Method of manufacturing a golf club face

Abstract

Embodiments of methods of manufacturing a face plate for a golf cub are generally described herein. In one exemplary embodiment, a method for manufacturing a golf club face plate comprises: providing a face plate material, and milling the face plate material in an elliptical pattern to form a central region comprising, a first elliptical outer edge and a transition region extending from the first elliptical outer edge to a second elliptical outer edge. In this exemplary embodiment, each point along the second elliptical outer edge is displaced outward from the first elliptical outer edge by a predetermined distance. Other embodiments herein may be described and claimed.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to, incorporates by reference, and is a divisional application of prior application Ser. No. 10 / 803,837 filed Mar. 17, 2004 originally titled, Method of Manufacturing a Golf Club Face.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] This invention relates generally to golf clubs and, in particular, to so-called metal wood drivers. [0003] Recent developments in golf club design have included improvements in drivers, which are clubs used primarily to strike a golf ball resting on a golf tee. These improvements have resulted in drivers with club heads consisting of a hollow shell usually made of metal, such as steel, aluminum, or titanium. These hollow shells have relatively thin walls including a thin front wall that is used to impact the golf ball. In order to prevent the front wall of these hollow shells from permanently deforming or cracking upon ball impact, it has become necessary to reinforce the front wall. One e...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention is about a new golf club head design that has a thicker middle and a thinner edge. This is made by removing a portion of the back of the face plate to form a central thickened region surrounded by a transition region that tapers to a thinner peripheral region. The new design is made using a special cutting tool that forms the transition region and the peripheral region in a single operation, resulting in greater uniformity in the rear surface contour of the face plate and saving time and money over previous methods.

Problems solved by technology

Use of this form cutter to machine the transition region and peripheral region in a single operation yields greater uniformity in the rear surface contour of the face plate and saves substantial time and money over prior art multiple pass machining operations.

Images