Fairway wood golf club head

• US 8,591,353 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Honea, Justin, Kendall, John, Reed, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, ALVIN A
• Application Number:
  US13/716,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20130310193A1
• Time in Patent Office: 344 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 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0445 Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type

Abstract

A fairway wood golf club characterized by a long blade length with a long heel blade length section, while maintaining a small club moment arm, as well as a high ratio of the heel blade length section to the club head front-to-back dimension, a low ratio of the club moment arm to the heel blade length section, or a low center of gravity height, and all the benefits afforded therefrom.

Claims

1. A fairway wood type golf club comprising:

(A) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(B) a grip attached to the shaft proximal end; and

(C) a golf club head having

(i) a face positioned at a front portion of the golf club head where the golf club head impacts a golf ball, wherein the face has a loft of at least 12 degrees and no more than 27 degrees, and wherein the face includes an engineered impact point (EIP);

(ii) a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head;

(iii) a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head;

(iv) a skirt positioned around a portion of a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown, wherein the face, sole, crown, and skirt define an outer shell that further defines a head volume, and wherein the golf club head has a rear portion opposite the face;

(v) a bore having a center that defines a shaft axis (SA) which intersects with a horizontal ground plane (GP) to define an origin point, wherein the bore is located at a heel side of the golf club head and receives the shaft distal end for attachment to the golf club head, and wherein a toe side of the golf club head is located opposite of the heel side;

(vi) a blade length (BL) of at least 3.1 inches when the blade length (BL) is measured horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP) to the most distant point on the golf club head in this direction, wherein the blade length (BL) includes;

(a) a heel blade length section (Abl) measured in the same direction as the blade length (BL) from the origin point to the engineered impact point (EIP), wherein the heel blade length section (Abl) is at least 1.1 inches; and

(b) a toe blade length section (Bbl);

(vii) a club head mass of less than 230 grams;

(viii) a center of gravity (CG) located;

(a) vertically toward the top portion of the golf club head from the origin point a distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance Xcg that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP);

(c) a distance Zcg from the origin toward the rear portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure Ycg and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure Xcg;

(d) such that a CG angle (CGA) is no more than 30 degrees;

(ix) a club moment arm (CMA) from the CG to the engineered impact point (EIP) of less than 1.1 inches and a ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.85;

(x) a transfer distance (TD) that is between 10 percent to 25 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA); and

(D) wherein the golf club has a club length of at least 41 inches and no more than 45 inches.

2. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein the CG angle (CGA) is no more than 25 degrees and the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 1.0 inches.

3. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the golf club head front-to-back dimension (FB) is at least 0.32 and a center face progression (CFP) is less than 0.525 inches.

4. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 1.0 inches and a ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.8.

5. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the blade length (BL) is at least 0.33.

6. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a second moment of inertia (MOIfc) about a vertical axis through the origin of at least 4250 g*cm² and a ratio of the second moment of inertia (MOIfc) to the club length is at least 95.

7. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 6, wherein the golf club head has a first moment of inertia (MOIy) about a vertical axis through the CG, and a ratio of the first moment of inertia (MOIy) to the club head mass is at least 14.

8. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 6, wherein a ratio of the second moment of inertia (MOIfc) to the club head mass is at least 23.

9. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein the golf club head has a first moment of inertia (MOIy) about a vertical axis through the CG of at least 3000 g*cm² and a second moment of inertia (MOIfc) about a vertical axis through the origin of at least 4500 g*cm².

10. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein the ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.80.

11. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein the Ycg distance is less than 0.65 inches and a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the blade length (BL) is at least 0.33.

12. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein the club head volume is less than 250 cubic centimeters.

13. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein a ratio of the front-to-back dimension (FB) to blade length (BL) is less than 0.925.

14. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 1, wherein the Ycg distance is less than the Zcg distance.

15. A fairway wood type golf club comprising:

(A) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(B) a grip attached to the shaft proximal end; and

(C) a golf club head having

(i) a face positioned at a front portion of the golf club head where the golf club head impacts a golf ball, wherein the face has a loft of at least 12 degrees and no more than 27 degrees, and wherein the face includes an engineered impact point (EIP) and a top edge height (TEH);

(ii) a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head;

(iii) a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head;

(iv) a skirt positioned around a portion of a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown, wherein the face, sole, crown, and skirt define an outer shell that further defines a head volume, and wherein the golf club head has a rear portion opposite the face and a front-to-back dimension (FB) from a furthest forward point on the face to the furthest rearward point at the rear portion of the golf club head;

(v) a bore having a center that defines a shaft axis (SA) which intersects with a horizontal ground plane (GP) to define an origin point, wherein the bore is located at a heel side of the golf club head and receives the shaft distal end for attachment to the golf club head, and wherein a toe side of the golf club head is located opposite of the heel side;

(vi) a blade length (BL) of at least 3.1 inches when the blade length (BL) is measured horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP) to the most distant point on the golf club head in this direction, wherein the blade length (BL) includes;

(a) a heel blade length section (Abl) measured in the same direction as the blade length (BL) from the origin point to the engineered impact point (EIP); and

(b) a toe blade length section (Bbl);

(vii) a club head mass of less than 230 grams;

(viii) a center of gravity (CG) located;

(a) vertically toward the top portion of the golf club head from the origin point a distance Ycg that is less than 0.65 inches;

(b) horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance Xcg that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP); and

(c) a distance Zcg from the origin toward the rear portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure Ycg and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure Xcg;

(d) such that a CG angle (CGA) is no more than 30 degrees;

(ix) a club moment arm (CMA) from the CG to the engineered impact point (EIP) of less than 1.1 inches, wherein a ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.9;

(x) a transfer distance (TD) that is between 10 percent to 25 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA); and

(D) wherein the golf club has a club length of at least 41 inches and no more than 45 inches.

16. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 15, wherein the CG angle (CGA) is no more than 25 degrees and the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 1.0 inches.

17. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 15, wherein a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the golf club head front-to-back dimension (FB) is at least 0.32 and a center face progression (CFP) is less than 0.525 inches.

18. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 15, wherein the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 0.95 inches and a ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.85.

19. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 15, wherein a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the blade length (BL) is at least 0.33.

20. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 15, wherein the golf club head has a second moment of inertia (MOIfc) about a vertical axis through the origin of at least 4250 g*cm² and a ratio of the second moment of inertia (MOIfc) to the club length is at least 95.

21. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 20, wherein the golf club head has a first moment of inertia (MOIy) about a vertical axis through the CG, and a ratio of the first moment of inertia (MOIy) to the club head mass is at least 14.

22. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 20, wherein a ratio of the second moment of inertia (MOIfc) to the club head mass is at least 23.

23. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 15, wherein the golf club head has a first moment of inertia (MOIy) about a vertical axis through the CG of at least 3000 g*cm² and a second moment of inertia (MOIfc) about a vertical axis through the origin of at least 4500 g*cm².

24. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 15, wherein the ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.80.

25. The fairway wood type golf club of claim 15, wherein the Ycg distance is less than the Zcg distance.

26. A golf club comprising:

(A) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(B) a grip attached to the shaft proximal end; and

(C) a golf club head having

(i) a face positioned at a front portion of the golf club head where the golf club head impacts a golf ball, wherein the face has a loft of at least 12 degrees and no more than 27 degrees, and wherein the face includes an engineered impact point (EIP) and a top edge height (TEH);

(ii) a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head;

(iii) a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head;

(iv) a skirt positioned around a portion of a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown, wherein the face, sole, crown, and skirt define an outer shell that further defines a head volume, and wherein the golf club head has a rear portion opposite the face and a front-to-back dimension (FB) from a furthest forward point on the face to the furthest rearward point at the rear portion of the golf club head;

(v) a bore having a center that defines a shaft axis (SA) which intersects with a horizontal ground plane (GP) to define an origin point, wherein the bore is located at a heel side of the golf club head and receives the shaft distal end for attachment to the golf club head, and wherein a toe side of the golf club head is located opposite of the heel side;

(vi) a blade length (BL) of at least 3.1 inches when the blade length (BL) is measured horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP) to the most distant point on the golf club head in this direction, wherein the blade length (BL) includes;

(a) a heel blade length section (Abl) measured in the same direction as the blade length (BL) from the origin point to the engineered impact point (EIP), wherein a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the front-to-back dimension (FB) is at least 0.32; and

(b) a toe blade length section (Bbl);

(vii) a club head mass of less than 230 grams;

(viii) a center of gravity (CG) located;

(a) vertically toward the top portion of the golf club head from the origin point a distance Ycg;

(b) horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance Xcg that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP); and

(c) a distance Zcg from the origin toward the rear portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure Ycg and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure Xcg;

(ix) a club moment arm (CMA) from the CG to the engineered impact point (EIP) of less than 1.1 inches;

(x) a transfer distance (TD) that is least 10 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA); and

(D) wherein the golf club has a club length of at least 41 inches and no more than 45 inches.

27. The golf club of claim 26, wherein the Ycg distance is less than 0.65 inches.

28. The golf club of claim 26, wherein a ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.9, and the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 0.95 inches.

29. The golf club of claim 26, wherein a ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.85.

30. The golf club of claim 26, wherein the heel blade length section (Abl) is at least 1.1 inches.

31. The golf club of claim 26, wherein the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 1.0 inch.

32. The golf club of claim 26, wherein the ratio of the Ycg distance to the top edge height (TEH) is less than 0.4.

33. The golf club of claim 26, wherein the transfer distance (TD) is no more than 25 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA).

34. A golf club comprising:

(A) a shaft having a proximal end and a distal end;

(B) a grip attached to the shaft proximal end; and

(C) a golf club head having

(i) a face positioned at a front portion of the golf club head where the golf club head impacts a golf ball, wherein the face has a loft of at least 12 degrees and no more than 27 degrees, and wherein the face includes an engineered impact point (EIP) and a top edge height (TEH);

(ii) a sole positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head;

(iii) a crown positioned at a top portion of the golf club head;

(iv) a skirt positioned around a portion of a periphery of the golf club head between the sole and the crown, wherein the face, sole, crown, and skirt define an outer shell that further defines a head volume, and wherein the golf club head has a rear portion opposite the face and a front-to-back dimension (FB) from a furthest forward point on the face to the furthest rearward point at the rear portion of the golf club head;

(v) a bore having a center that defines a shaft axis (SA) which intersects with a horizontal ground plane (GP) to define an origin point, wherein the bore is located at a heel side of the golf club head and receives the shaft distal end for attachment to the golf club head, and wherein a toe side of the golf club head is located opposite of the heel side;

(vi) a blade length (BL) of at least 3.1 inches when the blade length (BL) is measured horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP) to the most distant point on the golf club head in this direction, wherein the blade length (BL) includes;

(a) a heel blade length section (Abl) measured in the same direction as the blade length (BL) from the origin point to the engineered impact point (EIP); and

(b) a toe blade length section (Bbl);

(vii) a club head mass of less than 230 grams;

(viii) a center of gravity (CG) located;

(a) vertically toward the top portion of the golf club head from the origin point a distance Ycg, wherein the Ycg distance is than 0.65″

;

(b) horizontally from the origin point toward the toe side of the golf club head a distance Xcg that is generally parallel to the face and the ground plane (GP); and

(c) a distance Zcg from the origin toward the rear portion in a direction generally orthogonal to the vertical direction used to measure Ycg and generally orthogonal to the horizontal direction used to measure Xcg;

(ix) a club moment arm (CMA) from the CG to the engineered impact point (EIP) of less than 1.1 inches, and a ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.9;

(x) a transfer distance (TD) that is least 10 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA); and

(D) wherein the golf club has a club length of at least 41 inches and no more than 45 inches.

35. The golf club of claim 34, wherein a ratio of the club moment arm (CMA) to the heel blade length section (Abl) is less than 0.85.

36. The golf club of claim 34, wherein the transfer distance (TD) is no more than 25 percent greater than the club moment arm (CMA).

37. The golf club of claim 34, wherein a ratio of the heel blade length section (Abl) to the front-to-back dimension (FB) is at least 0.32.

38. The golf club of claim 34, wherein the heel blade length section (Abl) is at least 1.1 inches.

39. The golf club of claim 34, wherein the club moment arm (CMA) is less than 1.0 inches.

40. The golf club of claim 34, wherein the ratio of the Ycg distance to the top edge height (TEH) is less than 0.4.