Golf club head

Abstract

To provide a golf club head that suppresses reduction in a spin rate in a wet state and increases the spin rate in a dry state.SOLUTION: A golf club head of the present disclosure is of an iron type having a face portion. The face portion includes a face surface configured to hit a ball and a plurality of score lines which is recessed relative to the face surface and extends in a toe-heel direction. A first region, a second region, and a third region are defined in this order in the face surface located between the score lines that are next to each other and are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the score lines. The first region includes a plurality of first fine grooves which is recessed relative to the face surface and extends in the direction perpendicular to the score lines. The second region includes a plurality of second fine grooves which is recessed relative to the face surface and extends in a direction oblique to the score lines. The third region includes a plurality of third fine grooves which is recessed relative to the face surface and extends in the direction perpendicular to the score lines.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a golf club head.

Background Art

[0002] On the face surface of a golf club head, a plurality of grooves called score lines are formed. By providing the score lines, the amount of spin of the ball can be increased. In addition, a golf club head is disclosed in which a plurality of fine grooves are formed on the face surface separately from the score lines.

[0003] Such fine grooves can be expected to be effective in suppressing a decrease in the amount of spin in a wet state where water adheres to the face surface in order to improve drainage. On the other hand, depending on how the fine grooves are provided, the amount of spin may rather decrease in a dry state where no water adheres to the face surface.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a golf club head that suppresses a decrease in the amount of spin in a wet state and improves the amount of spin in a dry state.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] This golf club head is an iron-type golf club head having a face portion. The face portion includes a face surface for hitting a ball, and a plurality of score lines that are recessed with respect to the face surface and extend in the toe-heel direction. On the face surface located between adjacent score lines, a first region, a second region, and a third region are defined in order in a direction perpendicular to the score lines. In the first region, a plurality of first fine grooves that are recessed with respect to the face surface and extend in the vertical direction are arranged. In the second region, a plurality of second fine grooves that are recessed with respect to the face surface and extend in an oblique direction with respect to the score lines are arranged. In the third region, a plurality of third fine grooves that are recessed with respect to the face surface and extend in the vertical direction are arranged.

Advantages of the Invention

[0007] According to the disclosed technology, it is possible to provide a golf club head that suppresses a reduction in the amount of spin in a wet state and improves the amount of spin in a dry state.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In each drawing, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components, and redundant descriptions may be omitted.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a golf club head according to the present embodiment. Here, a view of the golf club head from a direction perpendicular to the face surface is defined as the front view. In FIG. 1, arrow d1 indicates the toe-heel direction (the left-right direction along the face surface), and arrow d2 indicates the top-sole direction (the up-down direction along the face surface). As necessary, arrows d1 and d2 are also shown in other figures.

[0011] The golf club head 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an iron-type golf club head. The golf club head 1 is applicable to any of long irons, mid irons, short irons, and wedges.

[0012] The golf club head 1 can be formed using a metal material such as, for example, soft iron, stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, chrome molybdenum steel, etc. The golf club head 1 can be manufactured, for example, by forging, casting, machining, or a combination thereof, but is not limited thereto.

[0013] The golf club head 1 includes a face portion 11, a sole portion 13, a top portion 14, and a hosel portion 15. The face portion 11 includes a face surface 11f that serves as a striking surface for hitting the ball, and a plurality of score lines 11s that are recessed with respect to the face surface 11f and extend in the toe-heel direction.

[0014] In the face portion 11, the region where the score lines 11s are formed on the face surface 11f becomes the part for hitting the ball. The face portion 11 has a predetermined thickness. The thickness of the thinnest part not considering the score lines 11s of the face portion 11 is, for example, 2.5 mm or more and 5.0 mm or less.

[0015] The score lines 11s are arranged at substantially equal intervals in the top-sole direction. Each score line 11s is parallel to each other. The maximum width in the short direction of the score lines 11s is, for example, 0.7 mm or more and 0.9 mm or less. The maximum depth of the score lines 11s from the face surface 11f is, for example, 0.3 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less.

[0016] The sole portion 13 is the part that forms the bottom of the golf club head 1. The top portion 14 is the part that extends rearward from the upper edge of the face portion 11. The top portion 14 is arranged to face the sole portion 13 across the face surface 11f in the top-sole direction. The top portion 14 extends from the toe side to the heel side. The hosel portion 15 is the part that is connected to the shaft.

[0017] FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged view (part 1) of part A in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, in the face portion 11, on the face surface 11f located between adjacent score lines 11s, a first region R1, a second region R2, and a third region R3 are defined in order in the direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s (top-sole direction). In the present application, perpendicular and parallel are each allowed an error of ±5 degrees.

[0018] In the first region R1, a plurality of first fine grooves 111 that are recessed with respect to the face surface 11f and extend in the direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s are arranged. Also, in the second region R2, a plurality of second fine grooves 112 that are recessed with respect to the face surface 11f and extend in an oblique direction with respect to the score lines 11s are arranged. Also, in the third region R3, a plurality of third fine grooves 113 that are recessed with respect to the face surface 11f and extend in the direction perpendicular to the score lines 11s are arranged.

[0019] Here, the fine groove refers to a groove whose maximum width in the short direction is narrower than the maximum width of the score line 11s in the short direction, and whose maximum depth from the face surface 11f is shallower than the maximum depth of the score line 11s from the face surface 11f. The cross-sectional shapes of the first fine groove 111, the second fine groove 112, and the third fine groove 113 may be U-shaped, V-shaped, or other shapes.

[0020] The first groove 111, the second groove 112, and the third groove 113 can be formed, for example, by milling. The first groove 111, the second groove 112, and the third groove 113 may also be formed by laser processing. Milling is easier to control the surface roughness compared to laser processing. On the other hand, laser processing is easier to narrow the pitch of the grooves compared to milling. Milling and laser processing may be used in combination.

[0021] For example, the first groove 111 and the third groove 113 may be formed by milling, and the second groove 112 may be formed by laser processing. In this case, the surface roughness of the first region R1 and the third region R3 can be made larger than the surface roughness of the second region R2. Note that the larger the surface roughness of the face surface 11f, the better the frictional force between the face surface 11f and the ball, and thus the larger the spin amount.

[0022] In the example of FIG. 2, the plurality of second grooves 112 include a plurality of grooves 112a extending in a first direction that is oblique to the score line 11s, and a plurality of grooves 112b extending in a second direction that is oblique to the score line and intersects the first direction. The plurality of second grooves 112 can be arranged in a mesh pattern, for example, when viewed from a direction perpendicular to the face surface 11f. The first direction and the second direction may or may not be orthogonal. The plurality of second grooves 112 may have a structure including only one of the plurality of grooves 112a and the plurality of grooves 112b.

[0023] Thus, in the golf club head 1, a plurality of first grooves 111 and third grooves 113 extending in a direction perpendicular to the score line 11s are arranged on the face surface 11f. Thereby, the water droplets adhering to the face surface 11f can be discharged to the score line 11s via the first groove 111 and the third groove 113, so that the drainage performance of the golf club head 1 can be improved. As a result, at the time of hitting, the adhesion between the face surface 11f and the ball is improved, so that a reduction in the spin amount in a wet state can be suppressed.

[0024] Furthermore, in the golf club head 1, a plurality of second fine grooves 112 extending in an oblique direction with respect to the score line 11s are arranged on the face surface 11f. Thereby, it is possible to increase the face surface roughness with respect to the golf ball hitting direction compared to the case where only the plurality of first fine grooves 111 and third fine grooves 113 extending in the direction perpendicular to the score line 11s are arranged, so that the spin amount in the dry state can be improved.

[0025] Note that a wedge with a loft angle of 45 degrees or more has worse drainage than a lower-lofted club. Also, a wedge with a loft angle of 45 degrees or more is required to have a large spin amount. Therefore, the structure provided with the first fine grooves 111, the second fine grooves 112, and the third fine grooves 113 exhibits a particularly great effect when applied to a wedge. That is, the golf club head 1 is particularly suitable for being applied to a wedge-type golf club head such as a sand wedge, a pitching wedge, or an approach wedge.

[0026] One end of the plurality of first fine grooves 111 preferably reaches one of the adjacent score lines 11s, and the other end of the plurality of first fine grooves 111 is preferably connected to one end of the plurality of second fine grooves 112. Also, the other end of the plurality of second fine grooves 112 is preferably connected to one end of the plurality of third fine grooves 113, and the other end of the plurality of third fine grooves 113 preferably reaches the other of the adjacent score lines 11s. Although the effect of improving the drainage of the water droplets adhering to the face surface 11f can be obtained even without such a configuration, by adopting such a configuration, the drainage of the water droplets adhering to the face surface 11f can be further improved.

[0027] In addition, by including a plurality of fine grooves 112a and 112b in which the plurality of second fine grooves 112 extend obliquely with respect to the score line and intersect each other, the effect of improving the spin amount in the dry state can be enhanced. However, even in the case of a structure in which the plurality of second fine grooves 112 include only one of the plurality of fine grooves 112a and the plurality of fine grooves 112b, a certain effect is achieved with respect to the improvement of the spin amount in the dry state.

[0028] The pitch P1 of the first groove 111, the pitch P2 of the second groove 112, and the pitch P3 of the third groove 113 are, for example, 0.06 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less. The pitch P1 of the first groove 111, the pitch P2 of the second groove 112, and the pitch P3 of the third groove 113 are preferably 0.06 mm or more and 0.15 mm or less. With such a pitch, it is possible to further suppress the reduction of the spin amount in the wet state and further improve the spin amount in the dry state. In the first groove 111, the second groove 112, and the third groove 113, the maximum width, the maximum depth, and / or the pitch may be the same or different within the above numerical ranges.

[0029] In the direction perpendicular to the score line 11s, the length of the second region R2 is preferably longer than the length of each of the first region R1 and the third region R3. Thereby, the effect of improving the spin amount in the dry state can be enhanced. In the direction perpendicular to the score line 11s, the length of the first region R1 may be the same as or different from the length of the third region R3.

[0030] In the direction perpendicular to the score line 11s, the interval L between adjacent score lines 11s is, for example, 3 mm or more and 5 mm or less. At this time, in the direction perpendicular to the score line 11s, the length of each of the first region R1 and the third region R3 is preferably 0.1L or more and 0.3L or less, and the length of the second region R2 is preferably 0.4L or more and 0.8L or less.

[0031] In addition, when the golf club head 1 is a wedge, it may be struck not only at the normal loft angle but also at angles other than the normal loft angle. Specifically, it may be struck with the face 11f open or with the face 11f closed. In the golf club head 1, even in such cases, the first groove 111, the second groove 112, and the third groove 113 can exhibit their functions.

[0032] Specifically, the angles of the first fine groove 111 and the third fine groove 113 with respect to the score line 11s are different from those of the second fine groove 112. Therefore, when hitting with the face surface 11f open or closed, the functions of the first fine groove 111 and the third fine groove 113 and the function of the second fine groove 112 are opposite to those when hitting at the regular loft angle.

[0033] That is, the first fine groove 111 and the third fine groove 113 are inclined with respect to the hitting direction, and the second fine groove 112 is close to being perpendicular to the hitting direction. Therefore, the first fine groove 111, the second fine groove 112, and the third fine groove 113 can exert their functions. To achieve such an effect, the inclination angle θ of the second fine groove 112 with respect to the score line 11s is preferably 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less, and more preferably 35 degrees or more and 45 degrees or less. Note that the inclination angle with respect to the score line 11s is defined as an acute angle.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged view (part 2) of part A in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the plurality of first fine grooves 111 may extend inside one of the adjacent score lines 11s. Also, the plurality of third fine grooves 113 may extend inside the other of the adjacent score lines 11s. The first fine groove 111 and the third fine groove 113 may extend only to a part inside the score line 11s or may extend to all of it.

[0035] Thus, when the first fine groove 111 and the third fine groove 113 extend to at least a part inside the score line 11s, the spin amount can be improved mainly by the effects of the first fine groove 111 and the third fine groove 113 formed at the end of the score line 11s on the face surface 11f side.

[0036] Although the preferred embodiments have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope described in the claims.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0037] 1 Golf club head 11 Face part 11f Face surface 11s Score line 111 First fine groove 112 Second fine groove 112a, 112b Grooves 113 Third fine groove 13 Sole part 14 Top part 15 Hosel part R1 First region R2 Second region R3 Third region

Claims

1. An iron-type golf club head having a face portion, wherein the face portion includes a face surface for striking a ball, and a plurality of score lines that are recessed with respect to the face surface and extend in the toe-heel direction, wherein a first region, a second region, and a third region are sequentially defined in the face surface located between adjacent score lines in a direction perpendicular to the score lines, wherein a plurality of first fine grooves that are recessed with respect to the face surface and extend in the perpendicular direction are disposed in the first region, wherein a plurality of second fine grooves that are recessed with respect to the face surface and extend in a direction oblique to the score lines are disposed in the second region, and wherein a plurality of third fine grooves that are recessed with respect to the face surface and extend in the perpendicular direction are disposed in the third region, a golf club head.

2. One end of each of the plurality of first fine grooves reaches one of the adjacent score lines, the other end of each of the plurality of first fine grooves is connected to one end of the plurality of second fine grooves, the other end of each of the plurality of second fine grooves is connected to one end of the plurality of third fine grooves, and the other end of each of the plurality of third fine grooves reaches the other of the adjacent score lines, the golf club head according to claim 1.

3. The plurality of first fine grooves extend inside one of the adjacent score lines, and the plurality of third fine grooves extend inside the other of the adjacent score lines, the golf club head according to claim 2.

4. The plurality of second fine grooves include a plurality of fine grooves extending in a first direction that is oblique to the score lines, and a plurality of fine grooves extending in a second direction that is oblique to the score lines and intersects the first direction, the golf club head according to claim 1.

5. The plurality of second fine grooves are arranged in a mesh pattern when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the face surface, the golf club head according to claim 4.

6. In the perpendicular direction, the length of the second region is longer than the length of each of the first region and the third region, the golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. When the interval between adjacent score lines in the perpendicular direction is L, in the perpendicular direction, the length of each of the first region and the third region is 0.1L or more and 0.3L or less, and the length of the second region is 0.4L or more and 0.8L or less, the golf club head according to claim 6.

8. The pitch of each of the first fine groove, the second fine groove, and the third fine groove is 0.06 mm or more and 0.5 mm or less. The golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

9. The pitch of each of the first fine groove, the second fine groove, and the third fine groove is 0.06 mm or more and 0.15 mm or less. The golf club head according to claim 8.

10. The inclination angle of the second fine groove with respect to the score line is 30 degrees or more and 60 degrees or less. The golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

11. The loft angle is 45 degrees or more. The golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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