IRON-TYPE GOLF CLUB
An iron-type golf club including a golf club head having improved mass distribution characteristics. The golf club includes a golf club head that is constructed from multiple pieces and that has a multi-material construction.
1 . An iron-type golf club head, comprising:
a body including a body member and a sole member, wherein the sole member is coupled to the body member along at least a portion of a perimeter of the sole member to form an interface, wherein a lower surface of the sole member forms at least a portion of a sole surface of the golf club head, wherein the body defines a receptacle that extends across the interface;
at least one body weight member coupled to the body in the receptacle, wherein the lower surface of the body weight member forms a portion of the sole surface of the golf club head; and
a hosel weight member coupled to a proximal end of a hosel of the body.
wherein the body defines a lower cavity that includes an upper opening and is entirely defined by the body member and the sole member
wherein the upper opening is defined by a flange, wherein a portion of the flange extends from a rear surface of a face of the body and overhangs a portion of the lower cavity, and
wherein the body comprises a first material and the body weight member comprises a material that has a specific gravity that is greater than a specific gravity of the first material, and the hosel weight member comprises a material that has a specific gravity that is greater than the specific gravity of the first material.
2 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the sole member is an elongate body and includes a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness.
3 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the sole member is an elongate body and includes a toe portion, a central portion and a heel portion, wherein the central portion has a first thickness and the toe portion and heel portion each have a thickness that is greater than the first thickness.
4 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the sole member is sandwiched between a weight member and the body member.
5 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the sole member is sandwiched between the weight member and the body member aftward of the weight member.
6 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the sole member is sandwiched between the weight member and the body member forward of the weight member.
7 . An iron-type golf club head, comprising:
a body including a body member and a sole member, wherein the sole member is coupled to the body member along at least a portion of a perimeter of the sole member to form an interface, wherein a lower surface of the sole member forms at least a portion of a sole surface of the golf club head, wherein the body defines a plurality of receptacles that extend across the interface; and
a plurality of weight members coupled to the body in the receptacles, wherein the lower surface of each weight member forms a portion of the sole surface of the golf club head,
wherein a portion of the sole member is sandwiched between a weight member and the body member.
8 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 7 , further comprising a hosel weight coupled to a proximal end of a hosel of the body.
9 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the body defines a lower cavity that includes an upper opening and is entirely defined by the body member and the sole member.
10 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the upper opening is defined by a flange, wherein a portion of the flange extends from a rear surface of a face of the body and overhangs a portion of the lower cavity.
11 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the sole member is an elongate body and includes a first portion having a first thickness and a second portion having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness.
12 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the sole member is an elongate body and includes a toe portion, a central portion and a heel portion, wherein the central portion has a first thickness and the toe portion and heel portion each have a thickness that is greater than the first thickness.
13 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the sole member is sandwiched between the weight member and the body member aftward of the weight member.
14 . The iron-type golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the sole member is sandwiched between the weight member and the body member forward of the weight member.
15 . An method of constructing an iron-type golf club head, comprising:
forming a pre-form body, wherein the pre-form body has a perimeter weighted upper portion and a solid muscle back lower portion;
forming an elongate slot in a sole portion of the pre-form body to form a body member;
forming an elongate sole member;
coupling the elongate sole member to the body member in the elongate slot;
forming at least one receptacle that extends across an interface between the body member and the sole member;
forming at least one weight member; and
coupling the weight member to the sole member and the body member in the receptacle.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of forming the pre-form body includes forging the pre-form body.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of forming the elongate sole member includes forming the sole member so that a first portion of the sole member has a first thickness and a second portion of the sole member has a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness.
18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the step of forming at least one receptacle includes machining a plurality of receptacles.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein one receptacle is disposed toward the toe relative to a second receptacle.