U.S. patent application number 17/211374 was filed with the patent office on 2021-07-08 for golf club head with adjustable center of gravity.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.. Invention is credited to Christopher Cooper, Patrick Ripp.
Application Number | 20210205675 17/211374 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005478386 |
Filed Date | 2021-07-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210205675 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ripp; Patrick ; et
al. |
July 8, 2021 |
GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH ADJUSTABLE CENTER OF GRAVITY
Abstract
A golf club includes a golf club head with a loft at least 40
degrees and a weight member movably coupled to a rear surface. In a
first configuration, the golf club head has a first center of
gravity, CG1, and a first moment of inertia about a vertical axis
therethrough, Izz1, and a first swingweight, SW1. In a second
configuration, the golf club head has a second center of gravity,
CG2, and a second moment of inertia about a vertical axis
therethrough, Izz2, that is at least 500 g*cm2 greater than Izz1,
and a second swingweight, SW2 that is within 1.75 inch-oz of SW1.
In another aspect, when a weight member is in a second position at
least 2 cm away from a first position, the golf club has a second
swingweight SW2 that is within 1.75 inch-oz of a first swingweight
SW1 for the first position.
Inventors: |
Ripp; Patrick; (Huntington
Beach, CA) ; Cooper; Christopher; (Orange,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd. |
Kobe |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005478386 |
Appl. No.: |
17/211374 |
Filed: |
March 24, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
16685460 |
Nov 15, 2019 |
10981039 |
|
|
17211374 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/06 20130101;
A63B 2053/0491 20130101; A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 2053/0479
20130101; A63B 60/02 20151001 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/06 20060101
A63B053/06; A63B 53/04 20060101 A63B053/04; A63B 60/02 20060101
A63B060/02 |
Claims
1. A golf club that, when oriented in a reference position,
comprises: a shaft having a butt end and a tip end; a grip
proximate the butt end of the shaft; and a golf club head proximate
the tip end of the shaft, the golf club head comprising: a loft
greater than or equal to 40 degrees; a main body including a heel,
a toe opposite the heel, a striking face and a rear surface
opposite the striking face; and a weight member movably coupled to
the rear surface such that: in a first configuration, the golf club
head has a first center of gravity, CG1, and a first moment of
inertia about a vertical axis therethrough, Izz1, and the golf club
has a first swingweight, SW1; and in a second configuration, the
golf club head has a second center of gravity, CG2, and a second
moment of inertia about a vertical axis therethrough, Izz2, that is
at least 500 g*cm2 greater than Izz1, and the golf club has a
second swingweight, SW2 that is within 1.75 inch-oz of SW1.
2. The golf club of claim 1, wherein SW2 is within 0.75 inch-oz of
SW1.
3. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the rear surface includes a
track member and the weight member moves along the track
member.
4. The golf club of claim 3, wherein the track member extends
substantially in a heel-toe direction.
5. The golf club of claim 1, wherein Izz2 is no more than 1,200
g*cm2 greater than Izz1.
6. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the weight member is at least
5 g and no more than 50 g.
7. The golf club of claim 6, wherein the weight member is at least
15 g and no more than 40 g.
8. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the weight member has a
density greater than that of the main body.
9. The golf club of claim 1, wherein the weight member comprises a
first material on one side and a second denser material on an
opposite side.
10. The golf club of claim 9, wherein the weight member is
rotatable.
11. A golf club that, when oriented in a reference position,
comprises: a shaft having a butt end and a tip end; a grip
proximate the butt end of the shaft; and a golf club head proximate
the tip end of the shaft, the golf club head comprising: a main
body including a heel, a toe, a striking face, a rear surface
opposite the striking face, and a hosel defining a hosel axis; and
a weight member coupled to the rear surface and translatable along
the rear surface in a direction substantially perpendicular to the
hosel axis such that: when the weight member is in a first
position, the golf club has a first swingweight SW1; and when the
weight member is in a second position that is at least 2 cm away
from the first position, the golf club has a second swingweight SW2
that is within 1.75 inch-oz of SW1.
12. The golf club of claim 11, wherein SW2 is within 0.75 inch-oz
of SW1.
13. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the rear surface includes a
track member and the weight member moves along the track
member.
14. The golf club of claim 13, wherein the track member extends
substantially in a heel-toe direction.
15. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the golf club head includes
a loft no less than 40 degrees.
16. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the weight member is at
least 5 g and no more than 50 g.
17. The golf club of claim 16, wherein the weight member is at
least 15 g and no more than 40 g.
18. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the weight member has a
density greater than that of the main body.
19. The golf club of claim 11, wherein the weight member comprises
a first material on one side and a second denser material on an
opposite side.
20. The golf club of claim 19, wherein the weight member is
rotatable.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 16/685,460 (Atty. Docket No. CLG-00700), filed on Nov. 15,
2019, titled "GOLF CLUB HEAD WITH ADJUSTABLE CENTER OF GRAVITY",
the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Technological advances in the golf industry have led to a
significant increase in user-customized golf equipment. For
example, golfers can learn their golf swing tendencies using swing
tracking and ball tracking tools and then use such data in choosing
a particular piece of equipment to purchase. Typical equipment
choices that golfers may make to suit a particular playing style or
skill level include golf ball composition, golf club shaft
stiffness, shaft length, golf club head mass, and head moment of
inertia.
[0003] Golf club manufacturers have long recognized this desire of
golfers to customize golf equipment and introduced various ways for
implementing such customizability. For example, a golfer using a
golf club with interchangeable weights may be able to adjust the
club's mass properties. In addition to using adjustable golf clubs
to correct undesirable swing tendencies, a golfer may make golf
club adjustments to accommodate different playing conditions. For
manufacturers, adjustable golf clubs allow for a wider range of
features with a reduced number of models that need to be separately
designed and produced.
[0004] Adjustability that provides a customizable center of gravity
location is of particular interest. Unintended spin is a known
result of an offset of impact point from a golf club head's "sweet
spot" (i.e., the normal projection of the golf club head's center
of gravity onto the golf club face): low impact shots relative to
the sweet spot on the club head's face launch lower with increased
backspin; high impact shots launch higher with decreased backspin;
toe side impact shots launch to the right with increased draw or
hook spin; and heel impact shots launch to the left with increased
fade or slice spin. By providing CG adjustability on a golf club, a
golfer's tendency to impact a particular region of the face can be
matched to a desired shot trajectory.
[0005] Commercial efforts to provide adjustability in golf clubs
have focused largely wood-type golf clubs, especially drivers. Due
to differences in construction and function, providing
adjustability in iron-type and wedge-type golf clubs presents
challenges that may not be applicable to wood-type golf clubs. For
example, wood-type golf club heads are generally lighter per
volume, lower in loft, and larger in volume than heads of iron-type
or wedge-type golf clubs, so providing discrete weights may be
easier in a wood-type golf club head. In addition, wedge-type golf
clubs are generally favored over wood-type golf clubs for
short-range pitch shots, chip shots, and flop shots, and thus
customization options offered for wood-type or iron-type golf clubs
may not be suitable for wedge-type golf clubs.
SUMMARY
[0006] The inventors sought to provide a convenient way to
customize and adjust mass properties of a wedge-type golf club
head. By precisely controlling the three-dimensional location of
the golf club head's center of gravity using a translatable weight
located behind the golf club head's striking face, a golfer can
easily adjust the golf club head's mass properties to provide a
desired effect on a golf shot's trajectory.
[0007] In one or more aspects of the disclosure, a wedge-type golf
club, when oriented in a reference position, includes a golf club
head that comprises a main body having a striking face, a track
member rearward of the striking face that extends along at least a
portion of the main body, and a weight member that is translatable
along the track member. The weight member may be positioned such
that, in a first location of the weight member along the track
member, the golf club head has a first center of gravity (CG)
defining a first CG depth. The weight member may be positioned such
that, in a second location of the weight member along the track
member different from first location, the golf club head has a
second CG defining a second CG depth different from the first CG
depth. A difference between the first CG depth and the second CG
depth may be between about 1mm to about 20mm. Here, CG depth is
measured normal to the face plane such that a positive CG depth
corresponds to locations forward of the face plane and a negative
CG depth corresponds to locations rearward of the face plane.
[0008] According to one or more embodiments of the CG depth
adjustable wedge-type golf club, the first CG depth is a negative
value and the second CG depth is a positive value. The first CG
depth may be between -1mm to -10mm and the second CG depth may be
between 1mm to 10mm.
[0009] According to one or more aspects of the disclosure, a CG
depth adjustable wedge-type golf club comprises a first CG depth
that is about 0 and a second CG depth whose absolute value is 1mm
to 20mm.
[0010] In one example of one or more aspects of the disclosure, a
CG depth adjustable wedge-type golf club comprises a track member
extending across at least a part of a rear surface of the golf club
head's main body. The track member may be non-parallel to a face
plane defined by the striking face and a weight member may be
translated along the track member. In another example, a CG depth
adjustable wedge-type golf club comprises a main body having a sole
portion having an upper surface and a lower surface; the track
member may extend across at least a portion of the sole portion
along one of the upper surface and the lower surface.
[0011] In one or more aspects of the disclosure, a wedge-type golf
club, when oriented in a reference position, includes a golf club
head that comprises a main body having a striking face, a track
member rearward of the striking face that extends along at least a
portion of the main body, and a weight member that is translatable
along the track member. The weight member comprises a material
having a density equal to or greater than the golf club head main
body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1A is a front view of an exemplary golf club head.
[0013] FIG. 1B is a heel side view of the exemplary golf club
head.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a rear view of an exemplary golf club head with a
center of gravity adjustable in a heel to toe direction.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a rear view of an exemplary golf club head with a
center of gravity adjustable in a sole to topline direction.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a rear view of an exemplary golf club head with a
center of gravity adjustable in two directions.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a rear view of another exemplary golf club head
with a center of gravity adjustable in two directions.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a rear view of an exemplary golf club head with a
center of gravity adjustable in a low heel to high toe
direction.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a rear view of an exemplary golf club head with a
center of gravity adjustable in a high heel to low toe
direction.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a rear view of an exemplary golf club head with a
center of gravity adjustable along a depth axis.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a heel side view of another exemplary golf club
head with a center of gravity adjustable along a depth axis.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a contour map of a region of a golf club face
simulating spin imparted on a golf ball upon impact.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0023] Representative examples of one or more novel and nonobvious
aspects and features of the golf club head according to the present
invention, disclosed below, are not intended to be limiting in any
manner. Furthermore, the various aspects and features of the
present invention may be used alone or in a variety of novel and
nonobvious combinations and subcombinations with one another.
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a golf club head 100 of a golf
club 10 includes a toe portion 110, a heel portion 120, a topline
portion 130, and a sole portion 140. The golf club head 100 also
includes a hosel 150 that is proximate the heel portion 120 of the
golf club head 100. The hosel 150 may include an open end for
receiving the golf club shaft 11. As shown in FIG. 1A, the golf
club head 100 includes a striking face 160 adapted to strike a
conventional golf ball. The striking face 160 may be provided with
one or more grooves or score lines, which imparts additional spin
to the golf ball when struck. The striking face 160 defines a face
plane 162 as shown in FIG. 1B and includes a face center 163.
[0025] As used herein, "face center," e.g., the face center 163,
denotes a point on a golf club head's striking face that is midway
between the heel-to-toe extents of the striking face score lines
and midway between the sole-to-topline extents of the striking
face.
[0026] The golf club head 100 also includes a center of gravity
(CG), which alternatively may be referred to as a center of mass.
When the golf club head 100 is oriented in a reference position as
in FIG. 1A and 1B, the golf club head 100 includes a CG height CGH,
defined herein as the vertical distance of a golf club head's CG
from a ground plane 20, and a CG offset CGO, defined herein as a
measure of the horizontal (heel-to-toe) displacement of the golf
club head's CG from its face center measured as a projection onto a
face plane. Herein, a negative CGO value denotes a CG location on a
toe-ward side of the face center and a positive CGO value denotes a
CG location on a heel-ward side of the face center. In the
configuration of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A for example, the
golf club head 100 has a CG location heel-ward of the face center
and a corresponding positive CGO value.
[0027] Referring to FIG. 1B, a golf club head's CG lies along a CG
depth axis 170, which is normal to the face plane 162. The golf
club head 100 includes a CG depth CGD, defined herein as a measure
of the displacement between the face plane 162 and the CG along the
CG depth axis 170. A positive CGD value denotes a CG location that
is rearward of the face plane 162. Depending on the mass
distribution of a golf club head, its CG location may be forward of
the face plane 162 and the corresponding CGD value may be a
negative. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1B, the golf club head
100 has CG location rearward of the face plane 162 and a positive
CGD value.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 1B, the golf club head 100 includes a hosel
axis 152, which extends axially through the center of the hosel
150. The hosel axis 152 lies in a virtual vertical hosel plane 153.
The golf club head's loft is thereby the angle formed by the hosel
plane 153 and the face plane 162 as projected in a front to rear
vertical plane (e.g. in the plane of the paper as shown in FIG.
1B). A golf club set is typically made up of golf clubs with heads
of a range of lofts, where higher lofted golf clubs are generally
intended for shorter distances. In addition, wedge-type golf clubs
may have lofts tailored to pitch shots, lob shots, or chip shots
that may range from about 44 degrees to about 64 degrees. The
adjustable CG arrangements discussed in more detail below can be
especially advantageous for golf club heads with lofts greater than
or equal to approximately 40 degrees.
[0029] As used herein, "reference position" denotes an orientation
of a golf club head in which the sole rests on the virtual ground
plane such that the score lines are horizontal and the virtual
vertical hosel plane is parallel to the score lines. Unless
otherwise indicated, all parameters of the various embodiments of
the disclosure are specified with the golf club head in the
reference position.
[0030] Advantageously, a translatable weight member according to
various embodiments of the disclosure can be moved by a user, e.g.
to adjust a golf club head's CG. For example, FIG. 1B shows a
translatable weight member 180 positioned on a rear surface 164 of
the golf club head 100. The translatable weight member 180 may be
moved along the rear surface 164 thereby varying the CG
location.
[0031] As shown in FIG. 1B, a portion of the sole portion 140 may
define a sole cavity 142. In one or more embodiments, a golf club
head may include a perimeter weighting element formed on at least a
portion of the periphery of the rear surface thereby defining a
rear wall cavity inward or centrally thereof. Alternatively, a golf
club head may be a traditional muscle-back wedge without a
perimeter weighting element and without a sole cavity, or where the
contour of the rear surface is dominated by a muscle-blade
configuration rather than peripheral weighting. The embodiments
described below are shown in FIGS. 2-9 without a rearwardly
extending sole for clarity of view, but it is to be understood that
the golf club heads may include a rearwardly extending sole.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 2, a golf club head 200 includes a track
member 290 on its rear surface 264. The track member 290 extends
from a toe portion 210 to a heel portion 220 and is elongate in a
generally heel to toe direction. The track member 290 has a length
that is up to 60 mm. Preferably the track member 290 is at least 30
mm in length. The golf club head 200 includes a weight member 280
that is translatable along the track member 290. The track member
290 may have a length of about 4 cm to about 8 cm and the
translatable weight member 280 may be positioned at any point along
the track member 290. The golf club head 200 includes a CG that is
adjustable in the heel to toe direction. Accordingly, the golf club
head 200 includes a variable CG offset CGO. Depending on the
position of the weight member 280 along the track member 290, the
magnitude of the CG offset can range from 0 (CG and face center
laterally aligned) to about 2 cm. As noted above, the CG offset can
be negative with the CG toe-ward of the face center or positive
with the CG heel-ward of the face center.
[0033] The golf club head 200 of FIG. 2 includes a first CGO with
the weight member 280 at a first position along the track member
290, a second CGO with the weight member 280a at a second position
along the track member 290, and a CG horizontal distance of at
least 4 mm. Herein, CG horizontal distance is the difference
between the first CG offset and the second CG offset. In a
preferred embodiment, the CG horizontal distance is at least 4 mm
and less than 20 mm, and more preferably between 8 mm and 16 mm.
This range best ensures that the club head is capable of adjustment
over a reasonably complete spectrum of trajectory misalignments,
yet does not unduly tie up discretionary head mass necessary for
the structural integrity and over-arching mass-related requirements
of the club head.
[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the track member 290 is
substantially horizontal when the golf club head 200 is in a
reference position. In such an embodiment, the CG height CGH of the
golf club head 200 remains substantially constant as the weight
member 280 is translated along the track member 290. In this
embodiment, the golf club head's CG location may be translated so
as to correct swing tendencies associated with mishits in the
heel-to-toe direction that often result in undesired slice or hook
shots.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 2, the golf club head 200 may include a
perimeter-weighting element 266, which defines a rear cavity region
of the rear surface 264. Such a perimeter-weighting element is a
common feature of iron-type golf clubs and are typically included
to provide a higher moment-of-inertia in golf clubs for higher
handicapped players. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2-10, a
track member and a translatable weight member is provided in such a
rear cavity region. However, a track member and a translatable
weight member for adjusting club head CG location may be provided
on a rear surface of a blade-type golf club head as well.
[0036] Referring to FIG. 3, a golf club head 300 includes a track
member 390 on its rear surface 364. The track member 390 extends
from the topline portion 330 toward the sole portion 340. The golf
club head 300 includes a weight member 380 that is translatable
along the track member 390. The track member 390 has a length
between about 20 mm and 40 mm and the translatable weight member
380 can be translated to position along the track member 390. The
golf club head 300 includes a CG that is adjustable in the topline
to sole direction. Accordingly, the golf club head 300 provides for
varying CG height CGH in a non-permanently or non-plastically
deformable manner. Depending on the position of the weight member
380 along the track member 390, the CGH may be adjustable such that
it is substantially the same as the face center height or is up to
2 cm higher or lower than the face center height. Such
adjustability may be beneficial to match playing conditions (e.g.,
course wetness, wind speeds, etc.) and optimize spin
characteristics and dynamic lofting.
[0037] The golf club head 300 of FIG. 3 includes a first CGH with
the weight member 380 at a first position along the track member
390 and a second CGH with the weight member 380a at a second
position along the track member 390. A difference between the first
CGH and the second CGH is at least 1 mm. Preferably, the CG height
difference is between 1 mm-10 mm.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 4, a golf club head 400 includes a track
member 490 on its rear surface 464. The track member 490 includes a
heel-toe portion that extends between a heel portion 420 and a toe
portion 410. The track member 490 additionally includes a
topline-sole portion that extends between the topline portion 430
and the sole portion 440. The topline-sole portion and the heel-toe
portion preferably intersect at a junction. A translatable weight
member 480 is coupled to the track member 490. The position of the
translatable weight member 480 along the track member 490 may be
changed to adjust the club head's CG location. In particular, the
track member 490 and the weight member 480 may be configured such
that the weight member 480 may be slideably transferred between the
topline-sole portion and the heel-toe portion without removal.
[0039] The golf club head 400 of FIG. 4 includes a first CGO with
the weight member 480 at a first position along the heel-toe
portion of track member 490, a second CGO with the weight member
480a at a second position along the heel-toe portion of track
member 490, and a CG horizontal distance of at least 4 mm. Herein,
CG horizontal distance is the difference between the first CG
offset and the second CG offset. In a preferred embodiment, the CG
horizontal distance is at least 4 mm and less than 20 mm.
[0040] The golf club head 400 of FIG. 4 includes a first CGH with
the weight member 480 at the first position along the topline-sole
portion of track member 490 and a second CGH with the weight member
480b at a second position along the topline-sole portion of track
member 490. A difference between the first CGH and the second CGH
is at least 1 mm. Preferably, the CG height difference is between 1
mm-10 mm.
[0041] In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a golf club head
500 includes a first track member 590 and a second track member 592
on its rear surface 564. The first track member 590 extends between
a heel portion 520 and a toe portion 510. The second track member
592 extends between a topline portion 530 and a sole portion 540.
In this embodiment, a first translatable weight member 580 and a
second translatable weight member 582 are coupled to the first
track member 590 and the second track member 592, respectively, and
the positions of the translatable weight members 580 and 582 are
changed to adjust the club head's CG location. In FIG. 5, the golf
club head 500 has a first CGO and a first CGH with the first weight
member 580 in a first position along the first track member 590 and
the second weight member 582 in a first position along the second
track member 592. The golf club head 500 has a second CGO when
weight member 580a is moved to a second position along the first
track member 590. The golf club head has a second CGH when the
second weight member 582a is translated to a second position along
the second track member 592. Advantageously, in this embodiment,
one of the CGO and the CGH may be adjusted by selectively
translating the first weight member 580 or the second weight member
582. Alternatively, the golf club head 500's CGO and CGH may be
adjusted in conjunction to varying degrees by translating the two
weight members 580 and 582 along track members 590 and 592.
[0042] While FIGS. 2-5 depict embodiments of golf club heads having
one or more track members with a translatable weight member that
can be used to adjust a golf club head's CG height and/or its
lateral CG position, the configuration of the one or more track
members is not necessarily so restricted. For example, FIG. 6 shows
an embodiment wherein a golf club head 600 includes a track member
690 on its rear surface 664. The track member 690 extends
diagonally along the rear surface 664 and includes a first end 691
and a second end 692, with the first end 691 located more towards a
heel portion 620 and a sole portion 640 of the golf club head 600
than the second end 692. In such an embodiment, a translatable
weight member 680 mounted on the track member 690 is associated
with a first CG location having a first CGO and first CGH of the
golf club head 600. When the weight member 680a is in a more
toe-ward second position of the track member 690, the golf club
head 600 has a second CG location with a second CGH greater than
the first CGH and a second CGO that is more negative than the first
CGO.
[0043] Advantageously, the embodiments discussed herein may be
tailored to fit a target user. For example, for a golf club
intended to be used for "game improvement" (i.e., for higher less
skilled golfers), horizontal shift may be more significant than
vertical because the target consumer may be more concerned with
correcting slice or hook, while for a wedge intended to be sold to
more skilled golfers, spin adjustment is a more significant
concern.
[0044] The golf club head 600 may also be adjustable in a manner
that is swingweight neutral. Herein, a "swingweight neutral" refers
to a weight adjustment feature where mass properties, optionally
including CG location, may be varied, but in a manner such that
swingweight is substantially maintained constant. For example, the
feature may specifically enable the relocation of mass in a manner
that does not substantially shift the specific location of the CG
relative to the intended shaft axis (which may be considered to
coincide with the hosel axis). A swingweight neutral golf club head
describes a golf club head that, when provided as a part of a golf
club with a constant shaft length, has a swingweight that does not
substantially vary when a weight member is translated along a track
member disposed on its rear surface. Herein, "swingweight" refers
to the common golf club fitting variable related to the weight
distribution in a golf club as measured on a swingweight scale in
units of the Lorythmic scale. A swingweight neutral golf club head
may, for example, have a swingweight of "D4" when a translatable
weight member is positioned at any position of a track member of
the golf club head. In other words, a golf club having a
swingweight neutral golf club head has a swingweight that varies
less than 1.75 inch-oz and preferably a swingweight that varies
less than 0.75 inch-oz. The track member 690 is configured such
that the golf club head is swingweight neutral when provided as a
part of a golf club with an appropriately weighted shaft and
grip.
[0045] In another example, a swingweight neutral adjustment feature
may comprise a golf club with plural weight ports oriented relative
to each other in such a manner that a weight interchanged among
them results in a substantially constant swingweight or expected
swingweight of a club head when associated with a shaft of a
constant length. In other cases, plural weight ports of different
locations about a club head and plural weight elements of different
masses may be arranged in predetermined and known manners that
result in substantially constant swingweight. In such particular
cases, instructions or borne-on indicia is preferably provided for
guiding the user in how to assemble weights in a manner that
maintains a desired swingweight. This feature is particularly
suitable for wedge-type club heads where swingweight maintenance
can be a large concern with shorter conventional shaft lengths, and
the likelihood that weight elements constitute a larger proportion
of an overall club head mass.
[0046] The ability to adjust the CG location of a golf club head by
simply translating a weight member along a track member of a golf
club head without changing the golf club's swingweight can be
advantageous to a golfer who has a preference for a certain
swingweight. Often, swingweight is associated with how the golf
club feels to the golfer during a golf swing and so changing the
swingweight can adversely affect the golf club's performance and
the golfer's confidence. At the same time, the golfer may, for
example, prefer to position the golf club head's CG more towards
the club head's toe to optimize a tendency to impact the ball on
the toe side of the golf club face. A swingweight neutral golf club
head, as exemplified by the golf club head 600 in FIG. 6, allows
the golfer to laterally adjust the golf club's CG location (i.e.,
the CGO) without having to compensate for a change in the club's
swingweight. As shown in FIG. 6, the weight member 680 is permitted
to translate along a track located substantially entirely in a
virtual plane 654 that is perpendicular to the hosel axis 652 of
the club head, and in turn the intended shaft axis when the club
head 600 is associated with a conventional shaft of constant length
in an operational state. Other configurations of weight tracks are
possible, but preferably to be swingweight neutral, are
substantially confined to a virtual plane that is perpendicular to
the hosel axis.
[0047] In other embodiments of the disclosure (or as additional
features of any of the above embodiments), adjusting a translatable
weight member's position along a track member of a head of a golf
club allows a golfer to tune the golf club's swingweight to a
preferred swingweight. In these embodiments, a track member extends
from an upper heel portion of a rear surface of a golf club head to
a lower toe portion. When the weight member is positioned at an
upper heel end of the track member, the golf club has a first
swingweight substantially lower than a second swingweight when the
weight member is positioned at a lower toe end of the track member.
Preferably, the first swingweight is at least 1.75 inch-oz less
than the second swingweight. Even more preferably, the first
swingweight is at least 3.50 inch-oz less than the second
swingweight. Advantageously, the weight member may be positioned at
other positions along the track member to allow a golfer to fine
tune the golf club's swingweight.
[0048] In one embodiment, a golf club has a minimal swingweight
when a weight member is positioned in a heelward most extent of the
track member. The golf club has a second swingweight that is at
least 1.75 inch-oz greater than the first swingweight when the
weight member is positioned at a central position of the track
member. The golf club has a third swingweight that is at least 3.50
inch-oz greater than the first swingweight and greater than the
second swingweight when the weight member is positioned at a
toemost extent of the track member.
[0049] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary golf club head 700 with an
adjustable swingweight. The golf club head 700 has a track member
790 with a first end 791 and a second end 792 with the first end
791 located more towards a heel portion 720 and a topline portion
730 of the golf club head 700 than the second end 792. In such an
embodiment, a translatable weight member 780 mounted on the track
member 790 is associated with a first CG location having a first
CGO and first CGH of the golf club head 700. When the weight member
780a is in a more toe-ward second position of the track member 790,
the golf club head 700 has a second CG location with a second CGH
lower than the first CGH and a second CGO that is more negative
than the first CGO.
[0050] In addition, the rear surface 764 of the golf club head 700
or the track member 790 may be marked by gradations or other
indicia (not shown) to denote positions along the track member that
correlate to a change in swingweight. The ability to adjust a golf
club's swingweight provides significant benefits for golfers.
Commonly, golfers affix some amount of lead tape to the golf club's
head or grip to make the golf club match a desired swingweight.
However, lead tape can easily come off during play and may be
visually distracting or aesthetically unpleasing. Further, the
length and position of the tape placement must be optimized, which
may be cumbersome without access and use of a swingweight scale.
The above described swingweight adjustable golf club head
embodiments make such use of lead tape unnecessary.
[0051] Referring to FIG. 8, a golf club head 800 includes a
rearwardly extending sole portion 840 including rear portion 843
extending rearwardly from the rear surface 864 and defining a sole
cavity 842. A track member 890 extends along an upwardly facing
surface generally rearwardly from the rear surface 864 along the
sole portion 840. At least a portion of the track member 890 is
non-parallel to the face plane of the golf club head 800 defined by
a striking face opposite rear surface 864. A translatable weight
member 880 mounted on the track member 890 is used to adjust the
CGD of the golf club head 800. As a user translates the weight
member 880 more rearwardly along the track member 890, the
associated CGD of the golf club head 890 increases (i.e., becomes
more positive). Thus, when the weight member 880 is positioned
farther from the rear surface 864, the associated CGD is more
positive than when the weight member 880 is positioned more
adjacent to the rear surface 864. In other embodiments, the track
member extends along a lower surface of the sole portion.
[0052] The track member 890 is up to 30 mm in length. In a
preferred embodiment, the track member 890 is between 15 mm and 25
mm in length. The magnitude of CGD can be adjusted by up to 10 mm.
The maximum CGD change by translating the weight member is at least
3 mm. In one or more embodiments, the maximum CGD change is at
least 5 mm.
[0053] In one or more embodiments, the CGD increases linearly with
rearward displacement of the weight member. In such embodiments,
the track member extends parallel to the depth axis of the golf
club head.
[0054] FIG. 9 shows an exemplary golf club head 900 having a muscle
portion 944 located towards a sole portion 940 and a blade portion
945 constituting a top portion of the club head. A track member 990
extends generally downward along a surface of the muscle portion
944. A translatable weight member 980 mounted on the track member
990 is used to adjust the CGD of the golf club head 900. As a user
translates the weight member 980 away from a blade portion of the
golf club head along the track member 990, the associated CGD of
the golf club head 900 increases (i.e., becomes more positive).
Thus, when the weight member 980 is positioned farther from the
blade portion 945, the associated CGD is more positive than when
the weight member 980 is positioned more adjacent to the blade
portion 945.
[0055] In embodiments of the disclosure where the depth of CG is
adjustable, such as those shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, it is possible
that the CG is located forward of the golf club head's striking
face when the weight member is positioned adjacent to the rear
surface. When the weight member is positioned farther away from the
rear surface, the CG location of the golf club head can shift
rearward of the striking face. In other words, in one or more
embodiments, a golf club head has a CGD that can be flipped from a
negative value to a positive value by positioning a translatable,
track-mounted weight member closer or farther, respectively, from
the golf club head's rear surface.
[0056] In one or more embodiments of a CGD adjustable golf club
head, at least a portion of a track member is non-parallel to a
face plane of the golf club head. For example, when the golf club
800 in FIG. 8 is in a reference position, at least a portion of the
track member 890 may extend horizontally. In other embodiments, the
track member 890 may also extend laterally in a heel-to-toe
direction to provide adjustability of the CGO as described above.
In yet other embodiments of a CGD adjustable golf club head, a
secondary track member may extend from a toe portion of the rear
surface toward a heel portion with a secondary weight member
translatable along the secondary track member to adjust the CG with
a lateral CG offset. In this regard, one or more of the track
members disclosed herein may be provided in a golf club head of the
present disclosure with another track member. For example, any of
the track member arrangements shown in FIGS. 2 to 7 may be used in
conjunction with track member 890 of FIG. 8.
[0057] As another example, when the golf club head 900 in FIG. 9 is
in a reference position, at least a portion of the track member 990
may extend vertically. In other embodiments, the track member 990
may also extend laterally in a heel-to-toe direction to provide
adjustability of the CGO as described above.
[0058] A sufficiently dense material is necessary to effectively
change a golf club head's CG location. A translatable weight member
according to the embodiments described above can have densities
equal to or greater than a density of a main body of the golf club
head. In preferred embodiments, the weight density is greater than
7,750 kg/m.sup.3. For example, a translatable weight member can
comprise mainly stainless steel, tungsten, or a tungsten alloy. In
some embodiments, the weight member comprises more than one
material and one side of the weight member may be heavier than
another such that rotation of the weight member provides an
additional degree of CG adjustability.
[0059] A translatable weight member can have a mass of up to 50 g
and is at least 5 g. Preferably, the mass is between 15 g and 40 g.
This particular range ensures the mass is sufficient to alter the
center of gravity location of the club head in a manner effective
to counter-act a common degree of slice or draw, effect an
appreciable reduction or addition of spin to an impacted golf ball,
and/or increment swingweight by at least one standard swingweight
interval. The weight member may be circular or may be another
shape. By configuring the weight member to exhibit a non-circular
planer shape, e.g. a polygonal shape such as a square or hexagon,
the weight member may bear built-in rotation-inhibiting attributes
relative to the track member in which it is located, which may add
to the secure placement of the weight member.
[0060] According to some embodiments, a track member comprises a
groove or a rib. In one or more embodiments, the track member is
recessed from the surrounding surface such that a weight member
surface is flush. The translatable weight member comprises a
coupling member that allows the weight member to be retained onto
the track member and for the weight member to be translated to any
point along the track member. For example, the track member may
comprise a rib having a T-shaped cross-section and the coupling
member may comprise a compatibly shaped groove.
[0061] According to the USGA Rules, all parts of a golf club head
must be fixed. In other words, no part of a golf club head may
exhibit movement relative to any other part thereof when subject to
an external force. In the above embodiments, a fastening member,
such as a set screw, locks the weight member onto a position of the
track member so that the weight member is stationary when the golf
club head is in use. The fastening member need not be discrete and
may be integrated as part of the translatable weight member.
[0062] In contrast to other mass adjustable golf clubs, such as
those incorporating interchangeable weight members in a limited
number of fixed weight ports, by providing an adjustable CG
location through the coupling of one or more translatable weight
members to one or more track members on a rear side of the golf
club head, golfers can tune the mass distribution of a golf club
head to any point within a range of configurations. In doing so,
golfers can, for example, optimize moments of inertia of the golf
club head (e.g., about a vertical axis through the golf club head's
CG, Izz, or about a horizontal axis through the golf club head's CG
parallel to the face, Ixx) to match their swing tendencies and
swing speed, and thus optimize the golf club head's feel during a
swing. In embodiments of the golf club head where the weight member
is translated generally laterally, Izz can be adjusted by up to
1,200 g*cm.sup.2. In embodiments where the weight member is
translated generally from a topline to sole direction, the Ixx can
be adjusted by up to 500 g*cm.sup.2.
[0063] For example, Table 1 lists physical properties of an
exemplary golf club head having a rear surface track mounted weight
member that is translatable laterally (i.e., in a heel to toe
direction). The weight member has a mass of 35 g that is positioned
at the center, heel end, or toe end of the track member for the
data shown. Importantly, translating the weight member laterally
shifts the CGO and changes the MOI about a vertical axis through
the CG, Izz, by up to 852 g*cm.sup.2 while the MOI about a
horizontal axis through the CG (parallel to face) remains
relatively unchanged.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Weight Member Position CG Offset (mm) Izz
(g*cm.sup.2) Ixx (g*cm.sup.2) Center 7 3266 1079 Heel end 1 3245
1129 Toe end 12 4118 1126
[0064] In one or more embodiments, a wedge-type golf club head
having a track mounted weight member has an adjustable CGD and an
adjustable MOI. In these embodiments, translating the weight member
to increase CGD effectively increases the golf club head's Izz by
up to 1,000 g*cm.sup.2. Preferably, a maximum Izz change of such a
CGD adjustable golf club head is at least 250 g*cm.sup.2. Even more
preferably, the maximum Izz change is at least 500 g*cm.sup.2.
[0065] Golfers may also prefer to adjust the golf club head's CG
location to account for playing conditions. For example, factors
such as course moisture level and wind speeds can favor golf shots
with a certain level of spin. Advantageously, a CG adjustable
wedge-type golf club provides for such customization without the
need, for example, to affix lead tape.
[0066] The contour plot shown in FIG. 10 illustrates the
significance of CGD on a golf shot from a wedge-type golf club
head. In the plot, which simulates spin imparted by
laterally-centered (i.e., aligned with the club head's CG) golf
shots from golf club heads having 56 degrees of loft, shots from a
club head with positive values of CGD exhibit gear effect: spin
decreases with higher impact upon the face. Shots from a club head
with a negative value of CGD exhibit reverse gear effect: spin
increases with higher impact upon the face. Thus, by using a CGD
adjustable golf club head, it is possible to match a spin
preference with swing tendencies. This particular relationship,
i.e. CGD and resulting spin generation, is of particular use in the
case of a wedge-type club head, as shot dispersion and proximity to
say a cup is a significant concern. Thus, the related weight track
configurations discussed herein may be considered to be
particularly suitable for wedge type club heads, e.g. iron type
club heads having lofts greater than 44.degree..
[0067] While the track members shown in the drawings extend
linearly, curvilinear track members are also possible to
accommodate various shapes, surface contours, and weight
distributions in golf club heads and thus may vary to a degree from
optimal orientation without being considered to deviate from the
spirit of this disclosure.
[0068] Although the golf club heads shown in FIGS. 1-9 and
described in the embodiments above are discussed with respect to
conventional usage as a wedge-type golf club head, these golf club
heads may be another type of a golf club head such as a mid or
short iron-type golf club head. Also, while the illustrated golf
club heads are depicted as being a right-handed golf club head, any
reference to any position on the golf club heads may be mirrored,
and applied to left-handed golf club heads.
[0069] The particulars shown herein are by way of example only for
purposes of illustrative discussion, and are not presented in the
cause of providing what is believed to be most useful and readily
understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of
the various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard,
no attempt is made to show any more detail than is necessary for a
fundamental understanding of the different features of the various
embodiments, the description taken with the drawings making
apparent to those skilled in the art how these may be implemented
in practice.
* * * * *