Putter head

Abstract

To provide a putter head capable of improving the rolling stability of a hit golf ball.SOLUTION: The putter head is a putter head in which an insert is attached to a head body, the insert includes an insert body made of a first material and an elastic material made of a second material, the elastic material is disposed in a recess formed upward from a lower end portion of the insert body, a specific gravity of the first material is 2.5 or more and 4.5 or less, a specific gravity of the second material is 0.7 or more and 1.3 or less, and a front surface of the insert is a face surface.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a putter head. [Background technology]

[0002] A putter used in golf is a club used primarily on the green to hit a golf ball and cause it to roll toward a cup, and consists of a putter head with a shaft attached. In recent years, it has been proposed to attach a face insert to the face of the putter head to improve the feel at impact. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-095859 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a putter head that can improve the rolling stability of a hit golf ball. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] This putter head is a putter head in which an insert is attached to a head body, and the insert has an insert body made of a first material and an elastic material made of a second material, the elastic material is placed in a recess formed upward from the lower end of the insert body, the specific gravity of the first material is 2.5 or more and 4.5 or less, the specific gravity of the second material is 0.7 or more and 1.3 or less, and the front surface of the insert becomes the face surface. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the disclosed technology, it is possible to provide a putter head that can improve the rolling stability of a hit golf ball. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view illustrating a putter head 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a putter head 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a putter head 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a diagram (part 1) explaining an experiment to confirm the spin direction of a putter head. [Figure 5] This is a diagram (part 2) explaining an experiment to confirm the spin direction of a putter head. [Figure 6] 2 is a partially enlarged view of the front surface 20a of the insert 20. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted.

[0009] Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a putter head 1 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the putter head 1 according to this embodiment. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the putter head 1 according to this embodiment. In Figs. 2 and 3, arrow d1 indicates the toe-heel direction (left-right direction), arrow d2 indicates the top-sole direction (up-down direction), and arrow d3 indicates the face-back direction (front-rear direction).

[0010] The top-sole direction is the vertical direction when the putter head 1 is placed on a horizontal plane according to the specified lie angle and specified loft angle. The top-sole direction is approximately perpendicular to the toe-heel direction and the face-back direction. The toe-heel direction and the face-back direction are also approximately perpendicular to each other.

[0011] The putter head 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 has a head body 10, an insert 20, and a hosel portion 30.

[0012] The head body 10 is made of a metal such as an aluminum alloy, a titanium alloy, a copper alloy, or stainless steel. A recess 10x recessed from the face side to the back side is provided on the front surface 10a of the head body 10. The front surface 10a can be arranged around the recess 10x when viewed in the face-back direction, for example.

[0013] The insert 20 is attached to the head body 10 via, for example, an adhesive layer. Specifically, the insert 20 is disposed in the recess 10x of the head body 10 via, for example, an adhesive layer. Suitable examples of the adhesive layer include, but are not limited to, epoxy adhesive, rubber adhesive, and double-sided tape.

[0014] The recess 10x and the insert 20 have a horizontally elongated shape with the toe-heel direction as the longitudinal direction. The recess 10x and the insert 20 are, for example, trapezoidal when viewed in the face-back direction. That is, the length of the insert 20 in the toe-heel direction is shorter on the top side than on the sole side. Also, the length of the insert 20 in the top-sole direction is approximately constant regardless of the position in the toe-heel direction.

[0015] The front surface 20a of the insert 20 is a striking surface that strikes a golf ball and may be referred to as a face surface. The front surface 20a of the insert 20 and the front surface 10a of the head body 10 located around the recess 10x may be flush with each other. The front surface 20a of the insert 20 may be disposed slightly inclined relative to the horizontal plane, rather than perpendicular thereto.

[0016] The depth of the recess 10x is uniform overall, and the thickness of the insert 20 is also uniform overall. However, it is also possible to provide some deep and thick portions, or conversely, to provide some shallow and thin portions.

[0017] The length of the insert 20 in the top-sole direction is, for example, 16 mm or more and 30 mm or less, preferably 18 mm or more and 25 mm or less. The length of the insert 20 in the toe-heel direction is, for example, 50 mm or more and 150 mm or less, preferably 70 mm or more and 100 mm or less. The length of the insert 20 in the face-back direction is, for example, 2 mm or more and 10 mm or less, preferably 3 mm or more and 8 mm or less. There may be a gap between the side surface of the insert 20 and the inner surface of the recess 10x. If there is a gap, the width of the gap is, for example, 0.3 mm or more and 1.5 mm or less.

[0018] The insert 20 has an insert body 21 and an elastic material 22. The insert body 21 has a recess 21x formed upward from the lower end. The recess 21x is open on the sole side, toe side, and heel side, but not on the top side. In other words, the insert body 21 has a cantilever structure in which the top side is a fixed end and the sole side is a free end. The length of the recess 21x in the face-back direction is, for example, 10% to 50%, and preferably 25% to 45%, of the length of the insert 20 in the face-back direction.

[0019] The elastic material 22 is disposed in the recess 21x of the insert body 21. On the toe side, the side surface of the elastic material 22 is, for example, flush with the side surface of the insert body 21. On the heel side, the side surface of the elastic material 22 is, for example, flush with the side surface of the insert body 21. On the sole side, the bottom surface of the elastic material 22 is, for example, flush with the bottom surface of the insert body 21.

[0020] The insert body 21 is made of a first material, and the elastic material 22 is made of a second material. The specific gravity of the first material is 2.5 or more and 4.5 or less, and the specific gravity of the second material is 0.7 or more and 1.3 or less. The first material is at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, and a metal alloy. The second material is at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon, a polymer, and a resin.

[0021] The recess 21x of the insert body 21 can be easily formed, for example, by cutting a blank of the insert 20 made of the first material. The elastic material 22 can be disposed by preparing a second material that is thicker than the width of the recess 21x and inserting it into the recess 21x. For example, if the width of the recess 21x is 2 mm, the second material with a thickness of approximately 2.2 mm to 2.4 mm can be inserted into the recess 21x. This allows the recess 21x and the elastic material 22 to be tightly attached without any gaps.

[0022] The insert body 21 may be colored by surface treatment. Coloring the insert body 21 can improve the design. For example, if the insert body 21 is made of aluminum, an anodizing treatment can be performed as the surface treatment. In this case, an aluminum oxide coating is formed on the surface of the insert body 21, thereby improving the corrosion resistance and wear resistance of the insert body 21.

[0023] The hosel portion 30 is connected to the head body 10. The hosel portion 30 includes a shaft insertion portion 31 into which a shaft is inserted, and a connecting portion 32 that connects the shaft insertion portion 31 and the head body 10.

[0024] The shaft insertion portion 31 is a substantially cylindrical member with a bottom, and engages with the shaft. A shaft insertion hole into which the tip of the shaft is inserted is formed in the shaft insertion portion 31. The shaft insertion hole is offset toward the front surface 10a of the head body 10 with respect to the connecting portion 32. The hosel portion 30 can be made of, for example, titanium, a titanium alloy, an aluminum alloy, stainless steel, or the like.

[0025] The putter head 1 may have one or more weight adjustment components 40 in the sole portion 15. In the illustrated example, the putter head 1 has two weight adjustment components 40 in the sole portion 15. The weight adjustment components 40 can be attached to and detached from the sole portion 15 of the head body 10, for example, by fastening with screws. It is noted that the putter head 1 does not necessarily have to have a weight adjustment component 40.

[0026] Weight adjustment component 40 is made of, for example, a metal. Examples of metals include titanium, titanium alloys, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloys, iron-based metals, magnesium, magnesium alloys, and tungsten alloys. By attaching and detaching weight adjustment component 40 to head body 10, the center of gravity of putter head 1 can be adjusted.

[0027] Figures 4 and 5 are diagrams illustrating an experiment to confirm the spin direction of a putter head. Figure 4 relates to a putter head according to a comparative example, and Figure 5 relates to putter head 1. In both Figures 4 and 5, the front surface of the putter head insert was placed parallel to the horizontal plane, a golf ball was dropped vertically onto the front surface of the insert from above, and the rotation of the golf ball, which rebounded from the front surface of the insert and moved in the direction of the arrow, was confirmed. The putter head according to the comparative example has a structure in which the recess 21x and elastic material 22 are removed from the putter head 1.

[0028] As shown in Figure 4, in the putter head according to the comparative example, the golf ball rebounded off the front surface of the insert barely spins. In contrast, as shown in Figure 5, in the putter head 1, the golf ball rebounded off the front surface 20a of the insert 20 spins forward. In other words, the ball has topspin.

[0029] This result is thought to be due to the fact that when a golf ball hits the front surface 20a of the insert 20, the part of the insert body 21 located closer to the face than the recess 21x bends slightly toward the back, and then returns to the face, making it easier to apply topspin.

[0030] In this way, when putting with a putter equipped with the putter head 1, the insert body 21 bends slightly toward the back when hitting the golf ball and then returns to the face, making it easier to apply topspin to the ball. As a result, the roll of the golf ball is promoted and the rolling stability of the golf ball can be improved.

[0031] Furthermore, because the recess 21x is open to the sole side, toe side, and heel side, the amount of deflection of the portion of the insert body 21 located closer to the face than the recess 21x can be increased when hitting a golf ball, compared to when the recess 21x is not open to the toe side and heel side. Therefore, it is easier to apply topspin to the golf ball, compared to when the recess 21x is not open to the toe side and heel side. As a result, the roll of the golf ball is further promoted, and the rolling stability of the golf ball can be further improved.

[0032] Furthermore, when the insert body 21 of the insert 20 is trapezoidal when viewed in the face-back direction, the top side, which is the fixed end of the cantilever structure of the insert body 21, is shorter, making the free end more likely to flex. In other words, when hitting a golf ball, the amount of flexure of the portion of the insert body 21 located closer to the face than the recess 21x can be increased. Therefore, compared to when the insert body 21 has a rectangular shape when viewed in the face-back direction, it is easier to apply topspin. As a result, the roll of the golf ball is further promoted, and the rolling stability of the golf ball can be further improved.

[0033] In addition, in the putter head 1, the elastic material 22 made of a second material having a lower specific gravity than the first material is disposed in the recess 21x, so that the impact sound and feel when hitting a golf ball can be adjusted.

[0034] Fig. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the front surface 20a of the insert 20. As shown in Fig. 6, the insert 20 preferably has a groove 200 recessed into the front surface 20a. The groove 200 may include, for example, a first groove 201 and a second groove 202. The groove 200 may also be composed of only the first groove 201.

[0035] The plurality of first grooves 201 extend in the toe-heel direction. The plurality of first grooves 201 can be arranged, for example, at approximately equal intervals in the top-sole direction. The first grooves 201 are, for example, parallel to each other.

[0036] The lengths of the first grooves 201 in the toe-heel direction may be the same or different. The width of the first grooves 201 in the short direction is, for example, 0.7 mm or more and 0.9 mm or less. The maximum depth of the first grooves 201 from the front surface 20a is preferably within a range of 30% or less of the thickness of the insert body 21 located closer to the face than the recesses 21x.

[0037] The second grooves 202 are located between adjacent first grooves 201. The width of the second grooves 202 is narrower than the width of the first grooves 201. The maximum depth of the second grooves 202 from the front surface 20a is shallower than the maximum depth of the first grooves 201 from the front surface 20a. The second grooves 202 may include multiple grooves with different widths and maximum depths. The width of the second grooves 202 in the short direction is, for example, 0.001 mm or more and 0.003 mm or less. The maximum depth of the second grooves 202 from the front surface 20a can be, for example, about 5% of the maximum depth of the first grooves 201.

[0038] The second grooves 202 may or may not be connected to the first grooves 201, or a mixture of these may be present. The second grooves 202 may be arranged so as to extend obliquely relative to the first grooves 201, but may also be arranged parallel or perpendicular to the first grooves 201, or a mixture of these may be present. Furthermore, the second grooves 202 are not limited to being linear, and may be bent or curved. The second grooves 202 may have a mesh pattern.

[0039] The first groove 201 and the second groove 202 can be formed by, for example, laser processing. By using laser processing, it is possible to form fine grooves that are narrow in width and at a narrow pitch.

[0040] When the putter head 1 has the second grooves 202, the frictional force between the front surface 20a and the golf ball is improved when hitting the golf ball, which prevents the golf ball from slipping and makes it easier to apply topspin to the ball.

[0041] 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 of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0042] 1 putter head 10 Head body 10a, 20a front 10x, 21x recess 15 Sole 20 inserts 21 Insert body 22 Elastic material 30 Hosel part 31 Shaft insertion part 32 Connecting part 40 Weight adjustment parts 200 grooves 201 First groove 202 2nd groove

Claims

1. A putter head having an insert attached to a head body, The insert has an insert body made of a first material and an elastic member made of a second material; The elastic material is disposed in a recess formed upward from the lower end of the insert body, the specific gravity of the first material is 2.5 or more and 4.5 or less; the specific gravity of the second material is 0.7 or more and 1.3 or less; The front surface of the insert forms a face of the putter head.

2. The putter head according to claim 1 , wherein the recess is open to a sole side, a toe side, and a heel side.

3. 3. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein the insert body has a trapezoidal shape when viewed in the face-back direction.

4. the insert has a groove recessed relative to the face surface, The groove is a plurality of first grooves extending in a toe-heel direction; a second groove located between adjacent first grooves, The putter head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the width of the second groove is narrower than the width of the first groove.

5. The putter head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first material is at least one selected from the group consisting of aluminum, titanium, and a metal alloy.

6. The putter head according to claim 1 , wherein the second material is at least one selected from the group consisting of silicon, polymer, and resin.

7. The putter head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sole portion has one or more weight adjustment components.

8. 3. The putter head according to claim 1, wherein the insert is attached to the head body via an adhesive layer.

9. The putter head according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the insert body is colored by a surface treatment.

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