Golf club head and golf club
A golf club head and golf club having large head dimensions, and large face characteristics, as well as unique mass property attributes driven by relationships not often considered in conventional club head design, to achieve a resistance to squaring the club head during a golf swing that is comfortable to the novice golfer, while increasing stability during off-center impacts and obtaining preferred launch characteristics. This is achieved in part via establishing a club head configuration and associated weight distribution to yield a center of gravity location that results in a preferred magnitude of Delta1 and Delta2 values, CG angle, moments of inertia, and associated ratios, relationships, and club head mass property characteristics influenced by these variables to achieve improved performance.
1 . A golf club head, comprising:
a body defining an interior cavity, a sole portion positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown portion positioned at a top portion of the golf club head, a rearward portion, a volume, and a face positioned at the forward portion and having an ideal impact location, a roll, a bulge, a face area of at least 5000 mm 2 , a face height of no more than 70 mm, and a face width;
an adjustable head-shaft connection assembly coupled to the body and operable to adjust at least one of a loft angle or a lie angle of a golf club formed when the golf club head is attached to a golf club shaft via the head-shaft connection assembly;
the face comprises a non-metallic striking surface having a density of less than 3 g/cc, and a variable face thickness; and
the golf club head has a head weight, a head height, a head width of at least 120 mm, a head depth that is greater than 85% of the head width, a Delta1 value, a Delta2 value, a CG angle that is at least 14 degrees, a head origin x-axis (CGx) coordinate, a head origin y-axis (CGy) coordinate that is at least 25 mm, a head origin z-axis (CGz) coordinate of no more than 0 mm, a Zup value of no more than 30 mm, a moment of inertia about a golf club head center-of-gravity x-axis, Ixx, that is at least 300 kg·mm 2 , a moment of inertia about a golf club head center-of-gravity y-axis, Iyy, that is no more than 525 kg·mm 2 , a moment of inertia about a golf club head center-of-gravity z-axis, Izz, that is at least 450 kg·mm 2 , and a hosel axis moment of inertia, Ih;
wherein:
a depth-to-Zup ratio of the head depth to the Zup value is at least 3.75;
a Ih-to-Zup ratio of the hosel axis moment of inertia, Ih, to the Zup value is at least 27 kg·mm; and
a roll-to-FH ratio of the roll to the face height is no more than 6.5.
2 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the face area is no more than 7000 mm 2 , the head origin z-axis (CGz) coordinate is −2 mm to −12 mm, the head origin y-axis (CGy) coordinate is at least 34 mm, the CG angle is at least 16 degrees, the Delta2 value is at least 24% of the head depth, the Ixx moment of inertia is at least 320 kg·mm 2 , and the Iyy moment of inertia is no more than 500 kg·mm 2 .
3 . The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the Izz moment of inertia is at least 525 kg·mm 2 , the Ixx moment of inertia is at least 340 kg·mm 2 , and the Ih moment of inertia is at least 900 kg·mm 2 .
4 . The golf club head of claim 3 , wherein a differential between the Zup value and ½ the value of the head height is less than −4.5 mm and greater than −12.0 mm, the Izz moment of inertia is at least 550 kg·mm 2 , the Iyy moment of inertia is no more than 475 kg·mm 2 , the Ih moment of inertia is at least 920 kg·mm 2 , and the Delta2 value is at least 26% of the head depth.
5 . The golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the Izz moment of inertia is at least 575 kg·mm 2 .
6 . The golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the Ih moment of inertia is no more than 1050 kg·mm 2 , and the Ixx moment of inertia is no more than 425 kg·mm 2 .
7 . The golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the Delta2 value is 38-46 mm, and the roll-to-FH ratio is no more than 6.25.
8 . The golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the head origin y-axis (CGy) coordinate is no more than 50 mm, and the roll-to-FH ratio is no more than 6.0.
9 . The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the Iyy moment of inertia is no more than 475 kg·mm 2 , the depth-to-Zup ratio is at least 4.00, the Delta2 value is at least 26% of the head depth, and the non-metallic striking surface has a mean surface roughness of 2.5-5 μm.
10 . The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the Delta2 value is at least 28% of the head depth, and the non-metallic striking surface includes a plurality of surface features that contact the golf ball at impact.
11 . The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of surface features create a plurality of ridges extending in a heel-toe direction with each ridge having an upwardly facing first surface and a downwardly facing second surface creating a surface texture that is asymmetric in a sole-crown direction and having a plurality of peaks and valleys, wherein a distance X1 is the distance in the sole-crown direction between a first peak and a nearest first valley located above the first peak, a distance X2 is the distance in the sole-crown direction between the first peak and a nearest second valley located below the first peak, the distance X1 is greater than the distance X2 and creates an asymmetric-down surface texture.
12 . The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of ridges comprise a periodic width distance of 0.1-0.4 mm between adjacent valleys.
13 . The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the non-metallic striking surface includes a polymer cover layer having a plurality of scorelines with an average depth between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm, at least a portion having a cover layer thickness is 0.1-3.0 mm, and a ratio of the average depth of the plurality of scorelines to the average thickness of the cover layer is between 0.5 to 0.8.
14 . The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the face area is 5250-6500 mm 2 , the roll-to-FH ratio is no more than 6.25, at least 75% of the crown portion is formed of non-metallic material having a crown density of less than 2 g/cc, at least 50% of a surface area of the body located above the height of the ideal impact location is formed of non-metallic material, and further including at least one weight port formed in the body and at least partially containing a removable weight having a weight density greater than the non-metallic striking surface.
15 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the Iyy moment of inertia is no more than 475 kg·mm 2 , the Delta2 value is at least 26% of the head depth, and the non-metallic striking surface comprises a thermoplastic material.
16 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the Iyy moment of inertia is no more than 475 kg·mm 2 , the Delta2 value is at least 26% of the head depth, and the non-metallic striking surface is integrally formed with either a portion of the crown or a portion of the sole.
17 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a mass of the non-metallic material located above the height of the ideal impact location is 25-50 grams, and a surface area of the non-metallic material located above the height of the ideal impact location is at least 7500 mm 2 .
18 . The golf club head of claim 17 , wherein at least 50% of the surface area of the body located below the height of the ideal impact location is formed of non-metallic material, and a mass of the non-metallic material located below the height of the ideal impact location is 10-25% of the head weight.
19 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the Iyy moment of inertia is no more than 475 kg·mm 2 , the Delta2 value is at least 26% of the head depth, and the non-metal striking surface includes a plurality of composite prepreg plies.
20 . The golf club head of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of composite prepreg plies includes a plurality of prepreg panels and at least one cluster comprising a plurality of prepreg strips.
21 . A golf club head, comprising:
a body defining an interior cavity, a sole portion positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown portion positioned at a top portion of the golf club head, a rearward portion, a volume, and a face positioned at a forward portion and having an ideal impact location, a roll, a bulge, a face height of no more than 70 mm, and a face width;
an adjustable head-shaft connection assembly coupled to the body and operable to adjust at least one of a loft angle or a lie angle of a golf club formed when the golf club head is attached to a golf club shaft via the head-shaft connection assembly;
the face comprises a polymer cover layer; and
the golf club head has a head weight, a head height, a head width, a head depth that is greater than 85% of the head width, a Delta1 value, a Delta2 value, a CG angle that is at least 14 degrees, a head origin x-axis (CGx) coordinate, a head origin y-axis (CGy) coordinate that is at least 25 mm, a head origin z-axis (CGz) coordinate of no more than 0 mm, a Zup value of no more than 30 mm, a moment of inertia about a golf club head center-of-gravity x-axis, Ixx, a moment of inertia about a golf club head center-of-gravity y-axis, Iyy, a moment of inertia about a golf club head center-of-gravity z-axis, Izz, and a hosel axis moment of inertia, Ih;
wherein:
a depth-to-Zup ratio of the head depth to the Zup value is at least 3.75;
a Ih-to-Zup ratio of the hosel axis moment of inertia, Ih, to the Zup value is at least 27 kg·mm; and
a roll-to-FH ratio of the roll to the face height is no more than 6.5.
22 . The golf club head of claim 21 , wherein the polymer cover layer comprises a thermoplastic polymer.
23 . The golf club head of claim 22 , wherein the thermoplastic polymer comprises a nylon polymer.
24 . The golf club head of claim 23 , wherein the polymer cover layer defines a textured striking surface, at least 75% of the crown portion is formed of non-metallic material having a crown density of less than 2 g/cc, and the face has a variable face thickness.
25 . The golf club head of claim 24 , wherein the textured striking surface has a Shore D hardness of at least about 75 and a mean surface roughness of 2.5-5 μm.
26 . The golf club head of claim 23 , wherein the polymer cover layer has a plurality of scorelines, and a cover layer thickness of 0.1-3.0 mm.
27 . The golf club head of claim 23 , wherein the polymer cover layer has a plurality of scorelines, the plurality of scorelines have an average depth between 0.1 mm and 0.4 mm, the face has an average face thickness of 2.0-4.5 mm, at least 75% of the crown portion is formed of non-metallic material having a crown density of less than 2 g/cc, the Ixx moment of inertia is at least 300 kg·mm 2 , the Izz moment of inertia is at least 450 kg-mm 2 , the head origin z-axis (CGz) coordinate is −2 mm to −12 mm, the head origin y-axis (CGy) coordinate is at least 34 mm, the CG angle is at least 16 degrees, and a differential between the Zup value and ½ the value of the head height is less than −4.5 mm and greater than −12.0 mm.
28 . The golf club head of claim 23 , wherein the polymer cover layer has a plurality of scorelines, the plurality of scorelines have an average depth, a ratio of the average depth to an average thickness of the polymer cover layer is between 0.5 to 0.8, the Delta2 value is at least 24% of the head depth, the Ixx moment of inertia is at least 340 kg·mm 2 , and the Izz moment of inertia is at least 550 kg·mm 2 , and the Ih moment of inertia is at least 900 kg·mm 2 .
29 . A golf club head, comprising:
a body defining an interior cavity, a sole portion positioned at a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown portion positioned at a top portion of the golf club head, a rearward portion, a volume, and a face positioned at a forward portion and having an ideal impact location, a roll, a bulge, a face height of no more than 70 mm, and a face width;
an adjustable head-shaft connection assembly coupled to the body and operable to adjust at least one of a loft angle or a lie angle of a golf club formed when the golf club head is attached to a golf club shaft via the head-shaft connection assembly;
the face comprises a non-metallic reinforcing material on an interior side of the face; and
the golf club head has a head weight, a head height, a head width, a head depth that is greater than 85% of the head width, a Delta1 value, a Delta2 value, a CG angle that is at least 14 degrees, a head origin x-axis (CGx) coordinate, a head origin y-axis (CGy) coordinate that is at least 25 mm, a head origin z-axis (CGz) coordinate of no more than 0 mm, a Zup value of no more than 30 mm, a moment of inertia about a golf club head center-of-gravity x-axis, Ixx, a moment of inertia about a golf club head center-of-gravity y-axis, Iyy, a moment of inertia about a golf club head center-of-gravity z-axis, Izz, and a hosel axis moment of inertia, Ih;
wherein:
a depth-to-Zup ratio of the head depth to the Zup value is at least 3.75;
a Ih-to-Zup ratio of the hosel axis moment of inertia, Ih, to the Zup value is at least 27 kg·mm; and
a roll-to-FH ratio of the roll to the face height is no more than 6.5.
30 . The golf club head of claim 29 , wherein the non-metallic reinforcing material comprises fiber reinforced resin, and the face has a variable face thickness.
31 . The golf club head of claim 30 , wherein the face has an average face thickness of 2.0-4.5 mm, and at least 75% of the crown portion is formed of non-metallic material having a crown density of less than 2 g/cc, and the non-metallic reinforcing material comprises at least one prepreg ply having a fiber areal weight of below 100 g/m 2 .
32 . The golf club head of claim 31 , wherein the Delta2 value is at least 24% of the head depth, the Ixx moment of inertia is at least 300 kg·mm 2 , the Izz moment of inertia is at least 450 kg·mm 2 , the head origin z-axis (CGz) coordinate is −2 mm to −12 mm, the head origin y-axis (CGy) coordinate is at least 34 mm, the CG angle is at least 16 degrees, and a differential between the Zup value and ½ the value of the head height is less than −4.5 mm and greater than-12.0 mm, and the prepreg ply comprises carbon fiber and the fiber areal weight is below 70 g/m 2 .