Golf club with improved performance characteristics

• US 8,496,544 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Issued: 07/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Acushnet Company (FILA Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Curtis, Andrew J., De La Cruz, Noah, Golden, Charles E., Hartwell, Bradford Hughes, Johnson, Gregory D., Morin, John
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/490,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20100331096A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 473324-350
• US Class Current: 473/345
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/00 Characteristics of used materials
• 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 53/042 the face insert consisting of a material different from that of the head
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0425 the face insert comprising two or more different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• 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

Abstract

A metal wood type golf club with improved performance characteristics is disclosed herein where the metal wood type golf club head will combined the performance characteristics of both a driver type golf club head and a fairway type golf club head. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head with a volume of between about 150 cc to about 360 cc, a CG location between about 10 mm to about 20 mm above the ground, a face depth of between about 30 millimeters (mm) to about 65 millimeters (mm), a loft of about between 10 degrees to about 16 degrees, and a COR of about 0.790 to about 0.830, wherein the entire golf club has a length of between about 41 inches to about 45 inches.

Claims

1. A metal wood type golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a grip connected to a proximal end of said shaft;

a metal wood type golf club head connected to a distal end of said shaft;

wherein said head further comprises;

a face portion providing a striking surface having a measurable face depth for striking a golf ball; and

a body portion extending from a rear section of said face portion including a crown portion and a sole portion,

wherein said metal wood type golf club head has a volume of between 200 cc to 300 cc,

wherein said metal wood type golf club head has a CG location that is positioned at a measurable height above a horizontal plane containing a ground,

wherein said metal wood type golf club head has a CG to face depth ratio, defined by said height of said CG location over said face depth, of less than about 0.40;

wherein a total club length of said shaft combined with said metal wood type golf club head is between 41 inches to 45 inches;

wherein said COR value of said head of said metal wood type golf club head is between about 0.790 to about 0.830, and

wherein said MOI value about said y-axis is between about 2,500 g-cm² to about 4,500 g-cm².

2. The metal wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein said face depth is between about 30 mm to about 65 mm.

3. The metal wood type golf club of claim 2, wherein said height of said CG location above said horizontal plane containing said ground is between about 10 mm to about 20 mm.

4. The metal wood type golf club of claim 3, wherein said metal wood type golf club head has a loft angle of between about 10 degrees to about 16 degrees.

5. The metal wood type golf club of claim 4, wherein said metal wood type golf club head has a performance factor of greater than about 2,900 g-cm²;

said performance factor defined as the product of said face depth, a COR value of said metal wood type golf club head, and a MOI value of said metal wood type golf club head about a y-axis divided by said height of said CG location.

6. The metal wood type golf club of claim 5, wherein said metal wood type golf club head has an accuracy factor of less than about 550 g-cm²;

said accuracy factor defined as the product of said MOI value of said metal wood type golf club head about said shaft axis and said height of said CG location divided by the product of said face depth and said COR value of said head.

7. The metal wood type golf club of claim 6, wherein said face portion is made out of titanium.

8. The metal wood type golf club of claim 6, wherein said metal wood type golf club head has a depth to volume ratio of between about 0.08 mm/cc to 0.5 mm/cc;

said depth to volume ratio defined said face depth divided by said volume.

9. The metal wood type golf club of claim 6, wherein said face portion is further comprising:

a top portion containing a first radius of curvature; and

a bottom portion containing a second radius of curvature,

wherein the second radius of curvature is greater than said first radius of curvature.

10. The metal wood type golf club of claim 9, wherein said second radius of curvature is greater than 1.25 times said first radius of curvature.

11. A metal wood type golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a grip connected to a proximal end of said shaft; and

a head connected to a distal end of said shaft, wherein said head further comprises,

a face portion providing a striking surface having a measurable face depth for striking a golf ball; and

a body portion extending from a rear section of said face portion including a crown portion and a sole portion,

wherein said head has a volume of between 200 cc to 300 cc,

wherein said head has a CG location that is positioned at a measurable height above a horizontal plane containing a ground, and

wherein said head has a performance factor of greater than about 2,900 g-cm²;

said performance factor defined as the product of said face depth, a COR value of said head, and a MOI value of said head about a y-axis divided by said height of said CG location,

wherein a total club length of said shaft combined with said head is between 41 inches to 45 inches and

wherein said MOI value about said y-axis is between about 2,500 g-cm² to about 4,500 g-cm².

12. The metal wood type golf club of claim 11, wherein said COR value of said head is between about 0.790 to about 0.830.

13. The metal wood type golf club of claim 12, wherein said face depth is between about 30 mm to about 65 mm.

14. The metal wood type golf club of claim 13, wherein said height of said CG location above said horizontal plane containing said ground is about 10 mm to about 20 mm.

15. The metal wood type golf club of claim 14, wherein said face portion is further comprising:

a top portion containing a first radius of curvature; and

a bottom portion containing a second radius of curvature,

wherein said second radius of curvature is greater than said first radius of curvature.

16. A metal wood type golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a grip connected to a proximal end of said shaft; and

a head connected to a distal end of said shaft;

wherein said head further comprises,

a face portion providing a striking surface having a measurable face depth for striking a golf ball; and

a body portion extending from a rear section of said face portion including a crown portion and a sole portion,

wherein said head has a volume of between 200 cc to 300 cc,

wherein said head has a CG location that is positioned at a measurable height above a horizontal plane containing a ground,

wherein a total club length of said shaft combined with said head is between 41 inches to 45 inches,

wherein said COR value of said head is between about 0.790 to about 0.830,

wherein said face portion is further comprises,

a top portion containing a first radius of curvature; and

a bottom portion containing a second radius of curvature;

wherein said second radius of curvature is greater than said first radius of curvature, and

wherein said MOI value about said y-axis is between about 2,500 g-cm² to about 4,500 g-cm².

17. The metal wood type golf club of claim 16, said head has an accuracy factor of less than about 550 g-cm²;

said accuracy factor defined as the product of a MOI value of said head about a shaft axis and said height of said CG location divided by the product of said face depth and said COR value of said head.

18. A metal wood type golf club comprising:

a shaft;

a grip connected to a proximal end of said shaft; and

a head connected to a distal end of said shaft, wherein said head further comprises,

a face portion providing a striking surface having a measurable face depth for striking a golf ball; and

a body portion extending from a rear section of said face portion including a crown portion and a sole portion,

wherein said head has a volume of between 200 cc to 300 cc,

wherein said head has a CG location that is positioned at a measurable height above a horizontal plane containing a ground,

wherein a total club length of said shaft combined with said metal wood type golf club head is between 41 inches to 45 inches;

wherein said head has an accuracy factor of less than about 550 g-cm²;

said accuracy factor defined as the product of a MOI value of said head about a shaft axis and said height of said CG location divided by the product of said face depth and said COR value of said head, and

wherein said MOI value about said y-axis is between about 2,500 g-cm² to about 4,500 g-cm².

19. The metal wood type golf club of claim 18, wherein said head has a performance factor of greater than about 2,900 g-cm²;

said performance factor defined as the product of said face depth, said COR value of said head, and a MOI value of said head about an y-axis divided by said height of said CG location.

20. The metal wood type golf club of claim 19, wherein said head has a depth to volume ratio of between about 0.08 mm/cc to 0.5 mm/cc;

said depth to volume ratio defined as said face depth divided by said volume.