GOLF CLUB HAVING A DAMPING ELEMENT FOR BALL SPEED CONTROL
A golf club head including a striking face, a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face, a damping element including a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface of the damping element opposite the front surface of the damping element, wherein the striking face comprises a first portion having a substantially constant thickness, wherein the front surface of the damping element comprises a geometric center, wherein the golf club head includes additional damping structures and materials to achieve desired acoustic characteristics.
1 . A golf club head comprising:
a striking face;
a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from said striking face;
a coordinate system centered at a center of gravity of said golf club head, said coordinate system comprising a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when said golf club head is in an address position at a prescribed loft and lie, an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to said striking face, extending towards a heel of said golf club head, and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face;
a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on a heel side of said golf club head, said heel side located opposite a toe side;
a shelf extending inward from said periphery portion on a back portion of said golf club head;
a back cavity bridge extending across said shelf;
a first opening bounded by said shelf and a first side of said back cavity bridge; and
a second opening bounded by said shelf and a second side of said back cavity bridge opposite said first side of said back cavity bridge.
2 . The golf club head of claim 1 , further comprising a back cover attached to said shelf covering said first opening and said second opening.
3 . The golf club head of claim 2 , wherein said back cover includes a thermoset material.
4 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said back cavity bridge extends from a sole side of said shelf to a toe side of said shelf.
5 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said back cavity bridge extends from a topline side of said shelf to a toe side of said shelf.
6 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface; and
wherein said rear surface of said striking face includes a thermoset material.
7 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said back cavity bridge is attached to said shelf by an adhesive.
8 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said back cavity bridge is attached to said shelf by welding.
9 . The golf club head of claim 1 , wherein said back cavity bridge is integrally formed with said shelf.
10 . A golf club head comprising:
a striking face;
a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from said striking face;
a coordinate system centered at a center of gravity of said golf club head, said coordinate system comprising a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when said golf club head is in an address position at a prescribed loft and lie, an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to said striking face, extending towards a heel of said golf club head, and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face;
a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on a heel side of said golf club head, said heel side located opposite a toe side;
a shelf extending inward from said periphery portion on a back portion of said golf club head;
a back cavity bridge extending across said shelf;
a first opening bounded by said shelf and a first side of said back cavity bridge;
a second opening bounded by said shelf and a second side of said back cavity bridge opposite said first side of said back cavity bridge; and
a back cover attached to said shelf covering said first opening and said second opening;
wherein said back cavity bridge is integrally formed with said shelf.
11 . The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein said back cavity bridge extends from a sole side of said shelf to a toe side of said shelf.
12 . The golf club head of claim 11 , wherein said back cover includes a thermoset material.
13 . The golf club head of claim 12 , wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface; and
wherein said rear surface of said striking face includes a thermoset material.
14 . The golf club head of claim 10 , wherein said back cavity bridge extends from a topline side of said shelf to a toe side of said shelf.
15 . The golf club head of claim 14 , wherein said back cover includes a thermoset material.
16 . The golf club head of claim 15 , wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface; and
wherein said rear surface of said striking face includes a thermoset material.