Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
  • A63B53/04—Heads
  • A63B53/0445—Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
  • A63B53/005—Club sets
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
  • A63B53/02—Joint structures between the head and the shaft
  • A63B53/022—Joint structures between the head and the shaft allowing adjustable positioning of the head with respect to the shaft
  • A63B53/023—Joint structures between the head and the shaft allowing adjustable positioning of the head with respect to the shaft adjustable angular orientation
  • A63B53/026—Joint structures between the head and the shaft allowing adjustable positioning of the head with respect to the shaft adjustable angular orientation loft angle only, i.e. relative angular adjustment between the shaft and the club head about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the intended line of play when the club is in its normal address position
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
  • A63B53/04—Heads
  • A63B53/0408—Heads characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B53/00—Golf clubs
  • A63B53/04—Heads
  • A63B53/047—Heads iron-type

Definitions

• the present invention relates to golf clubs.
• the present invention relates to golf club heads having improved striking surfaces.
• the striking surfaces include grooves having certain cross-sectional profiles based on the loft of the golf club head.
• Golf club heads come in many different forms and makes, such as wood- or metal-type, iron-type (including wedge-type club heads), utility- or specialty-type, and putter-type. Each of these styles has a prescribed function and make-up.
• Iron-type and utility-type golf club heads generally include a front or striking face, a top line, and a sole.
• the front face interfaces with and strikes the golf ball.
• a plurality of grooves, sometimes referred to as "score lines,” is provided on the face to assist in imparting spin to the ball.
• the top line is generally configured to have a particular look to the golfer and to provide structural rigidity for the striking face.
• a portion of the face may have an area with a different type of surface treatment that extends fractionally beyond the score line extents.
• Some club heads have the surface treatment wrap onto the top line.
• the sole of the golf club is particularly important to the golf shot because it contacts and interacts with the ground during the swing.
• each club includes a shaft with a club head attached to one end and a grip attached to the other end.
• the club head includes a face for striking a golf ball.
• the angle between the face and a vertical plane is called the loft angle.
• An important aspect of golf is to be able to produce a desired amount of spin on the golf ball. It is also desirable to have predictable spin levels for each club within a set of clubs. Typically, higher lofted clubs in a set will produce more spin. Hitting shots out of longer grass (the "rough") or in wet conditions can cause a significant reduction in spin resulting in unpredictable ball flight and inconsistent carrying distances. The magnitude of spin reduction is more prevalent in higher lofted clubs which can lead to "fliers" or the ball traveling further than anticipated which is a problem when trying to land the ball on the green at a specific distance.
• the present invention relates to golf club heads which solve the issues described above.
• the present invention relates to a set of golf club heads having improved groove profiles for different ranges of loft angles.
• the present invention includes at least a first set of golf club heads which are intended for the lower swing speed golfer and a second set of golf club heads which are intended for the higher swing speed golfer.
• the first set of golf club heads includes at least two different groove profiles: one groove profile for golf club heads with loft angles of 28 degrees or less, and a different groove profile for golf club heads with loft angles of greater than 28 degrees.
• the first set of golf club heads have groove profiles which are designed to help golfers generate more spin regardless of the lie condition while staying within certain desired spin levels when hitting out of poor conditions.
• the techniques described herein relate to a set of golf clubs, including: a first golf club head including: a striking face including a front surface configured to strike a golf ball; a body extending rearward from the striking face and having a sole, a topline opposite the sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite the heel side, and a hosel at the heel side configured to attach to a shaft; and at least one groove in the striking face extending in a heel-to-toe direction; a second golf club head including: a striking face including a front surface configured to strike a golf ball; a body extending rearward from the striking face and having a sole, a topline opposite the sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite the heel side, and a hosel at the heel side configured to attach to a shaft; and at least one groove in the striking face extending in a heel-to-toe direction, wherein the first golf club head has a loft angle less than or equal to 31 degrees, wherein the second golf
• FIGS. 1-6 show a first golf club head 100 and a second golf club head 200 of a set of golf clubs according to one embodiment of the present invention.
• the first golf club head 100 includes a body 110 defining a striking face 111, a sole 113, a topline 114 opposite the sole 113, a heel side 115, a toe side 116 opposite the heel side 115, and a hosel 117 at the heel side 115 configured to attach to a shaft (not shown).
• the striking face 111 includes a front surface 1111 configured to strike a golf ball and at least one groove 112.
• the striking face 111 may be unitary with the body 110, or it may be a separate component, such as an insert, coupled to the body 110.
• the first golf club head 100 has a loft angle less than or equal to 28 degrees.
• the second golf club head 200 includes a body 210 defining a striking face 211, a sole 213, a topline 214 opposite the sole 213, a heel side 215, a toe side 216 opposite the heel side 215, and a hosel 217 at the heel side 215 configured to attach to a shaft (not shown).
• the striking face 211 includes a front surface 2111 configured to strike a golf ball and at least one groove 212.
• the striking face 211 may be unitary with the body 210, or it may be a separate component, such as an insert, coupled to the body 210.
• the second golf club head 200 has a loft angle greater than 28 degrees.
• FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the first golf club head 100 along the at least one groove 112.
• the at least one groove 112 may be machined into the front surface 1111 of the striking face 111.
• the at least one groove 112 extends in a heel-to-toe direction of the first golf club head 100.
• the at least one groove 112 is shallow at both the toe and heel portions of the first golf club head 100 and are deep in the central regions.
• the at least one groove 112 has a first distance L 1 measured along the front surface 1111 of striking face 111 and a second distance L 2 measured along the deepest portion of the at least one groove 112.
• the first distance L 1 is an overall distance and the second distance L 2 is a maximum depth distance.
• the second distance L 2 is at least 0.2 inches shorter than the first distance L 1 .
• the at least one groove 112 may be radiused at the toe and heel portions of the first golf club head 100 and may be machined into the striking face 111.
• the first golf club head 100 is retained in a mold, which preferably is formed of a material soft enough to not damage the first golf club head 100 yet resilient enough to firmly retain the first golf club head 100.
• a cutter 130 preferably a round cutter or a saw cutter, may be used to form the at least one groove 112.
• the toe and heel portions are radiused about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the at least one groove 112. Furthermore, that axis of rotation is approximately parallel to the striking face 111 of the first golf club head 100.
• Preferred cutters have a diameter from 3/8 inch to 3/4 inch.
• a preferred range of groove radii include from 0.125 inch to 5 inches, with 0.25 inch to 2.5 inches being more preferred. Having radiused grooves facilitates removal of dirt, grass, sand, and other materials that typically become embedded within grooves of a golf club during normal use by eliminating corners that can trap these materials.
• FIG. 3 shows a preferred groove cutting setup illustrating the cutter 130 with the at least one groove 112.
• FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of at least one groove 112 of the first golf club head 100.
• the at least one groove 112 includes a first sidewall 1121, a second sidewall 1122, a bottom wall 1123 between the first sidewall 1121 and the second sidewall 1122, a first edge 1125 between the first sidewall 1121 and the front surface 1111 of the striking face 111, and a second edge 1126 between the second sidewall 1122 and the front surface 1111 of the striking face 111.
• the at least one groove 112 is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane 125 located equidistant from the first sidewall 1121 and the second sidewall 1122 and extending perpendicular to the front surface 1111 of the striking face 111.
• the first edge 1125 and the second edge 1126 are each curved and have an edge radius R 1 .
• the at least one groove 112 includes a width W 1 between the first edge 1125 and the second edge 1126.
• the bottom wall 1123 is spaced a depth D 1 from the front surface 1111 of the striking face 111.
• the at least one groove 112 includes a wall angle ⁇ 1 defined between the first sidewall 1121 and the longitudinal plane 125.
• the at least one groove 112 of the first golf club head 100 includes a wall angle ⁇ 1 between 24 degrees and 32 degrees, more preferably between 26 degrees and 30 degrees, and most preferably about 28 degrees.
• the wall angle is critical to ball spin generation because it affects the amount that the groove sidewalls interact with the ball and affects the angle at which the edges of the groove impact the ball.
• the at least one groove 112 of the first golf club head 100 has a depth D 1 between 0.010 inches and 0.016 inches, more preferably between 0.013 inches and 0.015 inches, and most preferably about 0.014 inches.
• the depth of the groove is a critical factor in the amount of moisture and debris the ball gets exposed to during a shot while also maintaining the structural rigidity of the striking face.
• the at least one groove 112 of the first golf club head 100 has a width W 1 between 0.025 and 0.030 inches, more preferably between 0.027 inches and 0.029 inches, and most preferably about 0.028 inches.
• the width of the groove affects the spin imparted to the ball by determining the amount of contact area the ball experiences with the front surface of the striking face, the amount the ball may compress between edges of the groove, and the number of grooves that ultimately interact with the ball during the shot.
• the at least one groove 112 of the first golf club head 100 has a first edge 1125 and a second edge 1126 each with an edge radius R 1 between 0.005 inches and 0.009 inches, more preferably between 0.006 inches and 0.008 inches, and most preferably about 0.007 inches.
• the edge radius, in conjunction with the wall angle, is critical to ball spin generation because it determines the amount of grab that the edges of the groove impart on the ball.
• the set of golf clubs includes at least three golf club heads having a loft angle less than or equal to 28 degrees and having the same cross-sectional groove profile as described above for the first golf club head 100.
• FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200.
• the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 has a different cross-sectional profile than the at least one groove 112 of the first golf club head 100.
• the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 includes a first sidewall 2121, a second sidewall 2122, a bottom wall 2123 between the first sidewall 2121 and the second sidewall 2122, a first edge 2125 between the first sidewall 2121 and the front surface 2111 of the striking face 211, and a second edge 2126 between the second sidewall 2122 and the front surface 2111 of the striking face 211.
• the at least one groove 212 is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane 225 located equidistant from the first sidewall 2121 and the second sidewall 2122 and extending perpendicular to the front surface 2111 of the striking face 211.
• the first edge 2125 and the second edge 2126 are each curved and have an edge radius R 2 .
• the at least one groove 212 includes a width W 2 between the first edge 2125 and the second edge 2126.
• the bottom wall 2123 is spaced a depth D 2 from the front surface 2111 of the striking face 211.
• the at least one groove 212 includes a wall angle ⁇ 2 defined between the first sidewall 2121 and the longitudinal plane 225.
• the wall angle ⁇ 2 of the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 is less than the wall angle ⁇ 1 of the at least one groove 112 of the first golf club head 100.
• the depth D 2 of the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 is greater than the depth D 1 of the at least one groove 112 of the first golf club head 100.
• the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 includes a wall angle ⁇ 2 between 16 degrees and 24 degrees, more preferably between 18 degrees and 22 degrees, and most preferably about 20 degrees.
• the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 has a depth D 2 between 0.015 inches and 0.020 inches, more preferably between 0.016 inches and 0.018 inches, and most preferably about 0.017 inches.
• the width W 2 of the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 is greater than the width W 1 of the at least one groove 112 of the first golf club head 100.
• the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 has a width W 2 between 0.028 and 0.034 inches, more preferably between 0.029 inches and 0.033 inches, and most preferably about 0.031 inches. Additionally, the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 has a first edge 2125 and a second edge 2126 each with an edge radius R 2 between 0.005 inches and 0.009 inches, more preferably between 0.006 inches and 0.008 inches, and most preferably about 0.007 inches.
• the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 includes a wall angle ⁇ 2 between 10 degrees and 18 degrees, more preferably between 12 degrees and 16 degrees, and most preferably about 14 degrees.
• the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 has a depth D 2 between 0.016 inches and 0.020 inches, more preferably between 0.017 inches and 0.019 inches, and most preferably about 0.018 inches.
• the width W 2 of the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 is less than the width W 1 of the at least one groove 112 of the first golf club head 100.
• the at least one groove 212 of the second golf club head 200 has a width W 2 between 0.024 and 0.028 inches, more preferably between 0.025 inches and 0.027 inches, and most preferably about 0.026 inches. Additionally, the at least one groove 212 on the second golf club head 200 has a first edge 2125 and a second edge 2126 each with an edge radius R 2 between 0.006 inches and 0.010 inches, more preferably between 0.007 inches and 0.009 inches, and most preferably about 0.008 inches.
• the set of golf clubs includes at least three golf club heads having a loft angle greater than 28 degrees and having the same cross-sectional groove profile as described above for the second golf club head 200.
• FIGS. 7-10 show a first golf club head 300 and a second golf club head 400 of a set of golf clubs according to another embodiment of the present invention.
• the first golf club head 300 includes a body 310 defining a striking face 311, a sole 313, a topline 314 opposite the sole 313, a heel side 315, a toe side 316 opposite the heel side 315, and a hosel 317 at the heel side 315 configured to attach to a shaft (not shown).
• the striking face 311 includes a front surface 3111 configured to strike a golf ball and at least one groove 312.
• the striking face 311 may be unitary with the body 310, or it may be a separate component, such as an insert, coupled to the body 310.
• the first golf club head 300 has a loft angle less than or equal to 31 degrees.
• the second golf club head 400 includes a body 410 defining a striking face 411, a sole 413, a topline 414 opposite the sole 413, a heel side 415, a toe side 416 opposite the heel side 415, and a hosel 417 at the heel side 415 configured to attach to a shaft (not shown).
• the striking face 411 includes a front surface 4111 configured to strike a golf ball and at least one groove 412.
• the striking face 411 may be unitary with the body 410, or it may be a separate component, such as an insert, coupled to the body 410.
• the second golf club head 400 has a loft angle greater than 31 degrees.
• FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of at least one groove 312 of the first golf club head 300.
• the at least one groove 312 includes a first sidewall 3121, a second sidewall 3122, a bottom wall 3123 between the first sidewall 3121 and the second sidewall 3122, a first edge 3125 between the first sidewall 3121 and the front surface 3111 of the striking face 311, and a second edge 3126 between the second sidewall 3122 and the front surface 3111 of the striking face 311.
• the at least one groove 312 is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane 325 located equidistant from the first sidewall 3121 and the second sidewall 3122 and extending perpendicular to the front surface 3111 of the striking face 311.
• the first edge 3125 and the second edge 3126 are each curved and have an edge radius R 3 .
• the at least one groove 312 includes a width W 3 between the first edge 3125 and the second edge 3126.
• the bottom wall 3123 is spaced a depth D 3 from the front surface 3111 of the striking face 311.
• the at least one groove 312 includes a wall angle ⁇ 3 defined between the first sidewall 3121 and the longitudinal plane 325.
• the at least one groove 312 of the first golf club head 300 includes a wall angle ⁇ 3 between 30 degrees and 45 degrees, more preferably between 34 degrees and 41 degrees, and most preferably about 37.5 degrees.
• the at least one groove 312 of the first golf club head 300 has a depth D 3 between 0.012 inches and 0.019 inches, more preferably between 0.014 inches and 0.018 inches, and most preferably about 0.016 inches.
• the at least one groove 312 of the first golf club head 300 has a width W 3 between 0.028 and 0.034 inches, more preferably between 0.029 inches and 0.033 inches, and most preferably about 0.031 inches.
• the at least one groove 312 of the first golf club head 300 has a first edge 3125 and a second edge 3126 each with an edge radius R 3 between 0.0025 inches and 0.0075 inches, more preferably between 0.0035 inches and 0.006 inches, and most preferably about 0.0047 inches.
• the set of golf clubs includes at least three golf club heads having a loft angle less than or equal to 31 degrees and having the same cross-sectional groove profile as described above for the first golf club head 300.
• FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of at least one groove 412 of the second golf club head 400.
• the at least one groove 412 of the second golf club head 400 has a different cross-sectional profile than the at least one groove 312 of the first golf club head 300.
• the at least one groove 412 of the second golf club head 400 includes a first sidewall 4121, a second sidewall 4122, a bottom wall 4123 between the first sidewall 4121 and the second sidewall 4122, a first edge 4125 between the first sidewall 4121 and the front surface 4111 of the striking face 411, and a second edge 4126 between the second sidewall 4122 and the front surface 4111 of the striking face 411.
• the at least one groove 412 is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane 425 located equidistant from the first sidewall 4121 and the second sidewall 4122 and extending perpendicular to the front surface 4111 of the striking face 411.
• the first edge 4125 and the second edge 4126 are each curved and have an edge radius R 4 .
• the at least one groove 412 includes a width W 4 between the first edge 4125 and the second edge 4126.
• the bottom wall 4123 is spaced a depth D 4 from the front surface 4111 of the striking face 411.
• the at least one groove 412 includes a wall angle ⁇ 4 defined between the first sidewall 4121 and the longitudinal plane 425.
• the wall angle ⁇ 4 of the at least one groove 412 of the second golf club head 400 is less than the wall angle ⁇ 3 of the at least one groove 312 of the first golf club head 300.
• the depth D 4 of the at least one groove 412 of the second golf club head 400 is greater than the depth D 3 of the at least one groove 312 of the first golf club head 300.
• the at least one groove 412 of the second golf club head 400 includes a wall angle ⁇ 4 between 16 degrees and 24 degrees, more preferably between 18 degrees and 22 degrees, and most preferably about 20 degrees.
• the at least one groove 412 of the second golf club head 400 has a depth D 4 between 0.015 inches and 0.020 inches, more preferably between 0.016 inches and 0.018 inches, and most preferably about 0.017 inches.
• the at least one groove 412 of the second golf club head 400 has a width W 4 between 0.028 and 0.034 inches, more preferably between 0.029 inches and 0.033 inches, and most preferably about 0.031 inches.
• the at least one groove 412 of the second golf club head 400 has a first edge 4125 and a second edge 4126 each with an edge radius R 4 between 0.005 inches and 0.01 inches, more preferably between 0.006 inches and 0.009 inches, and most preferably between 0.007 inches and 0.008 inches.
• the set of golf clubs includes at least three golf club heads having a loft angle greater than 31 degrees and having the same cross-sectional groove profile as described above for the second golf club head 400.
• a set of golf clubs utilizing the groove combinations of the present invention as described above better maintains proper ball spin progression throughout the set when hitting shots from a variety of turf and moisture conditions.

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Citations (3)

• 2024
  • 2024-05-01 US US18/652,681 patent/US20250339742A1/en active Pending
• 2025
  • 2025-04-28 JP JP2025074339A patent/JP2025169907A/ja active Pending
  • 2025-04-29 EP EP25173315.0A patent/EP4643961A1/fr active Pending
  • 2025-04-30 KR KR1020250056992A patent/KR20250159107A/ko active Pending

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