CLUB HEADS WITH VARYING GROOVE PARAMETERS AND RELATED METHODS

• US 20160059089A1
• Filed: 08/24/2015
• Published: 03/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Jertson, Martin, Stokke, Ryan, Greer, Evan
• Granted Patent: US 9,555,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type

Abstract

Some embodiments include a first golf club head and a second golf club head. The first golf club head includes a body having a face portion, and the second golf club head includes a body having a face portion. Meanwhile, the first club face portion comprises a face surface and at least one first club groove, and the second club face portion comprises a face surface and at least one second club groove. An edge radius of the first club head groove(s) can be less than an edge radius of the second club head groove(s), a base width of the first club head groove(s) can be less than a base width of the second club head groove(s), and/or a sidewall angle of the first club head groove(s) can be greater than a sidewall angle of the second club head groove(s). Other embodiments of related club heads and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. ) A set of golf club heads, the set comprising:

a first golf club head comprising;

a first top end and a first bottom end opposite the first top end;

a first front end and a first rear end opposite the first front end;

a first toe end and a first heel end opposite the first toe end;

a first club head body comprising a first club face portion;

a first club shaft axis comprising a first club top-to-bottom axis extending between the first top end and the first bottom end, a first club front-to-rear axis extending between the first front end and first rear end, and a first club heel-to-toe axis extending between the first heel end and the first toe end; and

a first club address configuration;

and

a second golf club head comprising;

a second top end and a second bottom end opposite the second top end;

a second front end and a second rear end opposite the second front end;

a second toe end and a second heel end opposite the second toe end;

a second club head body comprising a second club face portion;

a second club shaft axis comprising a second club top-to-bottom axis extending between the second top end and the second bottom end, a second club front-to-rear axis extending between the second front end and second rear end, and a second club heel-to-toe axis extending between the second heel end and the second toe end; and

a second club address configuration;

wherein;

the first club face portion comprises a first club face surface and at least one first club groove, the first club face portion being located at the first front end;

the first club top-to-bottom axis, the first club front-to-rear axis, and the first club heel-to-toe axis are approximately perpendicular to each other;

when the first golf club head is positioned in the first club address configuration;

the first club top-to-bottom axis is approximately perpendicular to a first ground plane; and

the first golf club head comprises a first club loft angle greater than or equal to approximately 55 degrees;

each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove comprises a first club groove base, a first club groove sidewall adjacent to the first club groove base, a first club groove edge point, a first club groove edge radius at the first club groove edge point, and a first club groove central axis approximately perpendicular to the first club groove base;

the at least one first club groove is symmetric across the first club groove central axis in a first club cross plane, the first club cross plane being approximately parallel to a first club cross plane formed by the first club top-to-bottom axis and the first club front-to-rear axis;

the first club edge point satisfies a Thirty Degree Rule;

the first club groove base comprises a first groove base width approximately parallel to the first club face surface and extending approximately perpendicular to the first club heel-to-toe axis;

the first club groove sidewall forms a first club groove sidewall angle with the first club groove central axis;

the second club face portion comprises a second club face surface and at least one second club groove, the second club face portion being located at the second front end;

the second club top-to-bottom axis, the second club front-to-rear axis, and the second club heel-to-toe axis are approximately perpendicular to each other;

when the second golf club head is positioned in the second club address configuration;

the second club top-to-bottom axis is approximately perpendicular to a second ground plane; and

the second golf club head comprises a second club loft angle less than approximately 55 degrees;

each second club groove, respectively, of the at least one second club groove comprises a second club groove base, a second club groove sidewall adjacent to the second club groove base, a second club groove edge point, a second club groove edge radius at the second club groove edge point, and a second club groove central axis approximately perpendicular to the second club groove base;

the at least one second club groove is symmetric across the second club groove central axis in a second club cross plane, the second club cross plane being approximately parallel to a second cross plane formed by the second club top-to-bottom axis and the second club front-to-rear axis;

the second club edge point satisfies the Thirty Degree Rule;

the second club groove base comprises a second groove base width approximately parallel to the second club face surface and extending approximately perpendicular to the second club heel-to-toe axis;

the second club groove sidewall forms a second club groove sidewall angle with the second club groove central axis;

the first club groove edge radius is less than the second club groove edge radius; and

at least one of;

the first club groove base width is less than the second club groove base width;

or

the first club groove sidewall angle is greater than the second club groove sidewall angle.

2. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

the first club groove edge radius is greater than or equal to approximately 0.007 centimeters and less than or equal to approximately 0.015 centimeters.

3. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

the first club groove edge radius is greater than or equal to approximately 0.015 centimeters and less than or equal to approximately 0.026 centimeters.

4. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

the first club groove sidewall angle is greater than or equal to approximately 21 degrees and less than or equal to approximately 27 degrees.

5. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

the first club groove sidewall angle is greater than or equal to approximately 13 degrees and less than or equal to approximately 19 degrees.

6. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove comprises a first club groove depth measured between the first club face surface and the first club groove base; and

the first club groove depth of each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove is approximately equal.

7. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove comprises a first club groove depth measured between the first club face surface and the first club groove base;

the first club groove depth of each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove is approximately equal; and

the first club groove depth is approximately 0.04 centimeters.

8. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove comprises a first club groove depth measured between the first club face surface and the first club groove base;

each second club groove, respectively, of the at least one second club groove comprises a second club groove depth measured between the second club face surface and the second club groove base; and

the first club groove depth is approximately equal to the second club groove depth.

9. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove comprises a first club groove depth measured between the first club face surface and the first club groove base;

each second club groove, respectively, of the at least one second club groove comprises a second club groove depth measured between the second club face surface and the second club groove base;

the first club groove depth is approximately equal to the second club groove depth; and

the first club groove depth is approximately 0.04 centimeters.

10. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove comprises a first club groove edge point depth measured approximately parallel to the first club groove central axis and between the first club groove edge point and the first club face surface; and

the first club groove edge point depth is approximately 0.004 centimeters.

11. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove comprises a first club groove edge point width measured approximately perpendicular to the first club groove central axis and between the first club groove edge point and the first club groove central axis; and

the first club groove edge point width is approximately 0.037 centimeters.

12. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one first club groove comprises multiple first club grooves; and

the first club groove central axis of adjacent first club grooves of the multiple first club grooves are spaced apart by greater than or equal to approximately 0.330 centimeters and less than or equal to approximately 0.345 centimeters.

13. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

the at least one first club groove comprises multiple first club grooves; and

the first club groove central axis of adjacent first club grooves of the multiple first club grooves are spaced apart by greater than or equal to approximately 0.345 centimeters and less than or equal to approximately 0.366 centimeters.

14. ) The set of golf club heads of claim 1 wherein:

the first club loft angle is less than or equal to approximately 65 degrees.

15. ) A method of providing a set of golf club heads, the method comprising:

providing a first golf club head; and

providing a second golf club head;

wherein;

providing the first golf club head comprises providing a first club head body of the first golf club head;

providing the first club head body comprises providing a first club face portion of the first club head body, the first club face portion being located at the first front end;

providing the first club face portion comprises providing a first club face surface of the first club face portion and at least one first club groove of the first club face portion;

the first golf club head comprises;

a first top end and a first bottom end opposite the first top end;

a first front end and a first rear end opposite the first front end;

a first toe end and a first heel end opposite the first toe end;

a first club shaft axis comprising a first club top-to-bottom axis extending between the first top end and the first bottom end, a first club front-to-rear axis extending between the first front end and first rear end, and a first club heel-to-toe axis extending between the first heel end and the first toe end; and

a first club address configuration;

the first club top-to-bottom axis, the first club front-to-rear axis, and the first club heel-to-toe axis are approximately perpendicular to each other;

when the first golf club head is positioned in the first club address configuration;

the first club top-to-bottom axis is approximately perpendicular to a first ground plane; and

the first golf club head comprises a first club loft angle greater than or equal to approximately 55 and less than or equal to approximately 65 degrees;

each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove comprises a first club groove base, a first club groove sidewall adjacent to the first club groove base, a first club groove edge point, a first club groove edge radius at the first club groove edge point, a first club groove central axis approximately perpendicular to the first club groove base, and a first club groove length extending approximately parallel to the first club heel-to-toe axis;

the first club groove base comprises a first groove base width approximately parallel to the first club face surface and extending approximately perpendicular to the first club heel-to-toe axis;

the first club groove central axis intersects a first approximate midpoint of the first groove base width;

the at least one first club groove is approximately symmetric across the first club groove central axis along a first majority of the first club groove length;

the first club edge point satisfies a Thirty Degree Rule;

the first club groove sidewall forms a first club groove sidewall angle with the first club groove central axis;

providing the second golf club head comprises providing a second club head body of the second golf club head;

providing the second club head body comprises providing a second club face portion of the second club head body, the second club face portion being located at the second front end;

providing the second club face portion comprises providing a second club face surface of the second club face portion and at least one second club groove of the second club face portion;

the second golf club head comprises;

a second top end and a second bottom end opposite the second top end;

a second front end and a second rear end opposite the second front end;

a second toe end and a second heel end opposite the second toe end;

a second club shaft axis comprising a second club top-to-bottom axis extending between the second top end and the second bottom end, a second club front-to-rear axis extending between the second front end and second rear end, and a second club heel-to-toe axis extending between the second heel end and the second toe end; and

a second club address configuration;

the second club top-to-bottom axis, the second club front-to-rear axis, and the second club heel-to-toe axis are approximately perpendicular to each other;

when the second golf club head is positioned in the second club address configuration;

the second club top-to-bottom axis is approximately perpendicular to a second ground plane; and

the second golf club head comprises a second club loft angle less than approximately 55 degrees;

each second club groove, respectively, of the at least one second club groove comprises a second club groove base, a second club groove sidewall adjacent to the second club groove base, a second club groove edge point, a second club groove edge radius at the second club groove edge point, a second club groove central axis approximately perpendicular to the second club groove base, and a second club groove length extending approximately parallel to the second club heel-to-toe axis;

the second club groove base comprises a second groove base width approximately parallel to the second club face surface and extending approximately perpendicular to the second club heel-to-toe axis;

the second club groove central axis intersects a second approximate midpoint of the second groove base width;

the at least one second club groove is approximately symmetric across the second club groove central axis along a second majority of the second club groove length;

the second club edge point satisfies the Thirty Degree Rule;

the second club groove sidewall forms a second club groove sidewall angle with the second club groove central axis;

the first club groove edge radius is less than the second club groove edge radius; and

at least one of;

the first club groove base width is less than the second club groove base width;

or

the first club groove sidewall angle is greater than the second club groove sidewall angle.

16. ) The method of claim 15 wherein:

the first club groove edge radius is greater than or equal to approximately 0.007 centimeters and less than or equal to approximately 0.015 centimeters.

17. ) The method of claim 15 wherein:

the first club groove edge radius is greater than or equal to approximately 0.007 centimeters and less than or equal to approximately 0.015 centimeters; and

the first club groove sidewall angle is greater than or equal to approximately 21 degrees and less than or equal to approximately 27 degrees.

18. ) The method of claim 15 wherein:

the first club groove sidewall angle is greater than or equal to approximately 21 degrees and less than or equal to approximately 27 degrees.

19. ) The method of claim 15 wherein:

the first club groove sidewall angle is greater than or equal to approximately 13 degrees and less than or equal to approximately 19 degrees.

20. ) The method of claim 15 wherein:

each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove comprises a first club groove depth measured between the first club face surface and the first club groove base; and

the first club groove depth of each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove is approximately equal.

21. ) A set of golf club heads, the set comprising:

a first golf club head comprising;

a first club head body comprising a first club face portion; and

a second golf club head comprising;

a second club head body comprising a second club face portion;

wherein;

the first club face portion comprises a first club face surface and at least one first club groove;

the first golf club head comprises a first club loft angle greater than or equal to approximately 55 degrees;

each first club groove, respectively, of the at least one first club groove comprises a first club groove base, a first club groove sidewall adjacent to the first club groove base, a first club groove edge point, a first club groove edge radius at the first club groove edge point, and a first club groove central axis approximately perpendicular to the first club groove base;

the first club groove base comprises a first groove base width;

the first club groove sidewall forms a first club groove sidewall angle;

the second club face portion comprises a second club face surface and at least one second club groove;

the second golf club head comprises a second club loft angle less than approximately 55 degrees;

each second club groove, respectively, of the at least one second club groove comprises a second club groove base, a second club groove sidewall adjacent to the second club groove base, a second club groove edge point, a second club groove edge radius at the second club groove edge point, and a second club groove central axis approximately perpendicular to the second club groove base;

the second club groove base comprises a second groove base width;

the second club groove sidewall forms a second club groove sidewall angle;

the first club groove edge radius is less than the second club groove edge radius; and

at least one of;

the first club groove base width is less than the second club groove base width;

or

the first club groove sidewall angle is greater than the second club groove sidewall angle.