Golf club head

• US 7,503,854 B2
• Filed: 01/11/2008
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Galloway, J. Andrew, Cackett, Matthew T., Hocknell, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Eugene
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hunter; Alvin A
• Application Number:
  US11/972,853
• Publication Number:
  US 20080139337A1
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/023 Long, oriented fibres, e.g. wound filaments, woven fabrics, mats
• 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 53/0458 with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00

Abstract

A golf club head (20) having optimized inertial properties and center of gravity is disclosed. The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) has a center of gravity located less than 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of a front wall (30). The positioning of the center of gravity of the golf club head (20) and the optimized inertial properties provide the golf club with greater ball spin robustness and better performance.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole, a ribbon disposed between the crown and sole, and a hollow interior;

a striking plate insert attached to the body, the striking plate insert being composed of a material having a density greater than that of the body; and

a weighting member disposed within an exterior recess in the ribbon at an aft end of the body, the weighting member providing weighting at least at a rear portion of the body;

wherein a center of gravity of the golf club head is located less than approximately 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the striking plate insert;

wherein the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of less than approximately 0.410;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters;

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertial Izz about the Z-axis through the center of gravity of greater than 3000 g-cm² and a moment of inertia Iyy about the Y-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 2000 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm².

2. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a non-metallic material.

3. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the striking plate insert is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of titanium, titanium alloy, steel alloys and amorphous materials.

4. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of magnesium, aluminum, polycarbonate, thermoplastic polyurethane, PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate), blends of polycarbonate and polyurethane, carbon epoxy and plies of pre-preg.

5. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a magnesium alloy material, the striking plate is composed of a titanium alloy material, and the weighting member is composed of a tungsten alloy material.

6. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a plies of pre-preg material, the striking plate is composed of a titanium alloy material, and the weighting member is composed of a tungsten alloy material.

7. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of plies of pre-preg material, the striking plate insert is composed of a steel material and the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of 0.270.

8. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of plies of pre-preg material, the striking plate insert is composed of a steel material and the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of 0.303.

9. The golf club head according to claim 1 wherein the body is composed of a magnesium material, the striking plate insert is composed of a steel material and the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of 0.334.

10. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole, a ribbon disposed between the crown and sole, and a hollow interior, the body composed of plies of preg material, the ribbon having an exterior aft recess;

a striking plate insert attached to the body, the striking plate insert being composed of a material having a density greater than that of the body; and

a weighting member disposed within the exterior aft recess of the ribbon, the weighting member providing weighting at least at a rear portion of the body;

wherein a center of gravity of the golf club head is located less than approximately 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the striking plate insert;

wherein the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of less than approximately 0.410;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters;

wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 180 grams to 215 grams;

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertial Izz about the Z-axis through the center of gravity of greater than 3000 g-cm² and a moment of inertia Iyy about the Y-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 2000 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm².

11. A wood-type golf club head comprising:

a body having a crown, a sole, a ribbon disposed between the crown and sole, a front wall with an opening, and a hollow interior, the body composed of plies of preg material, the ribbon having an exterior aft recess;

a striking plate insert attached to the body over the opening of the front wall, the striking plate insert being composed of a material selected from the group consisting of steel and titanium alloy; and

a weighting member disposed within the exterior aft recess of the ribbon, the weighting member providing weighting at least at a rear portion of the body;

wherein a center of gravity of the golf club head is located less than approximately 1.7 inches from an exterior surface of the striking plate insert;

wherein the golf club head has a robustness efficiency parameter of less than approximately 0.410;

wherein the golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters;

wherein the golf club head has a mass ranging from 180 grams to 215 grams;

wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertial Izz about the Z-axis through the center of gravity of greater than 3000 g-cm² and a moment of inertia Iyy about the Y-axis through the center of gravity in the range from 2000 g-cm² to 4000 g-cm².