Golf club head
A golf club head includes a metal frame having a sole opening, a composite laminate crown joined to the frame, a composite laminate sole insert joined to the frame and overlying the sole opening, and a thermoplastic composite component overmolded on the sole insert. The composite component may include a weight track, ribs, supports or other features. A method of making the golf club includes the steps of forming a frame having a sole opening, forming a composite laminate sole insert, forming a composite laminate crown insert, injection molding a thermoplastic composite head component over the sole insert to create a sole insert unit, and joining the sole insert unit and crown insert to the frame.
1 . A golf club head having a sole comprising a sole surface area, a crown, a striking face on a front portion, a hosel defining a hosel axis, a heel portion, a toe portion, and a rear portion opposite the striking face, the golf club head comprising:
a golf club head origin positioned at a geometric center of the striking face, the head origin at least partially defining a club head origin coordinate system, including three axes:
a z-axis extending through the head origin in a generally vertical direction relative to a ground plane when the club head is at a normal address position;
an x-axis extending through the head origin in a toe-to-heel direction generally parallel to the striking face and generally perpendicular to the z-axis; and
a y-axis extending through the head origin in a front-to-rear direction and generally perpendicular to the x-axis and to the z-axis;
a golf club head center of gravity (CG) positioned at a distance (Delta 1) rearward of the hosel axis, as measured along the y-axis, the CG forming a second origin, of a CG coordinate system including three axes:
a CG z-axis extending through the CG in a generally vertical direction relative to the ground plane when the club head is at the normal address position;
a CG x-axis extending through the CG in a toe-to-heel direction generally parallel to the striking face, and generally perpendicular to the CG z-axis; and
a CG y-axis extending through the CG in a front-to-rear direction and generally perpendicular to the CG x-axis and to the CG z-axis;
a moment of inertia, including:
a moment of inertia about the CG z-axis (“Izz”);
a moment of inertia about the CG z-axis (“Ixx”); and
a moment of inertia about the CG y-axis (“Iyy”);
a frame having a hollow interior, wherein the frame is made at least in part of a metal alloy, and comprises a sole opening positioned within at least a lower portion of the frame and extending from a lower heel area across a lower central area to a lower toe area;
a first weight secured to the lower portion of the frame proximate a rear portion of the frame;
a sole insert made of a composite material and joined to the frame to cover the sole opening; and
the lower portion of the frame includes a heel-side shaft connection port including a fastener opening for connecting a flight control technology (FCT) component comprising a sleeve secured by a fastening member in a locked position, the FCT component configured to allow the golf club head to be adjustably attachable to a golf club shaft in a plurality of different positions resulting in different combinations of loft angle, face angle, and/or lie angle; and
wherein:
Ixx is within a range of approximately 342 kg*mm 2 to 409 kg*mm 2 ; and
when the club head is in a normal address position, in at least one vertical cross-section extending through the golf club head parallel to the y-axis, at least a portion of the first weight is positioned rearward of the sole opening.
2 . The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising a second weight secured to the lower portion of the frame proximate a forward portion of the frame and toe-ward of the heel-side shaft connection port.
3 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the sole insert comprises one or more concave portions and one or more convex portions.
4 . The golf club head of claim 3 , wherein the sole insert comprises at least two concave portions and at least two convex portions.
5 . The golf club head of claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of ribs extending in different directions along, and formed on, an internal surface of the sole insert, wherein one or more of the plurality of ribs is located proximate to at least one of the one or more concave portions and at least one of the one or more convex portions.
6 . The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein the one or more of the plurality of ribs extends across one or more transition regions where the sole insert transitions from a concave portion to a convex.
7 . The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising:
a crown opening positioned within at least an upper portion of the frame and extending from an upper heel area across an upper central area to an upper toe area; and
a crown insert made of a composite material and joined to the frame to cover the crown opening.
8 . The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein:
at least one of the crown, the sole, and/or the frame comprises a first composite material comprising continuous fibers; and
at least one of the crown, the sole, and/or the frame comprises a second composite material comprising chopped fibers.
9 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the sole insert comprises a single sole insert that extends across the sole opening from the heel portion of the golf club head to the toe portion of the golf club head.
10 . The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the single sole insert comprises a thermoplastic composite material.
11 . The golf club head of claim 9 , wherein the sole opening across which the single sole insert extends is a single sole opening.
12 . The golf club head of claim 11 , further comprising a recessed sole ledge disposed along a perimeter of the sole opening and surrounding the lower central area at the lower portion of the frame, and wherein the single sole insert comprises a surface area that covers at least 50% of the sole surface area.
13 . The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein:
at least one of the crown, the sole, and/or the frame comprises a first composite material comprising continuous fibers, and
at least one of the crown, the sole, and/or the frame comprises a second composite material comprising chopped fibers.
14 . The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the frame further comprises a face opening, and wherein a face plate comprising a composite material is received in the face opening.
15 . The golf club head of claim 12 , further comprising a second weight secured to the lower portion of the frame proximate a forward portion of the frame and forward of the sole insert.
16 . The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein in the at least one vertical cross-section, at least a portion of the first weight is positioned rearward of a crown opening.
17 . The golf club head of claim 16 , wherein in the at least one vertical cross-section, an entirety of the first weight is positioned rearward of the sole opening.
18 . The golf club head of claim 16 , wherein in the at least one vertical cross-section, an entirety of the first weight is positioned rearward of the sole insert.
19 . The golf club head of claim 16 , wherein:
the crown opening is positioned within at least an upper portion of the frame and extends from an upper heel area across an upper central area to an upper toe area; and
a crown insert made of a composite material is joined to the frame to cover the crown opening.
20 . The golf club head of claim 16 , wherein Delta 1 is within a range of approximately 19.6 mm to 28.1 mm; and Izz is within a range of approximately 471 kg*mm 2 to 543 kg*mm 2 .
21 . The golf club head of claim 16 , wherein Izz is greater than Ixx, and a ratio of Ixx to Izz is between 0.648 and 0.753.
22 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein:
at least one of the crown, the sole, and/or the frame comprises a first composite material comprising continuous fibers; and
at least one of the crown, the sole, and/or the frame comprises a second composite material comprising chopped fibers.
23 . The golf club head of claim 22 , wherein in the at least one vertical cross-section, at least a portion of the first weight is positioned rearward of a crown opening.
24 . The golf club head of claim 23 , wherein in the at least one vertical cross-section, an entirety of the first weight is positioned rearward of the sole opening.
25 . The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising:
a crown opening positioned within at least an upper portion of the frame and extending from an upper heel area across an upper central area to an upper toe area; and
a crown insert made of a composite material and joined to the frame to cover the crown opening;
and
wherein in the at least one vertical cross-section, at least a portion of the first weight is positioned rearward of the crown opening.
26 . A golf club head having a sole comprising a sole surface area, a crown, a striking face on a front portion, a hosel defining a hosel axis, a heel portion, a toe portion, and a rear portion opposite the striking face, the golf club head comprising:
a golf club head origin positioned at a geometric center of the striking face, the head origin at least partially defining a club head origin coordinate system, including three axes:
a z-axis extending through the head origin in a generally vertical direction relative to a ground plane when the club head is at a normal address position;
an x-axis extending through the head origin in a toe-to-heel direction generally parallel to the striking face and generally perpendicular to the z-axis; and
a y-axis extending through the head origin in a front-to-rear direction and generally perpendicular to the x-axis and to the z-axis;
a golf club head center of gravity (CG) positioned at a distance (Delta 1) rearward of the hosel axis, as measured along the y-axis, the CG forming a second origin, of a CG coordinate system including three axes:
a CG z-axis extending through the CG in a generally vertical direction relative to the ground plane when the club head is at the normal address position;
a CG x-axis extending through the CG in a toe-to-heel direction generally parallel to the striking face, and generally perpendicular to the CG z-axis; and
a CG y-axis extending through the CG in a front-to-rear direction and generally perpendicular to the CG x-axis and to the CG z-axis;
a moment of inertia, including:
a moment of inertia about the CG z-axis (“Izz”);
a moment of inertia about the CG z-axis (“Ixx”); and
a moment of inertia about the CG y-axis (“Iyy”);
a frame having a hollow interior, wherein the frame is made at least in part of a metal alloy, and comprises a sole opening positioned within at least a lower portion of the frame and extending from a lower heel area across a lower central area to a lower toe area;
a first weight secured to the lower portion of the frame proximate a rear portion of the frame;
a crown opening positioned within at least an upper portion of the frame and extending from an upper heel area across an upper central area to an upper toe area;
a crown insert made of a composite material and joined to the frame to cover the crown opening;
a sole insert made of a composite material and joined to the frame to cover the sole opening; and
the lower portion of the frame includes a heel-side shaft connection port including a fastener opening for connecting a flight control technology (FCT) component comprising a sleeve secured by a fastening member in a locked position, the FCT component configured to allow the golf club head to be adjustably attachable to a golf club shaft in a plurality of different positions resulting in different combinations of loft angle, face angle, and/or lie angle; and
wherein:
when the club head is in a normal address position, in at least one vertical cross-section extending through the golf club head parallel to the y-axis, at least a portion of the first weight is positioned rearward of the sole opening; and
in the at least one vertical cross-section, at least a portion of the first weight is positioned rearward of the crown opening.
27 . The golf club head of claim 26 , wherein Izz is greater than Ixx, and a ratio of Ixx to Izz is between 0.648 and 0.753.
28 . A golf club head having a sole comprising a sole surface area, a crown, a striking face on a front portion, a hosel defining a hosel axis, a heel portion, a toe portion, and a rear portion opposite the striking face, the golf club head comprising:
a golf club head origin positioned at a geometric center of the striking face, the head origin at least partially defining a club head origin coordinate system, including three axes:
a z-axis extending through the head origin in a generally vertical direction relative to a ground plane when the club head is at a normal address position;
an x-axis extending through the head origin in a toe-to-heel direction generally parallel to the striking face and generally perpendicular to the z-axis; and
a y-axis extending through the head origin in a front-to-rear direction and generally perpendicular to the x-axis and to the z-axis;
a golf club head center of gravity (CG) positioned at a distance (Delta 1) rearward of the hosel axis, as measured along the y-axis, the CG forming a second origin, of a CG coordinate system including three axes:
a CG z-axis extending through the CG in a generally vertical direction relative to the ground plane when the club head is at the normal address position;
a CG x-axis extending through the CG in a toe-to-heel direction generally parallel to the striking face, and generally perpendicular to the CG z-axis; and
a CG y-axis extending through the CG in a front-to-rear direction and generally perpendicular to the CG x-axis and to the CG z-axis;
a moment of inertia, including:
a moment of inertia about the CG z-axis (“Izz”);
a moment of inertia about the CG z-axis (“Ixx”); and
a moment of inertia about the CG y-axis (“Iyy”);
a frame having a hollow interior, wherein the frame is made at least in part of a metal alloy, and comprises a sole opening positioned within at least a lower portion of the frame and extending from a lower heel area across a lower central area to a lower toe area;
a first weight secured to the lower portion of the frame proximate a rear portion of the frame;
a sole insert made of a composite material and joined to the frame to cover the sole opening; and
the lower portion of the frame includes a heel-side shaft connection port including a fastener opening for connecting a flight control technology (FCT) component comprising a sleeve secured by a fastening member in a locked position, the FCT component configured to allow the golf club head to be adjustably attachable to a golf club shaft in a plurality of different positions resulting in different combinations of loft angle, face angle, and/or lie angle; and
wherein:
Ixx is within a range of approximately 274 kg*mm 2 to 409 kg*mm 2 ; and
when the club head is in a normal address position, in at least one vertical cross-section extending through the golf club head parallel to the y-axis, at least a portion of the first weight is positioned rearward of the sole opening.
29 . The golf club head of claim 28 , further comprising a second weight secured to the lower portion of the frame proximate a forward portion of the frame and toe-ward of the heel-side shaft connection port.
30 . The golf club head of claim 28 , further comprising
a crown opening positioned within at least an upper portion of the frame and extending from an upper heel area across an upper central area to an upper toe area; and
a crown insert made of a composite material and joined to the frame to cover the crown opening; and
wherein in the at least one vertical cross-section, at least a portion of the first weight is positioned rearward of the crown opening.
31 . The golf club head of claim 30 , wherein:
at least one of the crown, the sole, and/or the frame comprises a first composite material comprising continuous fibers; and
at least one of the crown, the sole, and/or the frame comprises a second composite material comprising chopped fibers.
32 . The golf club head of claim 30 , wherein in the at least one vertical cross-section, at least a portion of the first weight is positioned rearward of a crown opening.
33 . The golf club head of claim 30 , wherein a portion of the frame creating a portion of the crown opening comprises aluminum alloy.
34 . The golf club head of claim 28 , wherein Delta 1 is within a range of approximately 19.6 mm to 28.1 mm; and Izz is within a range of approximately 471 kg*mm 2 to 543 kg*mm 2 .
35 . The golf club head of claim 28 , wherein Izz is greater than Ixx, and a ratio of Ixx to Izz is between 0.648 and 0.753.
36 . The golf club head of claim 28 , wherein the sole insert has a sole insert perimeter, and wherein at least a forward portion of the sole insert perimeter comprises a straight segment.
37 . The golf club head of claim 28 , wherein the first weight comprises a first weight assembly, and wherein a portion of the first weight assembly extends forward of at least a portion of the sole insert.
38 . The golf club head of claim 28 , wherein a portion of the frame creating a portion of the sole opening comprises aluminum alloy.