Golf Club Head

This application is based upon and claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-099882 filed on Jun. 20, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to a golf club head.

A golf club head having a stacked structure including a cover face covering the face surface of a face portion is proposed. A metal material or a fiber-reinforced resin material, or a combination of a metal material and a fiber-reinforced resin material is exemplified as a material of the face portion. A resin material or fiber-reinforced resin material having a durometer hardness of 98A or more is exemplified as a material of the cover face. Depending on the material of the cover face, a hitting sound upon hitting a golf ball is changed. See Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2023-169675.

A golf club head of the present disclosure includes a face portion that includes a first part and a second part. The first part includes a first material. The second part includes a second material, and one surface of the second part is bonded to one surface of the first part in a thickness direction of the first part. A density of the first material is 1.3 g/cmor less. A density of the second material is more than the density of the first material, and is 2.9 g/cmor less. Another surface of the second part is a hitting surface. The another surface of the second part, serving as the hitting surface, is opposite to the one surface of the second part. The second part includes a groove recessed from the hitting surface.

The present disclosure improves a hitting sound of a golf club head.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the same components are denoted by the same reference symbols, and duplicate descriptions thereof may be omitted.

is a perspective view illustrating, as an example, a golf club headaccording to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.is a front view illustrating the golf club headaccording to the first embodiment.is a front view identical to the front view illustrated inexcept that a second partis removed.is a cross-sectional view illustrating the golf club headaccording to the first embodiment. In, an arrow dindicates a toe-heel direction (left-right direction), an arrow dindicates a crown-sole direction (up-down direction), and an arrow dindicates a face-back direction (front-rear direction).

The crown-sole direction is the vertical direction in a case in which the golf club headrests on a horizontal plane at a reference lie angle and a reference loft angle. The crown-sole direction is substantially perpendicular to the toe-heel direction and the face-back direction. Also, the toe-heel direction and the face-back direction are substantially perpendicular to each other.

The golf club headillustrated inis a wood-type golf club head, such as a head of a driver or the like. However, the golf club headmay be a head of a utility or fairway wood. The volume of the golf club headis, for example, 380 cc or more. The weight of the golf club headis, for example, 170 g or more and 210 g or less.

The golf club headis a hollow structure including the face portion, a crown portion, a sole portion, a side portion, and a hosel portion. A surface of the hollow structure inside the hollow structure may be referred to as an inner surface, and a surface of the hollow structure outside the hollow structure may be referred to as an outer surface.

The face portionincludes a first partand a second part. The first partis connected to the crown portionand the sole portion. The second parthas a plate shape, and one surface of the second part is bonded to one surface of the first partin the thickness direction of the first part. The first partand the second partcan be bonded together, for example, with an adhesive.

Another surface of the second partis a hitting surfacefor hitting a golf ball. The another surface of the second part, serving as the hitting surface, is opposite to the one surface of the second part. The hitting surfaceis a part of the outer surface of the golf club head, which is a hollow structure. The first partmay include a recess for positioning the second part, on the second partside.

The first partincludes a first material, and the second partincludes a second material. The density of the first material is, for example, 0.7 g/cmor more and 1.3 g/cmor less. The density of the second material is more than the density of the first material. The density of the second material is, for example, 1.5 g/cmor more and 2.9 g/cmor less.

When the density of the first material and the density of the second material are in the above ranges, it is possible to improve a hitting sound upon hitting a golf ball with the golf club head. Also, when the density of the first material and the density of the second material are in the above ranges, it is possible to improve a hitting sensation upon hitting a golf ball with the golf club head.

The first material is, for example, a fiber-reinforced resin. As used herein, the fiber-reinforced resin is a composite material of a resin and a fiber that is a reinforcing material. Examples of the fiber forming the fiber-reinforced resin include carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, polyethylene fibers, ZYLON fibers, boron fibers, and the like. Examples of the resin forming the fiber-reinforced resin include epoxy resins, phenol resins, polyester resins, polycarbonate resins, and the like.

The second material is, for example, a metal. Examples of the metal include titanium, titanium alloys, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloys, iron-based metals, magnesium, magnesium alloys, and the like.

The crown portionis a portion forming the top of the golf club head. In the example of, the crown portionincludes a first crownand a second crown. The first crownincludes an opening that is open on the crown side, and the second crownis bonded to close the opening.

Specifically, as viewed in the crown-sole direction, a disposition portionis provided around the opening of the first crown. The disposition portionis an annular step that is recessed toward the interior of the hollow structure from the outer surface of the first crown. The outer peripheral portion of the second crownis disposed on the disposition portion, and the outer peripheral portion and the disposition portionare bonded together with an adhesive or the like. The crown portionmay have an integrated structure that does not include a plurality of crowns.

The first crownand the second crowncan include, for example, the first material. When the first crownand the second crowninclude the first material, the weight of the crown portioncan be reduced compared to a case in which the first crownand the second crowninclude the second material. Therefore, surplus weight generated by reducing the weight of the crown portioncan be distributed to optimal positions of the golf club head.

The sole portionis a portion forming the bottom of the golf club head. The side portionis located between the crown portionand the sole portion. The hosel portionis a portion that accommodates a sleeve to be connected to a shaft. The sole portion, the side portion, and the hosel portioncan include, for example, the first material. For example, the first crown, the sole portion, and the side portioncan be formed integrally with the first partof the face portion.

is a partial enlarged view of the face portionas viewed from the hitting surface. As illustrated in, the second partof the face portionpreferably includes groovesrecessed from the hitting surfacein a region where the second parthits a ball. The groovesmay include, for example, first groovesand second grooves. The groovesmay be the first groovesalone.

The first groovesextend in the toe-heel direction. The first groovesmay be arranged, for example, at substantially equal intervals in the crown-sole direction. The first groovesare, for example, parallel to each other.

The lengths of the first groovesin the toe-heel direction may be the same or different. The widths of the first groovesin the transverse direction are, for example, 0.6 mm or more and 0.9 mm or less. The maximum depth of the first groovesfrom the hitting surfaceis preferably within 0.4% of the thickness of the second part.

The second groovesare located between adjacent first grooves of the first grooves. The widths of the second groovesare narrower than the widths of the first grooves. The maximum depth of the second groovesfrom the hitting surfaceis shallower than the maximum depth of the first groovesfrom the hitting surface. The second groovesmay include a plurality of grooves having different widths and/or different maximum depths. The widths of the second groovesin the transverse direction are, for example, 0.001 mm or more and 0.003 mm or less. The maximum depth of the second groovesfrom the hitting surfacemay be, for example, about 10% of the maximum depth of the first grooves.

The second groovesmay or may not be connected to the first grooves. Alternatively, some of the second groovesmay be connected to the first grooves, and some of the second groovesmay not be connected to the first grooves. For example, the second groovesmay be arranged to extend obliquely with respect to the first grooves, but the second groovesmay be arranged to be parallel or perpendicular to the first grooves. Alternatively, some of the second groovesmay be arranged to extend obliquely with respect to the first grooves, and some of the second groovesmay be arranged to be parallel or perpendicular to the first grooves. The second groovesare not limited to the form of a straight line, but may be bent or curved. The second groovesmay have a network pattern.

The first groovesand the second groovescan be formed through laser processing or the like. By using laser processing, fine grooves having narrow widths and narrow pitches can be formed. In general, when grooves are to be formed through laser processing in a face portion including a material having a relatively low density, such as a fiber-reinforced resin or the like, it is challenging to accurately form grooves having a desired size due to the impact of heat generated by laser irradiation.

In the golf club head, the second partlocated on the outer surface side of the face portionincludes the second material having a relatively high density, such as a metal or the like. Thus, fine grooves like the second groovescan be formed with high accuracy.

The first partof the face portionincludes the first material having a relatively low density and a light weight, such as a fiber-reinforced resin or the like. Thus, the weight of the face portioncan be reduced. Therefore, surplus weight generated by reducing the weight of the face portioncan be distributed to optimal positions of the golf club head.

The thickness of the second partis preferably smaller than the thickness of the first part. The thickness of the first partis, for example, 3 mm or more and 5 mm or less. The thickness of the second partis, for example, 0.2 mm or more and 0.6 mm or less. When the thickness of the second partis 0.2 mm or more, it is possible to improve the hitting sound of the face portion, and readily form the first groovesand the second grooves. When the thickness of the second partis 0.6 mm or less, it is possible to suppress the face portionbeing too heavy.

In the golf club head, when the second partof the face portionincludes the grooves, a friction force between the hitting surfaceand the golf ball can be increased upon hitting the golf ball. This can reduce the spin rate of the hit golf ball. In particular, by forming the fine second groovesin addition to the first grooves, the density of the grooves can be increased, and the effect of reducing the spin rate becomes remarkable.

is a bottom view illustrating, as an example, a golf club headA according to Modified Example 1 of the first embodiment. Specifically,illustrates the golf club headA as viewed from the sole side.is a cross-sectional view illustrating the golf club headA according to Modified Example 1 of the first embodiment. As illustrated in, in the golf club headA, the sole portionincludes a first soleand a second sole. The first soleincludes an opening that is open on the sole side, and the second soleis bonded to close the opening.

Specifically, as viewed in the sole-crown direction, a disposition portionis provided around the opening of the first sole. The disposition portionis an annular step that is recessed toward the interior of the hollow structure from the outer surface of the first sole. The outer peripheral portion of the second soleis disposed on the disposition portion, and the outer peripheral portion and the disposition portionare bonded together with an adhesive or the like.

The first solecan include, for example, the first material. For example, the first sole, the first crown, and the side portioncan be formed integrally with the first partof the face portion.

The second solecan include, for example, a third material having a specific gravity higher than the specific gravity of the first material. The density of the third material is, for example, 4.0 g/cmor more and 10 g/cmor less. The third material is, for example, a metal. Examples of the metal include titanium, titanium alloys, stainless steel, iron-based metals, tungsten alloys, and the like.

In this manner, when the second soleincludes the third material having a specific gravity higher than the specific gravity of the first material, the golf club headA can be formed to have the center of gravity that is lower in position.

As illustrated in, in the golf club headA, the second solemay include one or more attaching portionsto which a weight adjusting partis attachable and from which the weight adjusting partis detachable.

is a cross-sectional view of a vicinity of the attaching portionand the weight adjusting part. As illustrated in, the attaching portionhas a cylindrical shape, and includes an internal thread in the inner surface. The attaching portionis disposed on the inner surface side of the second sole, and is open on the outer surface side of the second sole. The weight adjusting partis attached to the attaching portionthrough fastening with a screw.

The weight adjusting partincludes, for example, a head, an external thread, and a cylindrical portion. The external threadand the cylindrical portionare provided on one side of the headconcentrically with the head

The headhas, for example, a circular shape as viewed from the sole side. The external threadand the cylindrical portionhave, for example, circular shapes that are smaller in diameter than the headas viewed from the crown side. The headis provided, for example, with a cross-shaped or hexagonal groove. The headdoes not project from the outer surface of the second sole. The external threadcan be screwed with the internal thread of the attaching portion.

The weight adjusting partcan include, for example, a fourth material having a specific gravity higher than the specific gravity of the first material. The density of the fourth material is, for example, 2.5 g/cmor more and 14 g/cmor less. The fourth material is, for example, a metal. Examples of the metal include titanium, titanium alloys, stainless steel, aluminum, aluminum alloys, iron-based metals, tungsten alloys, and the like.

Althoughillustrate a state in which the weight adjusting partis attached to the attaching portion, the weight adjusting partis attachable to or detachable from the attaching portion. For example, a plurality of types of the weight adjusting parthaving different weights can be provided, and the weight adjusting parthaving a required weight can be selected and appropriately attached.

In this manner, by attaching or detaching the weight adjusting partto or from the attaching portion, it is possible to adjust the position of the center of gravity of the golf club headA.

is a partial cross-sectional view of a vicinity of the hosel portion. As illustrated in, a sleeveto be fixed to the tip of the shaft can be configured to be attachable to or detachable from the hosel portionof the golf club headA. The sleevemay include, for example, a metal. The sleevemay include a resin.

By using the sleeve, it is possible to readily replace the shaft by rotating a screw. Also, the axis of a shaft receiving hole provided in the sleevecan be tilted from the center axis of the hole in the hosel portion. In this case, the lie angle and the face angle can be varied by rotating the sleevein the axial direction of the sleeve, and changing a position at which the sleeveis engaged with the hosel portion.

According to the disclosed technique, it is possible to improve a hitting sound of a golf club head.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above in detail, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Various modifications and substitutions can be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims recited.