GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH BALL SPEED CONTROL

1 . A golf club head comprising:

a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;

a periphery portion extending rearward from said striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite said sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite said heel side, and a back portion extending from said sole to said topline and from said heel side to said toe side;

a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on said heel side;

a cavity formed between said periphery portion and said striking face;

an aperture extending through said toe side and into said cavity;

a support pad within said cavity attached to said back portion; and

a damping element positioned between said support pad and said rear surface of said striking face.

2 . The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising a cap covering said aperture.

3 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said support pad is parallel with said striking face.

4 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said support pad includes a raised lip projecting towards said striking face.

5 . The golf club head of claim 4 , wherein said raised lip has an arcuate shape.

6 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said damping element has an elastic modulus between 4 MPa and 15 GPa.

7 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said damping element has an elastic modulus between 15 GPa and 40 GPa.

8 . The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising a first weight member and a second weight member,

wherein said first weight member is positioned proximate said toe side,

wherein said first weight member has an angled upper surface and a maximum height in a sole-to-topline direction at a toewardmost point and a minimum height in said sole-to-topline direction at a heelwardmost point,

wherein said second weight member is positioned proximate said heel side, and

wherein said second weight member has an angled upper surface and a maximum height in said sole-to-topline direction at a heelwardmost point and a minimum height in said sole-to-topline direction at a toewardmost point.

9 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said aperture has a maximum height in a sole-to-topline direction that is approximately equal to a maximum height of said damping element in said sole-to-topline direction.

10 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said aperture has a maximum width in a front-to-rear direction that is approximately equal to a maximum width of said damping element in said front-to-rear direction.

11 . A method of manufacturing a golf club head comprising:

providing a striking face having a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;

providing a periphery portion extending rearward from said striking face and including a sole, a topline opposite said sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite said heel side, and a back portion extending from said sole to said topline and from said heel side to said toe side,

wherein a cavity is formed between said periphery portion and said striking face;

providing a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on said heel side;

providing an aperture extending through said toe side and into said cavity; and

inserting a damping element through said aperture into said cavity.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a support pad within said cavity attached to said back portion.

13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising positioning said damping element between said support pad and said rear surface of said striking face.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising covering said aperture with a cap.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein covering said aperture with said cap comprises pulse welding said cap over said aperture.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein covering said aperture with said cap comprises adhering said cap over said aperture.

17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein said support pad is parallel with said striking face.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein said support pad includes a raised lip projecting towards said striking face.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein said raised lip has an arcuate shape.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein said aperture has a maximum height in a sole-to-topline direction that is approximately equal to a maximum height of said damping element in said sole-to-topline direction, and

wherein said aperture has a maximum width in a front-to-rear direction that is approximately equal to a maximum width of said damping element in said front-to-rear direction.