Golf club assembly and golf club with aerodynamic features
A golf club includes a shaft and a club head. The club head includes a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a back, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel and the crown. The sole includes a channel extending from the hosel region toward the toe. An insert is received within the channel. The club head further includes means for detachably securing the insert to the channel. A second insert configured for being received within the channel may be provided.
1. A golf club head for a metal wood type club, the golf club head comprising:
a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a back, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region located at an intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, and the crown;
the sole including a channel extending from the hosel region toward the toe, wherein the channel extends across a centerline of the golf club head; and
an insert located within the channel,
wherein the insert is made of a thermoplastic and has a thickness of at least a portion of the insert that is less than a depth of the channel; and
wherein the insert includes a plurality of grooves that extend along a top surface of the insert.
2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the channel has a constant depth.
3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert is secured in the channel using an adhesive.
4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert is secured to the channel in the sole defined by a frictional fit configuration.
5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert having a top surface and defining a recess in the top surface.
6. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the insert has a portion that is flexible.
7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of inserts is configured for interchangeable receipt by the channel.
8. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the channel forms a recess that gradually increases in cross-sectional area as it extends away from the hosel region.
9. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the channel has a width and a length and wherein the insert extends the entire width of the channel and extends a partial length of the channel.
10. A golf club head for a metal wood type club, the golf club head comprising:
a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a back, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, and the crown;
the sole including a channel extending from the hosel region toward the toe, the channel defining a front side wall and a rear side wall, wherein the front side wall and rear side wall are parallel to each other,
wherein the channel extends across a centerline of the golf club head, and
an insert located within the channel,
wherein a portion of the insert is flexible; and
wherein the insert defines a top surface and a recess located in the top surface; and further wherein a portion of the insert is below a surface of the sole.
11. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the recess forms an elongated feature extending generally in a heel-to-toe direction of the golf club head and oriented generally parallel to the front side wall.
12. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the insert forms a recess that gradually increases in cross-sectional area as it extends away from the hosel region.
13. The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the channel is located in a forward region of the golf club head and the forward region of the golf club head is the forward 30 percent of a breadth of the golf club head.
14. A golf club head for a metal wood type club, the golf club head comprising:
a body member having a ball striking face, a heel, a toe, a back, a crown, a sole, and a hosel region located at the intersection of the ball striking face, the heel, and the crown;
the sole including a channel extending from the hosel region toward the toe across a centerline of the golf club head;
wherein the channel comprises a front side wall and a rear side wall, wherein the front side wall and rear side wall are parallel to each other,
wherein the channel is located in a forward region of the golf club head and the forward region of the golf club head is the forward 40 percent of a breadth of the golf club head,
an insert located within the channel,
wherein the insert comprises a portion made of a flexible material, and
wherein the insert further comprises a top surface and a recess located in the top surface wherein a portion of the insert is below a surface of the sole and wherein the recess forms an elongated feature extending generally in a heel-to-toe direction of the golf club head and has a forward wall oriented generally parallel to the front side wall of the channel.
15. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein the forward region of the golf club head is the forward 30 percent of a breadth of the golf club head.
16. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein the insert has a width and a length and wherein the insert extends the entire width of the channel and extends a partial length of the channel.
17. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein the channel has a constant depth.