the plate opening 149. Additionally, the roof opening recess ledge 147A and the striking plate 143 are sized, shaped, and positioned with respect to the crown portion 119 of the golf club head 100 such that the striking plate 143 abuts the crown portion 119 when in seated engagement with the roof opening recess ledge 147A. The striking plate 143 adjacent the crown portion 119 defines the top line of the golf club head 100. Additionally, in some examples, the visual appearance of the striking plate 143 is sufficiently contrasting with the appearance of the crown portion 119 of the golf club head 100 to significantly enhance the top line of the golf club head 100. Because the striking plate 143 is formed separately from the body 102, the striking plate 143 may be made of a material different from that of the body 102. In one example, the striking plate 143 is made of a fiber reinforced polymeric material, as described below.

Notably, the TPLW, TPLT, BPLW, and BPLT dimensions help control the local stiffness of the club head and ensure that there is sufficient bonding area to bond the striking plate to the body 102. If formed of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material, the modulus of the striking plate will be very different from the modulus of a body formed of a metallic material, such that the stiffness or compliance of the two will be different, and the body will move at different rates during striking of the striking plate and due to the difference in modulus, unless precautions are taken in the design to account for the difference in stiffness. The recess 190, TPLW, TPLT, BPLW and BPLT dimensions all play a role in controlling the overall compliance and rate of the ball striking face and body during impact. In addition, TPLW and BPLW help ensure adequate junction area and facial performance. Too little of a bonded area may cause failure of the glue joint, too much of a bonded area may cause the striking face to fail, i.e., not optimize coefficient of restitution, and in some examples, too much of a bonded area may cause the different striking face to peel away from the club head due to stiffness. Thus, the dimensions of TPLW, TPLT, BPLW, and BPLT contribute to the overall performance of the club head and help avoid bond or cement failure. In some examples, the bond area will be at 850mm ²To 1800mm²Preferably in the range of 1,300mm²To 1,500mm²In the meantime. In some examples, the ratio of the combined area to the inner surface area of the striking plate (the rear surface area of the striking plate) will be in the range of 21% to 45%. In some examples, the total bonding area of the striking plate will be less than the total bonding area of the crown insert. In some examples, the flange width TPLW and/or BPLW will be less than the flange width (front to back as measured along the y-axis) of the forward crown opening recess flange 168A.

Referring to FIG. 31, a layer of adhesive 144 bonds the striking plate 143 to the body 102. Forward portion 112 includes a sidewall 146, sidewall 146 defining a depth of a plate opening recess flange 147 and defining a radial periphery of plate opening recess flange 147 away from a center of plate opening 149. The side wall 146 is angled (e.g., acute, obtuse, or right angle) relative to the plate opening recess flange 147. In some examples, the angle defined between the sidewall 146 and the plate opening recess flange 147 is between 70 ° and 120 °. In certain examples, the angle defined between the sidewall 146 and the plate opening recess flange 147 is greater than 90 °. The body 102 further includes a transition between the plate opening recess flange 147 and the sidewall 146. In some examples, the transition portion defines a radial surface that couples the plate opening recess flange 147 and the surface of the sidewall 146 together. The adhesive layer 144 is interposed between the plate opening recess flange 147 and the striking plate 143 and between the sidewall 146 and the striking plate 143. In some examples, the thickness (LT) of the adhesive layer 144 between the plate opening recess flange 147 and the striking plate 143 is greater than the thickness (ST) of the adhesive layer 144 between the sidewall 146 and the striking plate 143. According to one particular example, the thickness (LT) of the adhesive layer 144 between the plate opening recess flange 147 and the striking plate 143 is between 0.25mm and 0.45mm, and the thickness (ST) of the adhesive layer 144 between the sidewall 146 and the striking plate 143 is between 0.15mm and 0.25 mm.

In some examples, the striking plate may have a maximum panel height of no more than 55mm, as measured along the z-axis through the club head origin, preferably no more than 55mm and no less than 40mm, and even more preferably between 49mm and 54 mm. In some cases, a striking plate formed from a fiber-reinforced polymeric material may have a thickness of no more than 4,180mm²And preferably at 3,200mm²To 4,180mm²More preferably between 3,500mm²To 4,180mm²Front surface area in between. According to some examples, the ball striking face 145 has a first convex radius of at least 300mm and a first roll radius of at least 250 mm. Generally, a bulge radius of greater than 300mm has better CT creep rate, and a club head with a bulge has a bulge radius of not less than 300mm and a roll radius that performs well in the range of 30-50mm of the bulge radius.

The golf club head 1r00 includes a body 102, a crown insert 108 (or crown panel) attached to the body 102 at the top of the golf club head 100, and a sole insert 110 (or sole panel) attached to the body 102 at the sole of the golf club head 100 (see, e.g., fig. 10 and 11). Thus, the body 102 effectively provides a frame to which one or more inserts, panels or plates are attached. The body 102 includes a casting cup 104 and a ring 106 (e.g., a rear ring). The ring 106 is joined to the casting cup 104 at a toe-side joint 112A and a heel-side joint 112B. The casting cup 104 defines at least a portion of the forward portion 112 of the golf club head 100. The ring 106 defines at least a portion of a rearward portion 112 of the golf club head 100. In addition, the casting cup 104 defines a crown portion 119, a sole portion 117, a heel portion 116, a toe portion 114, and a portion of a skirt portion 121. Similarly, ring 106 defines a portion of heel portion 116, toe portion 114, and skirt portion 121.

The casting cup 104 (or just the cup) is cup-shaped. More specifically, as shown in fig. 14, the casting cup 104 including the ball striking surface 145 is closed at one end by the ball striking surface 145, closed on four sides (e.g., by the crown portion 119, the sole portion 117, the toe portion 114, and the heel portion 116), extends substantially transversely from the ball striking surface 145, and is open at an end opposite the ball striking surface 145. Thus, the cast cup 104 resembles a cup or cup-shaped unit when coupled with the ball striking face 145.

The ring 106 is not circumferentially closed or does not form a continuous annular or circular shape. Instead, the ring 106 is circumferentially open and defines a generally semi-circular shape. Thus, as defined herein, the ring 106 is referred to as a ring because it has an annular, semi-circular shape and, when joined to the casting cup 104, forms a circumferentially closed or annular shape with the casting cup 104.

The casting cup 104 is formed separately from the ring 106 and the ring 106 is then joined to the casting cup 104. Thus, the body 102 has an at least two-piece construction, with the casting cup 104 defining one piece of the body 102 and the ring 106 defining another piece of the body 102. Thus, a seam is defined at each of the toe side joint 112A and the heel side joint 112B where the casting cup 104 and the ring 106 abut. The casting cup 104 and the ring 106 are separately formed using any of a variety of manufacturing techniques. In one example, the casting cup 104 and the ring 106 are formed using a casting process. Since the casting cup 104 and the ring 106 are formed separately, the casting cup 104 and the ring 106 may be made of different materials. For example, the casting cup 104 may be made of a first material and the ring 106 may be made of a second material different from the first material.

Referring to fig. 14 and 15, the casting cup 104 includes a toe-ring engagement surface 150A and a heel-ring engagement surface 150B. Similarly, the ring 106 includes a toe-cup engagement surface 152A and a heel-cup engagement surface 152B. The toe side joint 112A is formed by abutting and securing together the toe-ring engaging surface 150A of the casting cup 104 and the toe-cup engaging surface 152A of the ring 106, and abutting and securing together the heel-ring engaging surface 150B of the casting cup 104 and the heel-cup engaging surface 152B of the ring 106. The engagement surfaces may be secured together via any suitable securing technique, such as welding, brazing, adhesives, mechanical fasteners, and the like.

To help reinforce and strengthen the toe-side joint 112A and the heel-side joint 112B, complementary mating elements may be incorporated into or coupled to the engagement surface. In the illustrated example, the casting cup 104 includes a toe projection 154A projecting from the toe-ring engagement surface 150A and a heel projection 154B projecting from the heel-ring engagement surface 150B. In contrast, in the illustrated example, the ring 106 includes a toe receptacle 156A formed in the toe-cup engagement surface 152A and a heel receptacle 156B formed in the heel-cup engagement surface 152B. When the engagement surfaces abut one another to form a joint, the toe projection 154A mates with (e.g., is received within) the toe receptacle 156A and the heel projection 154B mates with (e.g., is received within) the heel receptacle 156B. Although in the illustrated example, the toe projection 154A and heel projection 154B form part of the casting cup 104 and the toe receptacle and heel receptacle 156B form part of the ring 106, in other examples, the mating elements may be reversed such that the toe projection 154A and heel projection 154B form part of the ring 106 and the toe receptacle and heel receptacle 156B form part of the casting cup 104. In addition, different types of complementary mating elements, such as tabs and notches, may be used in addition to or in place of the projections and receptacles.

In some examples, the toe side joint 112A and the heel side joint 112B are located a sufficient distance from the ball striking face 145 to avoid potential failure due to the violent impacts experienced by the golf club head 100 when striking a golf ball. For example, each of the toe side joint 112A and the heel side joint 112B may be spaced at least 20mm, at least 30mm, at least 40mm, at least 50mm, at least 60mm, and/or 20mm to 70mm behind the center plane 183 of the ball striking face 145, as measured along the y-axis (front-to-back direction) of the club head origin coordinate system 185. Referring to fig. 14, according to some examples, a first distance D1 from the ball striking surface 145 to the heel-ring engagement surface 150B is less than a second distance D2 from the ball striking surface 145 to the toe-ring engagement surface 150A. In other words, in some examples, the casting cup 104 extends rearwardly from the striking surface 145 at the heel portion 116 a shorter distance than at the toe portion 114.

Referring to fig. 10-13, the body 102 includes a crown opening 162 and a sole opening 164. The crown opening 162 is located at the crown portion 119 of the golf club head 100 and when open provides access to the interior cavity 113 of the golf club head 100 from the top of the golf club head 100. In contrast, the sole opening 164 is located at the sole portion 117 of the golf club head 100 and when open provides access to the interior cavity 113 of the golf club head 100 from the bottom of the golf club head 100. Corresponding sections of the crown opening 162 and the sole opening 164 are defined by the casting cup 104 and the ring 106. More specifically, referring to fig. 10-15, a forward section 162A of the crown opening 162 and a forward section 164A of the sole opening 164 are defined by the casting cup 104, and a rearward section 162B of the crown opening 162 and a rearward section 164B of the sole opening 164 are defined by the ring 106. Thus, when the casting cup 104 and the ring 106 are joined together, the forward and

rearward segments

162A and 162B collectively define the crown opening 162, and the forward and

rearward segments

164A and 164B collectively define the sole opening 164.

The casting cup 104 additionally includes a forward crown opening recess flange 168A and a forward sole opening recess flange 170A. The ring 106 includes a rearward crown opening recessed lip 168B and a rearward sole opening recessed lip 170B. The forward sole opening recessed lip 170A and the rearward sole opening recessed lip 170B form a sole opening recessed lip 170 of the golf club head 100. Further, in some examples, the bottom opening recessed flange 170 is non-flat or curved. The flanges are offset inwardly toward the internal cavity 113 from the outer surface of the body 102 surrounding the flanges by a distance corresponding to the thickness of the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110. In some examples, the offset of the flange from the outer surface of the body 102 is approximately equal to the corresponding thicknesses of the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110, such that the inserts, when attached to the flange, are flush with the corresponding peripheral outer surface of the body 102. However, in some examples, the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 need not be flush with (e.g., may be raised or recessed relative to) the surrounding outer surface of the body 102 when in seated engagement with the corresponding flanges. In some examples, the sole insert 110 has a thickness greater than a thickness of the crown insert 108. Further, the sole insert 110 is constructed of a first number of stacked plies, each made of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material, and the crown insert 108 is constructed of a second number of stacked plies, each made of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material. In some examples, the first number of stacked plies is greater than the second number of stacked plies.

When the casting cup 104 and the ring 106 are engaged, the forward crown opening recess lip 168A and the rearward crown opening recess lip 168B collectively define the crown opening recess lip 168 of the body 102, and the forward sole opening recess lip 170A and the rearward sole opening recess lip 170B collectively define the sole opening recess lip 170 of the body 102. The inner periphery of the forward crown opening recess ledge 168A defines a forward section 162A of the crown opening 162 and the inner periphery of the rearward crown opening recess ledge 168B defines a rearward section 162B of the crown opening 162. Likewise, the inner perimeter of the forward bottom opening recessed flange 170A defines the outer perimeter of the forward section 164A of the bottom opening 164, and the inner perimeter of the rearward bottom opening recessed flange 170B defines the perimeter of the rearward section 164B of the bottom opening 164. Thus, the inner periphery of the crown opening recess flange 168 defines the periphery of the crown opening 162 and the inner periphery of the sole opening recess flange 170 defines the periphery of the sole opening 164.

Referring to fig. 31, the thickness of the body 102 at the crown portion 119 decreases in a rearward-to-forward direction from the forward extension 132 of the crown opening recess lip 168 and decreases in a forward-to-rearward direction from the forward extension 132 of the crown opening recess lip 168. This results in a local increase in thickness at the forward extension 132, which helps to strengthen and stiffen the joint between the body 102 and the crown insert 108.

The crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are formed separately from each other and from the body 102. Thus, as shown in fig. 10 and 11, the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are attached to the body 102. In some examples, the crown insert 108 is positioned on and adhered (such as by an adhesive) to the crown opening recess ledge 168 and the sole insert 110 is positioned on and adhered (such as by an adhesive) to the sole opening recess ledge 170. In this manner, the crown insert 108 closes or covers the crown opening 162 and at least partially defines the crown portion 119 of the golf club head 100, and the sole insert 110 closes or covers the sole opening 164 and at least partially defines the sole portion 117 of the golf club head 100.

The crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 may have any of a variety of shapes. Referring to fig. 4, in one example, the crown insert 108 is shaped such that the location corresponding to the Peak Crown Height (PCH) of the golf club head 100 is rearward of the hosel 120 of the golf club head 100 and rearward of the hosel axis 191 of the hosel 120 of the golf club head 100. The peak crown height is the maximum crown height of the golf club head, where the crown height at a given location along the golf club head is the distance from the ground plane 181 to the highest point of the crown portion at the given location when the golf club head is located at the address position above the ground plane. In some examples, the crown height of the golf club head 100 increases and then decreases in the front-to-rear direction away from the striking face 145. In certain examples, the portion of the crown portion defining the peak crown height or the outer surface is made of at least one first material. According to some examples, a first crown height is defined at a club face-to-crown transition region where the club face connects to a crown portion of the club head in a forward crown region, a second crown height is defined at a crown-to-skirt transition region where the crown portion connects to a skirt of the golf club head near a rear end of the golf club head, and a maximum crown height is defined rearward of the first crown height and forward of the second crown height, wherein the maximum crown height is greater than the first crown height and the second crown height. In some examples, the maximum crown height occurs in a toe direction of a geometric center of the ball striking face. According to certain examples, the maximum crown height is formed by a non-metallic composite crown insert.

Referring to fig. 3, the peak skirt height (shown in association with Position (PSH)) is the maximum skirt height of the golf club head, where the skirt height at a given position along the golf club head is the distance from ground plane to the uppermost point of the skirt portion at the last point of the skirt portion on the golf club head when the golf club head is in address position at ground plane.

According to some examples, the ratio of the peak crown height of the crown portion 119 to the skirt peak height of the skirt portion 121 ranges between about 0.45 and 0.59, preferably 0.49-0.55, and in one example, the skirt height is about 34mm and the peak crown height is about 65mm, which results in a ratio of the peak skirt height to the peak crown height of about 0.52. The peak skirt height is typically in the range between 28mm and 38mm, preferably between 31mm and 36 mm. The peak crown height is typically in the range between 60mm and 70mm, preferably between 62mm and 67 mm. It is desirable to limit the difference between the peak crown height and the peak skirt height to no more than 40mm, preferably between 27mm and 35 mm. It is desirable that the peak skirt height be equal to or greater than the Z-up value of the golf club head, i.e., the vertical distance along the Z-axis from the ground plane 181 to the center of gravity. Ideally, the peak crown height is two times (2x) greater than the Z-up value of the golf club head. A greater peak skirt height may contribute to better aerodynamics and better airflow attachment, especially for faster swing speeds. Also, if the difference between the peak crown height and the peak skirt height is too great, the flow is more likely to separate from the golf club head earlier, i.e., the likelihood of turbulence increases.

The variety of materials and construction of the golf club head 100 enables the golf club head 100 to have a desired Center of Gravity (CG) position and peak height position. In one example, the y-axis coordinate of the location of the Peak Crown Height (PCH) on the y-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185 is between about 26mm and about 42 mm. In the same or a different example, the distance from the ground plane 181 to the position of Peak Crown Height (PCH), parallel to the z-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185, is in the range of between 60mm and 70mm, preferably between 62mm and 67mm, when the golf club head 100 is in the address position, as described above. According to some examples, a y-axis coordinate of a Center of Gravity (CG) of golf club head 100 on a y-axis of head origin coordinate system 185 is between 25mm and 50mm, preferably between 32mm and 38mm, more preferably between 36.5mm and 42mm, an x-axis coordinate of a Center of Gravity (CG) of golf club head 100 on an x-axis of head origin coordinate system 185 is between-10 mm and 10mm, preferably between-6 mm and 6mm, and more preferably between-7 mm and 7mm, and a z-axis coordinate of a Center of Gravity (CG) of golf club head 100 on a z-axis of head origin coordinate system 185 is less than 2mm, such as between-10 mm and 2mm, preferably between-7 mm and-2 mm.

In addition, the variety of materials and construction of the golf club head 100 enables the golf club head 100 to have desired mass distribution characteristics. Referring to fig. 3, 5, and 6, the golf club head 100 includes a rearward mass and a forward mass. The rearward mass of the golf club head 100 is defined as the mass of the golf club head 100 within an imaginary rearward box 133 having a Height (HRB) of 35mm parallel to the crown to sole direction (parallel to the z-axis of the golf club head origin coordinate system 185), a Depth (DRB) of 35mm in the forward and rearward direction (parallel to the y-axis of the golf club head origin coordinate system 185), and a Width (WRB) greater than the maximum width of the golf club head 100 in the toe to heel direction (parallel to the x-axis of the golf club head origin coordinate system 185). As shown, when the golf club head 100 is in the address position above the ground plane 181, the rear side of the imaginary rear-facing box 133 is coextensive with the rearmost end of the golf club head 100, and the underside of the imaginary rear-facing box 133 is coextensive with the ground plane 181. The forward mass of the golf club head 100 is defined as the mass of the golf club head 100 within an imaginary forward box 135 having a Height (HFB) parallel to the crown-to-sole direction of 20mm, a Depth (DFB) in the front-to-rear direction of 35mm, and a Width (WFB) in the toe-to-heel direction that is greater than the maximum width of the golf club head 100. As shown, when the golf club head 100 is in the address position above the ground plane 181, the front side of the imaginary forward box 135 is coextensive with the forwardmost end of the golf club head 100, and the bottom side of the imaginary forward box 135 is coextensive with the ground plane 181.

According to some examples, a first vectorial distance (V1) from a center of gravity (RMCG) of the rearward mass to a CG of the driver golf club head is between 49mm and 64mm (e.g., 55.7mm), a second vectorial distance (V2) from a center of gravity (FMCG) of the forward mass to a CG of the driver golf club head is between 22mm and 34mm (e.g., 29.0mm), and a third vectorial distance (V3) from a CG (RMCG) of the rearward mass to a CG (FMCG) of the forward mass is between 75mm and 82mm (e.g., 79.75 mm). In certain examples, V1 does not exceed 56.3 mm. In some examples, V2 is not less than 23.7mm, preferably not less than 25mm, or even more preferably not less than 27 mm. Some additional values of V1 and V2 versus the values of Zup and CGy for various examples of golf club heads 100 are provided in table 1 below. Zup measures the center of gravity of the golf club head 100 relative to the ground plane 181 along a vertical axis (e.g., parallel to the z-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185) when the golf club head 100 is in a properly aimed position on the ground plane 181, as defined herein. CGy is the coordinate of the center of gravity of the golf club head 100 on the y-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185.

Examples of the invention	Zup	CGy	V1	V2
						1	26mm	37mm	55.7mm	29.0mm
2	30mm	37mm	56.3mm	31.8mm
					3	22mm	37mm	55.2mm	27.3mm
4	25mm	32mm	61.0mm	23.7mm
					5	25mm	40mm	52.7mm	30.76mm

TABLE 1

The crown insert 108 has a crown insert outer surface that defines an outwardly facing or outer surface of the crown portion 119. Similarly, the bottom insert 110 has a bottom insert outer surface that defines an outwardly facing or outer surface of the bottom portion 117. As defined herein, if multiple crown inserts or multiple sole inserts are used, the crown insert outer surface and sole insert outer surface comprise the combined outer surfaces of the multiple crown inserts and the multiple sole inserts, respectively. In one example, the total surface area of the sole insert outer surface is less than the total surface area of the crown insert outer surface. According to one example, the total surface area of the crown insert outer surface is at least 9,482mm ². In one example, the total surface area of the outer surface of the bottom insert is at least 8,750mm²And the sole insert has a maximum width parallel to the heel-to-toe direction of at least between 80mm and 120 mm. The total surface area of the crown insert outer surface may be in the range of 5,300mm ^2 to 11,000mm ^2, preferably 9,200mm ^2 to 10,300 mm ^2, preferably 5,300mm ^2 to 7,000mm ^ 2. The total surface area of the bottom insert outer surface may be in the range of 4,300mm ^2 to 10,200mm ^2, preferably 7,700 mm ^2 to 9,900mm ^2, preferably 4,300mm ^2 to 6,600mm ^ 2.

Preferably, where at least a portion of the sole is formed of a composite material, the total surface area of the sole insert outer surface is greater than the total surface area of the sole insert outer surface. In some examples, the ratio of the total surface area of the crown insert outer surface formed from the composite material to the total surface area of the sole insert outer surface formed from the composite material may be at least 2:1, in other examples the ratio may be between 0.95 and 1.5, more preferably between 1.03 and 1.4, even more preferably between 1.05 and 1.3. In this example, the density of the composite material is generally between about 1g/cc and about 2g/cc, and preferably between about 1.3g/cc and about 1.7 g/cc.

In some embodiments, the total exposed composite surface area in square centimeters multiplied by CGy in centimeters and the resulting result divided by the volume in cubic centimeters may range from 1.22 to 2.1, preferably between 1.24 and 1.65, even more preferably between 1.49 and 2.1, even more preferably between 1.7 and 2.1.

Further, in some examples, the total mass of the crown insert 108 is less than the total mass of the sole insert 110. According to some examples, where the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are made of a fiber reinforced polymeric material and the body 102 is made of a metallic material, the ratio of the total exposed surface area of the body 102 to the total exposed surface area of the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 (e.g., the surface area of the outwardly facing surface) is between 0.95 and 1.25 (e.g., 1.08). In some examples, the crown insert 108, whether single-piece or multi-piece, has a mass of 9 grams, while the sole insert 110, whether single-piece or multi-piece, has a mass of 13 grams. Further, in certain examples, the crown insert 108 is about 0.65mm thick and the sole insert 110 is about 1.0mm thick. However, in some examples, the minimum thickness of the crown portion 119 is less than 0.6 mm. According to some examples, the areal weight of the crown portion 119 of the golf club head 100 is less than 0.35g/cm over more than 50% of the entire surface area of the crown portion 119 ²And/or at least a portion of the crown portion 119 has a density of about 1g/cm³To about 2 g/cm³Of non-metallic material therebetween. These and other characteristics of crown insert 108 and sole insert 110 may be published in U.S. patent application publication Nos. 4-23 of 20202020/0121994, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In certain examples, the areal weight of the base portion 117 is less than about 0.35g/cm over more than about 50% of the entire surface area of the base portion 117². In certain examples, the areal weight of the crown insert 108 is less than the areal weight of the sole insert 110. In certain examples, at least 50% of the crown portion 119 has a variable thickness that varies by at least 25% along at least 50% of the crown portion 119.

The casting cup 104 of the body 102 also includes a hosel 120, the hosel 120 defining a hosel axis 191, the hosel axis 191 extending coaxially through the bore 193 (see, e.g., fig. 14) of the hosel 120. The hosel 120 is configured to attach to the shaft of a golf club. In some examples, the hosel 120 facilitates including a Flight Control Technology (FCT) system 123 between the hosel 120 and the shaft to control the positioning of the golf club head 100 relative to the shaft.

The FCT system 123 may include fasteners 125, the fasteners 125 being accessible through lower openings 195 formed in a bottom region of the casting cup 104. Additional examples of FCT system 123 are shown in association with golf club head 400 of fig. 19 and 20, golf club head 400 having hosel 420 and lower opening 495 to facilitate attachment of FCT system 123 to body 102. FCT system 123 includes a plurality of movable components mounted within hosel 120 and extending from hosel 120. The fasteners 125 facilitate adjustability of the FCT system 123 system by loosening the fasteners 125 and maintaining an adjustable position of the golf club head relative to the shaft by tightening the fasteners 125. The lower opening 195 opens into the bore 193 of the hosel 120. To facilitate any mass increase, the inner portion 127 of the hosel 120 (i.e., the portion of the hosel 120 within the interior cavity 113) includes a transverse opening 189 leading to the interior cavity 113. Due to the transverse opening 189, the inner portion 127 of the hosel 120 only partially surrounds the FCT component extending through the bore 193 of the hosel 120. In some examples, the height of the transverse opening 189 in a direction parallel to the hosel axis 191 is between 10mm and 15mm, the width of the transverse opening 189 in a direction perpendicular to the hosel axis 191 is at least 1 arc and/or the projected area of the transverse opening 189 is at least 75mm ²。

Referring to fig. 15, in some examples, the casting cup 104 includes a ball striking face 145. In other words, in some examples, the ball striking face 145 is co-formed (e.g., co-cast) with all other portions of the casting cup 104. Thus, in these examples, the striking face 145 is made of the same material as the rest of the casting cup 104. However, in other examples, similar to those examples associated with the golf club head of fig. 17-18, the ball striking face 145 is defined by a striking plate that is formed separately from the casting cup 104 and separately attached to the casting cup 104. According to some examples, the portion of the golf club head 100 defining the ball striking face 145 or the striking plate defining the ball striking face 145 includes a ball striking structure similar to those described in U.S. patent application nos. 12/006,060; and U.S. patent application No. 6,997,820; 6,800,038, respectively; and 6,824,475, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Fig. 21 illustrates an example rear surface of a face portion 600 of one or more golf club heads disclosed herein. In fig. 21, the rear surface is viewed from the rear with the hosel/heel on the left and the toe on the right. Fig. 22 and 23 illustrate another exemplary face portion 700 having a variable thickness profile, and fig. 24 illustrates yet another exemplary face portion 800 having a variable thickness profile. The variable thickness profile of the face portion 700 is formed by a tapered ledge, which in some examples may have a geometric center toward the geometric center of the striking face. The face portions disclosed herein may be formed as a result of the casting process and optional post-casting modifications to the face portions. Thus, the face portion may have a variety of novel thickness profiles. For example, in one example, the thickness of the forward portion at the ball striking face varies by at least 25% along the ball striking face. By casting the face into the desired geometry, rather than forming the face plate from flat rolled sheet metal as in the conventional process, the face can be made with a wider variety of geometries and can have different material properties, such as different grain directions and chemical impurity levels, which can provide advantages for golf ball performance and manufacture.

In the conventional process, the panel is made of a flat metal plate having a uniform thickness. Such sheet metal is typically rolled along one axis to reduce the thickness to some uniform thickness throughout the sheet. Such a rolling process can impart a grain direction in the sheet that produces different material properties in the rolling axis direction than the direction perpendicular to the rolling direction. Such variations in material properties may be undesirable and may be avoided by using the disclosed casting method instead to create the face portion.

Furthermore, because conventional panels are initially flat plates of uniform thickness, the overall thickness of the plate must be at least as great as the maximum thickness of the desired end product panel, which means that most of the starting sheet material has to be removed and wasted, thereby increasing material costs. In contrast, in the disclosed casting method, the closer the face portion is initially formed to the final shape and quality, the less material must be removed and wasted. This saves time and cost.

Still further, in conventional processes, the initially flat metal sheet must be bent in a special process to impart the desired convex and rolling curvature to the panel. Such a bending process is not required when using the disclosed casting method.

The unique thickness profiles illustrated in fig. 22-25 are made possible by using casting methods, such as those disclosed in U.S. patent No. 10,874,915 issued at 29.12.2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and which have not previously been possible to achieve using conventional processes, such as starting from a metal plate having a uniform thickness, mounting the plate in a lathe or similar machine and turning the plate to produce a variable thickness profile at the rear of the panel. In such turning processes, the imparted thickness profile must be symmetric about a central turning axis, which limits the thickness profile to a combination of concentric torus shapes, each having a uniform thickness at any given radius from a center point. In contrast, the use of the disclosed casting method does not impose such a limitation, and more complex facial geometries can be created.

By using a casting process, a large number of the disclosed club heads may be manufactured more quickly and efficiently. For example, 50 or more club heads may be cast simultaneously on a single casting tree, whereas creating a novel face thickness profile one at a time on a face plate using conventional lathe milling methods requires longer time and more resources.

In fig. 22, the back or inner surface of the face portion 600 includes an asymmetric variable thickness profile, illustrating only one example of the variety of variable thickness profiles possible using the disclosed casting method. The center 602 of the face may have a center thickness, and the face thickness may gradually increase moving from the center radially outward through the inner mixing zone 603 to a maximum thickness ring 604, which may be circular. The face thickness may move progressively less from the maximum thickness ring 604 through the variable mixing zone 606 to a second ring 608, which may be non-circular, such as elliptical. The face thickness may move in a gradual decrease from the second ring 608 radially outward through an outer blend area 609 to a heel and toe area 610 having a constant thickness (e.g., a minimum thickness of the face portion) and/or to a radially peripheral area 612 defining a range where the face of the face portion 600 transitions into the rest of the golf club head 100.

Second ring 608 itself may have a variable thickness profile such that the thickness of second ring 608 varies as a function of circumferential position about center 602. Similarly, the variable blending region 606 may have a thickness profile that varies as a function of circumferential position about the center 602 and provides a thickness transition from the maximum thickness ring 604 to the second ring 608 of variable and lesser thickness. For example, the variable mixing area 606 through the second ring 608 may be divided into eight sectors, labeled a-H in fig. 22, including a top area a, a top toe area B, a toe area C, a bottom toe area D, a sole area E, a bottom heel area F, a heel area G, and a top heel area H. The eight regions may have different angular widths as shown, or may each have the same angular width (e.g., one-eighth of 360 degrees). Each of the eight regions may have its own thickness variation, each ranging from a common maximum thickness adjacent to the ring 604 to a different minimum thickness at the second ring 608. For example, the second ring may be thicker in regions a and E, thinner in regions C and G, and have an intermediate thickness in regions B, D, F and H. In this example, the thickness of regions B, D, F and H may vary in the radial direction (moving radially outward to become thinner) and in the circumferential direction (moving from regions A and E to regions C and G to become thinner).

One example of the face portion 600 may have the following thicknesses: 3.1mm at the center 602 and 3.3mm at the ring 604, the second ring 608 can vary from 2.8mm in area a to 2.2mm in area C to 2.4mm in area E to 2.0mm in area G and to 1.8mm in the heel and toe areas 610.

According to one example, ring 604 may be about 8mm from center 602, and ring 608 may be about 19mm from center 602. The thickness of face portion 600 at center 602 may be between 2.8mm and 3.0 mm. The thickness of face portion 600 along ring 604 may be between 2.9mm and 3.1 mm. The thickness of face portion 600 along approach region a of ring 608 may be between 2.35mm and 2.55mm, the thickness of approach region C may be between 2.3mm and 2.5mm, the thickness of approach region E may be between 2.1mm and 2.3mm, and the thickness of approach region G may be between 2.6mm and 2.8 mm. The thickness of the face portion 600 approximately 35mm away from the center 602 may be between 1.7mm and 1.9 mm.

According to yet another example, the thickness of face portion 600 is between 2.95mm and 3.35mm at center 602, between 3.3mm and 3.65mm at about 9mm from center 602, between 2.95mm and 3.36mm at about 16mm from center 602, and between 2.03 mm and 2.27mm at about 28mm from center 602. The thickness of face portion 600 greater than 28mm away from center 602 may be between 1.8mm to 1.95mm on the toe side of face portion 600 and between 1.83mm to 1.98mm on the heel side of face portion 600.

Fig. 23 and 24 illustrate a back surface of another exemplary face portion 700 that includes an asymmetric variable thickness profile. The center 702 of the face may have a center thickness, and the face thickness may gradually increase moving from the center radially outward through the inner mixing region 703 to a maximum thickness ring 704, which may be circular. The face thickness may taper from the maximum thickness ring 704 through the variable blend area 705 to the outer area 706 consisting of a plurality of wedge sectors a-H of varying thickness. As best shown in fig. 24, sectors A, C, E and G can be relatively thick, while sectors B, D, F and H can be relatively thin. The thickness of the outer blending region 708 surrounding the outer region 706 transitions from a variable sector down to a peripheral ring 710 having a relatively small but constant thickness. Outer region 706 may also include a blend region between each of sectors a-H that gradually transitions in thickness from one sector to an adjacent sector.

One example of the face portion 700 may have the following thicknesses: 3.9mm at the center 702, 4.05mm at the ring 704, 3.6mm at region a, 3.2mm at region B, 3.25mm at region C, 2.05mm at region D, 3.35mm at region E, 2.05mm at region F, 3.00mm at region G, 2.65mm at region H, and 1.9mm at the peripheral ring 710.

Fig. 25 shows a back side of another exemplary face portion 800 that includes an asymmetric variable thickness profile with a target thickness that is offset toward the heel side (left side). The center 802 of the face has a center thickness and to the toe/top/bottom, through the interior blend region 803 to an inner ring 804 having a greater thickness than at the center 802, the thickness gradually increases. The thickness then decreases as one moves radially outward over second mixing region 805 to second ring 806, which has a thickness less than the thickness of inner ring 804. The thickness then decreases as one moves radially outward past third mixing zone 807 to third ring 808 having a thickness less than the thickness of second ring 806. The thickness then decreases as one moves radially outward over the fourth mixing area 810 to a fourth land 811 having a thickness less than the thickness of the third land 808. The toe end region 812 blends across the outer blend region 813 to the outer perimeter 814 having a relatively small thickness.

To the heel side, the thickness is offset by a set amount (e.g., 0.15mm) so that it is slightly thicker relative to the corresponding area of the toe side. The thickened region 820 (dashed line) provides a transition in which all thickness gradually increases toward a thicker offset region 822 (dashed line) at the heel side. In the offset region 822, the ring 823 is thicker than the ring 806 by a set amount (e.g., 0.15mm) on the heel side, and the ring 825 is thicker than the ring 808 by the same set amount. The thickness of the mixing

regions

824 and 826 gradually decreases as one moves radially outward and are each thicker than their

corresponding mixing regions

807 and 810 on the toe side. In thickened region 820, the thickness of inner ring 804 gradually increases moving toward the heel.

One example of the face portion 800 may have the following thicknesses: 3.8mm at center 802, 4.0mm at inner ring 804 and thickened to 4.15mm across thickened region 820, 3.5mm at second ring 806 and 3.65mm at ring 823, 2.4mm at third ring 808, 2.55mm at ring 825, 2.0mm at fourth ring 811, and 1.8mm at peripheral ring 814.

The target offset thickness profile shown in fig. 25 can help provide the desired CT profile of the entire face. For example, thickening the heel side may help avoid CT spikes occurring at the heel side of the face, which may help avoid inconsistent CT contours across the face, for example. Such an offset thickness profile may be similarly applied to the toe side of the face, or to both the toe and heel sides of the face, to avoid the occurrence of CT spikes at the heel and toe sides of the face. In other embodiments, an offset thickness profile may be applied to the upper side of the face and/or towards the bottom side of the face.

As shown in fig. 2, 4, 8, 9A, and 13, in some examples, the casting cup 104 further includes a slot 171 in the sole portion 117 of the golf club head 100. Slot 171 opens to the exterior of the golf club head 100 and extends longitudinally from heel portion 116 to toe portion 114. More specifically, the slot 171 is elongated in a longitudinal direction that is generally parallel to but offset from the ball striking face 145. Generally, the slot 171 is a groove or channel formed in the casting cup 104 at the bottom portion 117 of the golf club head 100. In some embodiments, slot 171 is a through slot, or a slot that opens into interior cavity 113 from the exterior of golf club head 100. However, in other embodiments, the slot 171 is not a through slot, but is enclosed on the inner cavity side or inner side of the slot 171. For example, the slot 171 can be defined by a portion of the sidewall of the bottom portion 117 of the body 102 that protrudes into the internal cavity 113 and has a concave outer surface having any of a variety of cross-sectional shapes, such as a generally U-shape, V-shape, or the like.

In some examples, the slot 171 is offset from the ball striking surface 145 by an offset distance that is a minimum distance between a first vertical plane passing through a center of the ball striking surface 145 and the slot at the same x-axis coordinate as the center of the ball striking surface 145, the distance being between about 5mm to about 50mm, such as between about 5mm to about 35mm, such as between about 5mm to about 30mm, such as between about 5mm to about 20mm, or such as between about 5mm to about 15 mm.

Although not shown, the casting cup 104 and/or ring 106 may include a rearward slot similar in configuration to the slot 171, but oriented in a forward-rearward direction, rather than in a heel-to-toe direction. The casting cup 104 includes a rearward slot, but in some examples there is no slot 171, and in other examples, a rearward slot and slot 171. In one example, the rearward slot is located rearward of slot 171. In some embodiments, the rearward slot may act as a counterweight track. Further, the rearward track is offset from the ball striking face 145 by an offset distance, which is the minimum distance between a first vertical plane passing through the center of the ball striking face 145 and the rearward track at the same x-axis coordinate as the center of the ball striking face 145, between about 5mm to about 50mm, such as between about 5mm to about 40mm, such as between about 5mm to about 30mm, or such as between about 10mm to about 30 mm.

In certain embodiments, the slot 171 and, if present, the rearward slot, have a particular slot width, measured as the horizontal distance between the first slot wall and the second slot wall. For the slot 171 and also the rearward slot, the slot width may be between about 5mm to about 20mm, such as between about 10mm to about 18mm, or such as between about 12mm to about 16 mm. According to some embodiments, the depth of slot 171 (i.e., the vertical distance between the bottom slot wall and an imaginary plane containing the area of the bottom portion 117 adjacent to the opposing slot wall of slot 171) may be between about 6mm to about 20mm, such as between about 8mm to about 18mm, or such as between about 10mm to about 16 mm.

Further, the slot 171 and, if present, the rearward slot have a particular slot length, which may be measured as the horizontal distance between the slot end wall and another slot end wall. For slots 171 and rearward slots, their length may be between about 30mm to about 120mm, such as between about 50mm to about 100mm, or such as between about 60mm to about 90 mm. Additionally or alternatively, the length of the slot 171 may be expressed as a percentage of the overall length of the ball striking face 145. For example, the slot 171 may be between about 30% to about 100% of the length of the ball striking face 145, such as between about 50% to about 90% of the length of the ball striking face 145, or such as between about 60% to about 80%.

In some examples, the slot 171 is a feature that improves and/or increases the coefficient of restitution (COR) across the ball striking face 145. With respect to the COR feature, the slot 171 may take various forms, such as a passage or through slot. The COR of the golf club head 100 is a measure of the energy loss or hold between the golf club head 100 and a golf ball when the golf ball is struck by the golf club head 100. Ideally, the COR of the golf club head 100 is high to facilitate efficient transfer of energy from the golf club head 100 to the ball during impact with the ball. Thus, the COR characteristics of the golf club head 100 promote an increase in the COR of the golf club head 100. In general, the slots 171 increase the COR of the golf club head 100 by increasing or enhancing the ball striking flexibility of the ball striking face 145. In some examples of the golf club heads disclosed herein, the COR is at least 0.8 for at least 25% of the ball striking face within the central region, as defined below.

Further details regarding slot 171 as a COR feature of golf club head 100 may be found in U.S. patent application nos. 13/338,197, 13/469,031, 13/828,675 filed on 12/27/2011, 5/10/2012, and 3/2013/14/2013, respectively, U.S. patent application No. 13/839,727 filed on 3/15/2013, U.S. patent No. 8,235,844 filed on 6/1/2010, U.S. patent No. 8,241,143 filed on 12/13/2011, and U.S. patent No. 8,241,141 filed on 12/14/2011, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The slot 171 can be any of the various Flexible Border Structures (FBSs) described in U.S. patent No. 9,044,653 filed on 3, 14, 2013, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Additionally or alternatively, the golf club head 100 may include one or more other FBSs at any of a variety of other locations on the golf club head 100. The slot 171 may be comprised of a curved section or several sections that may be a combination of curved and straight sections. Additionally, slot 171 may be machined or cast into golf club head 100. Although shown in the sole portion 117 of the golf club head 100, the slot 171 may alternatively or additionally be incorporated into the crown portion 119 of the golf club head 100.

In some examples, the slots 171 are filled with a filler material. However, in other examples, slots 171 are not filled with a filler material, but rather maintain an open, empty space within slots 171. In some embodiments, the filler material may be made of a non-metal, such as a thermoplastic material, a thermoset material, or the like. When the slot 171 is a through slot, the slot 171 may be filled with a material to prevent dust and other debris from entering the slot and possibly the interior cavity 113 of the golf club head 100. The filler material may be any relatively low modulus material including polyurethane, elastomeric rubber, polymers, various rubbers, foams, and fillers. The filler material should not adequately prevent deformation of the golf club head 100 during use, as this would counteract the flexibility of the golf club head 100.

According to one embodiment, the filler material is initially an adhesive material that is injected or otherwise inserted into slot 171. Examples of materials that may be suitable for use as a filler material for placement into a slot, channel, or other flexible boundary structure include, but are not limited to: a viscoelastic elastomer; vinyl copolymers with or without inorganic fillers; polyvinyl acetate with or without mineral fillers (such as barium sulfate); acrylic; a polyester; a polyurethane; a polyether; a polyamide; polybutadiene; polystyrene; a polyisoprene; polyethylene; a polyolefin; styrene/isoprene block copolymers; hydrogenated benzeneAn ethylene thermoplastic elastomer; a metallized polyester; metallizing acrylic; an epoxy resin; epoxy and graphite composites; natural and synthetic rubbers; piezoelectric ceramics; thermoset and thermoplastic rubbers; a foamed polymer; an ionomer; low-density glass fibers; asphalt; a silicone; and mixtures thereof. The metallized polyester and acrylic resin may include aluminum as the metal. Commercially available materials include elastic polymeric materials, such as Scotchwell from 3M^TM(e.g., DP-105)^TM) And Scotchdamp^TMSorbothane from Sorbothane ^TMDYAD from Soundcoat corporation^TMAnd GP^TMDynamat from Dynamat Control of North America, Inc^TMNoViFlex from Pole Star Maritime group Inc^TMSylomer^TMIsoplast from the Dow chemical company^TMLegetolex from Piqua Technologies, Inc^TMAnd hybrid from Kuraray corporation^TM. In some embodiments, the solid filler material may be press-fit or bonded into a slot, channel, or other flexible boundary structure. In other embodiments, the filler material may be poured, injected or otherwise inserted into the slot or channel and allowed to cure in place, thereby forming a substantially hardened or resilient outer surface. In other embodiments, a filler material may be placed into the slot or channel and sealed in place with a resilient cap or other structure formed of a metal, metal alloy, metal, composite material, hard plastic, resilient elastomer, or other suitable material.

Referring to fig. 4, 8, 9A, and 14, in some examples, the golf club head 100 further includes a weight 173 attached to the casting cup 104. The casting cup 104 includes a threaded port 175 that receives and retains a weight 173. The threaded port 175 opens to the exterior of the golf club head 100 and the interior cavity 113 and, in some examples, includes internal threads. In other examples, the threaded port 175 is closed to the internal cavity 113. The weight 173 includes external threads that threadedly engage the internal threads of the threaded port 175 to retain the weight 173 within the threaded port 175. When the threaded port 175 is open to the internal cavity 113, the weight 173 effectively closes the threaded port 175 to prevent access to the internal cavity 113 when threaded into the casting cup 104 within the threaded port 175. As shown, when the threaded port 175 is open to the internal cavity 113, a portion of the weight 173 is located outside of the internal cavity 113 and another portion is located within the internal cavity 113. In contrast, in other examples, such as when the threaded port 175 is closed to the inner cavity 113, the entire weight 173 is located outside of the inner cavity 113. Although not shown, in one example, the threaded port 175 may be open to the interior cavity 113 and closed to the exterior of the golf club head 100 (e.g., the threaded port 175 faces inward instead of outward). In such an example, the entire weight 173 would be located inside the internal cavity 113. As defined herein, the weight 173 is considered to be inside the internal cavity 113 when any portion of the weight 173 is inside or within the internal cavity 113 relative to the internal cavity 113, and the weight 173 may alternatively or also be considered to be outside of the internal cavity 113 when any portion of the weight 173 is outside relative to the internal cavity 113.

In some examples, as shown, the threaded port 175, and thus the weight 173, is located in the sole portion 117 of the golf club head 100. Further, according to some examples, threaded port 175 and weight 173 are closer to heel portion 116 than toe portion 114. In one example, threaded port 175 and the weight are closer to heel portion 116 than slot 171. In some examples, the weight 173 has a mass of between about 3g to about 23g (e.g., 6 g).

Referring to fig. 9A, 11 and 14, the casting cup 104 further includes a mass pad 186 attached to or co-formed with the remainder of the casting cup 104. The mass pad 186 is thicker than any other portion of the casting cup 104. In the illustrated example, the mass pad 186 is located proximate the sole portion 117 of the golf club head 100, and thus proximate a sole region of the casting cup 104. Further, in some examples, a portion of the mass pad 186 is located proximate to the location at the heel portion 116 of the golf club head 100, and thus proximate to the location of the heel area of the casting cup 104. As defined herein, mass pad 186 is considered a sole mass pad when located at the sole portion 117 of the golf club head 100, and mass pad 186 is considered a heel mass pad when located at the heel portion 116 of the golf club head 100. It should be appreciated that when mass pads 186 are located at both bottom portion 117 and heel portion 116, mass pads 186 are considered to be bottom and heel mass pads.

Referring to fig. 11 and 14, in some examples, the casting cup 104 further includes an internal rib 187 formed with other portions of the casting cup 104. The internal ribs 187 may be located at any of a variety of different positions within the casting cup 104. In the illustrated example, the internal ribs 187 are located (e.g., formed) in a bottom region of the casting cup 104 that is closer to a toe region of the casting cup 104 than a heel region of the casting cup 104. The interior ribs 187 help to enhance and promote the desired acoustic properties of the golf club head 100.

Referring to fig. 11, 14 and 15, the ring 106 includes a cantilever portion 161, and a toe arm portion 163A and a heel arm portion 163B extending from the cantilever portion 161. The toe arm portion 163A and the heel arm portion 163B are located on opposite sides of the golf club head 100, originate at the cantilever portion 161, and terminate at a corresponding one of the toe-cup engaging surface 152A and the heel-cup engaging surface 152B. The cantilevered portion 161 defines at least a portion of the rearward portion 118 of the golf club head 100 and further defines the rearmost end of the golf club head 100. Further, in the illustrated example, the cantilever portion 161 extends from the crown portion 119 to the sole portion 117. Thus, in some examples, the cantilevered portion 161 defines a portion of the sole portion 117 of the golf club head 100, such as defining an outward facing surface of the sole portion 117 of the golf club head 100.

In some examples, the cantilevered portion 161 is proximate the ground plane 181 when the golf club head 100 is in the address position. According to certain examples, the ratio of the peak crown height to the perpendicular distance from the peak crown height to the lowest surface of the cantilevered portion 161 of the ring 106 is at least 6.0, at least 5.0, at least 4.0, or more preferably at least 3.0. Alternatively or additionally, in some examples, the vertical distance from the skirt peak height of the skirt portion to the lowermost surface of the cantilevered portion 161 of the ring 106 is no less than between 20mm and 30mm when the golf club head 100 is in the address position.

The toe arm portion 163A and the heel arm portion 163B define a toe side of the skirt portion 121 and a heel side of the skirt portion 121, respectively, and define portions of the toe portion 114 and the heel portion 116, respectively, of the golf club head 100. The cantilever portion 161 extends downwardly away from the toe arm portion 163A and the heel arm portion 163B, while the toe arm portion 163A and the heel arm portion 163B extend forwardly away from the cantilever portion 161. Thus, when the golf club head 100 is in the address position, the cantilever portion 161 is closer to the ground plane 181 than the toe arm portion 163A and the heel arm portion 163B. In other words, referring to fig. 3, 4, and 9A, when the golf club head 100 is in the address position, the height in the vertical direction (HR) of the lowest surface of the ring 106 above the ground plane 181 is less anywhere along the cantilever portion 161 than anywhere along the toe arm portion 163A and the heel arm portion 163B.

In some examples, the height HR of the lowest surface of the toe arm portion 163A at the toe portion 114 of the golf club head 100 is different than the height HR of the lowest surface of the heel arm portion 163B at the heel portion 116 of the golf club head 100. More specifically, in one example, the height HR of the lowest surface of the toe arm portion 163A at the toe portion 114 of the golf club head 100 is greater than the height HR of the lowest surface of the heel arm portion 163B at the heel portion 116 of the golf club head 100.

According to some examples, as shown in fig. 3, 4, and 9A, the Width (WR) of the ring 106 measured in the vertical direction when the golf club head 100 is in the address position varies in the front-to-rear direction (e.g., along the length of the ring 106). In one example, the width WR increases from the minimum width to the maximum width in the front-to-back direction. In other words, in some examples, the width WR of the ring 106 varies in the fore-aft direction. In some examples, the maximum width WR of the ring 106 is at the rearmost end of the golf club head 100. In one example, the maximum width WR of the ring 106 is at least 20 mm. According to some examples, as shown in fig. 14, a width WR of ring 106 at toe portion 114 is less than a width WR of ring 106 at heel portion 116. According to some additional examples, the thickness of the ring 106 may vary along the ring 106 in the fore-aft direction.

Referring to fig. 2-4, 6, 8, 9A, and 11-15, in some examples, the golf club head 100 further includes a mass element 159 attached to the cantilevered portion 161 of the loop 106, such as at the rearmost end of the golf club head 100. The mass element 159 may be selectively removable from the cantilever portion 161 (e.g., interchangeable with mass elements of different weights) or permanently attached to the cantilever portion 161. According to one embodiment, the mass element 159 and the counterweight 173 are interchangeably coupled to the casting cup 104 and the cantilevered portion 161 of the ring 106. Thus, in some examples, the flight control technology components, mass element 159, and weight 173 of the golf club head 100 are adjustable with respect to the golf club head 100. In some examples, the flight control technology components, the mass element 159, and the weight 173 of the golf club head 100 are configured to be adjustable via a single or the same tool.

In one example, the mass element 159 includes external threads. The golf club head 100 may additionally include a mass receptacle 157 attached to the cantilevered portion 161 of the ring 106. The mass container 157 may include a threaded bore having internal threads that threadably engage the mass element 159 to secure the mass element 159 to the cantilever portion 161. In some examples, the mass container 157 is welded to the cantilever portion 161, while in other examples is adhered to the cantilever portion 161. In certain examples, the mass container 157 is formed with the cantilever portion 161. The cantilever portion 161 also includes a mass pad 155 (see, e.g., fig. 9A, 12, and 15) or a portion of the cantilever portion 161 having a locally increased thickness and thus a locally increased mass. The mass container 157 may be formed in the mass pad 155 of the cantilever portion 161. In some examples, the mass element 159 has a mass of between about 15g to about 35g (e.g., 24 g).

In the illustrated example, the outer perimeter shape of one or both of the mass element 159 and the counterweight 173 is circular. Thus, the orientation of one or both of the mass element 159 and the counterweight 173 may be rotated about the central axis of the mass element 159 and the counterweight 173, respectively, in any of a variety of orientations between 0 degrees and 360 degrees. However, in other examples, the outer circumferential shape of at least one or both of the mass element 159 and the counterweight 173 is non-circular, such as oval, triangular, trapezoidal, square, or the like. For example, as shown in fig. 16, the counterweight 273 has a trapezoidal or rectangular outer peripheral shape. In certain examples, the mass element 159 and/or the counterweight 173 having a non-circular peripheral shape may be rotated about the central axis of the mass element 159 and the counterweight 173, respectively, in some embodiments between 0 degrees and at least 90 degrees and in other embodiments in any of a variety of orientations between 0 degrees and at least 180 degrees.

The variety of construction and materials of the golf club head 100 allows flexibility in the location of the weight 173 (e.g., a first weight or a forward weight) relative to the location of the mass element 159 (e.g., a second weight or a rearward weight). In some examples, the relative positions of the weight 173 and the mass element 159 may be similar to those disclosed in U.S. patent application No. 16/752,397 filed 24/1/2020. Referring to fig. 9A, according to one example, the z-axis coordinate of cg (fwcg) of the first weight is between-30 mm and-10 mm (e.g., -21mm) on the z-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185, the y-axis coordinate of cg (fwcg) of the first weight is between 10mm and 30mm (e.g., 23mm) on the y-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185, and the x-axis coordinate of cg (fwcg) of the first weight is between 15mm and 35mm (e.g., 22mm) on the x-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185. According to the same or different examples, the z-axis coordinate of the cg (swcg) of the second weight is between-30 mm and 10mm (e.g., -11mm) on the z-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185, the y-axis coordinate of the cg (swcg) of the second weight is between 90mm and 120mm (e.g., 110mm) on the y-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185, and the x-axis coordinate of the cg (swcg) of the second weight is between-20 mm and 10mm (e.g., -7mm) on the x-axis of the club head origin coordinate system 185.

In some examples, the bottom portion 117 of the golf club head 100 includes an inertia generating feature 177 that is elongated in the longitudinal direction. The longitudinal direction is perpendicular or oblique to the ball striking face 145. According to some examples, the inertia generating features 177 include the same features and provide the same advantages as the inertia generator disclosed in U.S. patent application No. 16/660,561 filed on 22.10.2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In the illustrated example, the bottom insert 110 forms at least a portion of the inertia generating features 177. More specifically, in some examples, the bottom insert 110 forms all or a majority of the inertia generating features 177. In some examples, the cantilevered portion 161 of the ring 106 also forms a portion, such as a rearmost portion, of the inertia generating feature 177. The inertia generating features 177 help to increase the inertia of the golf club head 100 and lower the Center of Gravity (CG) of the golf club head 100.

The inertia generating feature 177 includes a raised or elevated platform that extends from a location rearward of the hosel 120 to a location proximate the rearward portion 112 of the golf club head 100. The inertia-generating features 177 include a substantially flat or planar surface that rises above (or protrudes from, depending on the orientation of the golf club head 100) the surrounding outer surface of the sole portion 117. In certain examples, at least a portion of the inertia generating features 177 are raised at least 1.5mm, at least 1.8 mm, at least 2.1mm, or at least 3.0mm above the surrounding outer surface of the base portion 117. The inertia generating features 177 also have a width that is less than the entire width of the base portion 117 (e.g., less than half the entire width). In view of the foregoing, the inertia generating features 177 have a complex curved geometry with multiple inflection points. Thus, the bottom insert 110 defining the inertia generating features 177 has a complex curved surface with multiple inflection points.

Referring to fig. 1-3 and 5, in some examples, the golf club head 100 includes a through hole 172 at the toe portion 114 in the body 102. The through bore 172 extends completely through the wall of the body 102 such that the lumen 113 is accessible through the bore 172. The aperture 172 may be used to insert a stiffening member into the cavity 113 against the interior surface of the forward portion 112 to help set the CT of the ball striking face 145. Further details of the armature, the insertion process, and the effect of the armature on the CT of the ball striking face 145 may be found in U.S. patent application publication No. 2019/0201754 published on 7/4/2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. As shown, the through-hole 172 is not located in the forward portion 112 (e.g., the ball striking face 145). Thus, in some examples, the striking face 145 has no through-holes that open into the interior cavity 113 or hollow interior region of the golf club head 100. Further, in some examples, no material having a shore D value greater than 10, greater than 5, or greater than 1 contacts the inner surface 166 of the forward portion 112, the inner surface 166 opposite the ball striking face 145 and opening into the hollow interior region and located in a geometric center toe direction and/or a heel direction of the ball striking face 145. In other examples, no material contacts the inner surface 166 of the forward portion 112 opposite the ball striking face 145 and open to the hollow interior area regardless of the hardness.

The CT characteristic of the golf club heads disclosed herein may be defined as a CT value within a central area of the striking face 145. The central area is a forty millimeter by twenty millimeter rectangular area centered on the center of the striking face and elongated in the heel to toe direction. In some examples, the center of the ball striking face 145 may be the geometric center of the ball striking face 145. Within the central region, the striking face 145 has a Characteristic Time (CT) of no more than 257 microseconds. In some examples, the CT of at least 60% of the striking face within the central region is at least 235 microseconds. According to some examples, the CT of at least 35% of the striking face within the central region is at least 240 microseconds.

The CT of the striking face 145 at the geometric center of the striking face has an initial CT value. The initial CT value is the CT value of the striking face 145 before any impact with a standard golf ball. As defined herein, a hit with a standard golf ball is a hit with a standard golf ball when the golf ball travels at a speed of 52 meters per second. According to some examples, the initial CT value is at least 244 microseconds. In some examples, the ball-serving golf club heads disclosed herein, including the golf club head 100, are configured such that after a standard golf ball is struck 500 times at the geometric center of the striking face 145, the CT value of the striking face is less than 256 microseconds at any point within the center region, and the CT at the geometric center of the striking face differs (e.g., is greater than) no more than 5 microseconds from the initial CT value.

In some examples, the driver golf club heads disclosed herein, including the golf club head 100, are configured such that the CT of the ball striking face at any point within the central region is less than 256 microseconds after a standard golf ball has been struck 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, or 3,000 times at the geometric center of the ball striking face. According to some examples, the CT value of the striking face 145 at any point within the central region after 2,000 hits of a standard golf ball at the geometric center of the striking face may differ from the initial CT by no more than 7 microseconds or 9 microseconds. Further, in some examples, the CT of the striking face 145 at the geometric center of the striking face after 2000 shots at the geometric center of the striking face differs from the initial CT value by no less than 249 microseconds and no greater than 10 microseconds. According to some examples, the CT value of the striking face 145 at any point within the central region may differ from the initial CT by no more than 9 microseconds or 13 microseconds after 3,000 hits of a standard golf ball at the geometric center of the striking face. In some examples, such as those in which the ball striking face 145 is made of a metallic material, the inward surface of the ball striking face 145 advances less than 0.01 inches after 500 strokes of a standard golf ball at the geometric center of the ball striking face.

Referring to fig. 16 and 17, and in accordance with another example of golf club heads disclosed herein, a golf club head 200 is shown. The golf club head 200 includes features similar to those of the golf club head 100, with like numerals (e.g., like numerals but in the 200 series) referring to like features. For example, like the golf club head 100, the golf club head 200 includes a toe portion 214 and a heel portion 216 opposite the toe portion 214. In addition, the golf club head 200 includes a forward portion 212 and a rearward portion 218 opposite the forward portion 212. The golf club head 200 additionally includes a sole portion 217 at a sole region of the golf club head 200 and a crown portion 219 opposite the sole portion 217 and at a top region of the golf club head 200. Furthermore, the golf club head 200 includes a skirt portion 221 that defines a transition region where the golf club head 200 transitions between the crown portion 219 and the sole portion 217. The golf club head 200 further includes an interior cavity 213 collectively defined and enclosed by the forward portion 212, the rearward portion 218, the crown portion 219, the sole portion 217, the heel portion 216, the toe portion 214, and the skirt portion 221. Further, the forward portion 212 includes a ball striking face 245 that extends along the forward portion 212 from the sole portion 217 to the crown portion 219 and from the toe portion 214 to the heel portion 216. In addition, the golf club head 200 further includes a body 202, a crown insert 208 attached to the body 202 at the top of the golf club head 200, and a sole insert 210 attached to the body 202 at the bottom of the golf club head 200. The body 202 includes a casting cup 204 and a ring 206. The ring 206 is joined to the casting cup 204 at a toe-side joint 212A and a heel-side joint 212B. The casting cup 204 of the body 202 also includes a slot 271 in the sole portion 217 of the golf club head 200. In addition, the golf club head 200 additionally includes a mass element 259 and mass container 257 attached to the ring 206 of the body 202, and a weight 273 attached to the casting cup 204. Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, the golf club head 200 shares some similarities with the golf club head 100.

Unlike the golf club head 100, however, the striking face 245 of the golf club head 200 is not co-formed with the casting cup 204. Instead, the striking face 245 forms a portion of the striking plate 243, and the striking face 245 is formed separately from the casting cup 204 and attached to the casting cup 204, such as via bonding, welding, brazing, fastening, or the like. Thus, the striking plate 243 defines a striking face 245. The casting cup 204 includes a plate opening 249 at the forward portion 212 of the golf club head 200 and a plate opening recessed flange 247 that extends continuously around the plate opening 249. The inner periphery of the plate opening recess flange 247 defines a plate opening 249. The striking plate 243 is attached to the casting cup 204 by securing the striking plate 243 into seated engagement with the plate opening recess flange 247. When engaged to the plate opening recessed flange 247 in this manner, the striking plate 243 covers or closes the plate opening 249. Additionally, the roof opening recess ledge 247 and the striking plate 243 are sized, shaped, and positioned with respect to the crown portion 219 of the golf club head 200 such that the striking plate 243 abuts the crown portion 219 when in seated engagement with the roof opening recess ledge 247. The striking plate 243 adjacent the crown portion 219 defines the top line of the golf club head 200. Further, in some examples, the visible appearance of the striking plate 243 is sufficiently contrasted with the visible appearance of the crown portion 219 of the golf club head 200, which is defined in part by the casting cup 204, such that the top line of the golf club head 200 is significantly enhanced. Because the striking plate 243 is formed separately from the casting cup 204, the striking plate 243 may be made of a material different from the material of the casting cup 204. In one example, the striking plate 243 is made of a fiber reinforced polymeric material. In yet another example, the striking plate 243 is made of a metallic material, such as a titanium alloy (e.g., Ti 6-4, Ti 9-1-1, and ZA 1300).

Additionally, unlike golf club head 100, casting cup 204 includes a weight rail 279 in bottom portion 217 of golf club head 200. The weight track 279 extends longitudinally along the bottom portion 217 in a heel-to-toe direction. In examples where the casting cup 204 also includes a slot 271, such as shown, the weight track 279 is substantially parallel to the slot 271 and offset from the slot 271 in the fore-aft direction. The weight rail 279 includes at least one flange that extends longitudinally along the length of the weight rail 279. In the illustrated example, the weight track 279 includes a forward flange 297A and a rearward flange 297B that are spaced apart from each other in the fore-aft direction. The weight 273 located within the weight rail 279 may be selectively clamped to one or more flanges of the weight rail 279 to releasably secure the weight 273 to the weight rail 279. In the illustrated example, the counterweight 273 is selectively clampable to both the forward and

rearward flanges

297A, 297B. When loosened to the one or more flanges of the weight track 279, the weight 273 may slide along the one or more flanges, as indicated by the directional arrow in fig. 16, to change the position of the weight 273 relative to the weight track 279 and to adjust the mass distribution, Center of Gravity (CG) and other performance characteristics of the golf club head 200 when re-clamped to the one or more flanges.

According to one example, the counterweight 273 includes washers 273A, nuts 273B, and fastening bolts 273C, the fastening bolts 273C interconnecting the washers 273A and nuts 273B to clamp onto the

flanges

297A, 297B of the counterweight track 279. Washer 273A has an unthreaded hole and nut 273B has a threaded hole. The fastening bolt 273C is threaded and passes through the unthreaded hole of the washer 273A to threadingly engage the threaded hole of the nut 273B. The threaded engagement between the fastening bolt 273C and the nut 273B allows the gap between the washer 273A and the nut 273B to be narrowed, which facilitates clamping of the flange or flanges between the washer 273A and the nut 273B, or widened, which facilitates loosening of the flange or flanges from between the washer 273A and the nut 273B. The fastening bolt 273C may be rotatable relative to both the washer 273A and the nut 273B, or formed in a unitary construction and co-rotated with one of the washer 273A and the nut 273B.

To reduce the weight of the golf club head 200 and the depth of the weight rail 279, the fastening bolt 273C is short. For example, the length of the fastening bolt 273C, when the counterweight 273 is clamped against the

flanges

297A, 297B, extends no more than 3mm beyond the nut 273B (or washer 273A if the positions of the nut 273B and washer 273A are reversed). In some examples, the entire length of the fastening bolt 273C is no more than 15% greater than the combined thickness of the washer 273A, nut 273B, and one of the

flanges

297A, 297B.

As shown, the outer perimeter shape of the washer 273A is non-circular, such as trapezoidal or rectangular. Similarly, the outer peripheral shape of the nut 273B may be non-circular, such as trapezoidal or rectangular. Alternatively, as shown, the outer peripheral shape of the nut 273B is circular, while the outer peripheral shape of the washer 273A is non-circular.

Referring to fig. 18, and in accordance with another example of golf club heads disclosed herein, a golf club head 300 is shown. The golf club head 300 includes features similar to those of the golf club head 100 and the golf club head 200, with like numbers (e.g., the same numbers but in the 300 series) referring to the same features. For example, like the golf club head 100 and the golf club head 200, include a body 302, a crown insert 308 attached to the body 302 at the top of the golf club head 300, and a sole insert 310 attached to the body 302 at the bottom of the golf club head 300. The body 302 includes a casting cup 304 and a ring 306. The ring 306 is joined to the casting cup 304 at a toe-side joint and a heel-side joint. The casting cup 304 of the body 302 also includes a slot 371 in the bottom portion of the golf club head 300. Additionally, the golf club head 300 additionally includes a mass element 359 and a mass receptacle 357 attached to the ring 306 of the body 302, and a weight 373 attached to the casting cup 379 via fasteners 379. Additionally, like the golf club head 200, the golf club head 300 includes a striking plate 343 defining a striking face 145, the striking face 145 being formed separately from the casting cup 304 and attached to the casting cup 304. In some examples, the ball striking plate 343 is made of a fiber reinforced polymer and includes a base portion 347 and a cover 349 applied to the base portion 347. In some examples, base portion 347 is thicker than cover 349, base portion 347 is made of a fiber reinforced polymer, and cover 349 is made of a fiber-free polymer. In certain examples, the cover 349 is made of polyurethane. Also, cover 349 includes grooves 351 or score lines formed in the fiber-free polymer. The portion of the cover 349 defining the ball striking face 345 has a surface roughness that is greater than a surface roughness of the body 302. Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, the golf club head 300 shares some similarities with the golf club head 100 and the golf club head 200.

However, unlike the illustrated examples of casting cup 104 of golf club head 100 and casting cup 204 of golf club head 200, casting cup 304 has a multi-piece construction. More specifically, casting cup 304 includes an upper cup 304A and a lower cup 304B. The upper cup 304A is formed separately from the lower cup 304B. Thus, the upper cup 304A and the lower cup 304B are joined or attached together to form the casting cup 304. Because the upper cup 304A and the lower cup 304B are formed separately, the upper cup 304A may be made of a material that is different from the material of the lower cup 304B. The casting cup 304 includes a hosel 320, wherein a portion of the hosel 320 is formed as an upper cup 304A and another portion of the hosel 320 is formed as a lower cup 304B.

According to some examples, the upper cup 304A is made of a material that is different from the material of the lower cup 304B. For example, the upper cup 304A may be made of a material that is less dense than the material of the lower cup 304B. In one example, the upper cup 304A is made of a titanium alloy, while the lower cup 304B is made of a steel alloy. According to another example, the upper cup 304A is made of an aluminum alloy, while the lower cup 304B is made of a steel alloy or a tungsten alloy, such as 10-17 density tungsten. This configuration helps to increase the mass of the casting cup 304 and lower the Center of Gravity (CG) of the casting cup 304 and golf club head 300 as compared to the one-piece casting cup 104 of golf club head 100. In an alternative configuration, according to some examples, the upper cup 304A is made of an aluminum alloy and the lower cup 304B is made of a titanium alloy. These latter configurations help to reduce the overall mass of the casting cup 304. According to some examples, the upper cup 304A and the lower cup 304B are made using different manufacturing techniques. For example, upper cup 304A may be made by stamping, forging, and/or Metal Injection Molding (MIM), while lower cup 304B may be made by another or different combination of stamping, forging, and/or Metal Injection Molding (MIM). Various examples of combinations of material and mass properties of the upper and

lower cups

304A, 304B are shown in table 2 below.

TABLE 2

As shown, the casting cup 304 includes a port 375 that receives and retains a weight 373. The port 375 is configured to hold the weight 373 in a fixed position on the bottom portion of the golf club head 300. However, in other examples, port 375 may be replaced with a weight track similar to weight track 279 of golf club head 200 such that weight 373 may be selectively adjusted and moved to any of a variety of positions along the weight track. In this manner, the counterweight rail and one or more corresponding flanges of the counterweight rail may form part of one piece of the multi-piece casting cup.

Although the casting cup 304 is shown as having a two-piece construction, in other examples the casting cup 304 has a three-piece construction or is constructed with more than three pieces. According to one example, the casting cup 304 has a crown-toe piece, a crown-heel piece, and a bottom piece. In certain embodiments, the crown-toe piece and the crown-heel piece are made of a titanium alloy, while the bottom piece is made of a steel alloy. The titanium alloy of the crown-toe piece may be the same as or different from the titanium alloy of the crown-heel piece.

Referring to fig. 19 and 20, and in accordance with another example of golf club heads disclosed herein, a golf club head 400 is shown. The golf club head 400 includes features similar to those of the golf club head 100, the golf club head 200, and the golf club head 300, like numbers (e.g., like numbers but in the 400 series) referring to like features. For example, like the golf club head 100, the golf club head 200, and the golf club head 300, the golf club head 400 includes a body 402, a crown insert 408 attached to the body 402 at the top of the golf club head 400, and a sole insert 410 attached to the body 402 at the bottom of the golf club head 400. The body 402 includes a casting cup 404 and a ring 406. The ring 406 is joined to the casting cup 404 at a toe-side joint 412A and a heel-side joint 412B. Additionally, like the golf club head 200 and the golf club head 300, the golf club head 400 includes a striking plate 443 that defines a striking face 445, the striking face 445 being formed separately from the casting cup 404 and attached to the casting cup 404. Accordingly, in view of the foregoing, golf club head 400 shares some similarities with golf club head 100, golf club head 200, and golf club head 300.

In addition, golf club head 400 additionally includes a weight 473 attached to casting cup 404 via fastener 479. As shown, the casting cup 404 includes a port 475 that receives and holds a weight 473. The port 475 is configured to hold the weight 473 in a fixed position on the bottom portion of the golf club head 400. However, in other examples, port 475 may be replaced with a weight track similar to weight track 279 of golf club head 200 such that weight 473 may be selectively adjusted and moved to any of a variety of positions along the weight track. In this manner, the weight rail and one or more corresponding flanges of the weight rail may form a portion of casting cup 404.

Further, like the golf club head 100, the golf club head 200, and the golf club head 300, the golf club head 400 additionally includes a mass element 459 and a mass receptacle 457. However, unlike some examples of golf club head containers previously discussed, the mass container 457 of the golf club head 400 is formed as a one-piece, unitary construction with the cantilevered portion 461 of the ring 406. Thus, in some examples, the mass container 457 is co-cast with the ring 406. The mass container 457 includes an opening or recess configured to nestably receive the mass element 459. The mass element 459 may be made of a different (e.g., denser) material than the material of the ring 406, such as tungsten. The mass elements 459 are bonded to the ring 406, such as by adhesive, to secure the mass elements 459 within the mass receptacle 457. In some examples, mass elements 459 include prongs 463 that engage corresponding holes in mass receptacle 457 when coupled to ring 406. The engagement between the prongs 463 and the corresponding apertures of the mass container 457 helps to enhance and strengthen the coupling between the mass element 459 and the ring 406.

Referring to fig. 21, the ring 406 includes a toe arm portion 463A defining the toe side of the skirt portion 421 and a heel arm portion 463B defining the heel side of the skirt portion 421 of the golf club head 400. Further, the toe arm portion 463A and the heel arm portion 463B define portions of the toe portion 414 and the heel portion 416, respectively, of the golf club head 400 (see, e.g., fig. 19 and 20). The cantilever portion 461 extends downwardly away from the toe arm portion 463A and the heel arm portion 463B, while the toe arm portion 463A and the heel arm portion 463B extend forwardly away from the cantilever portion 461. Accordingly, when the golf club head 400 is in the address position, the cantilever portion 461 is closer to the ground plane 181 than the toe arm portion 463A and the heel arm portion 463B. In fig. 21, the ring 406 is shown in a position corresponding to the position of the ring 406 when the golf club head 400 is in the address position relative to the ground plane 181.

In some examples, the height HR of the lowest surface (and in some examples, the entirety) of the toe arm portion 463A at the toe portion 414 of the golf club head 400 is different than the height HR of the lowest surface (and in some examples, the entirety) of the heel arm portion 463B at the heel portion 416 of the golf club head 400. More specifically, in one example, the height HR of the lowest surface of the toe arm portion 463A at the toe portion 414 of the golf club head 400 is greater than the height HR of the lowest surface of the heel arm portion 463B at the heel portion 416 of the golf club head 100.

According to some examples, a width WR of toe arm portion 463A of loop 406 at toe portion 414 is less than a width WR of heel arm portion 463B of loop 406 at heel portion 416. According to some additional examples, the Thickness (TR) of the ring 406 may vary along the ring 406 in the fore-aft direction. For example, in some examples, the thickness TR of the ring 406 varies from a minimum thickness to a maximum thickness in the fore-aft direction. In certain examples, as shown, the thickness TR of toe arm portion 463A of ring 406 at toe portion 414 is less than the thickness TR of heel arm portion 463B of ring 406 at heel portion 416.

The golf club heads disclosed herein include a golf club head 100, a golf club head 200, and a golf club head 300, each having a volume equal to the volume displacement of the golf club head, which is 390 cubic centimeters (cm)³Or cc) to about 600cm³In between. In a more specific example, each of the golf club heads disclosed herein has a volume of about 350cm³To about 500cm³Between or at about 420 cm³To about 500cm³In the meantime. In some examples, the total mass of each of the golf club heads disclosed herein is between about 145g and about 245g, and in other examples between 185g and 210 g.

The golf club heads disclosed herein have a multi-piece construction. For example, with respect to the golf club head 100, the casting cup 104, the ring 106, the crown insert 108, and the sole insert 110 each comprise one piece of a multi-piece construction. Because each piece of the multi-piece structure is separately formed and attached together, each piece may be made of a different material than at least one other piece. This multi-material construction allows flexibility in the material composition of the golf club head, thereby allowing flexibility in mass composition and distribution.

The following characteristics of the golf club heads disclosed herein are made with reference to the golf club head 100. However, unless otherwise noted, the features described with reference to golf club head 100 also apply to golf club head 200, golf club head 300, and golf club head 400. The golf club head 100 is made from at least one first material having a density between 0.9g/cc and 3.5g/cc, at least one second material having a density between 3.6g/cc and 5.5g/cc, and at least one third material having a density between 5.6g/cc and 20.0 g/cc. In a first example, the casting cup 104 is made of a third material, the ring 106 is made of a second material, and the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are made of a first material. In this first example, according to one example, the casting cup 104 is made of a steel alloy, the ring 106 is made of a titanium alloy, and the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are made of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material. In a second example, the casting cup 104 is made of the second and third materials, the ring 106 is made of the first or second material, and the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are made of the first material. In this second example, according to one example, the casting cup 104 is made of a steel alloy and a titanium alloy, the ring 106 is made of a titanium alloy, an aluminum alloy, or a plastic, and the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are made of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material.

According to some examples, the at least one first material has a first mass that is no greater than 55% and no less than 25% (e.g., between 50 grams and 110 grams) of the total mass of the golf club head 100. In some examples, the first mass of the at least one first material is no greater than 45% and no less than 30% of the total mass of the golf club head 100. The first mass of the at least one first material may be greater than the second mass of the at least one second material. Alternatively or additionally, the first mass of the at least one first material may be within 10g of the second mass of the at least one second material.

In some examples, the at least one second material has a second mass that is no greater than 65% and no less than 20% (e.g., between 40 grams and 130 grams) of the total mass of the golf club head 100. According to some examples, the second mass of the at least one second material is no more than 50% of the total mass of the golf club head 100. In certain examples, the second mass of the at least one second material is less than twice the first mass of the at least one first material. In some examples, the second mass of the at least one second material is between 0.9 and 1.8 times the first mass of the at least one first material. In one example, the second mass of the at least one second material is less than 0.9 times or less than 1.8 times the first mass of the at least one first material.

The third mass of the at least one third material is equal to the total mass of the golf club head 100 minus the first mass of the at least one first material and the second mass of the at least one second material. In one example, the third mass of the at least one third material is no less than 5% and no greater than 50% (e.g., between 10g and 100 g) of the total mass of the golf club head 100. According to another example, the third mass of the at least one third material is not less than 10% and not more than 20% of the total mass of the golf club head 100.

According to one example, the casting cup 104 of the body 102 of the golf club head 100 is made of at least one first material, and the at least one first material is a first metal material having a density between 4.0g/cc and 8.0 g/cc. In this example, the ring 106 of the body 102 of the golf club head 100 is made from a material having a density between 0.5g/cc and 4.0 g/cc. According to certain embodiments, the first metallic material of the casting cup 104 is a titanium alloy and/or a steel alloy, and the material of the ring 106 is an aluminum alloy and/or a magnesium alloy. In some embodiments, the first metallic material of the casting cup 104 is a titanium alloy and/or a steel alloy, while the material of the ring 106 is a non-metallic material, such as a plastic or polymeric material. Thus, in some examples, the ring 106 is made of any of a variety of materials, such as titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, and fiber reinforced polymeric materials.

In some examples, the ring 106 is made of one of 6000 series, 7000 series, or 8000 series aluminum, which may be anodized to have a particular color that is the same as or different from the casting cup 104. According to some examples, the ring 106 may be anodized to have any of a range of colors, including blue, red, orange, green, purple, and the like. The contrasting color between the ring 105 and the casting cup 104 may aid in alignment or to suit the preferences of the user. In one example, the ring 106 is made of 7075 aluminum. According to some examples, the ring 106 is made of a fiber reinforced polycarbonate material. The ring 106 may be made of plastic with a non-conductive vacuum metalized coating, which may also be any of a variety of colors. Thus, in certain examples, the ring 106 is made of a titanium alloy, a steel alloy, a boronized steel alloy, a copper alloy, a beryllium alloy, a composite material, a hard plastic, a resilient elastomeric material, a carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic with short or long fibers. The ring 106 may be manufactured via injection molding, casting, physical vapor deposition, or CNC milling techniques.

As described herein, the ring (e.g., ring 106) of any of the club heads disclosed herein may comprise a variety of different materials and features, and be made of different materials and have different characteristics than the casting cup (e.g., casting cup 104), which is separately formed and then coupled to the ring. The ring may comprise a metallic material, a polymeric material, and/or a composite material, in addition to or in place of other materials described herein, and may include various exterior coatings.

In some embodiments, the ring comprises anodized aluminum, such as 6000, 7000, and 8000 series aluminum. In one particular example, the ring comprises 7075 grade aluminum. The anodized aluminum can be colored, such as red, green, blue, gray, white, orange, violet, pink, magenta, black, transparent, yellow, gold, silver, or metallic. In some embodiments, the ring may have a color that contrasts with a primary color located on other portions of the club head (e.g., crown insert, sole insert, cup, rear weight, etc.).

In some embodiments, the ring may include any combination of metals, metal alloys (e.g., titanium alloys, steel, boronized steel, aluminum, copper, beryllium), composite materials (e.g., carbon fiber reinforced polymers with short or long fibers), hard plastics, resilient elastomers, other polymeric materials, and/or other suitable materials. Any material selection for the ring may also be combined with any of a variety of forming methods, such as any combination of: casting, injection molding, sintering, machining, milling, forging, extruding, stamping, and rolling.

Plastic rings (fiber reinforced polycarbonate rings) can simultaneously provide mass savings, e.g., about 5 grams compared to aluminum rings, while also saving cost, as the process used to form the rings, e.g., injection molded thermoplastic, provides greater design flexibility, and perform in abuse tests similar to aluminum rings, e.g., hitting the club head onto a concrete roadway (extreme abuse) or shaking it in a bag where other metal clubs may hit repeatedly (normal abuse).

In some embodiments, the ring may comprise a polymeric material (e.g., plastic) with a non-conductive vacuum metallization (NCVM) coating. For example, in some embodiments, the ring may include a primer layer having an average thickness of about 5-11 microns (μm) or about 8.5 μm, and a basecoat layer having an average thickness of about 5-11 μm or about 8.5 μm on top of the primer layer, an NCVM layer having an average thickness of about 1.1-3.5 μm or about 2.5 μm on top of the basecoat layer, a color coat layer having an average thickness of about 25-35 μm or about 29 μm on top of the NCVM layer, and an topcoat (UV protective coat) outer layer having an average thickness of about 20-35 μm or about 26 μm on top of the color coat layer. Typically, for NCVM coated parts or rings, the NCVM layer is thinnest, the color coat and top coat are thickest, and the thickness is typically about 8-15 times that of the NCVM layer. Typically, all layers will be combined to have a total average thickness of about 60-90 μm or about 75 μm. The layers and NCVM coatings described may be applied to other parts than the ring, such as the crown, sole, forward cup, and removable weights, and may be applied prior to assembly.

In some embodiments, the ring may include a Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating or film layer. In some embodiments, the ring may include a paint layer or other externally colored layer. Traditionally, painting golf club heads has been done manually and requires masking of various parts to prevent unwanted painting on unwanted surfaces. However, hand painting can lead to significant inconsistencies between clubs. Forming the ring alone not only allows more access to the rearward portion of the face for milling operations to remove unwanted alpha shells and allows machining in various face patterns, but also eliminates the need to mask various components. The rings may be painted separately prior to assembly. Or in the case of anodized aluminum, painting may not be required, thereby eliminating a step in the process so that the ring can be simply bonded or attached to a cup that can also be fully completed. Similarly, if the ring is coated using PVD or NCVM, such a coating may be applied to the ring prior to assembly, again eliminating several steps. This also allows for the attachment of various color rings that may be selected by the end user to provide alignment or aesthetic benefits to the user. Whether the ring is an NCVM coated ring or a PVD coated ring, as described above, it can be coated with a range of colors, such as red, green, blue, gray, white, orange, purple, pink, magenta, black, clear, yellow, gold, silver, or metallic.

The following characteristics of the golf club heads disclosed herein are made with reference to the golf club head 100. However, unless otherwise noted, the features described with reference to the golf club head 100 also apply to the golf club head 200, the golf club head 300, and the golf club head 400. The golf club head 100 is made from two materials of at least one first material having a density between 0.9g/cc and 3.5g/cc, at least one second material having a density between 3.6g/cc and 5.5g/cc, and at least one third material having a density between 5.6g/cc and 20.0 g/cc. In a first example, the casting cup 104 is made of a second material, while the ring 106, crown insert 108, and sole insert 110 are made of a first material. In this first example, according to one example, the casting cup 104 is made of a titanium alloy, the ring 106 is made of an aluminum alloy, and the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are made of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material. In this first example, according to another example, the casting cup 104 is made of a titanium alloy, the ring 106 is made of plastic, and the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are made of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material. According to a second example, the casting cup 104 is made of a second material, the ring 106 is made of the second material, and the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are made of the first material. In this second example, according to one example, the casting cup 104 and the ring 106 are made of a titanium alloy, while the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are made of a fiber-reinforced polymeric material.

In some examples, the at least one first material is a fiber reinforced polymeric material that includes continuous fibers embedded in a polymer matrix (e.g., an epoxy or resin), which in some examples is a thermoset polymer. Continuous fibers are considered continuous in that each fiber is continuous in length, width, or diagonal of the portion formed by the fiber reinforced polymeric material. The continuous fibers may be long fibers having a length of at least 3mm, 10mm or even 50 mm. In other embodiments, shorter fibers having a length between 0.5mm and 2.0mm may be used. The addition of fibrous reinforcing material increases the tensile strength, however, it may also reduce the elongation at break, so careful balancing can be done to maintain sufficient elongation. Thus, one embodiment includes 35-55% long fiber reinforcement, and in a further embodiment 40-50% long fiber reinforcement. The continuous fibers, as well as the fiber reinforced polymeric material in general, may be the same as or similar to that described in paragraph 295 of U.S. patent application publication No. 2016/0184662, published at 30/6/2016, now assigned U.S. patent No. 9,468,816, 10/18/2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In several examples, the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 are made of a fiber reinforced polymeric material. Thus, in some examples, each of the continuous fibers of the fiber-reinforced polymeric material do not extend from the crown portion 119 to the sole portion 117 of the golf club head 100. Alternatively or additionally, in some examples, each of the continuous fibers of the fiber reinforced polymeric material does not extend from the crown portion 119 to the forward portion 112 of the golf club head 100. In one example, the crown insert 108 is made of a material having a density between 0.5g/cc and 4.0 g/cc. In one example, the bottom insert 110 is made of a material having a density between 0.5g/cc and 4.0 g/cc.

In certain examples, the first material is a fiber reinforced polymeric material as described in U.S. patent application No. 17/006,561 filed on 28.8.2020. Composite materials that may be used to manufacture a club head component include a fiber portion and a resin portion. Typically, the resin part serves as a "matrix" in which the fibers are embedded in a defined manner. In a composite material for a club head, the fiber portion is constructed as a plurality of fiber layers or plies impregnated with a resin component. The fibers in each layer have their own orientation, which is typically different from one layer to the next and is precisely controlled. The number of layers of the striking face is typically quite large, for example forty or more layers. However, for the sole or crown, the number of layers may be significantly reduced, for example, to three or more layers, four or more layers, five or more layers, six or more layers, examples of which are provided below. During the manufacture of composite materials, layers (each comprising individually oriented fibers impregnated in an uncured or partially cured resin; each such layer is referred to as a "prepreg" layer) are laid one on top of the other in a "lay-up" manner. After the prepreg stack is formed, the resin is cured to a rigid state. If of interest, the specific strength can be calculated by dividing the tensile strength by the density of the material. This is also referred to as the strength-to-weight ratio or strength-to-weight ratio.

In tests involving certain club head configurations, it has been found that composite portions formed from prepreg plies having a relatively low Fiber Areal Weight (FAW) have excellent properties in several respects, such as impact resistance, durability, and overall club performance. FAW is the weight of the fiber portion of a given amount of prepreg, in g/m². FAW value lower than 100g/m²More preferably, it is less than 70g/m²And may be particularly effective. As mentioned above, one particularly suitable fibrous material for use in the manufacture of prepreg plies is carbon fibre. More than one fibrous material may be used. However, in other embodiments, materials having a density of less than 70g/m may be used²And is higher than 100g/m²A prepreg sheet having the FAW value of (1). In general, the cost is a FAW value of less than 70g/m²The main limiting factor of the prepreg sheet of (a).

In certain embodiments, multiple low FAW prepreg plies may be stacked and still have a relatively uniform fiber distribution through the thickness of the stacked plies. In contrast, at comparable resin content (R/C, in percent) levels, stacked plies of prepreg with higher FAW tend to have more significant resin-rich areas than stacked plies of low FAW material, especially at the interface of adjacent plies. The resin rich areas tend to reduce the effectiveness of the fibrous reinforcement, particularly because the forces generated by a golf ball hit are generally transverse to the fiber orientation of the fibrous reinforcement. The prepreg plies used to form the panel desirably comprise carbon fibres impregnated with a suitable resin such as an epoxy resin.

FIG. 26 is a front view of a striking plate 943, which may be substituted for any of the striking plates disclosed herein. The striking plate 943 is made of a composite material and may be referred to as a composite striking plate in some examples. The non-metallic or composite material of the striking plate 943 includes a fiber reinforced polymer including fibers embedded in a resin. The percentage composition of resin in the fibre-reinforced polymer is between 38% and 44%. More details regarding the construction and manufacturing process of the composite striking plate 943 are described in U.S. patent No. 7,871,340 and U.S. published patent application nos. 2011/0275451, 2012/0083361, and 2012/0199282, which are incorporated herein by reference. The composite striking plate 943 is attached to an insert support structure located at an opening of the front portion of the golf club head, such as disclosed herein.

In some examples, the striking plate 943 may be machined from a composite plate. In one example, the composite panel may be generally rectangular, having a panel size and dimension of between about 90mm to about 130mm in length or between about 100mm to about 120mm, preferably about 110mm + 1.0mm, and between about 50mm to about 90mm or between about 6mm to about 80mm, preferably about 70mm + 1.0mm in width. The striking plate 943 is then machined to produce the desired facial contour. For example, the face contour length 912 may be between about 80mm to about 120mm or between about 90mm to about 110mm, preferably about 102 mm. The face contour width 911 may be between about 40mm to about 65mm or between about 45mm to about 60mm, preferably about 53 mm. The height 913 of a preferred strike zone 953 on the ball striking face defined by the striking plate 943 and centered about the geometric center of the ball striking face may be between about 25mm to about 50mm, between about 30mm to about 40mm, or between about 17mm to about 45m m, such as preferably about 34 mm. Preferably, the length 914 of the hitting zone 953 may be between about 40mm and about 70mm, between about 28mm and about 65mm or between about 45mm and about 65mm, preferably about 55.5mm or 56 mm. In some examples, the preferred strike area 953 of the ball striking face defined by the striking plate 943 has a width of 500mm²To 1,800mm²The area in between. Alternatively, the striking plate 943 may be molded to provide a desired face size and contour.

Additional features may be machined or molded into the face of the striking plate 943 to create a desired facial contour. For example, as shown in FIG. 27, a notch 920 may be machined or molded into the back of the heel portion of the striking plate 943. In some examples, the notch 920 in the back of the striking plate 943 allows the golf club head to utilize Flight Control Technology (FCT) in the hosel. The notch 920 may be configured to receive at least a portion of the hosel within the striking plate 943. Alternatively or additionally, the recess 920 may be configured to receive at least a portion of the club head body within the striking plate 943. By accommodating at least a portion of the hosel and/or at least a portion of the club body within the striking plate 943, the recess may allow for a reduction in the center plane y-axis position (CFY), thereby allowing the preferred strike zone 953 of the striking plate 943 to be positioned closer to a plane passing through the center point position of the hosel. The striking plate 943 may be configured to provide a CFY of no greater than about 18mm and no less than about 9mm, preferably between about 11.0mm and about 16.0mm, more preferably no greater than about 15.5mm and no less than about 11.5 mm. The striking plate 943 may be configured to provide a facial progression of no more than about 21mm and no less than about 12mm, preferably no more than about 19.5mm and no less than about 13mm, and more preferably no more than about 18mm and no less than about 14.5 mm. In some embodiments, the difference between CFY and face advancement is at least 3mm and no more than 12 mm.

In another example, the backside tabs 4230A, 4230B, 4230C, 4230D may be machined or molded into the backside of the striking plate 943. The backside tabs 4230A, 4230B, 4230C, 4230D may be configured to provide a bond gap. The bond gap is a void space between the club head body and the striking plate 943 that is filled with adhesive during manufacture. When the striking plate 943 is bonded to the club head body during manufacture, the rear bumps 4230A, 4230B, 4230C, 4230D protrude to separate the face from the club head body. In some examples, too much or too little bond clearance may cause durability issues with the club head, the striking plate 943, or both. In addition, too large a bond gap may allow for the use of too much adhesive during manufacture, adding unwanted additional mass to the club head. The back bumps 4230A, 4230B, 4230C, 4230D may protrude between about 0.1mm to 0.5mm, preferably about 0.25 mm. In some embodiments, the backside bumps are configured to provide a minimum bond gap, such as a minimum bond gap of about 0.25mm to a maximum bond gap of about 0.45 mm.

Additionally, one or more edges of the striking plate 943 may be machined or molded with chamfers. In one example, the striking plate 943 includes a chamfer generally about the inner peripheral edge of the striking plate 943, such as a chamfer of between about 0.5mm to about 1.1mm, preferably 0.8 mm.

FIG. 27 is a bottom perspective view of the striking plate 943. The striking plate 943 has a heel portion 941 and a toe portion 942. Notch 920 is machined or molded into heel portion 941. In this example, the striking plate 943 has a variable thickness, such as a peak thickness 947 within the preferred striking zone 953. The peak thickness 947 may be between about 2mm to about 7.5mm, between about 4.3mm to 5.15mm, between about 4.0mm to about 5.15 or 5.5mm, or between about 3.8mm to about 4.8mm, preferably 4.1mm ± 0.1mm, 4.25mm ± 0.1mm, or 4.5mm ± 0.1 mm. The peak thickness 947 may be located at the geometric center of the ball striking face defined by the ball striking plate 943. In some examples, the striking plate 943 has a minimum thickness of between 3.0mm and 4.0 mm.

Further, in some examples, the preferred strike area 953 is off-center or offset from the geometric center of the ball striking face and may be thicker toward the geometric center of the ball striking face. In some examples, the thickness of the striking plate 943 within the preferred striking zone 953 is variable (e.g., between about 3.5mm to about 5.0 mm) and the thickness of the striking plate 943 outside of the preferred striking zone 953 is constant (e.g., between 3.5mm to 4.2 mm) and less than within the preferred striking zone 953. In some examples, the striking plate 943 has a thickness between 3.5mm and 6.0 mm.

The striking plate 943 has a toe edge region and a heel edge region outside of the preferred striking zone 953 such that the preferred striking zone is between the toe edge region and the heel edge region. The toe edge region is closer to the toe portion than the heel edge region. The heel edge region is closer to the heel portion than the toe edge region. The toe edge region thickness is less than the maximum thickness. The thickness of the striking plate 943 transitions from a maximum thickness in the preferred striking zone 953 to a toe edge area thickness in the toe edge area of between 3.85mm and 4.5 mm.

In some embodiments, the striking plate 943 is made from multiple layers of composite materials. Exemplary composite materials and methods of making the same are described in U.S. patent application serial No. 13/452,370 (published as U.S. patent application publication No. 2012/0199282), which is incorporated by reference. In some embodiments, the inner and outer surfaces of the composite face may include scrim layers, such as to reinforce the striking plate 943 with fiberglass that constitutes a scrim fabric. It is also possible to include a plurality of quasi-isotropic panels (Q), each Q panel using a plurality of plies of unidirectional composite panels offset from each other. In the exemplary four ply Q panel, the unidirectional composite panels are oriented at 90 °, -45 °, 0 °, and 45 °, which provides structural stability in each direction. It may also include clusters (C) of unidirectional tapes, each C using a plurality of unidirectional composite tapes. In the exemplary four strips C, four 27mm strips are oriented at 0 °, 125 °, 90 ° and 55 °. C may be provided to increase the thickness of the striking plate 943 in localized areas, such as in the central plane of the preferred striking zone. Some Q and C may have additional or fewer slices (e.g., three slices instead of four slices), such as to fine tune thickness, mass, local thickness, and provide other characteristics of the striking plate 943, such as increasing or decreasing the COR of the striking plate 943.

In some embodiments, the striking face, such as the striking plate 243, of some examples of golf club heads disclosed herein are made from multiple layers of composite materials. Exemplary composite materials and methods of making the same are described in U.S. patent application serial No. 13/452,370 (published as U.S. patent application publication No. 2012/0199282), which is incorporated by reference. In some embodiments, the inner and outer surfaces of the composite face portion may include a scrim layer, such as to reinforce the striking face with glass fibers constituting a scrim fabric. It is also possible to include a plurality of quasi-isotropic panels (Q), each Q panel using a plurality of plies of unidirectional composite panels offset from each other. In the exemplary four ply Q panel, the unidirectional composite panels are oriented at 90 °, -45 °, 0 °, and 45 °, which provides structural stability in each direction. Clusters (C) of unidirectional stripes may also be included, each C using a plurality of unidirectional composite stripes. In the exemplary four strips C, four 27mm strips are oriented at 0 °, 125 °, 90 ° and 55 °. C may be provided to increase the thickness of the striking face or other composite feature in a localized area, such as in the central plane of the preferred striking zone. Some Q and C may have additional or fewer plies (e.g., three plies instead of four plies), such as to fine tune thickness, mass, local thickness, and provide other characteristics of the striking face, such as increasing or decreasing COR of the striking face.

Additional composite materials and methods of making the same are described in U.S. patent nos. 8,163,119 and 10,046,212, which are incorporated by reference. For example, the typical number of layers for a striking plate is a large number, such as fifty or more. However, improvements have been made in the art such that the number of layers can be reduced to between 30 and 50 layers.

Table 3 below provides examples of possible laminations for one or more composite components of the golf club heads disclosed herein. These laminates show possible unidirectional plies unless noted as woven plies. The illustrated construction is suitable for quasi-isotropic stacks. For a standard FAW of 70gsm with a resin content of about 36% to about 40%, the single ply layer has a thickness ranging from about 0.065mm to about 0.080 mm. The thickness of each individual ply can be varied by adjusting the FAW or resin content, and thus the thickness of the entire stack can be varied by adjusting these parameters.

TABLE 3

The Areal Weight (AW) is calculated by multiplying the density by the thickness. For the sheet made of composite material shown above, the density was about 1.5g/cm³And the density of titanium is about 4.5g/cm³。

Typically, the composite panel or composite face insert may have a peak thickness that varies between about 3.8mm to 5.15 mm. Typically, composite panels are formed from a plurality of composite plies or layers. The number of layers of the composite striking face is typically a large number, for example, forty or more, preferably between 30 and 75 plies, more preferably between 50 and 70 plies, even more preferably between 55 and 65 plies.

In one example, a first composite face insert may have a peak thickness of 4.1mm and an edge thickness of 3.65mm, including 12Q's and 2C's, resulting in a mass of 24.7 grams. In another example, the second composite face insert may have a peak thickness of 4.25mm and an edge thickness of 3.8mm, including 12Q's and 2C's, resulting in a mass of 25.6 grams. Additional thickness and mass are provided by including additional slices in one or more of Q or C, such as by using two 4-slices Q instead of two 3-slices Q. In yet another example, the third composite face insert may have a peak thickness of 4.5mm and an edge thickness of 3.9mm, including 12Q's and 3C's, resulting in a mass of 26.2 grams. Additional and different combinations of Q and C may be provided for composite face insert 110 having a mass between about 20g and about 30g, or between about 15g and about 35 g. In some examples, wherein the striking plate, such as striking plate 943, has a total mass between 22 grams and 28 grams.

FIG. 28A is a cross-sectional view of the heel portion 41 of the striking plate 943. Heel portion 941 may include notch 920. In embodiments having a chamfer on the inboard edge of the striking plate 943, no chamfer 950 is provided on the notch 920. The notch edge thickness 944 of the notch 920 may be less than the edge thickness 945 of the face insert 110 (see, e.g., fig. 28B). For example, the notch edge thickness 944 may be between 1.5mm and 2.1mm, preferably 1.8 mm.

FIG. 28B is a cross-sectional view of the toe portion 942 of the striking plate 943. Toe portion 942 includes a chamfer 951 on the medial edge of the striking plate 943. In some embodiments, edge thickness 945 can be between about 3.35mm to about 4.2mm, preferably 3.65mm ± 0.1mm, 3.8mm ± 0.1mm, or 3.9mm ± 0.1 mm.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view of the polymer layer 900 of the striking plate 943. A polymer layer 900 may be disposed on the outer surface of the striking plate 943 to provide better performance of the striking plate 943, such as in wet conditions. An exemplary polymer layer is described in U.S. patent application serial No. 13/330,486 (U.S. patent No. 8,979,669), which is incorporated by reference. The polymer layer 900 may include polyurethane and/or other polymer materials. The polymer layer may have a maximum thickness 960 of the polymer of about 0.2mm to 0.7mm or about 0.3mm to about 0.5mm, preferably 0.40mm ± 0.05 mm. The polymer layer may have a minimum thickness 970 of the polymer of between about 0.05mm to 0.15mm, preferably between 0.09mm ± 0.02 mm. The polymer layers may be configured with alternating maximum 960 and minimum 970 thicknesses to create a score line in the striking plate 943. Further, in some embodiments, teeth and/or another texture may be disposed between score lines on thicker regions of the polymer layer 900.

In some examples, the crown insert, such as crown insert 108, and the sole insert, such as sole insert 110, are made of a carbon fiber reinforced polymeric material. In one example, the crown insert is made of layers of unidirectional tape, woven cloth, and composite plies.

Referring to fig. 4, the golf club head 100 has a face-back dimension (FBD) defined as the distance between an imaginary plane 169 passing through the center plane 183 of the striking face 145 and parallel to the striking face 145 and the last point on the golf club head 100 in a face-back direction 165 perpendicular to the imaginary plane 169. As defined herein, the central plane 183 is located at 0% of the face-back dimension (FBD) and the rearmost point is located at 100% of the face-back dimension (FBD). Under this definition, the golf club head 100 may be divided into a face section extending from 0% of the face-back dimension (FBD) to 25% of the face-back dimension (FBD) in the face-back direction 165, a mid-section extending from 25% to 75% of the face-back dimension (FBD) in the face-back direction 165, and a back section extending from 75% to 100% of the face-back dimension (FBD) in the face-back direction 165. According to some examples, at least 95% of the weight of the middle section is made of a material having a density between 0.9g/cc and 4.0 g/cc. In certain examples, at least 95% of the weight of the middle section is made of a material having a density between 0.9g/cc and 2.0 g/cc. In some examples, at least 95% of the weight of the middle section and at least 95% of the weight of the back section are made of a material having a density between 0.9g/cc and 2.0g/cc, excluding any additional weights and any housing for additional weights. According to various examples, no more than 20% by weight of the middle section and no more than 20% by weight of the back section are made of a material having a density between 4.0g/cc and 20.0 g/cc.

In some examples, the golf club head 100 includes one or more of the following materials: carbon steel, stainless steel (e.g., 17-4PH stainless steel), alloy steel, ferro-manganese-aluminum alloy, nickel-base ferroalloy, cast iron, superalloy steel, aluminum alloy (including, but not limited to, 3000 series alloy, 5000 series alloy, 6000 series alloy such as 6061-T6, and 7000 series alloy such as 7075), magnesium alloy, copper alloy, titanium alloy (including, but not limited to, 6-4 titanium, 3-2.5, 6-4, SP 700, 15-3-3-3, 10-2-3, Ti 9-1-1, ZA 1300, or other alpha/near alpha, alpha-beta, and beta/near beta titanium alloys), or mixtures thereof.

In one example, the titanium alloy is a 9-1-1 titanium alloy when forming a portion of a golf club head disclosed herein, such as when forming a portion of a striking plate. Titanium alloys that include aluminum (e.g., 8.5% -9.5% Al), vanadium (e.g., 0.9% -1.3% V), and molybdenum (e.g., 0.8% -1.1% Mo), optionally with other minor alloying elements and impurities, collectively referred to herein as "9-1-1 Ti," can have a less pronounced alpha shell, which makes HF acid etching unnecessary, or at least less desirable, than faces made from conventional 6-4Ti and other titanium alloys. Further, 9-1-1Ti may have the lowest mechanical properties of 820MPa yield strength, 958MPa tensile strength, and 10.2% elongation. These minimum properties are significantly better than typical cast titanium alloys, such as 6-4Ti, which has minimum mechanical properties of 812MPa yield strength, 936MPa tensile strength, and 6% elongation. In some examples, the titanium alloy is 8-1-1 Ti.

In another example, when forming a portion of a golf club head disclosed herein, such as when forming a portion of a striking plate, the titanium alloy is an alpha-beta titanium alloy comprising 6.5% to 10% by weight aluminum, 0.5% to 3.25% by weight molybdenum, 1.0% to 3.0% by weight chromium, 0.25% to 1.75% by weight vanadium, and/or 0.25% to 1% by weight iron, with the balance comprising titanium (one example sometimes referred to as "1300" or "ZA 1300" titanium alloy). The alpha-beta titanium alloy or ZA1300 titanium alloy has a first ultimate tensile strength of at least 1,000MPa in some examples and at least 1,100MPa in other examples. The ultimate tensile strength of the material forming the body 102, other than the striking face 145, may be at least 10% less than the first ultimate tensile strength. In another representative example, the alloy may include 6.75 to 9.75% by weight of Al, 0.75 to 3.25 or 2.75% by weight of Mo, 1.0 to 3.0% by weight of Cr, 0.25 to 1.75% by weight of V, and/or 0.25 to 1% by weight of Fe, with the balance including Ti. In yet another representative example, the alloy may include 7 to 9% by weight of Al, 1.75 to 3.25% by weight of Mo, 1.25 to 2.75% by weight of Cr, 0.5 to 1.5% by weight of V, and/or 0.25 to 0.75% by weight of Fe, with the balance including Ti. In a further representative example, the alloy may include 7.5 to 8.5% by weight of Al, 2.0 to 3.0% by weight of Mo, 1.5 to 2.5% by weight of Cr, 0.75 to 1.25% by weight of V, and/or 0.375 to 0.625% by weight of Fe, with the balance including Ti. In another representative example, the alloy may include 8% by weight Al, 2.5% by weight Mo, 2% by weight Cr, 1% by weight V, and/or 0.5% by weight Fe, with the balance including Ti (the formula of this titanium alloy is Ti-8Al-2.5Mo-2Cr-1V-0.5 Fe). As used herein, reference to "Ti-8 Al-2.5Mo-2Cr-1V-0.5 Fe" refers to a titanium alloy that includes the reference elements in any of the ratios given above. Certain examples may also include trace amounts of K, Mn and/or Zr, and/or various impurities.

Ti-8Al-2.5Mo-2Cr-1V-0.5Fe may haveHas the lowest mechanical properties of 1150MPa yield strength, 1180MPa tensile strength and 8% elongation. These minimum properties may be significantly better than other cast titanium alloys, including 6-4Ti and 9-1-1Ti, which may have the minimum mechanical properties described above. In some examples, the Ti-8Al-2.5Mo-2Cr-1V-0.5Fe may have a tensile strength of about 1180MPa to about 1460MPa, a yield strength of about 1150MPa to about 1415MPa, an elongation of about 8% to about 12%, an elastic modulus of about 110GPa, about 4.45g/cm³And a hardness of about 43 on the rockwell C scale (43 HRC). In a particular example, the Ti-8Al-2.5Mo-2Cr-1V-0.5Fe alloy may have a tensile strength of about 1320MPa, a yield strength of about 1284MPa, and an elongation of about 10%. The Ti-8Al-2.5Mo-2Cr-1V-0.5Fe alloy, particularly when used to cast a golf club head body, promotes less deflection at the same thickness due to higher ultimate tensile strength compared to other materials. In some embodiments, providing less deflection at the same thickness is beneficial to golfers with higher swing speeds because over time the face of the golf club head will retain its original shape over time.

In some examples, the golf club head 100 is made from a material having a density of less than about 2g/cm³Such as at about 1g/cm³To about 2g/cm³And non-metallic material therebetween. The non-metallic material may comprise a polymer, such as a fiber reinforced polymeric material. The polymers may be thermosetting or thermoplastic and may be amorphous, crystalline and/or semi-crystalline structures. The polymer may also be formed from engineering plastics, such as crystalline or semi-crystalline engineering plastics or amorphous engineering plastics. Potential engineering plastic candidates include polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyethylene glycol (PEI), Polycarbonate (PC), polypropylene (PP), Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), polyoxymethylene Plastic (POM), nylon 6-6, nylon 12, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyphenylene oxide (PPO), polyethylene terephthalate (PBT), Polysulfone (PSU), Polyethersulfone (PES), Polyetheretherketone (PEEK), or mixtures thereof. Organic fibers, such as glass fibers, carbon fibers or metal fibers, may be added to the engineering plastic to enhance structural strength. The reinforcing fiber canSo as to be continuous long or short fibers. One of the advantages of the PSU is that it is relatively stiff and has relatively low damping, which produces a golf club with a better sound or a more metallic sound than other polymers that may be over-damped. In addition, the PSU requires less post-processing as it does not require polishing or painting to obtain the final finished golf club head.

One exemplary material from which any one or more of the sole insert 110, crown insert 108, casting cup 103, ring 106, and/or striking face (such as striking plate 243) may be made is a thermoplastic plastic continuous carbon fiber composite laminate having an array of long carbon fibers in a PPS (polyphenylene sulfide) matrix or matrix. A commercial example of a fiber reinforced polymer is a fiber reinforced polymer made from

Made of

DYNALITE 207 from which the sole insert 110, the crown insert 108, and/or the striking face are made.

DYNALITE 207 is a high strength, lightweight material arranged in a sheet form with multiple layers of continuous carbon fiber reinforcement in a PPS thermoplastic matrix or polymer to embed the fibers. The material may have a fiber volume of 54%, but may have other fiber volumes (such as 42% to 57% by volume). According to one example, the weight of the material is 200g/m². Another commercial example of a fiber reinforced polymer that makes up the sole insert 110, crown insert 108, and/or ball striking face is

DYNALITE 208. The carbon fiber of this material also ranges in volume from 42% to 57%, with one example being 45% by volume and a weight of 200g/m². DYNALITE 208 differs from DYNALITE 207 in that it has a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) matrix or base material rather than a polystyrene A thioether (PPS) matrix.

For example, in the case of a liquid,

the fibers of each sheet of the DYNALITE 207 sheet (or other fiber reinforced polymer material such as DYNALITE 208) are oriented in the same direction, while the sheets are oriented in different directions relative to each other, and the sheets are placed in a two-piece (male/female) mating mold, heated above the melting temperature, and shaped as the mold closes. This process may be referred to as thermoforming and is particularly suitable for forming the sole insert 110, the crown insert 108, and/or the ball striking face. After the sole insert 110, crown insert 108, and/or ball striking face are formed (individually in some embodiments) by the thermoforming process, each is cooled and removed from the mating mold. In some embodiments, the sole insert 110, the crown insert 108, and/or the ball striking face have a uniform thickness, which facilitates ease of use and manufacture of the thermoforming process. However, in other embodiments, the sole insert 110, crown insert 108, and/or ball striking face may have variable thicknesses to reinforce selected localized areas of the insert, such as by adding additional plies in selected areas to improve durability, acoustic properties, or other properties of the respective insert.

In some examples, any one or more of the sole insert 110, crown insert 108, casting cup 103, ring 106, and/or ball striking face (such as the striking plate 243) may be made by a process other than thermoforming, such as injection molding or thermoset molding. In a thermosetting process, any one or more of the sole insert 110, crown insert 108, casting cup 103, ring 106, and/or striking face (e.g., striking plate 243) may be made of a "prepreg" sheet of woven or unidirectional composite fiber fabric (such as carbon fiber composite fabric) pre-impregnated with a resin and curing agent formulation that activates upon heating. The prepreg plies are placed in a mold suitable for a thermosetting process, such as a bladder mold or compression mold, and stacked/oriented with carbon or other fibers oriented in different directions. The sheet is heated to activate the chemical reaction and form the crown insert 126 and/or the sole insert. Each insert is cooled and removed from its respective mold.

The carbon fiber reinforcement material for any one or more of the sole insert 110, crown insert 108, casting cup 103, ring 106, and/or striking face, such as striking plate 243, is made from a thermosetting manufacturing process, may be carbon fiber called "34-700" fiber, available from Grafil corporation of sakraftmott, california, having a tensile modulus of 234Gpa (34Msi) and a tensile strength of 4500Mpa (650 Ksi). Another suitable fiber, also available from Grafil corporation, is carbon fiber known as "TR 50S" fiber, which has a tensile modulus of 240Gpa (35Msi) and a tensile strength of 4900MPa (710 Ksi). Exemplary epoxy resins for forming prepreg plies for thermoset crown and base inserts include Newport 301 and 350 and are available from Newport Adhesives & Composites, inc. In one example, a prepreg has a quasi-isotropic fibrous reinforcement of 34-700 fibers having an areal weight of between about 20g/m 2 to about 200g/m 2, preferably about 70g/m 2, and impregnated with an epoxy resin (e.g., Newport 301), resulting in a resin content (R/C) of about 40%. For ease of reference, the plastic component of the prepreg may be designated in abbreviated form by identifying its fiber areal weight, fiber type (e.g., 70FAW 34-700). The abbreviated form can further identify the resin system and resin content, e.g., 70FAW 34-700/301, R/C40%.

In some examples, the polymers used to manufacture the golf club head 100 may include, but are not limited to, synthetic and natural rubbers, thermosetting polymers such as thermosetting polyurethane or thermosetting polyurea, and thermoplastic polymers including thermoplastic elastomers such as thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurea, metallocene catalyzed polymers, unimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid copolymers, unimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid/carboxylate terpolymers, bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid copolymers, bimodal ethylene/carboxylic acid/carboxylate terpolymers, Polyamides (PA), Polyketones (PK), copolyamides, polyesters, copolyesters, polycarbonates, polyphenylene sulfides (PPS), Cyclic Olefin Copolymers (COC), polyolefins, halogenated polyolefins [ e.g., Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) ], halogenated polyalkylene compounds, polyolefins, polyphenylene oxide, polyphenylene sulfide, diallyl phthalate polymers, polyimides, polyvinyl chloride, polyamide ionomers, polyurethane ionomers, polyvinyl alcohol, polyarylates, polyacrylates, polyphenylene oxide, impact modified polyphenylene oxide, polystyrene, high impact polystyrene, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers, styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN), acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylonitrile, styrene-maleic anhydride (S/MA) polymers, styrene block copolymers including styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS), styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS), and styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene (SEPS), styrene terpolymers, functionalized styrene block copolymers including hydroxylations, functionalized styrene copolymers, as well as terpolymers, cellulosic polymers, Liquid Crystalline Polymers (LCPs), ethylene-propylene-diene terpolymers (EPDM), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers (EVA), ethylene-propylene copolymers, propylene elastomers (such as U.S. patent No. 6,525,157 to Kim et al, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference), ethylene vinyl acetates, polyureas and polysiloxanes and any and all combinations thereof.

Preferred among these are Polyamides (PA), polyphthalimides (PPA), Polyketones (PK), copolyamides, polyesters, copolyesters, polycarbonates, polyphenylene sulfides (PPS), Cyclic Olefin Copolymers (COC), polyphenylene oxides, diallyl phthalate polymers, polyarylates, polyacrylates, polyphenylene oxides and impact-modified polyphenylene oxides. Particularly preferred polymers for use in the golf club head of the present invention are the so-called high performance engineering thermoplastic family, which is known for its toughness and stability at high temperatures. These polymers include polysulfones, polyether esters, and polyamide-imides. Among them, polysulfone is most preferable.

Aromatic polysulfones are a class of polymers formed by the polycondensation of 4,4' -dichlorodiphenyl sulfone with itself or one or more dihydric phenols. Aromatic polysulfones include thermoplastics sometimes referred to as polyether sulfones, the general structure of which repeating units have a diarylsulfone structure, which may be represented as-arylene-SO 2-arylene-. These units may be interconnected by carbon-carbon bonds, carbon-oxygen-carbon bonds, carbon-sulfur-carbon bonds, or via short alkylene bonds to form a thermally stable thermoplastic polymer. The polymers in this family are completely amorphous, have high glass transition temperatures, and provide high strength and stiffness characteristics even at high temperatures, making them useful in demanding engineering applications. The polymer also has good ductility and toughness, and is transparent in its natural state due to its completely amorphous nature. Other key attributes include resistance to hot water/steam hydrolysis and excellent acid and base resistance. Polysulfones are completely thermoplastic, allowing for manufacture by most standard methods, such as injection molding, extrusion, and thermoforming. They also have a wide range of high temperature engineering applications.

Three commercially important polysulfones are a) Polysulfone (PSU); b) polyethersulfone (PES also known as PESU); and c) polyphenylsulfone (PPSU).

Particularly important and preferred aromatic polysulfones are those which consist of repeat units of the structure-C6H 4SO2-C6H4-O-, where C6H4 represents an m-or p-phenylene structure. The polymer chain may also contain repeating units such as-C6H 4-, C6H4-O-, -C6H4- (lower alkylene) -C6H4-O-, -C6H4-O-C6H4-O-, -C6H4-S-C6H4-O-, and other heat stable, substantially aromatic difunctional groups known in the engineering thermoplastics art. Also included are so-called modified polysulfones in which a single aromatic ring is further substituted with one or more substituents including

Or

Or

Wherein each occurrence of R is independently a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a hydrocarbyl group, or a combination thereof. Halogen atoms include fluorine, chlorine, bromine and iodine atoms. Hydrocarbyl groups include, for example, C1-C20 alkyl, C2-C20 alkenyl, C3-C20 cycloalkyl, C3-C20 cycloalkenyl, and C6-C20 aromatic hydrocarbon groups. These hydrocarbon groups may be partially substituted with one or more halogen atoms, or may be partially substituted with a polar group or a group other than one or more halogen atoms. As specific examples of the C1-C20 alkyl group, there may be mentioned methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, pentyl, hexyl, octyl, decyl and dodecyl groups. As specific examples of C2-C20 alkenyl, mention may be made of propenyl, isopropyl, butenyl, isobutenyl, pentenyl and hexenyl. As specific examples of C3-C20 cycloalkyl, mention may be made of cyclopentyl and cyclohexyl. As specific examples of C3-C20 cycloalkenyl, mention may be made of cyclopentenyl and cyclohexenyl. As specific examples of the aromatic hydrocarbon group, a phenyl group and a naphthyl group or a combination thereof may be mentioned.

Individually preferred polymers include (a) polysulfones made by polycondensation of bisphenol A and 4,4' -dichlorodiphenyl sulfone in the presence of base and having a predominantly repeating structure

And abbreviation PSF and trade name

RTPPSU is sold, (b) polysulfone bases prepared by polycondensation of 4,4 '-dihydroxydiphenyl and 4,4' -dichlorodiphenyl sulfone in the presence of a base and having a main repeating structure

And abbreviated PPSF and tradename

Selling the resin; (c) polycondensates from 4,4' -dichlorodiphenyl sulfone in the presence of a base and having a predominantly recurring structure

And the abbreviation PPSF, sometimes referred to as "polyethersulfone", and is available under the trade name

E、LNP^TM、

PESU, Sumikaexece and

resins are sold and any and all combinations thereof.

In some examples, an exemplary material from which any one or more of the sole insert 110, crown insert 108, casting cup 103, ring 106, and/or striking face (such as striking plate 243) may be made is a composite material made from a composite material, such as a carbon fiber reinforced polymeric material, that includes a plurality of sheets or layers of a fiber material (e.g., graphite, or carbon fiber including a vortex layer, or graphite carbon fiber, or a hybrid structure having both graphite and the presence of a vortex layer component). Some examples of these composites and their manufacturing procedures are described in U.S. patent application nos. 10/442,348 (now U.S. patent No. 7,267,620), 10/831,496 (now U.S. patent No. 7,140,974), 11/642,310, 11/825,138, 11/998,436, 11/895,195, 11/823,638, 12/004,386, 12,004,387, 11/960,609, 11/960,610, and 12/156,947, which are incorporated herein by reference. The composite material may be manufactured according to at least the method described in U.S. patent application No. 11/825,138, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Alternatively, short or long fiber reinforced formulations of the aforementioned polymers may be used. Exemplary formulations include nylon 6/6 polyamide formulations, which are 30% carbon fiber filled and are commercially available from RTP company under the trade name RTP 285. The tensile strength of this material was 35000psi (241MPa) measured according to ASTM D638; a tensile elongation measured according to ASTM D638 of 2.0 to 3.0%; a tensile modulus of 3.30x106 psi (22754MPa) measured according to ASTM D638; flexural strength measured according to ASTM D790 of 50000psi (345 MPa); and a flexural modulus of 2.60x106 psi (17927MPa) measured according to ASTM D790.

Other materials also include polyphthalamide (PPA) formulations, which are 40% carbon fiber filled and are commercially available from RTP company under the trade name RTP 4087 UP. The tensile strength of this material was 360MPa, measured according to ISO 527; tensile elongation measured according to ISO 527 of 1.4%; tensile modulus measured according to ISO 527 of 41500 MPa; a flexural strength measured according to ISO 178 of 580 MPa; and a flexural modulus of 34500MPa measured according to ISO 178.

Other materials include polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) formulations, which are 30% carbon fiber filled and are commercially available from RTP company under the trade name RTP 1385 UP. The tensile strength of this material, measured according to ISO 527, is 255 MPa; tensile elongation measured according to ISO 527 of 1.3%; tensile modulus measured according to ISO 527 of 28500 MPa; a flexural strength measured according to ISO 178 of 385 MPa; and a flexural modulus of 23,000MPa measured according to ISO 178.

Particularly preferred materials include Polysulfone (PSU) formulations, which are 20% carbon fiber filled and are commercially available from RTP corporation under the trade name RTP 983. The tensile strength of this material, measured according to ISO 527, was 124 MPa; tensile elongation measured according to ISO 527 of 2%; a tensile modulus measured according to ISO 527 of 11032 MPa; flexural strength measured according to ISO 178 of 186 MPa; and a flexural modulus measured according to ISO 178 of 9653 MPa.

In addition, preferred materials may include Polysulfone (PSU) formulations, which are 30% carbon fiber filled and are commercially available from RTP company under the trade name RTP 985. The tensile strength of this material, measured according to ISO 527, was 138 MPa; tensile elongation measured according to ISO 527 of 1.2%; a tensile modulus of 20685MPa, measured according to ISO 527; flexural strength measured according to ISO 178 of 193 MPa; and a flexural modulus of 12411MPa, measured according to ISO 178.

Further preferred materials include Polysulfone (PSU) formulations, which are 40% carbon fiber filled and are commercially available from RTP company under the trade name RTP 987. The tensile strength of this material was 155MPa, measured according to ISO 527; tensile elongation measured according to ISO 527 of 1%; tensile modulus measured according to ISO 527 was 24132 MPa; a flexural strength measured according to ISO 178 of 241 MPa; and a flexural modulus measured according to ISO 178 of 19306 MPa.

Any one or more of the sole insert 110, crown insert 108, casting cup 103, ring 106, and/or ball striking face (such as the striking plate 243) may have a complex three-dimensional shape and curvature that generally corresponds to the desired shape and curvature of the golf club head 100. It will be appreciated that other types of club heads, such as fairway wood, hybrid, and iron type club heads, may be manufactured using one or more of the principles, methods, and materials described herein.

Referring to fig. 33, 34, and 42, according to some examples, a method 550 of manufacturing a golf club head of the present disclosure, such as golf club head 100, includes (block 552) laser ablating the first member surface 520 of the first member 502 of the golf club head such that the first member ablated surface 522 is formed in the first member 502. The method 550 also includes (block 554) laser ablating the second member surface 524 of the second member 504 of the golf club head 100 such that the second member ablation surface 526 is formed in the second member 504. The method 550 additionally includes (block 556) bonding the first component ablation surface 522 and the second component ablation surface 526 together. In general, the method 550 facilitates creating a bonding surface (i.e., a faying surface) of a golf club head with features that promote a secure and reliable bond between the bonding surfaces. More specifically, the features formed by ablating the bonding surfaces of the golf club head with a laser promote increased pattern uniformity and surface energy of the bonding surfaces, which helps to strengthen the bond between the bonding surfaces and improve the overall reliability and performance of the golf club head. In addition, the use of laser ablation of the bonding surface may enable repeatability of surface properties of multiple parts and batches of parts. As defined herein, each of first component ablation surface 522 and/or second component ablation surface 526 can be a single continuous surface or a plurality of spaced apart (e.g., interrupted) surfaces.

Conventional methods for bonding the surfaces of golf club heads together, including surface preparation via non-laser ablation methods, may not provide sufficient pattern uniformity and surface energy to produce a strong and reliable bond. For example, chemical ablation and media jet ablation processes do not achieve the pattern uniformity and surface energy of the bonding surface achievable with laser ablation of the present disclosure. The pattern of peaks and valleys on the bonding surfaces ablated via a chemical ablation process or a media jet ablation process is irregular and non-uniform, which results in a low and non-uniform bond strength across the bond between the bonding surfaces.

As shown in FIG. 33, first component laser 506 is configured to generate a first component laser beam 508 and direct first component laser beam 508 at a first component surface 520 of first component 502. The first part laser beam 508 impinges on the first part surface 520, which sublimates a portion of the first part surface 520 to a desired depth. More specifically, the energy of the first part laser beam 508 is sufficient to directly transform a portion of the first part surface 520 from a solid state to a gaseous state. In some examples, the desired depth is between 5 microns and 100 microns, between 20 microns and 50 microns, or about 30 microns. The gas sublimated from the first component surface 520 may be pumped away, such as by a vacuum pump (not shown).

The depth of the portion of the first component surface 520 that is sublimated (e.g., removed) depends on the material of the first component surface 520 and the characteristics of the first component laser beam 508. The characteristics of first component laser beam 508 include the intensity of impingement of first component laser beam 508 on first component surface 520 (e.g., optical power per unit area), pulse frequency, and duration. After a portion of the first component surface 520 is removed, the first component ablation surface 522 is exposed. Thus, in general, first part laser beam 508 removes the top surface of first part 502, exposing a fresh surface of first part 502. The first component ablated surface 522 (e.g., a fresh surface or an exposed surface) is relatively free of contaminants (e.g., oxides, moisture, etc.) present on the first component surface 520.

Similarly, as shown in fig. 34, second component laser 510 is configured to generate second component laser beam 510 and direct second component laser beam 512 at second component surface 524 of second component 504. The second component laser beam 512 impinges on a second component surface 524, which sublimates a portion of the second component surface 524 to a desired depth. More specifically, the energy of the second part laser beam 512 is sufficient to directly transform a portion of the second part surface 524 from a solid state to a gaseous state. The gas sublimated from the second component surface 524 may be pumped away, such as by a vacuum pump (not shown). The depth of the portion of the second component surface 524 that is sublimated depends on the material of the second component surface 524 and the characteristics of the second component laser beam 512. As with the first component laser beam 508, the characteristics of the second component laser beam 512 include the intensity of impingement of the second component laser beam 512 on the second component surface 524 (e.g., optical power per unit area), pulse frequency, and duration. Typically, the first component laser beam 508 and the second component laser beam 512 are highly focused laser radiation beams. After a portion of second component surface 524 is removed, second component ablation surface 526 is exposed. Thus, in general, the second component laser beam 512 removes the top surface of the second component 504, exposing a fresh surface of the second component 504. Second component ablation surface 526 is relatively free of contaminants present on second component surface 524.

In some examples of method 550, first component laser beam 508 is moved along first component surface 520 at a first component velocity to form a first component ablated surface 522 in first component 502. Similarly, in some examples, second component laser beam 510 is moved along second component surface 524 at a second component velocity to form a second component ablation surface 526 in second component 504. In this manner, a laser beam having a relatively small footprint may be used to form an ablated surface having a relatively large surface area. Further, in various examples, the laser beam may be split into separate sub-beams using optics to move along the ablation surface and form separate portions of the ablation surface. Also, according to some examples, multiple laser beams generated from multiple lasers may be used to form an ablated surface in a single component. The rate at which the laser beam moves along the corresponding part depends on the material type of the part. For example, when the material of a given part sublimes faster than the material of another part, a given laser beam may need to move along the given part at a faster rate than the other part. Conversely, when the material of a given part sublimes more slowly than the material of another part, a given laser beam may need to move along the given part at a slower rate than the other part.

The rate of sublimation, and therefore the rate of movement of the laser beam along the part, depends on the type of laser generating the laser beam and the characteristics of the generated laser beam. Different types of lasers generate different types of laser beams. For example, a carbon dioxide laser generates a laser beam that is different from a fiber laser. Similarly, Nd-YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) lasers generate laser beams that are different from those generated by carbon dioxide lasers and fiber lasers, respectively. Further, in some examples, the laser may be selectively controlled to adjust characteristics of the generated laser light. For example, the laser may be selectively controlled to adjust one or both of the intensity or pulse frequency of the generated laser light. Generally, the higher the intensity of the laser beam or the higher the pulse frequency of the laser beam, the higher the sublimation rate.

After laser ablation of first component 502 forms first component ablation surface 522 and laser ablation of second component 504 forms second component ablation surface 526, first component ablation surface 522 and second component ablation surface 526 are bonded together. Referring to fig. 35, first component ablation surface 522 and second component ablation surface 526 are bonded together along a bond line 528 when facing each other to form a bonded joint. Bond line 528 is defined as the structure, including but not limited to materials, between first component ablation surface 522 and second component ablation surface 526. Thus, in certain examples, first component ablation surface 522 and second component ablation surface 526 are bonded together directly along bond line 528. In other words, in such an example, no other intermediate layer is interposed between first component ablation surface 522 and second component ablation surface 526, other than the material of bond wire 528. In some examples, when first component ablation surface 522 and second component ablation surface 526 are adhesively bonded, bond line 528 includes adhesive 530. The adhesive 530 may be any of various adhesives known in the art, such as glue, epoxy, resin, and the like. In addition, the adhesive 530 has a maximum thickness and a minimum thickness along the bond line 528, or alternatively may have an average thickness.

In some examples, the type of first part laser 506, the rate of movement of first laser beam 508 (i.e., the first part velocity), and/or the characteristics of first part laser beam 508 depend on the type of material of first part 502. Similarly, in some examples, the type of second component laser 510, the rate of movement of second component laser beam 512 (i.e., the second component velocity), and/or the characteristics of second component laser beam 512 depend on the type of material of second component 504.

According to certain examples, the first component 502 is made of a first material and the second component is made of a second material, wherein the first material is different from the second material. In one example, the first component 502 is made of a first type of metallic material and the second component 504 is made of a second type of metallic material. In another example, the first component 502 is made of a first type of non-metallic material and the second component 504 is made of a second type of non-metallic material. In yet another example, the first component 502 is made of a non-metallic material and the second component 504 is made of a metallic material. In the above example, at least one of the type of first component laser 506, the rate of movement of first component laser beam 508, or the characteristics of first component laser beam 508 is different than the type of second component laser 510, the rate of movement of second component laser beam 512, or the characteristics of second component laser beam 512, respectively. According to some examples, the type of the first component laser 506 is different than the type of the second component laser 510 (e.g., such that the first component laser 506 is different from the second component laser 510 and separate from the second component laser 510). In some examples, the first component velocity is different from the second component velocity. In one example, the intensity of the first component laser beam 508 is different than the intensity of the second component laser beam 512. Additionally or alternatively, according to certain examples, the pulse frequency of the first component laser beam 508 is different than the pulse frequency of the second component laser beam 512.

According to some examples, the first material is a fiber reinforced polymeric material and the second material is a metallic material. In one example, the fiber reinforced polymeric material is at least one of a glass fiber reinforced polymeric material or a carbon fiber reinforced polymeric material, such as one of those described above, and the metallic material is a titanium alloy, such as a cast titanium material. In these examples, at least one of: the first part laser 506 is a carbon dioxide laser and the second part laser 510 is a fiber laser; the first component speed is slower than the second component speed; the intensity of the first part laser beam 508 is less than the intensity of the second part laser beam 512; or the pulse frequency of the first part laser beam 508 is less than the pulse frequency of the second part laser beam 512. In some examples, when the first part velocity is slower than the second part velocity, the first part velocity is between 600mm/s and 800mm/s (e.g., 700mm/s) and the second part velocity is between 600mm/s and 800mm/s (e.g., 700 mm/s). In some examples, when the intensity of the first component laser beam 508 is less than the intensity of the second component laser beam 512, the intensity of the first component laser beam 508 is between 40 watts and 60 watts and the intensity of the second component laser beam 512 is between 40 watts and 60 watts. In some examples, when the pulse frequency of the first component laser beam 508 is less than the pulse frequency of the second component laser beam 512, the pulse frequency of the first component laser beam 508 is between 40kHz and 60kHz and the pulse frequency of the second component laser beam 512 is between 40kHz and 60 kHz.

When the first material of the first component 502 or the second material of the second component 504 is a fiber reinforced polymeric material (including a plurality of reinforcing fibers embedded in a resin or epoxy matrix), the corresponding first component surface 520 or second component surface 524 is entirely defined by the resin or epoxy matrix of the fiber reinforced polymeric material. Thus, the first component laser beam 508 or the second component laser beam 512 only impinges on and ablates the resin or epoxy matrix, and does not ablate the reinforcing fibers embedded therein. Further, in some examples, first component 502 or second component 504 is made from a plurality of plies of carbon fiber reinforced polymeric material sandwiched between opposing outer plies of glass fiber reinforced polymeric material. In such examples, the corresponding laser beam merely impinges upon and ablates the resin or epoxy matrix of the glass fiber reinforced polymeric material.

As previously described, laser ablation of a surface can produce a fresh (e.g., relatively uncontaminated) surface with high uniformity peaks and valleys, as well as a high surface energy, due to the ability to precisely control the energy, pulse frequency, and directionality of the laser. Typically, each pulse of the laser beam sublimates and removes a localized portion of the ablated surface. The removed portions of the surface define valleys (e.g., pits or depressions) having a shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the laser beam and a depth corresponding to the intensity and frequency of the laser beam. Because the laser beam is moved relative to the surface being ablated, each pulse of the laser beam contacts a different portion of the surface, which results in a different and spaced valley corresponding to the removed portion. Because the portions of the surface between the removed portions are not removed, the unremoved portions of the surface define peaks between diagonals of the valleys. In this way, a pattern of peaks and valleys is formed in the surface as the laser beam moves relative to the surface.

Referring to fig. 33, sublimation of the first component surface 520 produces a first component ablation surface 522 having a first component ablation pattern of peaks and valleys. Similarly, referring to FIG. 34, sublimation of the second component surface 524 produces a second component ablation surface 526 having a second component ablation pattern of peaks and valleys. Examples of ablation patterns that may represent the valleys and peaks of the first component ablation pattern and the second component ablation pattern are shown in fig. 36, 37, 45-46.

The ablation pattern 540 includes a plurality of peaks 542 separated by a plurality of valleys 544. Typically, the laser beam is moved and pulsed so that the valleys are positioned relative to each other to form the desired pattern. The pattern of valleys may be symmetrical or asymmetrical. Further, the spacing between the valleys may be uniform or non-uniform. In one example, such as shown in fig. 36, 45-46, the ablation pattern 540 is symmetrical and the spacing between the valleys of the ablation pattern 540 is uniform. As shown in fig. 36, in one example of a symmetrical pattern, the valleys of the ablation pattern 540 are evenly spaced and closely spaced together, meaning that each valley is adjacent to at least one adjacent valley and at least one adjacent peak of the peak and valley pattern. In the illustrated example of fig. 36, some of the valleys of the ablation pattern 540 of peaks and valleys are adjacent to four adjacent valleys and four adjacent peaks. Also, in the illustrated example of fig. 36, some of the peaks of the ablation pattern 540 of peaks and valleys are adjacent to four adjacent peaks and four adjacent valleys.

In some examples, across one of the peaks 542 and along the length L (or width) of the component, each of the valleys 544 is spaced apart from an adjacent one of the valleys 544 by a valley-to-valley distance Dvv. Valley-to-valley distance Dvv is defined as the distance from the center point of one of valleys 544 to the center point of an adjacent one of valleys 544. Further, each of the valleys 544 has a valley depth dv measured from a hypothetical boundary 546, which hypothetical boundary 546 is generally coplanar with the surface prior to being ablated by the laser. Referring to fig. 45 and 46, each of the valleys 544 has a major dimension D1 (e.g., a maximum dimension) and a minor dimension D2 (e.g., a minimum dimension). Major dimension D1 is equal to or less than minor dimension D2. For example, referring to fig. 45, when each of the valleys 544 is substantially circular, the major dimension D1 is equal to the minor dimension D2. However, in other examples, as shown in fig. 46, each of the valleys 544 has a non-circular shape (e.g., an oval shape) such that the major dimension D1 is greater than the minor dimension D2. In some examples, such as when the surface ablated by the laser beam is flat, the resulting ablation pattern includes rounded valleys 544. However, according to certain examples, such as when the surface ablated by the laser beam is curved or shaped, the curvature of the surface is such that the valleys 544 of the resulting ablation pattern have an elliptical shape.

In some examples, the major dimension D1 of at least one of the valleys 544 is between 40 and 80 microns, and the minor dimension D2 is equal to the major dimension D1 or may vary by as much as 10% or 20% or by 10-20 microns. Additionally or alternatively, a valley-to-valley distance Dvv between two valleys 544 may be in the range of 80% -200% (preferably at least 120%) of the major dimension Dl of either of the two valleys 544. As defined herein, with respect to the valley 544, a first valley is adjacent to a second valley when the second valley is the nearest neighbor of the first valley. Further, in some examples, such as those with uniform spacing between valleys, a given valley may be considered adjacent to multiple valleys. The center point of valley 544 is defined as the location of maximum depth of valley 544, which is typically half the major dimension inward from the outer perimeter of valley 544. The outer perimeter (e.g., perimeter) of the valleys 544 is defined as a transition region wherein the valley depth dv of the valleys 544 does not vary by more than 5 microns from the unablated surface, preferably between 0 and 2 microns from the unablated surface.

According to one example, the uniformity of the ablation pattern of peaks and valleys as used herein may be defined in terms of the variation in the valley size of the ablation pattern. As previously described, some ablation processes (such as media jet ablation processes) leave an essentially uncontrollable ablation pattern that includes valleys that vary widely in size, shape, and spacing. The ability to precisely control the energy, pulse frequency and directionality of the laser produces an ablation pattern in which all valleys of the pattern are of uniform size. The uniformity of the size of the valleys of the ablation pattern formed by the laser beam may be represented by the percentage difference in size of one valley of the ablation pattern relative to any other (e.g., all other) valleys of the ablation pattern. The percentage difference related to the size of the valleys is equal to the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of the size of one valley in the pattern to the size of any other valley in the pattern. The smaller the percentage difference in the valley size of the ablation pattern, the higher the uniformity of the ablation pattern. In some examples, the percentage difference in the size of one valley of a given pattern to the size of any other valley of the given pattern is no more than 20%. In other words, the size of one valley is within 20% of the size of any other valley or all other valleys. In other examples, the percentage difference in the size of one valley of a given pattern to the size of any other valley of the given pattern is no more than 10%.

The size of the valley may be expressed as a cross-sectional area, a major dimension D1, a minor dimension D2, a depth dv, or other characteristic of the size of the valley. In certain examples, the major dimension D1 or the minor dimension D2 of one valley is within 20% of the corresponding major dimension D1 or minor dimension D2 of any or all other valleys. According to one example, the major dimension D1 of one valley is within 20% of the major dimension D1 of any or all other valleys, and the minor dimension D2 of one valley is within 20% of the minor dimension D2 of any or all other valleys. In certain examples, the major dimension D1 or the minor dimension D2 of one valley is within 10% of the corresponding major dimension D1 or minor dimension D2 of any other one or all other valleys. According to one example, the major dimension D1 of one valley is within 10% of the major dimension D1 of any or all other valleys, and the minor dimension D2 of one valley is within 10% of the minor dimension D2 of any or all other valleys. Although the above examples refer to the major dimension D1 and the minor dimension D2 of the valleys, other features of the size of the valleys, such as cross-sectional area and depth, may be interchanged with the major dimension D1 and the minor dimension D2.

Additionally or alternatively, in some examples, the uniformity of the ablation pattern of peaks and valleys, as used herein, may be defined according to the variation in distance between adjacent valleys of the ablation pattern. The ability to precisely control the energy, pulse frequency, and directionality of the laser produces an ablation pattern in which all valleys of the pattern are evenly spaced apart from one another. The uniformity of the distance between the valleys of an ablation pattern formed by a laser beam may be expressed in terms of the percentage difference in the distance between two adjacent valleys of the ablation pattern relative to the distance between any other two adjacent valleys (e.g., all adjacent valleys) of the ablation pattern. The percentage difference related to the distance between the valleys is equal to the ratio (expressed as a percentage) of the distance between two adjacent valleys in the pattern to the distance between any other two adjacent valleys in the pattern. The smaller the percentage difference in distance between the valleys of the ablation pattern, the higher the uniformity of the ablation pattern. In some examples, the percentage difference in the distance between two adjacent valleys of a given pattern and the difference between any other two adjacent valleys of the given pattern is no more than 20%. Stated another way, the distance between two adjacent valleys is within 20% of the distance between any other two adjacent valleys. In other examples, the distance between two adjacent valleys of a given pattern differs by no more than 10% of the difference between any other two adjacent valleys of the given pattern.

The uniformity of the peaks and valleys of the ablation pattern on the ablated surface corresponding to the components disclosed herein, the surface of the components of the laser ablated golf club head also promotes higher surface energy than surfaces treated with other types of ablation processes. As described above, the higher surface energy of the surfaces to be bonded enables a stronger and more reliable bond between the surfaces. The surface energy of a surface is inversely proportional to the water contact angle of the surface. In other words, the smaller the water contact angle of a surface, the higher the surface energy of the surface. The water contact angle is defined as the angle a drop of water on a surface makes with the surface (by water). The lower the water contact angle, the higher the wettability of the surface, which promotes the adhesive properties and the ability of the adhesive to bond to the surface. Thus, the lower the water contact angle, the better the bond, and the higher the bond strength. In some examples, the water contact angle may be measured by using a goniometer or other measuring device. According to Table 4 below, water contact angles for various laser ablated surfaces of several examples of golf club heads prior to forming a bonded joint are shown.

TABLE 4

In table 4, the crown hosel surface is a portion of the front flange ablation surface 179A of the body 102 that is closer to the crown portion 119 than the sole portion 117 and closer to the hosel 120 than the toe portion 114; the crown-toe surface is a portion of the front flange ablation surface 179A of the body 102 that is closer to the crown portion 119 than the sole portion 117 and closer to the toe portion 114 than the hosel 120; the sole hosel surface is a portion of the front flange ablation surface 179A of the body 102 that is closer to the sole portion 117 than the crown portion 119 and closer to the hosel 120 than the toe portion 114; and the sole toe surface is a portion of the front flange ablation surface 179A of the body 102 that is closer to the sole portion 117 than the crown portion 119 and closer to the toe portion 114 than the hosel 120. Thus, referring to table 4, in some examples, the second component ablation surface 526 or any laser ablated surface of the golf club head 100 has a water contact angle between 2 ° and 25 ° or between 5 ° and 18 °. According to some examples, the water contact angle of the ablated surface of golf club head 100 is less than 50 °, less than 45 °, less than 40 °, less than 35 °, less than 30 °, less than 25 °, or less than 20 °. In some examples, the water contact angle of the ablated surface of golf club head 100 is greater than zero degrees and less than 30 ° or greater than zero degrees and less than 25 °. In some examples, the water contact angle of the ablated surface of golf club head 100 is between 1 ° and 18 °.

Referring to fig. 38, 40, and 41, in some examples, the first member 502 is the striking plate 143 of the golf club head 100 and the second member 504 is the body 102 of the golf club head 100. In certain examples, the striking plate 143 may be made of a fiber reinforced polymeric material and the body 102 may be made of a different material, such as a cast titanium material, a non-cast titanium material, an aluminum material, a steel material, a tungsten material, a plastic material, and the like. In some examples, the striking plate 143 is made of a plurality of stacked plies of fiber reinforced polymeric material. In one example, the striking plate 143 is made of 35-70 stacked plies of fiber reinforced polymeric material (each ply having continuous fibers at a given angle) and has a thickness between 3.5mm and 6.0mm, inclusive. The angle of the fibers of the plies may vary from ply to ply. Alternatively, the striking plate 143 may be made of a metallic material, such as a titanium alloy, and the body 102 may be made of the same metallic material or a different metallic material, such as a different titanium alloy. Also, as described above, the body 102 may be made of multiple separately formed and subsequently attached components, with each component being made of a different material.

When the first member 502 is the striking plate 143 of the golf club head 100, the first member surface 520 includes the interior surface 166 or rear surface of the striking plate 143 opposite the ball striking face 145 of the striking plate 143. Thus, as shown in FIG. 38, the first laser 506 generates a first component laser beam 508 and directs the first component laser beam 508 to impinge the inner surface 166 at least partially on the inner surface 166 within a designated first component bonding area 548 and along the designated first component bonding area 548 to form a striking plate inner ablation surface 179C. Thus, only a portion (e.g., a peripheral portion) of the entire inner surface 166 of the striking plate 143 is laser ablated, while the remainder of the inner surface 166 is not ablated. The first component ablation surface 522 at least partially comprises the striking plate interior ablation surface 179C. In some examples, the first component surface 520 also includes the outer peripheral edge surface 167 of the striking plate 145 and the first laser 506 generates the first component laser beam 508 and directs the first component laser beam 508 to impinge on (e.g., the entire) outer peripheral edge surface 167, thereby forming the striking plate edge ablation surface 179D. Thus, the first component ablation surface 522 can further include the striking plate edge ablation surface 179D and the specified first component bonding area 548 can further include the outer peripheral edge surface 167. In some examples, the striking plate interior ablation surface 179C and the striking plate edge ablation surface 179D have the same ablation pattern. In some examples, the orientation of the striking plate 143 relative to the first component laser 506 is adjusted when the laser ablates the peripheral edge surface 167, due to the angle of the peripheral edge surface 167 relative to the inner surface 166, as compared to when the laser ablates the inner surface 166.

When the second component 504 is the body 102, the second component surface 524 includes the plate opening recess flange 147 of the body 102. Thus, as shown in fig. 39, second laser 510 generates second component laser beam 512 and directs second component laser beam 512 to impinge plate opening recessed flange 147 within and along the designated second component bonding area to form front flange ablation surface 179A. Second component ablation surface 526 at least partially includes anterior flange ablation surface 179A. In some examples, second component surface 524 also includes sidewalls 146 that extend around plate opening recessed lip 147, and second laser 510 generates second component laser beam 512 and directs second component laser beam 512 to impinge on (e.g., all of) sidewalls 146 such that front sidewall ablated surface 179B is formed. Accordingly, second component ablation surface 526 can further include front sidewall ablation surface 179B and the specified second component bonding area can further include sidewall 146. In some examples, anterior flange ablation surface 179A and anterior sidewall ablation surface 179B have the same ablation pattern. In some examples, when laser ablating the sidewall 146, the orientation of the body 102 relative to the second component laser 510 is adjusted due to the angle of the sidewall 146 relative to the plate opening recess flange 147 as compared to when laser ablating the plate opening recess flange 147.

In view of the foregoing, according to some examples, such as the golf club head 300 of fig. 18, the second component ablation surface 526 is defined by the ablated surfaces of two subcomponents (e.g., the upper cup 304A and the lower cup 304B) made of different materials. Thus, when second component-ablating surface 526 is laser-ablated, the different materials defining second component-ablating surface 526 can be laser-ablated in a single continuous step. A first material of the different materials may define a first surface area of the second component ablation surface 526 and a second material of the different materials may define a second surface area of the second component ablation surface. In some examples, the first surface area and the second surface area may be different. According to certain examples, the first surface area is greater than the second surface area, and the first material defining the first surface area has a lower density than the second material defining the second surface area. The upper cup 304A and the lower cup 304B each include a front flange and a side wall (similar to the plate opening recess flange 147 and the side wall 146) that can be laser ablated to define a second component ablation surface 526.

Referring to fig. 10-13, in some examples, the first component 502 is one of the crown insert 108 or the sole insert 110, and the second component 504 is the body 102. In certain examples, the crown insert 108 and/or the sole insert 110 can be made of a fiber reinforced polymeric material and the body 102 can be made of a different material, such as a cast titanium material, a non-cast titanium material, an aluminum material, a steel material, a tungsten material, a plastic material, and the like. Alternatively, the crown insert 108 and/or the sole insert 100 may be made of a metallic material, such as a titanium alloy, while the body 102 may be made of the same metallic material or a different metallic material, such as a different titanium alloy.

When the first member 502 is the crown insert 108, the first member surface 520 includes the inner surface 108A of the crown insert 108. Accordingly, the first laser 506 generates a first component laser beam 508 and directs the first component laser beam 508 to impinge the inner surface 108A of the crown insert 108 at least partially on the inner surface 108A of the crown insert 108 within the designated first component bonding area 548 and along the designated first component bonding area 548 to form a crown insert ablation surface 108B. The first component ablation surface 522 at least partially includes the crown insert ablation surface 108B. Thus, only a portion (e.g., the outer peripheral portion) of the entire inner surface of the crown insert 108 is laser ablated, while the remainder of the inner surface of the crown insert 108 is not ablated. In some examples, the bond area on the inner surface 108A of the crown insert 108 will be 2,000mm²To 2,500mm²Such as at least 2,248 mm². Further, in certain examples, the total surface area of the inner surface 108A of the crown insert 108 is 7,000mm²To 12,000mm²In between or at 9,000mm²To 11,000mm²In between (e.g., a minimum surface area of 7,000 mm)²To 9,000mm²In between), such as at 9,379mm ²To 10,366mm²Between (e.g., about 9,873 mm)²). In some examples, the percentage of the total surface area of the inner surface 108A occupied by bonded area on the inner surface 108A of the crown insert 108 is no greater than 25%, 30%, 35%, or 40% and no less than 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25%. According to certain examples, the percentage of the total surface area of the inner surface 108A occupied by bonded area on the inner surface 108A of the crown insert 108 is between 20% and 25%, such as 22%, between 20% and 27%, or between 22% and 25%.

In some examples, the bonded area on the inner surface 110A of the bottom insert 110 will be 1,800 mm²To 2,200mm²Such as at least 2,076mm². Further, in certain examples, the total surface area of the inner surface 110A of the bottom insert 110 is 7,000mm²To 12,000mm²Between or at 9,000mm²To 11,000mm²In between (e.g., with a minimum surface area of 7,000mm²To 9,000mm²In between), such as at 8,182mm²To 9,043mm²Between (e.g., about 8,613 mm)²). In some examples, the percentage of the total surface area of the inner surface 110A that is occupied by the bonded area on the inner surface 110A of the bottom insert 110 is no greater than 25%, 30%, 35%, or 40% and no less than 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25%. According to certain examples, the percentage of the total surface area of the inner surface 110A that is occupied by the bonded area on the inner surface 110A of the bottom insert 110 is between 20% and 27%, between 22% and 25%, or between 21% and 26%, such as 24%.

In some examples, the bonded area on the inner surface of the striking plate 143 will be 1,770mm²To 2,170 mm²In the range of (1), e.g. at least 1,976mm². Further, in some examples, the total surface area of the interior surface of the striking plate 143 is less than 7,000mm²Such as at 1,500mm²To 7,000mm²In the range of 3,200 mm²To 4,700mm²Between, or at 3,572mm²To 3,949mm²Between (e.g., about 3,761 mm)²). In some examples, the percentage of the total surface area of the inner surface of the striking plate 143 that is occupied by bonded area on the inner surface of the striking plate 143 is no more than 55%, 60%, 65%, or 70% and no less than 30%, 35%, 40%, or 45%. According to some examples, the percentage of the total surface area of the inner surface of the striking plate 143 that is occupied by bonded area on the inner surface of the striking plate 143 is between 47% and 58%, such as 52%.

In some examples, first component surface 520 also includes an outer peripheral edge surface of crown insert 108 and first laser 506 generates first component laser beam 508 and directs first component laser beam 508 to impinge on the (e.g., integral) outer peripheral edge surface of crown insert 108, forming crown insert edge-ablated surface 108C. Thus, the first component ablation surface 522 can further comprise a crown insert edge ablation surface 108C and the specified first component bonding area 548 can further comprise a peripheral edge surface of the crown insert 108. In certain examples, the crown insert ablation surface 108B and the crown insert edge ablation surface 108C may have the same ablation pattern. In some examples, the orientation of the crown insert 108 relative to the first component laser 506 is adjusted when the laser ablates the peripheral edge surface of the crown insert 108 due to the angle of the peripheral edge surface relative to the inner surface 108A as compared to when the laser ablates the inner surface 108A.

When the first piece 502 is the crown insert 108, the second piece surface 524 includes the top plate opening recessed ledge 168. Accordingly, second laser 510 generates second component laser beam 512 and directs second component laser beam 512 to impinge top plate opening recessed flange 168 at least partially on top plate opening recessed flange 168 within and along the designated second component bonding area to form top flange ablated surface 141A. Second component ablation surface 526 at least partially comprises top flange ablation surface 141A. In some examples, second component surface 520 also includes a top recessed flange sidewall that circumferentially surrounds and defines a depth of top plate opening recessed flange 168, and second laser 510 generates second component laser beam 512 and directs second component laser beam 512 to impinge on (e.g., entirely on) the top recessed flange sidewall, thereby forming top sidewall ablated surface 141B. Accordingly, the second component ablation surface 526 can further include a top sidewall ablation surface 141B, and the specified second component bonding area can further include a top recessed flange sidewall. In some examples, the top flange ablation surface 141A and the top sidewall ablation surface 141B may have the same ablation pattern. In some examples, when laser ablating the top recessed flange sidewalls, the orientation of the body 102 relative to the second component laser 506 is adjusted due to the angle of the top recessed flange sidewalls relative to the top plate opening recessed flange 168 as compared to when laser ablating the top plate opening recessed flange 168.

In view of the foregoing, according to some examples, the second component ablation surface 526 is defined by the ablation surfaces of two sub-components (e.g., the casting cup 104 and the ring 106) that are made of different materials. Thus, when second component ablation surface 526 is laser ablated, the different materials defining second component ablation surface 526 can be laser ablated in a single continuous step.

When the first member 502 is the bottom insert 110, the first member surface 520 includes the inner surface 110A of the bottom insert 110. Accordingly, the first laser 506 generates a first part laser beam 508 and directs the first part laser beam 508 to impinge the inner surface 110A of the bottom insert 110 at least partially on the inner surface 110A of the crown insert 110 within the designated first part bonding area 548 and along the designated first part bonding area 548 to form the bottom insert ablation surface 110B. The first component ablation surface 522 at least partially includes the bottom insert ablation surface 110B. Thus, only a portion (e.g., the peripheral portion) of the entire inner surface of the bottom insert 110 is laser ablated, while the remainder of the inner surface of the bottom insert 110 is not ablated. In some examples, first component surface 520 also includes an outer peripheral edge surface of bottom insert 110 and first laser 506 generates first component laser beam 508 and directs first component laser beam 508 to impinge a (e.g., integral) outer peripheral edge surface of bottom insert 110, thereby forming bottom insert edge ablated surface 110C. Thus, the first component ablation surface 522 may further comprise the bottom insert edge ablation surface 110C and the specified first component engagement area 548 may further comprise the outer peripheral edge surface of the bottom insert 110. In certain examples, the bottom insert ablated surface 110B and the bottom insert edge ablated surface 110C can have the same ablation pattern. In some examples, the orientation of the bottom insert 110 relative to the first component laser 506 is adjusted when the laser ablates the peripheral edge surface of the bottom insert 110 due to the angle of the peripheral edge surface relative to the inner surface 110A as compared to when the laser ablates the inner surface 110A.

Further, when the first component 502 is the bottom insert 110, the second component surface 524 includes the bottom opening recessed flange 170. Accordingly, second laser 510 generates second component laser beam 512 and directs second component laser beam 512 to impinge bottom opening recessed flange 170 at least partially on bottom opening recessed flange 170 within and along the designated second component bonding area to form bottom flange ablated surface 142A. Second component ablation surface 526 at least partially includes bottom flange ablation surface 142A. In some examples, second component surface 524 also includes a bottom recessed flange sidewall that circumferentially surrounds and defines a depth of bottom opening recessed flange 170, and second laser 510 generates second component laser beam 512 and directs second component laser beam 512 to impinge on (e.g., entirely on) the bottom recessed flange sidewall, thereby forming bottom sidewall ablated surface 142B. Accordingly, the second component ablation surface 526 can further include a bottom sidewall ablation surface 142B, and the specified second component bonding area can further include a bottom recessed flange sidewall. In some examples, the bottom flange ablated surface 142A and the bottom sidewall ablated surface 142B can have the same ablation pattern. In some examples, when laser ablating the bottom recess flange sidewall, the orientation of the body 102 relative to the second component laser 510 is adjusted due to the angle of the bottom recess flange sidewall relative to the bottom opening recess flange 170 as compared to when laser ablating the bottom opening recess flange 170.

As described above, in some examples, the orientation of a component being laser ablated can be adjusted relative to the laser that ablates the component. In one example, as shown by the dashed directional arrows in fig. 39, the part remains stationary and the orientation of the laser or the directionality of the laser beam changes relative to the part. The orientation of the laser may be changed by moving the laser, such as via a numerically controlled robot, or adjusting the directionality of the laser beam generated by the laser, such as by using electronically controllable optical elements.

According to another example, as shown by the solid line directional arrows, in fig. 39, the laser is held stationary (or the directionality of the laser beam is held constant) and the component is adjusted in orientation or moved relative to the laser beam. The orientation of the component may be adjusted by securing the component to an adjustable platform that may translate or rotate to translate or rotate the component relative to the laser beam.

Although in some examples, the methods disclosed herein may be performed manually, in other examples, the methods are performed automatically. As used herein, automated means at least partially operated by an automated device, such as a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine. In some examples, the process of controlling the laser, including the directionality and/or characteristics of the laser beam, and/or controlling the orientation/position of the component relative to the laser beam, is automated. For example, the electronic controller may control the laser and component adjustment elements (e.g., motors, cylinders, gears, rails, etc.) to maintain and adjust the orientation/position of the component.

Because the golf club head 100 has the crown insert 108 and the sole insert 110 attached to the body 102, in some examples, the method 550 may be performed to manufacture a golf club head having more than one first part 502 coupled to a second part 504. In other words, in at least one example, the golf club head 100 includes at least two first members 502 coupled to a second member 504. Further, because the golf club head 100 also includes the striking plate 148 attached to the body 102, in some examples, the method 550 may be performed to manufacture a golf club head having at least three first members 502 coupled to a second member 504.

As described above, the body 102 of the golf club head 100 includes multiple pieces attached together to form a multi-piece construction. For example, referring to fig. 14 and 15, the body 102 of the golf club head 100 includes a casting cup 104 and a ring 106. Thus, in some examples, the method 550 may be performed to manufacture a body of a golf club head that includes the first member 502 and the second member 504. In certain examples, the first component 502 is the ring 106 and the second component 504 is the casting cup 104. As described above, the ring 106 and the casting cup 104 may be made of different materials. For example, the ring 106 may be made of a metallic material or a plastic material having a relatively lower density than the material of the casting cup 104, and the casting cup 104 may be made of a cast titanium material.

When the first member 502 is the ring 106 and the second member 504 is the casting cup 104, the first member surface 520 includes the toe-cup engagement surface 152A and the heel-cup engagement surface 152B. Accordingly, the first laser 506 generates a first component laser beam 508 and directs the first component laser beam 508 to impinge the toe-cup engagement surface 152A and the heel-cup engagement surface 152B at least partially on and along the toe-cup engagement surface 152A and the heel-cup engagement surface 152B within the designated first component bonding area to form the toe-cup engagement ablation surface 148C and the heel-cup engagement surface 148D, respectively. The first component ablation surface 522 includes, at least in part, a toe-cup engagement ablation surface 148C and a heel-cup engagement surface 148D. In some examples, the toe-cup engagement ablation surface 148C and the heel-cup engagement surface 148D may have the same ablation pattern.

Accordingly, when the first component 502 is the ring 106 and the second component 504 is the casting cup 104, the second component surface 524 includes the toe-ring engagement surface 150A and the heel-ring engagement surface 150B. Accordingly, the second laser 510 generates a second component laser beam 512 and directs the second component laser beam 512 to impinge the toe-ring engagement surface 150A and the heel-ring engagement surface 150B at least partially on and along the toe-ring engagement surface 150A and the heel-ring engagement surface 150B within and along the designated second component bonding area to form the toe-ring engagement ablated surface 148A and the heel-ring engagement surface 148B, respectively. First component ablation surface 522 includes, at least in part, a toe-ring engagement ablation surface 148A and a heel-ring engagement surface 148B. In some examples, the toe-ring engagement ablation surface 148A and the heel-ring engagement surface 148B may have the same ablation pattern.

After the ring 106 is bonded to the casting cup 104, the ring 106 and casting cup 104 may collectively define a second component 504, the first component 502 being bonded to the second component 504 according to the method 550. In other words, the second member 504 may have a multi-piece construction. Indeed, referring to FIG. 18, the casting cup may have a multi-piece construction such that one piece of the casting cup is the first component 502 and the other piece of the casting cup is the second component 504, such that the multiple pieces of the casting cup (e.g., made of the same or different materials) have ablated surfaces that are bonded together after the manner of method 550.

As used herein, the dashed leader lines are used to indicate features in the previous state. For example, a surface referenced by a dashed-line lead-out line represents a surface before a surface modified to be referenced by a solid-line lead-out line. This approach helps to understand the correlation between the front and back surfaces of the ablation.

In some examples, the step of laser ablating the first component surface 520 or the step of laser ablating the second component surface 524 is performed to remove the alpha case from the respective one of the first component 502 or the second component 504. In such an example, a respective one of the first or

second components

502, 504 is made from a titanium alloy that is susceptible to forming an alpha shell on the first or

second component surface

520, 524, respectively, during manufacture (e.g., casting) of the respective component (see, e.g., U.S. patent No. 10,780,327 issued on 9/22/2020, which is incorporated herein by reference). A respective one of the first component surface 520 or the second component surface 524 is ablated to a depth sufficient to remove the alpha shell from the corresponding component. Using the laser ablation methods disclosed herein enables the removal of alpha case in a manner that is more accurate, more efficient, and less wasteful of material than traditional methods, such as chemical etching, Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, or abrasion techniques.

Referring to fig. 43 and 44, in an alternative example, only one of the two surfaces forming the bond line 528 is laser ablated. According to one example, a method 560 of manufacturing a golf club head (such as golf club head 100) of the present disclosure includes (block 562) laser ablating the second member surface 524 of the second member 504 of the golf club head 100 such that the second member ablated surface 526 is formed in the second member 504. Method 560 additionally includes (block 564) bonding together first member surface 520 of first member 502 and second member ablation surface 526 of second member 504 of golf club head 100. In other words, rather than bonding second component ablation surface 526 to the first component ablation surface of first component 502, second component ablation surface 526 of second component 504 is bonded to a non-ablation surface (i.e., first component surface 520) of first component 502.

In certain examples, the second component 504 in the method 560 is made from a titanium alloy, such as a cast alloy, while the first component 502 in the method 560 is made from a fiber-reinforced polymeric material. For example, the first component 502 may be the striking plate 143, the second component 504 may be the body 102, and the second component ablation surface 526 may define the plate opening recess flange 147 of the body 102. However, unlike the striking plate 143 shown in FIG. 38, the inner surface 166 of the striking plate 143 used in the method 560 is not laser ablated. In contrast, the inner surface 166 of the striking plate 143 is untreated or treated with a different type of surface treatment such as media blasting or chemical etching. According to another example, the first component 502 may be one of the crown insert 108 or the sole insert 110, the second component 504 may be the body 102, and the second component ablation surface 526 may define one of a top plate opening recessed ledge or a sole opening recessed ledge.

According to some examples, the method 560 is used to manufacture a golf club head similar to the golf club head 100, except that the striking plate 143, crown insert 108, and/or sole insert 110 do not have a laser ablated surface. Rather, in some examples, the body 102, which may only be made of cast titanium alloy, includes a laser ablated surface. According to one example, the body 102 includes a top flange ablation surface 141A, a sole flange ablation surface 141B, and a front flange ablation surface 179A, but the crown insert 108 does not include the crown insert ablation surface 108B, the sole insert 110 does not include the sole insert ablation surface 110B, and the striking plate 143 does not include the striking plate internal ablation surface 179C.

Each bonded joint of the golf club head 100 is defined by two bonding surfaces (e.g., faying surfaces). Since the binding partners have two equal and opposite binding surfaces, the surface area of each binding partner (i.e., the binding area of each binding partner) is defined as the surface area of one of the two binding surfaces. In other words, as defined herein, the binding area of each binding partner does not include the surface area of both binding surfaces of the binding partner. Thus, as used herein, the bonding area of a bond joint defined between two surfaces of a golf club head disclosed herein is the surface area of the portion of either (but only one) of the two surfaces of the bond joint that is covered by, or in direct contact with, the adhesive between the two surfaces. In view of this definition, the bonding area is equal to the surface area of one of the two surfaces of the adhesive (e.g., adhesive 530) that defines the bonding joint.

In some examples, at least one of the two bonding surfaces of at least one bond joint of golf club head 100 is a laser ablated surface. Thus, the bonding area of the bonding joint defined by the laser-ablated surface may be the surface area of the laser-ablated surface. Thus, unless otherwise noted, the surface area of the ablated surface is equal to the bonding area of the bonding joint defined by the laser ablated surface. Further, the bonded area of the bond joint defined by the non-ablated surface (e.g., first component surface 520 of fig. 44) and the ablated surface is the surface area of the portion of the non-ablated surface bonded to the ablated surface or the portion of the non-ablated surface covered by or in direct contact with adhesive 530. Thus, the total surface area of the non-ablated surface may be greater than the surface area of the portion of the non-ablated surface that is bonded to the ablated surface of the bonded joint.

As defined herein, the surface area of a laser-ablated surface is the area of the portion of the surface covered by the pattern of peaks and valleys formed by the laser beam. Thus, the surface area of the laser-ablated surface can be calculated as the length times the width of the portion of the surface comprising the pattern of peaks and valleys, or by the combined surface area of the peaks and valleys of the pattern of peaks and valleys. Furthermore, because in some examples the bonding surface of the bonded joint is contoured, to provide a more convenient method of calculating the area of the bonding surface, as defined herein, the surface area of the surface is the projected surface area, which is the surface area of the surface projected onto a hypothetical plane that substantially faces the surface.

Generally, the overall bond area of the golf club head 100 is higher than conventional golf club heads. Further, a high percentage of the total bond area of the golf club head 100, such as 50% -100%, is defined by the laser ablated surface. According to one example, the second component of the golf club head 100 ablates a surface526 has a diameter of 800mm²To 2,880mm²The surface area in between. In this or other examples, the second component ablation surface 526 of the golf club head 100 has at least 1,560mm²At least 1,770mm²At least 2,062 mm²Or at least 2,600mm²Surface area of (a). As previously discussed, the first member surface 520 or the first member ablated surface 522 of the golf club head 100 may have a corresponding surface area because they will define the side of the bond joint opposite the second member ablated surface 526. Referring to Table 5 below, this table shows the areas of some of the features of several examples of golf club heads disclosed herein and the bonded areas (in mm) of the bonding surfaces of the bonding joints²In units) which may be the same or different from the examples of table 4.

TABLE 5

In some examples, the forward bottom opening recessed flange 170A (e.g., the cup bottom flange ablation surface area of table 5) defines about 1,054mm ²A forward crown opening recess lip 168A (e.g., the cup top lip ablation surface area of table 5) defines about 1,910mm²The toe-ring engagement surface 150A and the heel-ring engagement surface 150B (e.g., the ring engagement ablation surface area of table 5) or the toe-cup engagement surface 152A and the heel-cup engagement surface 152B (e.g., the cup engagement ablation surface area of table 5) is about 98mm²The plate opening recess flange 147 and the sidewall 146 (e.g., anterior flange ablation surface area and anterior sidewall ablation surface area) define about 2,240mm²The total bonding area defined by the casting cup 104 is 5,300mm². According to the same or alternative examples, the rearward crown opening recessed lip 168B (e.g., the ring top lip ablation surface area of table 5) defines about 928mm²Combined area ofThe bottom opening recessed flange 170B (e.g., the ring bottom flange ablation surface area of Table 5) defines about 1,222mm²And the total bonding area defined by the rings 106 is 2,250mm²。

In view of the foregoing, in some examples, the golf club head 100 includes a single element or piece (e.g., the ring 106) that is bonded to three other elements or pieces of the golf club head 100, where the total bonded area between the four elements or pieces of the golf club head 100 is 1,950mm ²To 2,500mm²Or more preferably between 2,100mm²To 2,400mm²In between. According to some examples, the golf club head 100 includes a single element or piece (e.g., the casting cup 104) that is bonded to three other elements or pieces of the golf club head 100, where the total bonded area between the four elements or pieces of the golf club head 100 is 2,250mm²To 3,400mm²Or more preferably between 2,900mm²To 3,200mm²In the meantime. According to still other examples, golf club head 100 includes a single element or piece (e.g., casting cup 104) that is bonded to four other elements or pieces of golf club head 100, where the total bonded area between the five elements or pieces of golf club head 100 is 4,750mm²To 6,200mm²Or more preferably between 4,900mm²To 5,500mm²In the meantime. In some examples, the golf club head includes a single element or piece (e.g., the top cup 304A) that is bonded to five other elements or pieces of the golf club head 100, where the total bonded area between the six elements or pieces of the golf club head 100 is 5,500mm²To 7,000mm²Or more preferably between 5,700mm²To 6,300mm²In the meantime.

The golf club heads of the present disclosure have a high bond area between the pieces of the golf club head relative to the volume of the golf club head. In other words, the amount of bonding area is significantly higher for a given size golf club head than for a conventional golf club head. According to some examples, the volume of a golf club head disclosed herein (such as golf club head 100) is between 450cc and 600cc, and More preferably between 450cc and 470 cc. Further, in some examples, a ratio of a combined volume ratio or a combined area of the plurality of bond joints of the golf club head to the volume of the golf club head is at least 3.75mm²A/cc of at most 15.5mm²A/cc (e.g., at least 9.1 mm)²A/cc of at most 14.0mm²/cc). In some examples, at least some examples of the golf club heads disclosed herein have a combined volume ratio of at least 7.9mm²A/cc of at most 13.7mm²A/cc (e.g., at least 8.1 mm)²A/cc of at most 12.2mm²/cc). In still other examples, at least some examples of the golf club heads disclosed herein have a combined volume ratio of at least 3.75mm²A/cc of at most 7.5mm²A/cc (e.g., at least 4.8 mm)²A/cc of at most 7.1 mm²/cc)。

According to some alternative examples, a ratio of a combined volume ratio or a combined area of the plurality of bonded joints of the golf club head to a volume of the golf club head is at least 10mm²A/cc of at most 18.8 mm²Per cc (e.g., at least 10 mm)²A/cc of at most 15.5mm²A/cc or at least 11.6mm²A/cc of at most 17.7mm²/cc). In some examples, at least some examples of golf club heads disclosed herein have a bond volume ratio of at least 10.5mm²A/cc of at most 15.3mm ²A/cc of at least 11.6mm²A/cc of at most 18.8mm²A/cc, or at least 12.1mm²A/cc of at most 17.5mm²/cc。

The golf club heads disclosed herein are made from multiple pieces that are bonded together. Thus, in some examples, the golf club heads disclosed herein include multiple pieces coupled together via an adhesive such that no part or piece of the golf club head is welded together.

The bonding area of the bonding joint is determined by the width (W) of the bonding joint_BA) And length (L)_BA) Definitions (see, e.g., fig. 15). Width W_BAMay be along the length L of the bonded joint_BAAnd (4) changing. Generally, the length L of the bonding area of the bonded joint_BABonding surface larger than bonding jointWidth W of product_BA. The bonded joint may be continuous such that the length L of the bonded area of the bonded joint_BAIs continuous. However, in some examples, the bonded joint is discontinuous or intermittent such that the length L of the junction region of the bonded joint_BAIs the sum of the lengths of the intervals of the binding linkers. Although only the width W of the bonding area of two bonding joints is shown in FIG. 15_BAAnd length L_BA(e.g., the bonded areas associated with the forward crown opening recessed ledge 168A and the rearward crown opening recessed ledge 168B), it should be appreciated that, although not specifically noted, the bonded area of each bonded joint of the golf club head 100 has a corresponding width W similar to those shown in FIG. 15 _BAAnd length L_BAOther features of the golf club head 100 are not labeled and labeled for ease of illustration. Further, with respect to the length L_BAThe length L of the bonding area of the bonding joint, as defined herein_BAIs the maximum length of the bonding area. Thus, where the bonded area can be considered to have two different lengths, such as a maximum length (e.g., along the outer perimeter of the bonded area, as shown in fig. 15) and a minimum length (e.g., along the inner perimeter of the bonded area), the length L of the bonded area_BADefined herein as the maximum length of the maximum or bonded area.

According to some examples, the bonded area of at least one bonded joint of golf club head 100 has a continuous length L between 174mm and 405mm_BASuch as at least 250 mm. For example, the combined junction area defined by the forward crown opening recess flange 168A and the rearward crown opening recess flange 168B has a continuous length L of at least 268mm, at least 300mm, at least 316mm, at least 353mm, or at least 370mm_BA. As another example, the combined bonded area defined by the forward bottom opening recessed ledge 170A and the rearward bottom opening recessed ledge 170B has a continuous length L of at least 281mm, at least 314mm, at least 331mm, at least 350mm, or at least 367mm _BA. According to yet another example, the bonded area defined by the plate opening recess flange 147 has at least 174mm, at least 194mm, at least 205mm, at least 250mm, or at leastContinuous length L of 262mm_BA. According to some examples, the combined length of the plurality of bonded joints is at least 723mm and at most 1,094mm, such as between 852mm and 953 mm.

In some examples, the combined length-to-area ratio defined by the forward crown opening recess bead 168A and the rearward crown opening recess bead 168B is equal to the length L_BAA ratio to the bonding area of the bonding joint between 0.13 and 0.16, such as about 0.15. In still other examples, the combined length-to-area ratio defined by the forward bottom opening recessed lip 170A and the rearward bottom opening recessed lip 168B is between 0.13 and 0.16, such as about 0.15.

In still other examples, the combined length-to-area ratio defined by the forward bottom opening recessed flange 170A and the rearward bottom opening recessed flange 168B is between 0.13 and 0.16, such as about 0.15.

In still other examples, the combined length-to-area ratio defined by the plate opening recess flange 147 is between 0.10 and 0.13, such as about 0.11.

Although not specifically shown, the golf club head 100 of the present disclosure may include other features to enhance the performance characteristics of the golf club head 100. For example, in some embodiments, the golf club head 100 includes a golf shaft similar to the golf shaft of U.S. patent No. 6,773,360; 7,166,040, respectively; 7,452,285, respectively; 7,628,707, respectively; 7,186,190, respectively; 7,591,738, respectively; 7,963,861, respectively; 7,621,823, respectively; 7,448,963, respectively; 7,568,985, respectively; 7,578,753, respectively; 7,717,804, respectively; 7,717,805, respectively; 7,530,904, respectively; 7,540,811, respectively; 7,407,447, respectively; 7,632,194, respectively; 7,846,041, respectively; 7,419,441, respectively; 7,713,142, respectively; 7,744,484, respectively; 7,223,180, respectively; 7,410,425, respectively; and 7,410,426, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In some embodiments, for example, the golf club head 100 includes a golf ball head that is similar to the golf ball head disclosed in U.S. patent nos. 7,775,905 and 8,444,505; U.S. patent application No. 13/898,313 filed on 20/5/2013; U.S. patent application No. 14/047,880 filed on 7/10/2013; U.S. patent application No. 61/702,667 filed on 9/18/2012; U.S. patent application No. 13/841,325 filed on 2013, 3, 15; U.S. patent application No. 13/946,918 filed on 19/7/2013; U.S. patent application No. 14/789,838 filed on 1/7/2015; united states patent application number 62/020,972 filed on 3/7/2014; patent application No. 62/065,552 filed on 17/10/2014; and those similar slidable weight features described in more detail in patent application No. 62/141,160 filed 3/31/2015, each of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

According to some embodiments, the golf club head 100 includes aerodynamic shape features similar to those described in more detail in U.S. patent application publication No. 2013/0123040a1, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

In some embodiments, the golf club head 100 includes removable shaft features similar to those described in more detail in U.S. patent No. 8,303,431, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

According to still other embodiments, the golf club head 100 includes a shaft similar to those described in U.S. patent No. 8,025,587; U.S. patent nos. 8,235,831; U.S. patent nos. 8,337,319; U.S. patent application publication numbers 2011/0312437a 1; U.S. patent application publication numbers 2012/0258818a 1; U.S. patent application publication nos. 2012/0122601a 1; U.S. patent application publication numbers 2012/0071264a 1; and adjustable pole top/pole bottom features such as those described in more detail in U.S. patent application No. 13/686,677, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

Additionally, in some embodiments, the golf club head 100 includes a golf shaft similar to the golf shaft of U.S. patent No. 8,337,319; U.S. patent application publication nos. 2011/0152000a1, 2011/0312437, 2012/0122601a 1; and adjustable bottom features such as those described in more detail in U.S. patent application No. 13/686,677, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

In some embodiments, the golf club head 100 includes a golf shaft similar to U.S. patent application serial No. 11/998,435; 11/642,310; 11/825,138, respectively; 11/823,638; 12/004,386; 12/004,387; 11/960,609, respectively; 11/960,610, respectively; and composite facial portion features of those described in more detail in U.S. patent No. 7,267,620, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a golf club head (such as golf club head 100) includes one or more of the following steps: (1) forming a body having a sole opening, forming a composite laminate sole insert, injection molding a thermoplastic composite club head element over the sole insert to form a sole insert unit, and joining the sole insert unit to the body; (2) forming a body having a crown opening, forming a composite laminate crown insert, injection molding a thermoplastic composite club head element over the crown insert to form a crown insert unit, and joining the crown insert unit to the body; (3) forming a weight track in the body capable of supporting one or more slidable weights; (4) forming the sole insert and/or the crown insert from a thermoplastic composite material having a matrix compatible with the bonding of the body; (5) forming the sole insert and/or the crown insert from a continuous fiber composite having continuous fibers selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, aramid fibers, carbon fibers, and any combination thereof, and having a thermoplastic matrix consisting of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyamide, polypropylene, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurea, polyamide-amide (PAI), polyether amide (PEI), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), and any combination thereof; (6) forming both the bottom insert and the weight rail from a thermoplastic composite material having a compatible matrix; (7) forming a base insert from a thermoset material, coating the base insert with a heat activated adhesive, and forming a weight rail from a thermoplastic material that can be injection molded over the base insert after the coating step; (8) forming a body from a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, one or more titanium alloys, aluminum, one or more aluminum alloys, steel, one or more steel alloys, polymers, plastics, and any combination thereof; (9) forming a body having a crown opening, forming a crown insert from the composite laminate, and joining the crown insert to the body such that the crown insert covers the crown opening; (10) selecting a composite club head element from the group consisting of one or more ribs for stiffening the golf club head, one or more ribs for adjusting the acoustic properties of the golf club head, one or more weight ports for receiving fixed weights in the sole portion of the golf club head, one or more weight rails for receiving slidable weights, and combinations thereof; (11) forming a sole insert and a crown insert from a continuous carbon fiber composite material; (12) forming a sole insert and a crown insert by thermosetting using a material suitable for thermosetting, and applying a heat activated adhesive on the sole insert; and (13) forming a body having a crown opening, a sole insert, and a counter rail from titanium, a titanium alloy, or a combination thereof, the body being made from a thermoplastic carbon fiber material having a matrix selected from the group consisting of polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyamide, polypropylene, thermoplastic polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurea, polyamide-amide (PAI), polyether amide (PEI), polyether ether ketone (PEEK), and any combination thereof; and (14) forming a frame having a crown opening, forming a crown insert from the thermoplastic composite material, and joining the crown insert to the body such that the crown insert covers the crown opening.

Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment," "an embodiment," or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. The appearances of the phrases "in one embodiment," "in an embodiment," and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. Similarly, use of the term "embodiment" means an embodiment having a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with one or more embodiments of the subject disclosure, however, if not explicitly stated to be associated with one or more embodiments.

In the description above, certain terms may be used, such as "upper," "lower," "horizontal," "vertical," "left," "right," "above," "below," and the like. These terms, where applicable, are used to provide some clear description of relative relationships when processed. However, these terms are not intended to imply absolute relationships, positions, and/or orientations. For example, with respect to an object, an "upper" surface may become a "lower" surface simply by flipping the object over. Nevertheless, it is still the same object. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including, but not limited to," unless expressly specified otherwise. The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive and/or mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "a", "an" and "the" also refer to "one or more" unless expressly specified otherwise. Further, the term "plurality" may be defined as "at least two". In some embodiments, the term "about" may be defined as within +/-5% of a given value.

In addition, examples of "coupling" one element to another element in this specification may include direct and indirect coupling. Direct coupling may be defined as one element coupled to and making some contact with another element. An indirect coupling may be defined as a coupling between two elements that are not in direct contact with each other but that have one or more additional elements between the joined members. Further, as used herein, securing one element to another element may include both direct and indirect securing. Further, as used herein, "immediately adjacent" does not necessarily mean in contact. For example, one element may be immediately adjacent to another element without contacting the element.

As used herein, the phrase "at least one of," when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items can be used, and only one of the items in the list may be required. The item may be a particular object, thing, or category. In other words, "at least one" means that an item or any combination of items can be used from the list, but not all items in the list may be necessary. For example, "at least one of item a, item B, and item C" may mean item a; item A and item B; item B; item A, item B, and item C; or item B and item C. In some cases, "at least one of item a, item B, and item C" can be, for example, but not limited to, two of item a, one of item B, and ten of item C; four items in item B and seven items in item C; and other suitable combinations.

Unless otherwise noted, the terms "first," "second," and the like are used herein as labels only and are not intended to impose order, position, or hierarchical requirements on the items to which they refer. Further, reference to, for example, "second" does not require or exclude the presence of, for example, "first" or lower numbered items and/or, for example, "third" or higher numbered items.

As used herein, a system, device, structure, article, component, means, or hardware that is "configured to" perform a specified function is indeed capable of performing the specified function without any change, and is not merely of potential for performing the specified function upon further modification. In other words, a system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware that is "configured to" perform a specified function is specifically selected, created, implemented, utilized, programmed, and/or designed for the specified purpose. As used herein, "configured to" means an existing characteristic of a system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware that enables the system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware to perform the specified function without further modification. For purposes of this disclosure, a system, device, structure, article, element, component, or hardware described as "configured to" perform a particular function may additionally or alternatively be described as "adapted to" and/or "operable to" perform that function.

The present subject matter can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.

Claims

1. A driver golf club head comprising:

a forward portion including a ball striking face;

a rearward portion opposite the forward portion;

a crown portion;

a sole portion opposite the crown portion;

a heel portion; and

a toe portion opposite the heel portion;

wherein:

the driver golf club head has a volume between 390 cubic centimeters (cc) and 600 cc;

the total mass of the driver golf club head is between 185 grams (g) and 210 g;

the ball-serving golf club head is made of at least one first material having a density between 0.9g/cc and 3.5g/cc, at least one second material having a density between 3.6g/cc and 5.5g/cc, and at least one third material having a density between 5.6g/cc and 20.0 g/cc;

the first mass of the at least one first material is no greater than 55% and no less than 25% of the total mass of the driver golf club head;

The second mass of the at least one second material is no greater than 65% and no less than 20% of the total mass of the driver golf club head; and

the third mass of the at least one third material is equal to the total mass of the driver golf club head minus the first mass of the at least one first material and the second mass of the at least one second material.

2. The driver golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third mass of the at least one third material is not less than 5% and not greater than 50% of the total mass of the driver golf club head.

3. The driver golf club head of claim 1, wherein the third mass of the at least one third material is not less than 10% and not greater than 20% of the total mass of the driver golf club head.

4. The ball-serving bar golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a body comprising a casting cup and a ring engaged with the casting cup via a joint, wherein:

The casting cup defines the forward portion of the driver golf club head and is made of at least the at least one second material;

the at least one second material comprises at least a first metallic material having a density between 4.0g/cc and 8.0 g/cc; and

the ring defines the rearward portion of the driver golf club head and is made of a material having a density between 0.5g/cc and 4.0 g/cc.

5. The ball-serving bar golf club head of claim 4, wherein:

the first metallic material of the casting cup comprises at least one of a titanium alloy or a steel alloy; and

the material of the ring includes at least one of an aluminum alloy or a magnesium alloy.

6. The ball-serving bar golf club head of claim 4, wherein:

the material of the ring comprises a non-metallic material.

7. The ball-serving bar golf club head of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one first material comprises a fiber reinforced polymeric material comprising continuous fibers; and

each of said continuous fibers has a length of at least 50 mm.

8. The driver golf club head of claim 7, wherein each of the continuous fibers of the fiber reinforced polymeric material does not extend from the crown portion to the sole portion of the driver golf club head.

9. The ball-serving bar golf club head of claim 7, wherein each of the continuous fibers of the fiber reinforced polymeric material does not extend from the crown portion to the forward portion.

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

the at least one first material comprises a fiber reinforced polymeric material; and

the fiber reinforced polymeric material includes a thermoset polymer.

11. The ball-serving bar golf club head of claim 1, further comprising a body comprising a casting cup and a ring engaged to the casting cup via a joint, wherein:

the body includes a crown opening;

the casting cup includes a forward crown opening recessed flange defining a forward section of the crown opening; and

the ring includes a rearward crown opening recessed flange defining a rearward section of the crown opening.

12. The ball-serving bar golf club head of claim 11, wherein:

the body includes a bottom opening;

the casting cup includes a forward bottom opening recessed flange defining a forward section of the bottom opening;

the ring includes a rearward bottom opening recessed flange defining a rearward section of the bottom opening;

the driver golf club head further includes a crown insert and a sole insert;

the crown insert defining the crown portion;

the crown insert closing the crown opening;

the crown insert is made of a material having a density between 0.5g/cc and 4.0 g/cc;

the bottom insert defines the bottom portion;

the bottom insert closing the bottom opening;

the bottom insert is made of a material having a density between 0.5g/cc and 4.0 g/cc;

the sole insert having a thickness greater than a thickness of the crown insert;

the crown insert includes a crown insert outer surface defining an outward facing surface of the crown portion of the driver golf club head;

the sole insert includes a sole insert outer surface defining an outward facing surface of the sole portion of the driver golf club head;

The total surface area of the sole insert outer surface is less than the total surface area of the crown insert outer surface; and

the total mass of the crown insert is less than the total mass of the sole insert.

13. The ball-serving bar golf club head of claim 12, wherein:

the bottom insert comprises a first number of stacked plies;

the crown insert includes a second number of stacked plies; and

the first number is greater than the second number.

14. The ball-serving bar golf club head of claim 1, further comprising:

a body comprising a casting cup and a ring joined to the casting cup via a joint; and

a striking plate defining the striking face;

wherein:

the casting cup defining the forward portion of the driver golf club head;

the casting cup includes a plate opening; and

the striking plate is coupled to the casting cup and closes the plate opening of the casting cup.

15. The driver golf club head of claim 14, wherein the striking plate is made from a fiber reinforced polymeric material.

16. The driver golf club head of claim 14, wherein the striking plate is made of a metal material.

17. The ball-serving bar golf club head of claim 14, wherein:

the casting cup further comprises a plate opening recessed flange defining the plate opening; and

the striking plate is seatably engaged with the plate opening recessed flange of the casting cup.

18. The driver golf club head of claim 17, wherein the striking plate is bonded to the plate opening recess flange.

19. The ball-serving bar golf club head of claim 14, wherein:

the casting cup defining a portion of the crown portion, the sole portion, the heel portion, and the toe portion of the driver golf club head; and

the striking plate abuts the crown portion of the driver golf club head and defines a top line of the driver golf club head.

20. The driver golf club head of claim 19, wherein the striking plate visually contrasts with the crown portion of the driver golf club head such that the apex line of the driver golf club head is visually enhanced.