Method of manufacturing golf club head having stress-reducing features
View Patent ↗A method of manufacturing a golf club head having a plurality of structural connectors, and particularly solid rods proximate the face, is disclosed. The method includes the steps of preparing a wax of a golf club head body, the body having first and second through-holes, a hollow interior, and first and second receiving pockets, preparing waxes of first and second solid rods, inserting the first solid rod wax into the first through-hole and seating its lower end in the first receiving pocket, inserting the second solid rod wax into the second through-hole and seating its lower end in the second receiving pocket, bonding each of the first and second solid rods to the body with an adhesive material to form a combined wax mold, and casting a golf club head from the combined wax mold.
1. A method comprising:
preparing a wax of a golf club head body, the wax of the golf club head body comprising a striking face section, a sole section extending from a lower edge of the striking face section, and a return section extending from an upper edge of the striking face section, the striking face section, sole section, and return section defining a hollow body interior, the return section comprising a through-hole, and the sole section comprising a receiving pocket;
preparing a wax of a solid rod comprising an upper end and a lower end;
inserting the solid rod into the through-hole and seating the lower end in the receiving pocket;
bonding the solid rod to the body with an adhesive material to form a combined wax mold; and
casting a golf club head from the combined wax mold,
wherein the through-hole is aligned with the receiving pocket,
wherein the solid rod has a variable diameter,
wherein each of the upper end and lower end of the solid rod has a diameter of 0.140 to 0.170 inch,
wherein a midpoint of the solid rod has a diameter of 0.100 to 0.125 inch,
wherein the solid rod is located within 1 inch of a rear surface of the striking face section measured along a vertical plane extending through a face center perpendicular to the striking face section, and
wherein no portion of the solid rod makes contact with the striking face section.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the rod is spaced a distance of no more than 0.210 inch from the rear surface.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of bonding the solid rod to the body comprises applying glue around an entire circumference of each of the upper and lower ends of the solid rod.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of applying hot wax to the upper end of the solid rod to seal it to the return section after the step of bonding the solid rod to the body.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of casting a golf club head from the combined wax mold comprises casting the golf club head from a titanium alloy.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wax of the golf club head body comprises at least one cutout in a center area of the sole section.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the striking face section comprises a varying thickness.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wax of the golf club head body comprises a shallow depression extending into an outer surface of the sole section, wherein the shallow depression is aligned with the receiving pocket.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the solid rod has an approximately hourglass shape.
10. A method comprising:
preparing a wax of a golf club head body, the wax of the golf club head body comprising a striking face section, a sole section extending from a lower edge of the striking face section, and a return section extending from an upper edge of the striking face section, the striking face section, sole section, and return section defining a hollow body interior, the return section comprising a receiving pocket, and the sole section comprising a through-hole;
preparing a wax of a solid rod comprising an upper end and a lower end;
inserting the solid rod into the through-hole and seating the upper end in the receiving pocket so that the solid rod is located within 1 inch of a rear surface of the striking face section measured along a vertical plane extending through a face center perpendicular to the striking face section;
bonding the solid rod to the body with an adhesive material to form a combined wax mold; and
casting a golf club head from the combined wax mold,
wherein the through-hole is aligned with the receiving pocket,
wherein the solid rod has a variable diameter,
wherein each of the upper end and lower end of the solid rod has a diameter of 0.140 to 0.170 inch,
wherein a midpoint of the solid rod has a diameter of 0.100 to 0.125 inch, and
wherein no portion of the solid rod makes contact with the striking face section.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of bonding the solid rod to the body comprises applying glue around an entire circumference of each of the upper and lower ends of the solid rod.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the solid rod has an approximately hourglass shape.