Process for Thermal Spray Coating of a Golf Club Head and Golf Club Head with Thermally Sprayed Coating

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a process for coating a club face or striking surface of a club head of a golf club and also relates to a golf club. A coating is applied to a metallic substrate of the club head on at least a portion of the club face or striking surface by means of a thermal spray coating process. According to the disclosure, the process comprises processing the portion of the club face or striking surface with a laser beam before and after the application of the coating in order to provide the surface of the uncoated substrate and the surface of the coating with a predefined surface roughness, such as one having a roughness depth Rz of 50 μm±10%.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]1. Field of the Disclosure[0002]The invention relates to a process for coating a club face or striking surface of a club head of a golf club, wherein a coating is applied to a metallic substrate of the club head on at least a portion of a club face or striking surface by means of a thermal spray coating process. The invention also relates to a golf club having a club head, the club head comprising a metallic substrate and a club face or striking surface, wherein the metallic substrate is provided with a thermally sprayed coating on at least a portion of the club face or striking surface.[0003]2. Description of Related Art[0004]Golf clubs in the form of irons or wedges are provided with a metallic club head having a generally flat club face or striking surface that is inclined with respect to a vertical plane at a defined loft angle. Generally the loft angle is approximately from 48 to 60 degrees. In order to achieve a better contact with the golf ball and to provide ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention aims to improve the spin of golf balls, making it easier for golf players to control the trajectory and rolling path of the ball. It also seeks to enhance the durability of the coated club face to increase the life time of the club head.

Problems solved by technology

The new specification stipulates a V-shaped cross section and a maximum depth of the grooves, which makes it more difficult to impart a high amount of spin to the golf ball.

However the roughened surface of the metallic substrate tended to be worn in use within a comparatively short time by the impact of the golf balls, with the result that the surface roughness was lost or became irregular.

Therefore the life time of club heads with such a roughened club face or striking surface was rather limited.

In trials with golf clubs having a club face or striking surface with such a prior art coating it was however found that only a comparatively limited spin could be imparted to a golf ball.

Therefore the control over the trajectory of the golf ball and the length of the rolling path after its first contact with the ground were not yet satisfactory.

A further problem encountered with such golf clubs was a rather short durability or life time of the coating.

Due to these reasons prior art golf clubs with a coated club face were not economically successful.

This will result in an increase of the rotary speed and the angular momentum of the golf ball and therefore in a larger spin rate.

This will also result in a longer life time of the club face.

This will result in a larger amount of spin when hitting the golf ball.

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