Golf club head

Abstract

A metal wood golf club head is provided having a front face with an impact zone including a compliant area. Preferably, the compliant area is disposed in an upper portion of the front face. Preferably, a through-slit is provided in the front face to form the compliant area. The through-slit may be an elongated slot substantially parallel to a top of the front face and may include an elastomeric reinforcement. The compliant area creates an ultra-low center of gravity relative to the geometric face center, resulting in higher launch angles and spin rate ratios. The compliant area upwardly shifts the coefficient of restitution to the geometric center of the face and thereby increases the carry distance of a golf ball hit off the club head.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 622,682, filed on Sep. 15, 2003, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to an improved golf club head. More particularly, the present invention relates to a golf club head having an impact zone with a compliant area. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a golf club head having a front face with a through-slit. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Golf clubs have achieved a remarkable transformation from persimmon wood clubs to the present day metal woods with their extremely large head sizes. This has been made possible by high strength metallic materials, which allow the golf ball to be hit farther and straighter because of increased club head inertia and coefficient of restitution. [0004] Particularly, development of titanium alloys, which are light (specific gravity: 4.5 to 5.0) and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0019] In one embodiment, the front face has an increase in deflection to the front face of the club head as compared to a substantially similar golf club head without a compliant area under substantially similar robot testing conditions. The club head may have a decrease in the spin rate of a golf ball leaving the front face of the club head as compared with a substantially similar club head without a compliant area under substantially similar robot test conditions. The club head may have an increase in the launch angle of a golf ball leaving the front face after impact with the club head as compared with a substantially similar club head without a compliant area under substantially similar robot test conditions. The club head may have an increase in the carry distance of a ball hit with the club head as compared with a substantially similar club head without a compliant area under substantially similar robot test conditions.

Problems solved by technology

However, enlarging the club head also increases its weight.

Most of the metal wood golf clubs manufactured today have a shell thickness so thin that they border on practical manufacturing limits.

And, in some cases, for materials that will partially replace titanium, which is relatively costly and requires considerable care in forming and casting.

The thinner faces are more vulnerable to failure.

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