STRIKING FACE OF A GOLF CLUB HEAD
An improved striking face of a golf club head is disclosed. More specifically, the present invention relates to a striking face having one or more thickened central region located near a “region of excessive performance” on the striking face, a thinned perimeter portion located around a perimeter of the striking face, and a transition region that transitions from each of the one or more thickened central region towards the thinned perimeter portion. The improved striking face could be made out of a material having a high strength and low hardness such as ATI-425®.
1 . A golf club head comprising:
a striking face portion, having a circumference defined by a striking face perimeter shape, located at a frontal portion of said golf club head,
an aft body portion located rearward of said striking face portion, at a rear portion of said golf club head,
wherein said golf club head has a Strength over Hardness Ratio of greater than about 6.0 ksi/HRC, said Strength to Hardness Ratio defined as;
(
UTS
of
striking
face
portion
102
-
UTS
of
body
portion
104
)
(
Hardness
of
striking
face
portion
102
-
Hardness
of
body
portion
104
)
=
Strength
over
Hardness
Ratio
.
2 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said golf club head has a Strength over Hardness Ratio of greater than about 11 ksi/HRC.
3 . The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein said golf club head has a Strength over Hardness Ratio of greater than about 16 ksi/HRC.
4 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said golf club head has a MOR Ratio of greater than about 1.25, said MOR Ratio defined as:
MOR
of
striking
face
portion
102
MOR
of
body
portion
104
=
MOR
Ratio
.
5 . The golf club head of claim 4 , wherein said golf club head has a MOR Ratio of greater than about 1.35.
6 . The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein said golf club head has a MOR Ratio of greater than about 1.45.
7 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said striking face portion further comprises;
a first region of excessive performance defining a first perimeter shape, and
a first layer of increased thickness located at an internal surface of said striking face portion, said first layer of increased thickness having a circumference defined by said first perimeter shape,
a second region of excessive performance defining a second perimeter shape,
a second layer of increased thickness located at an internal surface of said first layer of increased thickness, said second layer of increased thickness having a circumference defined by said second perimeter shape,
wherein said striking face perimeter shape is different from said first perimeter shape,
wherein said second perimeter shape is different from said first perimeter shape,
wherein said second perimeter shape is different from said striking face perimeter shape, and
wherein a transition region between said striking face portion, said first layer of increased thickness, and said second layer of increased thickness consists a smooth blend.
8 . The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein said striking face portion further comprises a thinned perimeter region, wherein said thinned perimeter region circumferentially surrounds said first layer of increased thickness,
said thinned perimeter region has a thickness of between about 2.4 mm to about 3.0 mm.
9 . The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said thinned perimeter region has a thickness of between about 2.6 mm to about 2.8 mm.
10 . The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein said thinned perimeter region has a thickness of about 2.7 mm.
11 . The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said second layer of increased thickness has a total thickness of about between about 3.2 mm to about 3.8 mm.
12 . The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein said second layer of increased thickness has a total thickness of between about 3.4 m to about 3.6 mm.
13 . The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein said second layer of increased thickness has a total thickness of about 3.5 mm.
14 . A golf club head comprising:
a striking face portion, having a circumference defined by a striking face perimeter shape, located at a frontal portion of said golf club head,
an aft body portion located rearward of said striking face portion, at a rear portion of said golf club head,
wherein said golf club head has a MOR Ratio of greater than about 1.25, said MOR Ratio defined as;
MOR
of
striking
face
portion
102
MOR
of
body
portion
104
=
MOR
Ratio
.
15 . The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said golf club head has a MOR Ratio of greater than about 1.35.
16 . The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein said golf club head has a MOR Ratio of greater than about 1.45.
17 . The golf club head of claim 16 , wherein said striking face portion exhibits a CT Variance Average closer to zero than about −3.5, said CT Variance Average defined by equation below;
CT Variance Average=Average of CT Values within centered 6 mm Square.
18 . The golf club head of claim 17 , wherein said striking face portion exhibits a CT Variance Average closer to zero than about −3.2.
19 . The golf club head of claim 18 , wherein said striking face portion exhibits a CT Variance Average closer to zero than about −3.0.
20 . A golf club head comprising:
a striking face portion, having a circumference defined by a striking face perimeter shape, located at a frontal portion of said golf club head,
an aft body portion located rearward of said striking face portion, at a rear portion of said golf club head,
wherein said striking face portion further comprises;
a first region of excessive performance defining a first perimeter shape, and
a first layer of increased thickness located at an internal surface of said striking face portion, said first layer of increased thickness having a circumference defined by said first perimeter shape,
a second region of excessive performance defining a second perimeter shape,
a second layer of increased thickness located at an internal surface of said first layer of increased thickness, said second layer of increased thickness having a circumference defined by said second perimeter shape,
wherein said striking face perimeter shape is different from said first perimeter shape,
wherein said second perimeter shape is different from said first perimeter shape,
wherein said second perimeter shape is different from said striking face perimeter shape, and
wherein a transition region between said striking face portion, said first layer of increased thickness, and said second layer of increased thickness consists a smooth blend.
21 . The golf club head of claim 20 , wherein said striking face portion further comprises a thinned perimeter region, wherein said thinned perimeter region circumferentially surrounds said first layer of increased thickness,
said thinned perimeter region has a thickness of between about 2.4 mm to about 3.0 mm.
22 . The golf club head of claim 21 , wherein said thinned perimeter region has a thickness of between about 2.6 mm to about 2.8 mm.
23 . The golf club head of claim 22 , wherein said thinned perimeter region has a thickness of about 2.7 mm.
24 . The golf club head of claim 21 , wherein said second layer of increased thickness has a total thickness of about between about 3.2 mm to about 3.8 mm.
25 . The golf club head of claim 24 , wherein said second layer of increased thickness has a total thickness of between about 3.4 m to about 3.6 mm.
26 . The golf club head of claim 25 , wherein said second layer of increased thickness has a total thickness of about 3.5 mm.
27 . The golf club head of claim 20 , wherein said striking face portion exhibits a CT Variance Average closer to zero than about −3.5, said CT Variance Average defined by equation below;
CT Variance Average=Average of CT Values within centered 6 mm Square.
28 . The golf club head of claim 27 , wherein said striking face portion exhibits a CT Variance Average closer to zero than about −3.2.
29 . The golf club head of claim 28 , wherein said striking face portion exhibits a CT Variance Average closer to zero than about 3.0.