High inertia golf club head

• US 20020160854A1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Anderson, David, Beach, Todd P., Vincent, Benoit
• Granted Patent: US 6,991,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/334
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A club head for a golf club comprises a club head. The club head includes a strike face and an outer shell that defines an interior volume. The club head has a first moment of inertia about a first axis that extends generally horizontally and parallel to the strike face. The club head also has a second moment of inertia about a second axis that lies generally vertically and perpendicular to the first horizontal axis. The club further has a center of gravity. The center of gravity lies below a horizontal centerline of the club head. The first moment of inertia in units of kilograms millimeters squared (kg-mm²) is greater than or equal to approximately 77 plus 0.46 times the head volume in cubic centimeters (cc).

Claims

1. A club head for a golf club, the club head comprising a strike face and an outer shell defining a head volume of the club head, said club head having a first moment of inertia about a first axis that extends generally horizontally and parallel to said strike face, a second moment of inertia about a second axis that lies generally vertically and perpendicular to said first horizontal axis, and a center of gravity, said center of gravity lying below a horizontal centerline of said club head, and said first moment of inertia in units of kilograms millimeters squared (kg-mm²) is greater than or equal to approximately 77 plus 0.46 times the head volume in cubic centimeters (cc).

2. The club head of claim 1, wherein the first moment of inertia in units of kilograms millimeters squared (kg-mm²) is greater than or equal to approximately 107 plus 0.46 times the head volume in cubic centimeters (cc).

3. The club head of claim 1, wherein said center of gravity lies more than 1 millimeter below the horizontal centerline.

4. The club head of claim 3, wherein the first moment of inertia in units of kilograms millimeters squared (kg-mm²) is greater than or equal to approximately 107 plus 0.46 times the head volume in cubic centimeters (cc)

5. The club head of claim 1, wherein said club head has a mass less than 250 grams.

6. The club head of claim 1, wherein said club head has a mass less than 230 grams.

7. The club head of claim 1, wherein said club head has a mass less than 210 grams.

8. The club head of claim 1, wherein said club head further includes a hosel and said center of gravity is located between 12 and 25 millimeters from an axis that lies along the center of said hosel.

9. The club head of claim 1, wherein said club head further includes a hosel and said center of gravity is located between 16 and 20 millimeters from an axis that lies along the center of said hosel.

10. The club head of claim 1, wherein said club head further includes a hosel and said center of gravity is located between 17 and 18 millimeters from an axis that lies along the center of said hosel.

11. The club head of claim 1, wherein said head volume is greater than 300 centimeters cubed.

12. The club head of claim 11, wherein said club head further includes a hosel and said center of gravity is located between 12 and 25 millimeters from an axis that lies along the center of said hosel.

13. The club head of claim 11, wherein said club head further includes a hosel and said center of gravity is located between 16 and 20 millimeters from an axis that lies along the center of said hosel.

14. The club head of claim 11, wherein said club head further includes a hosel and said center of gravity is located between 17 and 18 millimeters from an axis that lies along the center of said hosel.

15. The club head of claim 1, wherein said head volume is less than 200 centimeters cubed.

16. The club head of claim 15, wherein said center of gravity lies more than 2 millimeters below the horizontal centerline.

17. The club head of claim 15, wherein said club head further includes a hosel and said center of gravity is located between 12 and 25 millimeters from an axis that lies along the center of said hosel.

18. The club head of claim 15, wherein said club head further includes a hosel and said center of gravity is located between 16 and 20 millimeters from an axis that lies along the center of said hosel.

19. The club head of claim 15, wherein said club head further includes a hosel and said center of gravity is located between 17 and 18 millimeters from an axis that lies along the center of said hosel.

20. The club head of claim 1, wherein said second moment of inertia is greater than 250 kilograms per square meter.

21. The club head of claim 1, wherein said second moment of inertia is greater than 300 kilograms per square meter.

22. The club head of claim 1, wherein said club head includes a plurality of weights.

23. The club head of claim 22, wherein said plurality of weights lie along a front/back axis that extends generally perpendicular from said strike face.

24. The club head of claim 22, wherein said plurality of weights lie below said horizontal centerline.

25. The club head of claim 24, wherein said plurality of weights also lie along a front/back axis that extends generally perpendicular from said strike face.

27. The club head of claim 26, wherein said club head further includes a sole plate and said plurality of weights are secured to said sole plate.

28. The club head of claim 26, wherein said club head has a total mass of between 180 grams and 250 grams and said plurality of weights comprise 10 percent to 40 percent of said total mass.

29. The club head of claim 26, wherein said club head has a total mass of between 180 grams and 250 grams and said plurality of weights comprise 25 percent to 50 percent of said total mass

26. A club head for a golf club, the club head comprising a strike face, an outer shell defining an interior volume, said plurality of weights being positioned substantially about a front/back axis that extends generally perpendicular from said strike face and also being positioned entirely below a horizontal centerline of said club head.