LASER CONTRASTED GOLF CLUB HEAD AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS
A golf club head having a laser-generated features to create contrast on the club face of the golf club head. The club face includes a central region, a toe region, and a heel region. The central region includes a first plurality of laser-generated features that provide a height-intersection coverage of the central region, a width-intersection coverage of the central region, and a surface-area coverage of the central region. The laser-generated features increase the surface roughness value of the external surface of the club face by imparting micro-grooves that have an average groove depths of between about 45 μm and about 60 μm.
1 . A golf club head comprising:
a club face located at a frontal portion of the golf club head, the golf club head further comprising;
an external surface, having an external surface roughness formed by a plurality of micro-grooves, and
wherein the external surface further comprises;
a central region occupying a central third of the club face, measured horizontally,
a toe region occupying a region toeward of the central region, and
a heel region occupying a region heelward of the central region,
an internal surface, having an internal surface roughness, and
a body portion located rearward of the club face,
wherein when a plurality of imaginary vertical and horizontal sampling lines are defined within an area measuring about 20 mm×20 mm located in the central region and centered with respect to a geometric center of the club face the central region of the external surface has a Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of greater than about 100 μin,
wherein each of the plurality of micro-grooves are substantially symmetrical about a centerline of each of the plurality of micro-grooves.
2 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value is greater than about 120 μin.
3 . The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value is greater than about 140 μin.
4 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 60 μm.
5 . The golf club head of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 57 μm.
6 . The golf club head of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 55 μm.
7 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of the external surface is greater than a surface roughness value of the internal surface.
8 . The golf club head of claim 7 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of the external surface is greater than about 2 times the surface roughness value of the internal surface.
9 . The golf club head of claim 8 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of the external surface is greater than about 3 times the surface roughness value of the internal surface.
10 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein both the toe region and the heel region have an average surface roughness value that is different than the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value.
11 . The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value is greater than the average surface roughness value of both the toe region and the heel region.
12 . A golf club head comprising:
a club face located at a frontal portion of the golf club head, the golf club head further comprising;
an external surface, having an external surface roughness formed by a plurality of micro-grooves, and
wherein the external surface further comprises;
a central region occupying a central third of the club face, measured horizontally,
a toe region occupying a region toeward of the central region, and
a heel region occupying a region heelward of the central region,
an internal surface, having an internal surface roughness, and
a body portion located rearward of the club face,
wherein each of the plurality of micro-grooves are substantially symmetrical about a centerline of each of the plurality of micro-grooves
wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 60 μm.
13 . The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 57 μm.
14 . The golf club head of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 55 μm.
15 . The golf club head of claim 12 , where the plurality of micro-grooves are circular in shape.
16 . The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein when a plurality of imaginary vertical and horizontal sampling lines are defined within an area measuring about 20 mm×20 mm located in the central region and centered with respect to a geometric center of the club face the central region of the external surface has a Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of greater than about 100 μin.
17 . The golf club head of claim 16 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of greater than about 120 μin.
18 . The golf club head of claim 17 , wherein the Central Region Average Surface Roughness Value of greater than about 140 μn.
19 . A golf club head comprising:
a club face located at a frontal portion of the golf club head, the golf club head further comprising;
an external surface, having an external surface roughness formed by a plurality of micro-grooves of substantially circular shape, and
wherein the external surface further comprises;
a central region occupying a central third of the club face, measured horizontally,
a toe region occupying a region toeward of the central region, and
a heel region occupying a region heelward of the central region,
an internal surface, having an internal surface roughness, and
a body portion located rearward of the club face,
wherein each of the plurality of micro-grooves are substantially symmetrical about a centerline of each of the plurality of micro-grooves.
20 . The golf club head of claim 19 , wherein the plurality of micro-grooves has an average groove depth of between about 45 μm and about 60 μm.