Metal Wood Club with Improved Moment of Inertia

Abstract

A golf club head having at least two discrete weight members positioned on the sole to optimize moment of inertia is disclosed. A first weight member is located toward and substantially parallel with the face edge of the sole. A second member is located toward the back of the sole and substantially centered between the heel and toe edges of the sole. In one embodiment, a golf club head includes a sole comprising four sections and wherein a rib of material connects two of said sections. In another embodiment, a golf club head includes a cavity formed between the crown and sole and having an opening at the back of the club head. In yet another embodiment, a golf club head is tapered to form a waist and has a back that has a bowed-shape.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to an improved metal wood golf club head. More particularly, the present invention relates to a driver, hybrid or utility-style hollow golf club head with an optimized moment of inertia.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]The complexities of golf club design are known. The specifications for each component of the club (i.e., the club head, shaft, grip, and subcomponents thereof) directly impact the performance of the club. Thus, by varying the design specifications, a golf club can be tailored to have specific performance characteristics.[0003]The design of club heads has long been studied. Among the more prominent considerations in club head design are loft, lie, face angle, horizontal face bulge, vertical face roll, center of gravity, rotational moment of inertia, material selection, and overall head weight. While this basic set of criteria is generally the focus of golf club designers, several other design aspects must also b...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]The golf club head of the present invention includes two discrete weight members, one located on the sole toward the face and one located on the sole toward the back. Said sole weight members may have greater density or thickness than the surrounding sole material. Alternatively, said weight members may comprise weights disposed on the surface of the sole. By placing mass in two discrete locations on the sole located away from the vertical axis that runs through the center of gravity of the club head, the rotational inertia of the club head about that axis is increased relative to a configuration in which mass is evenly spread around the sole.

Problems solved by technology

Thus, a major challenge is to design the club face and club body to resist permanent deformation or failure by material yield or fracture.

However, these environmental effects are beyond the control of the golf equipment designers.

However, the '586 application limits the shape of the driver club to be substantially square when viewed from the top, which in turn limits the mass characteristics of the club head.

However, most oversize drivers on the market at this time have moments of inertia in the range of about 4,000 to 4,300 g·cm2.

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