Golf club heads with variable face geometry and material properties
Embodiments of golf club heads with variable face geometry and material properties are described herein. Various embodiments include a golf club head comprising a body configured to receive a faceplate from a set of faceplates. The body comprises a heel region, a toe region opposite the heel region, a sole, and a crown. The faceplate is from the set of faceplates and coupled to the body. The set of faceplates comprises a heel region, a toe region, a top portion, and a bottom portion, and further comprises at least one of a varying hardness profile or a varying thickness profile. Other examples and related methods are also disclosed herein.
1. A golf club head comprising:
a fairway type golf club head having a body configured to receive a faceplate, the body comprising:
a heel region;
a toe region opposite the heel region;
a sole; and
a crown; and
the faceplate coupled to the body;
the faceplate comprising a varying hardness profile and a varying thickness profile;
wherein the faceplate comprises a heel region, a toe region, a top portion, and a bottom portion, and further comprises:
a hardness profile and a thickness
wherein the hardness profile comprises a minimum hardness in the toe region of the faceplate and a maximum hardness in the heel region of the faceplate; and
the thickness profile comprises a maximum thickness toward the heel region of the faceplate and a minimum thickness toward the toe region of the faceplate;
wherein the maximum thickness ranges from 0.09 inches to 0.12 inches; and
the minimum thickness ranges from 0.06 inches to 0.09 inches;
wherein the faceplate consists of a single material;
wherein the single material is a 17-4 steel alloy having approximately 15.0-17.5% chromium, approximately 3.0-5.0% copper, approximately 3.0- 5.0% nickel, less than 1.0% manganese, less than 1.0% silicon, with the remaining alloy composition being iron and other trace elements including 0.07% carbon, 0.15-0.45% niobium, 0.15-0.45% tantalum, less than 0.04% phosphorus, and less than 0.03% sulfur;
wherein a yield strength in the heel region is greater than a yield strength of the toe region;
and
wherein the faceplate comprises a c-cup design such that a portion of the crown and sole are formed by the faceplate.
2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:
the maximum hardness is between- 34-45 HRC;
the minimum hardness is between 24-37 HRC; and
the minimum hardness comprises greater than 45% of a surface area of the faceplate.
3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:
the golf club head comprising the faceplate comprises:
a center of gravity; and
produces a golf ball spin, the golf ball spin comprises a spin about a horizontal axis and a spin about a vertical axis.