Abstract:
A method for chemically etching a forged striking plate for a golf club to uniformly remove 0.002 inch to 0.015 inch of material therefrom. The forged striking plate is placed in an acidic bath to uniformly remove material from all surfaces of the striking plate. The forging process, conducted prior to etching, involves multiple heating and pressing of a metal bar to obtain a final face member configuration. The heating of the metal bar is performed at temperatures below 1000° C. for less than twenty minutes. The final face member configuration has a striking plate with regions of variable thickness. The metal bar is preferably composed of a forged titanium material.
Abstract:
The present invention is a golf club (30) having a club head main body (34) with a recess (38), an polymer insert (40) in the recess (38), an isolation layer (52) and a weight body (50). The polymer insert (40) is composed of a thermosetting polyurethane material having a Shore D hardness in the range of 42 to 55, and a Bayshore rebound in the range of 51 to 60. The preferred thermosetting polyurethane material is formed from a p-phenylene diisocyanate prepolymer and a curing agent. The golf club (30) is preferably a putter, however, it may be a wood or an iron. The particular thermosetting polyurethane provides a soft striking face for feel and a good rebound for distance. The weight body (50) is preferably composed of a tungsten alloy, and the isolation layer (52) is preferably composed of a thermoplastic polyurethane.
Abstract:
A golf club head with a polymer insert is disclosed herein. The polymer insert is disposed in a recess of the club head in which the recess has a depth that is greater than the thickness of the insert. The polymer insert has a plurality of tabs on its perimeter to engage the recess walls to allow the insert to essentially float within the recess. An adhesive is disposed between the rear wall of the recess and an interior surface of the insert. Further, an adhesive is applied between the plurality of tabs, and preferably over the exterior surface of each of the plurality of tabs. The plurality of tabs allow for a uniform surface on the face of the club head TO without having the insert occupy the entire recess. The insert may occupy between 55% to 75% of the face of the club head. Further, the insert may occupy between 10% to 25% of the volume of the club head. Yet further, the insert may be 1% to 5% of the weight of the club head. The insert may be composed of a thermoset material. The insert is preferably laser cut from a sheet of the thermoset material. The cutting operation is performed by half-cutting and then full cutting.
Abstract:
A sole configuration for a golf club head that provides the benefits of a sole configuration incorporating a medial ridge design. The medial ridge divides the sole into a toe and heel section. The sole further comprises a first and a second recess in the toe and heel sections respectively, wherein the first and second recesses are downwardly convex thereby allowing for the center of gravity of the golf club head to be positioned lower than in a golf club head having recesses that are downwardly concave. The first recess has a horizontal concavity that is in an opposite direction from the concavity of the second recess.
Abstract:
In combination with a golf club head which comprises a shell having toe and heel portions, a front wall defining a forward facing ball-striking face, and top and bottom walls, the bottom wall characterized as having a medial ridge, the improvement comprising a medial ridge having shallow downward convexity in an upright plane extending forwardly and intersecting the ridge, the ridge having a lowermost local zone, in ball-addressing position of the head, and the head having a center of gravity located in substantially vertical alignment with the local zone.