Golf club head having a support to limit faceplate deformation

1. A golf club head comprising:

a body including:

a face plate having a strike surface and an opposing interior surface,

wherein a distance between the strike surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate defines a thickness of the face plate;

a rear end; and

a sole connecting the face plate with the rear end,

wherein the face plate, the rear end, and the sole partially define a cavity; and

an insert positioned within the cavity, the insert comprising a front portion configured to face the opposing interior surface of the face plate, the front portion having an insert surface facing the opposing interior surface of the face plate, wherein:

a first insert surface of the front portion comprises a first arm adjacent to a heel end of the insert, a second arm adjacent to a toe end of the insert, and a cross member extending from the heel end of the insert to the toe end of the insert;

wherein the first and second arms transition into the cross member to generally define a U shape of the first surface;

wherein at least a second surface of the front portion of the insert surface is spaced apart from the opposing interior surface of the face plate defining a distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate; and

the distance between the second surface of the front portion and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranges from 0.005-0.125 inch.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert surface includes a taper angle such that the distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate, in a direction normal to the insert surface, increases from near a bottom surface of the insert to a top surface of the insert.

3. The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the taper angle is between 0.01 degree-20.0 degree.

4. The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the taper angle is between 1.0 degree-20.0 degree.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert surface is concave relative to the face plate in a direction extending from near a bottom surface of the insert to near a top surface of the insert, and in a direction extending from near a heel end of the insert to near a toe end of the insert.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranges from 0.005-0.060 inch.

7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranges from 0.060-0.125 inch.

8. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the sole of the club head comprises a uniform thickness less than 0.060 inch.

9. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the face plate varies, and a maximum thickness of the face plate is less than 0.15 inch.

10. The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the maximum thickness of the face plate is less than 0.10 inch.

11. A golf club head comprising:

a body including: a face plate having a strike surface and an opposing interior surface,

wherein a distance between the strike surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate defines a thickness of the face plate;

a rear end; and

a sole connecting the face plate with the rear end,

wherein the face plate, the rear end, and the sole partially define a cavity; and

an insert positioned within the cavity, the insert comprising a front portion configured to face the opposing interior surface of the face plate, the front portion having an insert surface facing the opposing interior surface of the face plate, wherein:

a first insert surface of the front portion comprises a first arm adjacent to a heel end of the insert, a second arm adjacent to a toe end of the insert, and a cross member extending from the heel end of the insert to the toe end of the insert;

wherein the first and second arms transition into the cross member to generally define a U shape of the first surface;

wherein at least a second surface of the front portion of the insert surface is spaced apart from the opposing interior surface of the face plate defining a distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate;

the insert surface includes a taper angle such that the distance between the second surface of the front portion of the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate, in a direction normal to the insert surface, increases from near a bottom surface of the insert to a top surface of the insert; and

the taper angle is between 0.01 degree-20.0 degree.

12. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein at least a portion of the insert surface is spaced apart from the opposing interior surface of the face plate defining a distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranging from 0.005-0.125 inch.

13. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the taper angle is between 1.0 degree-20.0 degree.

14. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the taper angle is between 1.0 degree-15.0 degree.

15. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranges from 0.005-0.060 inch.

16. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the distance between the insert surface and the opposing interior surface of the face plate ranges from 0.060-0.125 inch.

17. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the sole of the club head comprises a uniform thickness less than 0.060 inch.

18. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the thickness of the face plate varies.

19. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein a maximum thickness of the face plate is less than 0.15 inch.

20. The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein a maximum thickness of the face plate is less than 0.10 inch.