Iron-type golf club head and iron-type golf club

Abstract

The present invention provides an iron-type golf club head capable of suppressing a decrease in the initial speed of a ball when hitting the ball and achieving an increase in the flight distance. Specifically, an iron-type golf club head is provided with a face member (20) fixed to a body member (11) having a neck portion (13) formed therein, and is provided with, on the back surface of the face member (20), a toe-side flange portion formed so as to protrude in the direction opposite to the face along the toe-side peripheral edge, and a toe-side flange portion formed so as to protrude in the direction opposite to the face along the toe-side peripheral edge. And a bottom-side flange portion formed to protrude along the bottom-side peripheral edge in the direction opposite to the face, the toe-side flange portion and the bottom-side flange portion are formed continuously, and the width of the toe-side flange portion (25) and the width of the bottom-side flange portion are configured so as to gradually or stepwise become narrower from the end point of the toe-side flange portion toward the end point of the bottom-side flange portion.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to an iron-type golf club head and an iron-type golf club having the same. BACKGROUND

[0002] It is known that in an iron-type golf club head, a face member for striking a ball is constituted by a separate member from a head body, and is integrated with the head body by welding, adhesion or the like. As the face member, for example, a constitution is disclosed in Patent Document 1 in which a flange portion (thick wall portion) is formed at a lower end side and is formed in a cross-sectional L shape, and by fixing it to the head body, the flexibility of the face member can be improved.

[0003] PATENT DOCUMENT Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-246085 SUMMARY

[0004] The iron-type golf club head of the prior art having the above constitution, compared with a head not having the constitution, can improve the rebound characteristics in the optimum ball striking point region, on the other hand, the rebound in the region (bottom side region) from the optimum ball striking point is low, and thus when striking a ball with the lower side of the optimum ball striking point, the initial speed of the ball decreases, and it is difficult to achieve the flight distance. Further, since the hosel portion into which the shaft is inserted is formed at the heel side, the center of gravity of the head is located at the heel side from the geometric center of the face, and thus when striking a ball with the toe side from the optimum ball striking point, the initial speed of the ball also decreases, and it is also difficult to achieve the flight distance. That is, there is a problem that unless a ball is struck at the optimum ball striking point, the expected flight distance cannot be achieved.

[0005] The present application has been made to solve the above problems, and has an object to provide an iron-type golf club head and an iron-type golf club in which even when a ball is struck at a position deviating from the optimum ball striking point, the decrease in the initial speed of the ball can be suppressed, and the improvement in the flight distance can be achieved.

[0006] The present application is an iron-type golf club head in which a face member having a face for striking a ball is fixed to a body member having a hosel portion, characterized in that, on the back surface of the face member, a toe side flange portion is formed projecting in a direction opposite to the face along a toe side periphery, and a bottom side flange portion is formed projecting in a direction opposite to the face along a bottom side periphery, the toe side flange portion and the bottom side flange portion are continuously formed, the width of the toe side flange portion and the bottom side flange portion in plan view is constituted so as to be gradually or stepwise narrowed from the end point of the toe side flange portion toward the end point of the bottom side flange portion.

[0007] Since the above-mentioned face member of the present application has the continuous sole flange portion and the toe flange portion which are formed so as to protrude in the direction opposite to the face along the periphery of the sole side and the toe side, and the width thereof is configured to be gradually or stepwise narrowed from the end of the toe flange portion toward the end of the sole flange portion, the flexibility of the ball striking area of the face member can be improved, and the flexibility balance of the heel side and the toe side can be improved. That is, although the heel side is configured to be rigid and difficult to be flexed since the hosel is formed on the heel side, the flexibility balance of the heel side and the toe side can be improved by forming the width of the toe flange portion to be wider than the width of the sole flange portion (the width of the heel side of the sole flange portion). By shifting the center of gravity from the heel side to the toe side, the flexibility of the position C (so-called optimal ball striking point) of the ball striking point which is 15 mm below the height of the leading edge on the perpendicular line passing through the geometric center of the face member can be improved, and the rebound can be improved even when the ball is struck at the position below the position C of the ball striking point, and the flight distance can be improved.

[0008] As described above, according to the present application, the iron-type golf club head and the iron-type golf club in which the initial speed of the ball at the time of striking the ball can be suppressed from decreasing and the flight distance can be improved even when the ball is struck at a position deviated from the position C of the ball striking point can be obtained. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] Figure 1 is a view showing one example of an iron-type golf club. Figure 2 is a view showing the iron-type golf club head of the first embodiment mounted on the iron-type golf club of Figure 1 Figure 3 is a view showing the iron-type golf club head of the first embodiment mounted on the iron-type golf club of Figure 2 (a) is a view showing the face member fixed to the body member of the iron-type golf club head of Figure 4 Figure 2 Figure 5 is a view showing the iron-type golf club head of the first embodiment mounted on the iron-type golf club of Figure 6 is a view showing the iron-type golf club head of the first embodiment mounted on the iron-type golf club of Figure 2 Figure 7 is a view showing the iron-type golf club head of the first embodiment mounted on the iron-type golf club of​​​​ Figure 8 (a) is a view of the iron-type golf club head of the second embodiment as viewed from the sole side, and (b) is a view of the iron-type golf club head of the third embodiment as viewed from the sole side. Figure 9 is a view of the iron-type golf club head of the fourth embodiment as viewed from the back side. Figure 10 is a view of the iron-type golf club head of the fifth embodiment as viewed from the back side. Explanation of Symbols 1 - iron-type golf club; 10 - iron-type golf club head; 10A - iron-type golf club head body; 11 - body member; 13 - hosel portion; 20 - face member; 21 - marking line; 25 - heel flange portion; 26 - sole flange portion; 27 - toe flange portion; 30, 31, 30A - groove portion; FC - geometric center position; C - ball impact point position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments of an iron-type golf club head (hereinafter, simply referred to as a head) and an iron-type golf club (hereinafter, simply referred to as a golf club) to which the present application pertains will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] (First Embodiment) Figures 1 to 6 is a view showing the first embodiment, Figure 1 is a view showing the overall configuration of a golf club, Figure 2 is a front view of a head mounted on Figure 1 the golf club shown in FIG. 1, Figure 3 is a view of Figure 2 the head shown in FIG. 1, Figure 4 (a) is a view of a face member as viewed from the back side of the head shown in FIG. 1, Figure 2 (b) is an exploded view of a state before the face member is fixed to the body member of the head shown in FIG. 1, Figure 4 is a view of the head shown in FIG. 1, Figure 5 is a view of the head shown in FIG. 1, Figure 6 is a view of the head shown in FIG. 1 as viewed from the sole side. Figure 2

[0012] ​A golf club 1 is configured such that a head 10 is fixed to a top end of a shaft 3 on which a grip 2 is attached on a butt end side, and the shaft 3 and the head 10 are set so as to form a prescribed lie angle a between an axis X of the shaft 3 and a reference horizontal plane P when the golf club 1 is set up with respect to the reference horizontal plane P. The shaft 3 can be made of steel or fiber-reinforced resin (FRP).

[0013] The head 10 is a so-called cavity type head having a body member 11 having a top portion 11a, a bottom portion 11b, a toe portion 11c, and a heel portion 11d, and a face member 20 formed in a plate shape and configured by fixing the face member 20 to the front of the body member 11 to constitute the head (head body 10A). As shown in Figure 4 As shown in (b), the rear surface side of the body member 11 on which the face member 20 is fixed is formed in a substantially ring shape so as to be exposed to the rear side.

[0014] As described above, the body member 11 is configured to have an opening portion (cavity) 12 (cavity structure), whereby the inertial moment can be increased by dispersing the weight to the outer periphery of the face member 20 fixed to the front, and the head shake at the time of hitting a ball can be suppressed, and the stability of the hitting directionality can be achieved. Further, on the upper side of the heel portion 11d of the body member 11, a hosel portion 13 having a hole into which the shaft 3 is inserted is integrally projected.

[0015] The body member 11 can be integrally formed of a metal material such as titanium, titanium alloy, stainless steel, carbon steel, tungsten, or the like by casting or the like. Further, the face member 20 can also be formed of the same material and fixed to the front side of the opening portion 12 of the body member 11 by welding, adhesion, riveting, or the like.

[0016] In addition, the body member 11 and the face member 20 can have the same specific gravity or different specific gravities. When the specific gravity of the material constituting the face member 20 is made lighter than the specific gravity of the material constituting the body member 11, the low center of gravity of the head can be achieved.

[0017] As shown in Figure 3 The top portion 11a, the bottom portion 11b, the toe portion 11c, and the heel portion 11d of the body member 11 have prescribed thicknesses (thicknesses in the front-rear direction) along the periphery of the face member 20. In the present embodiment, the top portion 11a, the toe portion 11c, and the heel portion 11d have substantially the same thickness, and are formed so as to gradually increase in thickness on the bottom portion 11b as it transitions to the lower side (bottom surface side) from the lower end edge 12a of the opening portion 12. That is, as shown in Figure 3 The bottom portion 11b is formed in a shape that becomes thicker as it transitions to the lower side, whereby the low center of gravity of the head can be achieved.

[0018] Further, asFigure 4 (b) As shown, the lower end edge 12a of the opening portion 12 is formed so as to be inclined upward obliquely toward the toe side from the heel side. Further, the upper and lower widths of the opening portion 12 are narrowed on the toe side by the inclined portion 12b formed on the toe side of the lower end edge 12a, thereby improving the rigidity on the toe side.

[0019] The face member 20 has a face 20A on which a ball is hit on the table side, and a back 20B on the back side, the back 20B being formed with a groove 30 (recess) described later and flange portions 26, 27 that thicken the peripheral edge of the face member 20 on the back side. The body member 11 is formed so that, when the face member 20 is fixed thereto, the face 20A thereof forms a prescribed face angle β according to the model.

[0020] The body member 11 is formed with a step portion lid' on the heel portion lid that extends in the up and down direction (top and bottom direction), and by abutting and fixing (welding) the end edge 20d on the heel side of the face member 20 to this step portion lid', the surface of the heel portion lid of the body member 11 and the face 20A of the face member 20 become the same planar shape.

[0021] Further, when the face member 20 is fixed to the body member 11, the end edge 20a on the top side, the end edge 20b on the bottom side, the end edge 20c on the toe side, and the end edge 20d on the heel side of the face member 20 are integrated with the outer peripheral edges of the top portion 11a, the bottom portion 11b, the toe portion 11c, and the heel portion lid of the body member 11 into the same planar shape, and constitute the top portion, the bottom portion, the toe portion, and the heel portion of the club head body 10A.

[0022] On the face (surface) 20A of the face member 20, a plurality of grooves 21 are formed in parallel along the toe and heel direction. In the present embodiment, the region R in which the grooves 21 are formed is defined as the ball striking surface. In this region R, roughening treatment such as sandblasting can also be performed.

[0023] On the face member 20, there is a geometric center position (face center) FC within the region R. When a golfer hits a ball, in the toe and heel direction, the ball is hit near the perpendicular line through the geometric center position FC (the golfer is aware of this and hits the ball), but as described above, the actual ideal hitting position C (optimal hitting point) in the height direction is lower than the geometric center position FC.

[0024] Specifically, in a state where the ball is set on the ground, the height H from the bottom of the ball hitting position C is the position of the bottom of the head body (the bottom 11b of the body member 11 and the end edge 20b of the face member 20) moving along the ground and hitting the ball, and the front edge LE (the lowermost face of the face) is 15 mm or more. On an iron type golf club, this ball hitting position C is an ideal ball hitting point position hitting the ball in a state without so-called thick and thin hitting. Although the ball hitting point position C varies depending on the club type, it is generally located in the vicinity of the fourth from the lowermost end of the score line 21 upward, and usually, a golfer swings in a manner of hitting the ball at the ball hitting point position C. In Figure 4 (a) The geometric center position FC and the ball hitting point position C are shown on the back surface 20B of the face member 20 shown, but the positions do not coincide with Figure 2 the geometric center position FC and the ball hitting point position C shown on the surface side of the face shown.

[0025] Since when the ball hitting point position of an ordinary amateur golfer is measured, the ball is hit in a range of 10 mm in radius centered on the ball hitting point position C, in the following description, the range of 10 mm in radius centered on the ball hitting point position C is defined as an effective ball hitting point region.

[0026] Further, since the rear side of the face member 20 is a hollow structure as described above, the face as a whole becomes a structure in which the central region is easily flexible. At this time, although the position most easily flexible is located in the vicinity of the geometric center position FC, as described above, the position does not coincide with the ball hitting point position C actually hitting the ball. Further, in fact, when viewed in the top, bottom direction, the face member 20 is a shape in which the length of the heel side is short and the length becomes long as it transitions to the toe side, and thus it is considered that the position most easily flexible is located slightly more on the toe side than the geometric center position FC.

[0027] As shown in Figure 4 , a bottom side flange portion 26 is formed on the peripheral edge portion of the bottom side of the back surface 20B of the face member 20, and further, a toe side flange portion 27 is formed on the peripheral edge portion of the toe side, and the bottom side flange portion 26 and the toe side flange portion 27 are continuously formed. These flange portions 26, 27 are protrusively formed toward the rear side opposite to the face, and the thickness L in the front, back direction of each flange portion 25 to 27 is formed to be the same thickness, and the top end surface of each flange portion 26, 27 is fixed to be in abutment with the bottom 11b of the body member 11 as shown in Figure 3 . In addition, in Figure 4 the following, the portion shown by the symbol 25 is a portion on the heel side of the bottom side flange portion 26, and indicates a heel side end portion 25 of the bottom side flange portion 26.

[0028] The protruding length L (thickness) of the sole flange portion 26 and the toe flange portion 27 from the rear face of the face portion is 2 mm or more, and is preferably 3 mm or more. The reason for making the thickness L in the front-rear direction 2 mm or more is that the face 20A can obtain an effective flexing effect between the body member 11 at the time of hitting the ball, and if it is 2 mm or more, the flexing effect can be exerted, and in particular, if it is 3 mm or more, a more effective flexing effect can be exerted. In addition, if the thickness L is made extremely thick, the center of gravity position of the club head becomes high, and as a result, the flight distance can be decreased, and thus the upper limit is preferably 10 mm or less.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 2, the face member 20 is formed with a sole flange portion 26 and a toe flange portion 27 on the rear face side thereof. Figure 4 As shown in FIG. 2, when the face member 20 is viewed from the rear face side, the width of the sole flange portion 26 and the toe flange portion 27 is such that one of the end point width W2 of the toe flange portion 27 is wider than the end point width Wl of the sole flange portion 26 (W2 > Wl). In addition, on the sole flange portion 26, the width of the heel side end point portion 25 is the narrowest.

[0030] Thus, by changing the width of the flange portion depending on the position thereof, the rigidity of the toe side can be relatively increased with respect to the heel side, and the improvement of the overall flexing balance can be achieved, and the face member 20 can be flexed effectively. That is, since the heel side where the hosel 13 is formed is difficult to flex due to the hosel 13, by decreasing the rigidity of the heel side and increasing the rigidity of the toe side, the improvement of the overall flexing balance can be achieved, and the face member 20 can be flexed effectively. In particular, when the hitting point distribution of an amateur golfer is observed, there is a tendency that the hitting points spread in an oblong shape from the bottom side of the heel toward the top side of the toe, and thus by relatively increasing the flexibility of the bottom side of the heel portion, the decrease in the initial speed of the ball at the time of hitting the ball can be suppressed, and the improvement of the flight distance can be achieved.

[0031] In addition, the center of gravity of the club head body 10A is shifted toward the heel side due to the hosel 13, and even if the ball is hit in the vicinity of the ideal hitting point position C from the position of the center of gravity, the club head rotates, the ball does not fly in the aimed direction, and there is a tendency that the initial speed of the ball decreases. Thus, it is preferable that the center of gravity be shifted more toward the toe side (closer to the hitting point position C) than the heel side, and as described above, by forming the toe flange portion 27 having a wide width on the face member 20, the center of gravity can be shifted toward the toe side. In particular, by making the center of gravity position transition from the heel side to the toe side, the flexibility of the lower side of the hitting point position C at which the height H from the leading edge is 15 mm on the perpendicular line of the geometric center position FC of the face member 20 can be improved, and thus the reboundability can be improved, and the improvement of the flight distance can be achieved.

[0032] The boundary position of the continuously formed bottom side flange portion 26 and toe side flange portion 27 is not limited to a particular position, and for a position where the width changes, it is not limited to a particular configuration, and one or more inflection points can be provided that change in stages, or gradually and continuously change, or an interval where the width gradually changes can be provided midway, or the above can be appropriately combined, etc.

[0033] In Figure 4 In the example shown in (a), an interval 28b where the width gradually changes is provided between the bottom side flange portion 26 and the toe side flange portion 27, so that the width changes using this interval 28b. Also, in the example shown, on the bottom side flange portion 26, an interval 28a where the width gradually narrows toward the heel side end portion 25 is also provided. Thus, by providing the intervals 28a, 28b where the width gradually narrows, the width of the flange portion as a whole changes in a manner that widens from the bottom side toward the toe side, and as a result, the amount of flexing of the face portion can be increased, and a locally high-rigidity portion does not occur.

[0034] As described above, the flange portion is formed so that, in plan view, the width Wl of the heel side end portion 25 on the bottom side flange portion 26 is the narrowest, and the width W2 of the toe side flange portion is the widest. In the present embodiment, the width of the bottom side flange portion 26 including the heel side end portion 25 is made to be in the range of 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm, and the rigidity of the bottom side can be reduced to some extent. Also, for the thickness of the face portion member 20, by making it thinner, the increase in flexibility can be achieved, and thus it is preferable to be made to be 2.20 mm or less.

[0035] Further, when the width of the bottom side flange portion 26 is made to be the above-described 1.5 to 2.0 mm, it is preferable that the width W2 of the toe side flange portion in plan view be set to be about 4 mm to 5 mm, and in the present embodiment, it is set to be 5 mm. Further, as Figure 4 As shown in (a), in order to increase the rigidity of the toe side and effectively increase the flexibility in the hitting region, it is preferable that the extension height H2 of the toe side flange portion 27 in plan view (the height of the extension to the end edge 27a of the toe side flange portion) be 50% or more of the height HI of the face portion member 20.

[0036] Further, for the length in the toe and heel direction of the bottom side flange portion 26, it is not limited as long as the increase in flexibility as described above and the shift of the center of gravity position to the toe side can be achieved. In Figure 4 In the example shown in (a), the range of formation of the heel side end portion 25 in the toe and heel direction is set so that the length LI from the end edge 20d of the heel side is 10 mm, the length L2 of the interval 28a where the width gradually changes is 5 mm, and the length L3 of the other bottom side flange portion 26 is 40 mm.

[0037] Further, asFigure 2 As shown, a groove 21 is formed on the face 20A of the face member 20. In this embodiment, the end position 21a of the groove 21 on the toe side is... Figure 4 (a) The boundary position P1 (the starting position of the gradually changing interval 28b) of the bottom flange 26 and the toe flange 27 shown is approximately the same. This is because the ball is usually hit within the area where the scribe line 21 is formed, so by using the end position 21a of the scribe line as the boundary position P1, the flexing effect can be better utilized.

[0038] Furthermore, the heel end position 21b of the scribe line 21 is approximately aligned with the heel end position P2 of the heel end portion 25 of the bottom flange portion 26. Similar to the end position 21a described above, since the ball is usually struck within the area where the scribe line 21 is formed, aligning the end position 21b of the scribe line approximately with the heel end position P2 of the heel flange portion 25 allows for a better flexing effect.

[0039] As described above, in this embodiment, in order to improve the bounce in the effective hitting point area with a radius of 10 mm centered on the hitting point position C, the boundary positions P1 and P2 are formed closer to the toe and heel sides than the end positions 21a and 21b of the scribe line 21, which can improve the flexibility in the central area.

[0040] Furthermore, the boundary position P1 of the bottom flange portion 26 and the toe flange portion 27 is preferably located lower than the geometric center position FC of the rod face component 20. Therefore, the formation range of the toe-side flange 27 can be expanded towards the bottom, thereby achieving a lower center of gravity and a shift of the center of gravity towards the toe side.

[0041] In addition, such as Figure 4 As shown in (a), preferably, on the back side 20B of the clubface component 20, a plurality of arc-shaped toe-side recesses 30 and heel-side recesses 31 are formed at equal intervals on the outer side of the toe side and the outer side of the heel side in the effective striking point area.

[0042] That is, by forming thin-walled recesses (grooves) 30 and 31 outside the effective impact point area, the rigidity is reduced, which effectively allows the effective impact point area to flex. At this point, considering the geometry of the clubface, the most easily flexed portion is located near the geometric center FC. When the low-rigidity recesses 30 and 31 are formed higher than the geometric center FC, the easily flexed area shifts upwards, preventing the effective impact point area from flexing effectively. Therefore, for the toe-side recess 30 and the heel-side recess 31, to facilitate the effective impact point area's flexing, it is preferable to pre-form them in the lower region of the clubface, especially at the impact point C, where effective flexing is likely.

[0043] In addition, although the toe-side recess 30 and the heel-side recess 31 in the present embodiment are each composed of three parallel curved grooves at the toe side and the heel side, the shape, the formation position, the depth, and the like of the recesses can be appropriately changed.

[0044] Further, in the present embodiment, a rib 35 is formed at a position more toward the top side than the toe-side recess 30 and the heel-side recess 31. The rib 35 is formed so as to extend obliquely from the substantially middle position of the heel side of the face member 20 toward the upper portion of the toe side, whereby the position of high rigidity can be shifted from the top side toward the bottom side, and the position of the largest deflection amount can be brought close to the ball striking point position C (the flexibility of the effective ball striking point area can be improved).

[0045] Further, as shown in Figure 3 It is preferable that a vibration absorbing member 40 formed of resin or the like be interposed (filled) between the face member 20 and the body member 11 (the space between the face back and the bottom formed by the flange). By interposing such a vibration absorbing member 40, the ball striking feel can be improved.

[0046] (Performance Test) Next, in order to verify the performance of the club head according to the embodiment of the present application, a golf club having a conventional face member fixed thereto was used as a comparative example, and the CT value distribution of the face member was measured for the embodiment and the comparative example, and a flight distance test was performed by a robot test machine, and the results will be described below.

[0047] The CT value is an index related to the deflection measurement of the face (the face member 20), and is a numerical value (CT value: unit: μs) of the characteristic time according to the pendulum test of the USGA (United States Golf Association), and is an index by which the deflection of the face can be evaluated. Specifically, the elasticity of each position of the face is evaluated by measuring the contact time when a prescribed test piece (golf ball) collides with the face, and the higher the CT value, the longer the contact time with the face at the time of striking the ball, and the better the flexibility is evaluated. That is, the higher the CT value, the more easily the face at the position of the test piece collision is deflected, and the more the improvement of the flight distance of the ball can be achieved, and if the area of the face having a high CT value is wide, it means that even if the ball striking point is slightly shaken, stable striking of the ball can be obtained.

[0048] In the present test, in order to derive the CT value according to the ball striking position of the face, the magnitude of the CT value at each position and the overall distribution state were measured. Although the CT value also differs depending on the material of the face member, the material of the face member was made the same in the embodiment and the comparative example, and only the constitution of the flange portion was made different, and the degree of influence of the difference in the constitution on the CT value and its distribution was verified.

[0049] The constitution of each flange portion of the embodiment and the comparative example is as shown inFigure 7 As shown, the flange portion of the comparative example is such that the entire width from the sole side flange portion to the toe side flange portion is 3.0 mm, in contrast to which, in the embodiment, the width of the sole side end portion of the sole side flange portion is 1.5 mm, the width of the sole side flange portion is 2.0 mm, and the width of the toe side flange portion is 5.0 mm. Further, other configurations including grooves and the like are the same in the embodiment and the comparative example.

[0050] The following Table 1 shows the CT value distribution of the face portion of the golf club head of the embodiment and the comparative example and the distribution as a percentage of the ball impact point position C being 100%. That is, the results of measuring the distribution of the CT value in the effective ball impact point region of radius 10 mm centered on the ball impact point position C (height position 15 mm from the leading edge; denoted by U15) in units of 5 mm are shown. Further, "U" shown in each table refers to each height (mm) from the leading edge, and further, "T" and "H" shown in each table refer to the distance (mm) to the toe side and the distance (mm) to the heel side, respectively, from the ball impact point position C. The effective ball impact point region is a range of radius 10 mm centered on the ball impact point position C. In the measurement, the results of measurement up to 20 mm to the toe side and up to 25 mm to the heel side are shown, but for the heel side H20 mm and the height U20 mm or more, since it is not a proper ball impact, the results of measurement are not shown. Further, among the numerical values described in the tables, the portions colored in dark gray indicate "compared to the comparative example" in the table of the embodiment and "compared to the embodiment" in the comparative example, and the portions with greater CT values.

[0051] Table 1

[0052] As shown in the results of the above measurement, it is seen that the flexibility in the effective ball impact point region of radius 10 mm centered on the ball impact point position C and the ball impact point position C of the embodiment is greatly improved compared to the existing product, that is, the comparative example. That is, by adjusting the balance of the deflection of the heel side and the toe side, and shifting the center of gravity from the heel side to the toe side, the following results are obtained, that is, in particular, the CT value on 5 mm below the ball impact point position C is improved by about 10% compared to the existing product (44.5% in percentage, relative to 34.6% of the existing product).

[0053] Further, the following Table 2 is the results of measurement of the ball initial speed and the flight distance when the ball speed is set to 32.5 m / s using a robot tester with respect to the golf club having each of the club heads of the embodiment and the comparative example in which the loft angle is set to the standard No. 7 iron, that is, 30°, shown in Table 1.

[0054] Table 2

[0055] As can be seen, in the case of hitting the ball at a position 15 mm on the toe side, 15 mm on the heel side, and 5 mm below the position C, the ball initial speed and the flight distance of the example 1 are greatly improved at any position compared with the comparative example. That is, even in the case of hitting the ball at a position deviated from the position C, the example 1 can obtain an improvement in the flight distance compared with the comparative example.

[0056] (2nd Embodiment) Next, a 2nd embodiment of the present application will be described. Further, the same reference numerals are given to the same components as those of the above 1st embodiment, and detailed description will be omitted.

[0057] Figure 8 (a) is a view showing the 2nd embodiment of the present application. In the 1st embodiment, the thicknesses of the bottom side flange portion 26 and the toe side flange portion 27 are made the same, and only the difference in the widths of both is used to lower the rigidity on the heel side and relatively raise the rigidity on the toe side, but in the present 2nd embodiment, not only the width of the flange portion is changed but also the thickness in the front and back directions is changed to change the rigidity.

[0058] Specifically, from the bottom side flange portion 26 to the toe side flange portion 27, the thickness is changed linearly (linear portion 20B') continuously (L5 > L6) to raise the rigidity of the toe side flange portion 27. Thus, even if both the width and the thickness of the flange portion are changed, the same effect as that of the above 1st embodiment can be obtained.

[0059] By changing both the width and the thickness as in the present embodiment, the rigidity on the heel side can be lowered and the rigidity on the toe side can be raised compared with the structure of the conventional flange portion, and as long as the above configuration, the deformation can be appropriately changed.

[0060] (3rd Embodiment) Figure 8 (b) is a view showing the 3rd embodiment of the present application. Although in the above 2nd embodiment, the thickness is changed linearly from the bottom side flange portion 26 to the toe side flange portion 27, it can be changed in a curved shape (curved line 20B'') as in the present 3rd embodiment. Figure 8 (b) is a view showing the 3rd embodiment of the present application.

[0061] (4th Embodiment) Figure 9 is a view showing the 4th embodiment of the present application. In the present embodiment, the rib 35 formed on the back surface of the face member 20 is connected to the end point of the toe flange portion 27.

[0062] According to the above-described configuration, since the central region (region including the effective hitting point region) of the face member 20 is surrounded by the rib 35 and the toe flange portion 27 that contribute to the high rigidity of the face member 20, the flexibility around the hitting point position C can be improved, and an increase in the flight distance can be achieved.

[0063] (5th Embodiment) Figure 10 is a view that shows the 5th embodiment of the present application. In the present embodiment, a rib 35 is formed on the back surface of the face member 20, and the toe flange portion 27 is formed on the toe side of the rib 35. Figure 4 , 5 One of the plurality of groove portions 30 described in the above embodiment, a groove portion 30A, extends in the toe and heel direction while curving on the toe side and extending toward the sole side.

[0064] By providing the groove portion 30A shown in Figure 10 , the rigidity on the toe side can be reduced and the effective hitting point region can be flexed effectively. Thus, the flexibility around the hitting point position C can be improved, and an increase in the flight distance can be further achieved.

[0065] The present application is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the configuration of the above-described embodiments, the recesses (groove portions) 30, 31, 30A are formed on the back surface of the face member 20, but the configuration can also be one in which such recesses are not formed, and the depth of the recesses can also be changed depending on the position. Furthermore, the shape and formation position, number of formations, and the like of the rib 35 can also be appropriately modified.

Claims

1. An iron-type golf club head in which a body member having a hosel formed thereon is fixed with a face member having a ball striking face, characterized in that, on the rear surface of the face member, there are provided: a toe flange portion which is formed so as to project in a direction opposite to the face along a toe peripheral edge; and a sole flange portion which is formed so as to project in a direction opposite to the face along a sole peripheral edge, the toe flange portion and the sole flange portion are continuously formed, and widths of the toe flange portion and the sole flange portion in plan view are configured so as to be gradually or stepwise narrowed from an end point of the toe flange portion toward an end point of the sole flange portion.

2. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, characterized in that, the width of the sole flange portion in plan view is 1.5 mm to 2.0 mm.

3. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, characterized in that, the width of the toe flange portion in plan view is 4 mm to 5 mm.

4. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, characterized in that, a thickness of the toe flange portion and the sole flange portion in a direction of a front surface and a rear surface is 2 mm to 10 mm.

5. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, characterized in that, a height of the toe flange portion from a bottom of the face member is more than 50% of a height of the face member.

6. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, characterized in that, a score line is formed on the face, and an end position of a toe side of the score line coincides with a boundary position of the sole flange portion and the toe flange portion.

7. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, characterized in that, a score line is formed on the face, and an end position of a heel side of the score line coincides with an end point of the sole flange portion.

8. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, characterized in that, the boundary position of the sole flange portion and the toe flange portion is located lower than a geometric center position of the face member.

9. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, characterized in that, on a vertical line passing through the geometric center position of the face member, in a case where a hitting point position defined at a height of 15 mm from a leading edge is C, on the rear surface of the face member, a toe side outer side and a heel side outer side of an effective hitting point area defined within a radius of 10 mm from the hitting point position C are formed with a toe side recess and a heel side recess, respectively, in a circular arc shape.

10. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 7, characterized in that, on the rear surface of the face member, a rib extending obliquely from a heel side intermediate position toward an upper portion of a toe side is formed more top side than the toe side recess and the heel side recess.

11. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 8, characterized in that, a toe side end point of the rib is connected to the toe flange portion.

12. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 1, characterized in that, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ The thickness of the toe flange portion and the sole flange portion is formed to be the same, and the top end surfaces of the toe flange portion and the sole flange portion are fixed in a state of abutting against the bottom of the body member.

13. The iron-type golf club head according to claim 10, wherein, A vibration absorbing member is interposed between the face member and the bottom of the body member.

14. An iron type golf club characterized by, An iron-type golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

Images