TWO PIECE CLUB CONSTRUCTION APPARATUS AND METHOD
A method and apparatus for forming a golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head includes a first and second part, each of which may include more than one portion of the golf club head. The two parts are operatively connected using a single, continuous, non-planar weld line. Preferably, the weld line passes through a transition between the face and either the crown of the club or the sole of the club. Each portion of the club may include different percentages of the face and/or body, providing the advantage of minimizing manufacturing costs and time while controlling club head performance attributes to a higher level of precision.
1 . A golf club head, comprising:
a first part comprising between about 50% to about 90% of the face and less than about 50% of the body;
a second part comprising the remainder of club head;
a single weld line operatively connecting the first part and the second part, wherein the two parts comprise a substantially complete club head.
2 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the single weld line comprises a non-planar weld line.
3 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the single weld line passes along the transition between the face and the head.
4 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the single weld line passes along the transition between the face and the sole.
5 . The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the body comprises a crown, a skirt, and a sole, wherein the single weld line passes along about 80% or more of the transition between the face and a crown.
6 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a crown, a skirt, and a sole, wherein the first part includes less than about 40% of the skirt.
7 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a crown, a skirt, and a sole, wherein the single weld line passes through the skirt.
8 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the first part comprises about 70% or more of the weight of the club head.
9 . A golf club head, comprising:
a first part comprising less than about 50% of the face and greater than about 30% of the body;
a second part comprising the remainder of the club head; and
a single non-planar weld line operatively connecting the first part and the second part, wherein the single non-planar weld line is the only weld line.
10 . The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the single non-planar weld line passes along the transition between the face and the sole.
11 . The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the single non-planar weld line passes along the transition between the face and the crown.
12 . The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the body comprises a crown, a skirt, and a sole, wherein the single non-planar weld line passes along about 50% or less of the transition between the face and the sole.
13 . The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the body comprises a crown, a skirt, and a sole, wherein the single non-planar weld line passes along about 50% or less of the transition between the face and the crown.
14 . The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the body comprises a crown, a skirt, and a sole, wherein the single non-planar weld line passes along the crown, skirt, and sole such that it substantially bisects the crown, skirt, and sole.
15 . The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the first part comprises less than about 40% of the weight of the club head.
16 . A method for manufacturing a golf club head, comprising the steps of:
a) forming a first part of the club head, the first part comprising greater than about 80% of the face and less than about 50% of the body;
b) forming a second part of the club head, the second part comprising the remainder of the club head; and
c) welding the first and second parts of the club head together using a continuous non-planar weld line.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein step c) comprises welding the first and second parts together along a transition between a face and a sole of the club head.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein step c) comprises welding the first and second parts together along about 55% or less of a transition between a face and a crown of the club head.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein step c) comprises one of:
laser welding;
plasma welding; or
precision milling.
20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein steps a) and b) comprise casting the first and second parts.
21 . The method of claim 16 , wherein steps a), b), and c) are performed with a tolerance of between plus or minus about 0.10 degrees and about 1.0 degrees.
22 . The method of claim 16 , wherein steps a), b), and c) are performed with a tolerance of less than plus or minus about 0.30 degrees.