Golf club head having multi-material face and method of manufacture
A golf club with a multi-material face is disclosed herein. More specifically, the golf club head in accordance with the present invention has a multi-material striking face portion that is made out of a backing layer having a frontal pocket, made out of titanium, and an insert, made out of a composite material, adapted to be inserted into the frontal pocket. The frontal pocket and the insert could have complementary dovetail shaped undercut features to create a mechanical bond between these two components.
1. A golf club head comprising:
a striking face provided near a forward portion of said golf club head;
a body connected to an aft portion of said striking face further comprising a crown, a sole, and a skirt;
said striking face further comprising;
a backing portion located at an inner side of said striking face and at least one face insert located at an outer side of said striking face,
said backing portion having a back portion thickness and further comprising:
a frontal surface, located at a frontal portion of said backing portion, and a rear surface located at a rear portion of said backing portion,
wherein said frontal surface has a substantially planar contour and said rear surface has a substantially variable contour, creating a variable thickness profile,
wherein a thickest portion of said backing portion thickness is greater than about 1.5 mm and less than about 3.0 mm.
2. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the thickest portion of said backing portion thickness is greater than about 1.75 mm and less than about 2.75 mm.
3. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the thickest portion of said backing portion thickness is greater than about 2.25 mm.
4. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said face insert has a thickness of greater than about 0.2 mm and less than about 2.0 mm.
5. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said face insert has a thickness of greater than about 0.5 and less than about 1.5 mm.
6. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said backing portion is formed of a first material having a first density, said face insert is formed of a second material having a second density, and wherein said second density is less than said first density.
7. The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said face insert is formed of a carbon fiber composite material.
8. A golf club head comprising:
a striking face provided near a forward portion of said golf club head;
a body portion connected to an aft portion of said striking face further comprising a crown, a sole, and a skirt; said striking face further comprising;
a perimeter portion made out of a first material having a first density around a border of said striking face; and
a central portion near a center of said striking face surrounded by said perimeter portion,
wherein said central portion is welded to said perimeter portion;
wherein said central portion defines a pocket having an undercut, and said pocket is filled with a face insert having a protrusion around its perimeter, said protrusion adapted to engage said undercut,
wherein said face insert is made out of a second material having a second density,
wherein said second density is less than said first density.
9. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said first density is greater than about 4.0 g/cm 3 and said second density is less than about 2.7 g/cm 3 .
10. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said protrusion forms an angle θ of between about 40 degrees to about 65 degrees with said striking face.
11. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said protrusion forms an angle θ of between about 45 degrees to about 60 degrees with said striking face.
12. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said golf club head has a Striking Thickness Ratio of less than about 1.0, said Striking Thickness Ratio defined as:
Striking
Thickness
Ratio
=
depth
(
d
2
)
of
thickness
(
d
3
)
of
backing
portion
.
13. The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein said face insert is formed of a carbon fiber composite material.
14. A golf club head comprising:
a striking face provided near a forward portion of said golf club head;
a body connected to an aft portion of said striking face further comprising a crown, a sole, and a skirt;
said striking face further comprising;
a backing portion having an undercut, said backing portion formed of a first material having a first density;
a face insert located external to said backing portion, said face insert formed of a second material having a second density, said face insert having a protrusion around its perimeter, said protrusion adapted to engage said undercut;
wherein said backing portion has a face cup geometry with a return portion;
wherein said face insert has a face cup geometry with a return portion;
wherein said second density is less than said first density.
15. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said backing portion has a back portion thickness and wherein the thickest portion of said backing portion thickness is greater than about 1.5 mm and less than about 3.0 mm.
16. The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the thickest portion of said backing portion thickness is greater than about 1.75 mm and less than about 2.75 mm.
17. The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein the thickest portion of said backing portion thickness is greater than about 2.25 mm.
18. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said face insert has a thickness of greater than about 0.2 mm and less than about 2.0 mm.
19. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said face insert has a thickness of greater than about 0.5 and less than about 1.5 mm.
20. The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said face insert is formed of a carbon fiber composite material.