Patent ID: 9687705
Date: 2017-06-27
CPC Classifications: A63B

Claim:
1. A ball striking device comprising: a face having a striking surface configured for striking a ball, the face being defined by an outer periphery; a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face, the body having a sole configured to face a playing surface and a crown opposite the sole, the body further having a rear end located opposite the face; and a channel extending across at least a portion of the sole of the body, the channel having an inward recess defined between a front edge and a rear edge extending in a heel-toe direction, the channel having a center portion, a heel portion more proximate a heel of the body, and a toe portion more proximate a toe of the body, wherein the rear edge is spaced rearwardly a greater distance from the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared to at least one of the heel portion and the toe portion, such that a distance between the rear edge of the channel and the outer periphery of the face is greater proximate the center portion and smaller proximate the heel or the toe, and wherein the center portion of the channel is closer to the face than to the rear end of the body, and wherein the front edge is also spaced rearwardly a greater distance front the outer periphery of the face at the center portion as compared to at least one of the heel portion and the toe portion, and wherein the body further comprises a spacing portion that junctures with the front edge of the channel at least at the center portion and extends from the front edge to proximate the outer periphery of the face to space the channel rearwardly from the outer periphery of the face, the spacing portion having a width, defined between the front edge of the channel and the outer periphery of the face, that is larger at a center of the spacing portion as compared to a second point more proximate to the heel or the toe of the body.