Iron-type golf club head

An iron-type golf club head having a club face provide with a plurality of grooves extending in the toe-heel direction, satisfies the following conditions (1) the loft angle of the club head is not more than 41 degrees, (2) the thickness of the club head is not more than 23 mm, (3) the height of the club face measured along the club face at the position of the most toe-side end of the grooves is not less than 53 mm, (4) in a standard state of the club head set on a horizontal plane at the lie angle and loft angle specified for the club head, the ratio M/Sh (g sq·cm/mm) of a moment M of inertia (g sq·cm) around a first axis passing through a sweet spot in parallel with the club face and perpendicularly to the grooves, and a sweet spot height Sh (mm) which is the vertical height from the horizontal plane to the sweet spot is not less than 152.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf club head, more particularly to an iron-type golf club head capable of improving the flying distance and directionality of a ball hit by an average golfer.

In general, an iron-type golf club head is designed such that, when a ball is hit at a suitable position such as the sweet spot or the center of the club face, the flying distance of the ball becomes maximum. However, it is difficult For the average golfers to hit a ball at such a suitable position every time. Therefore, in the case of the average golfers, there is a tendency that the flying distance varies wide.

In the circumstances described above, for example, in the Japanese Patent Application Publication Nos. H9-253248 and H10-295861, an iron-type golf club head in which the position of the center of gravity of the club head is lowered has been proposed. Such a club head accordingly has the sweet spot at a lower position on the club face.

In general, an iron-type golf club has many opportunities to hit a ball lying on lawn, therefore, the ball hitting position tends to become in a sole-side region of the club face. Accordingly, in the case of the above-mentioned club head, the actual ball hitting position tends to coincide with the sweet spot. This helps to improve the flying distance.

In the case of a golf club head whose center of gravity is further lowered, chances of hitting a ball on the upper side of the sweet spot become high.

If a ball is hit on the upper side of the sweet spot, the club head is rotated by a small angle so as to increase the loft angle, and the launch angle of the ball is increased accordingly. Thereby, due to the gear effect, the excessive backspin of the ball is prevented. Thus, in this respect too, the club head having the lowered center of gravity is advantageous to increasing the flying distance.

In recent years, on the other hand, an iron-type golf club head constructed to have a large moment of inertia has been proposed. In the Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2014-410, such a club head is disclosed, wherein the moment of inertia about the Y-axis (vertical axis) extending through the center of gravity of the club head is increased.

In the case of the club head increased in the moment of inertia, even if the ball hitting position is off-centered toward the toe or heel from the sweet spot of the club face, the club head is hard to be rotated around the vertical axis at impact. Thus, such a club head having a large moment of inertia can improve the directionality of the ball hit by an average golfer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

From the results of study made by the inventor, it was found that the prior iron-type golf club heads have room for improvement to successfully satisfy the flying distance and the directionality of the hit ball at the same time.

It is therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an iron-type golf club head which can improve the flying distance and directionality of a ball hit by an average golfer.

According to the present invention, an iron-type golf club head having a club face provide with a plurality of grooves extending in the toe-heel direction, is characterized by satisfying the following conditions (1)-(4):

(1) the loft angle is not more than 41 degrees,

(2) the thickness of the club head is not more than 23 mm,

(3) the height of the club face measured along the club face at the position in the toe-heel direction of the most toe-side end of the grooves is not less than 53 mm,

(4) in a standard state of the club head, the ratio M/Sh (g sq·cm/mm) of

a moment M of inertia (g sq·cm) around a first axis passing through the sweet spot in parallel with the club face and perpendicularly to the grooves, and

a sweet spot height Sh (mm) which is the vertical height from the horizontal plane to the sweet spot is not less than 152.

Definitions

In this application, dimensions, positions, directions and the like relating to the club head refer to those under a standard state of the club head unless otherwise noted.

Here, the standard state of the club head is such that the club head is set on a horizontal plane HP so that the axis CL of the club shaft (not shown) is inclined at the specified lie angle alpha while keeping the axis CL on a vertical plane v, and the club face forms the specified loft angle beta. Incidentally, in the case of the club head alone, the center line of the shaft inserting hole can be used instead of the axis CL of the club shaft.

The sweet spot is a point of intersection between the club face4and a straight line drawn normally to the club face passing the center G of gravity of the golf club head.

The front-back direction is a direction parallel with the above-mentioned straight line projected on the horizontal plane HP.

The toe-heel direction is a direction parallel with the horizontal plane HP and perpendicular the a front-back direction.

Further, the iron-type golf club head according to the present invention may have the following features (a)-(e):

(a) the sweet spot height Sh is not more than 20 mm;

(b) the moment M of inertia is not less than 3000 (g sq·cm);

(c) the iron-type golf club head includes a head main body having a sole, and a weight member whose specific gravity is larger than the head main body, wherein

the head main body is provided in the sole with a channel extending in the toe-heel direction,

the weight member is fixed to the channel,

the weight member includes a toe-side weight member fitted in a toe-side part of the channel, a heel-side weight member fitted in a heel-side part of the channel, and a sole cover fixed to the channel so as to cover the toe-side weight member and the heel-side weight member;

(d) each of the toe-side weight member and the heel-side weight member has a specific gravity more than that of the sole cover;

(e) the toe-side weight member has a specific gravity more than that of the heel-side weight member.

According to the present invention, therefore, by satisfying the conditions (1)-(4), the iron-type golf club head can achieve both of the increased moment of inertia and the lowered sweet spot height. Thereby, it is possible to significantly improve the flying distance and the directionality of a ball hit by an average golfer.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail in conjunction with accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1-3show an iron-type golf club head1as an embodiment of the present invention under its standard state.

As shown, the club head1includes a main portion2and a hosel portion3.

The main portion2includes a club face4, a top5, a sole6, a toe7and a heel10.

The club face4is a substantially flat surface for hitting a ball. The club face4is provided with grooves8extending in the toe-heel direction.

Each of the grooves8has a small width and a small depth according to the limitations provided in the Golf rules. Under the standard state of the club head1, each of the grooves8extends in the horizontal direction.

The grooves8increase the frictional coefficient of the club face4to give appropriate spin to the hit ball to improve the flying distance.

Given that a grooved range is a range defined as extending in the toe-heel direction between a position in the toe-heel direction of the most toe-side end8aof the grooves8, and a position in the toe-heel direction of the most heel-side end8bof the grooves8, the grooved range has a width in the toe-heel direction determined in view of variations of ball hitting positions of the average golfers, and the grooved range is positioned substantially at the center in the toe-heel direction of the club face3.

The cross section shown inFIG. 2is that at the most toe-side end8aof the grooves8shown inFIG. 1.

The above-mention top5is the upper part of the club head1extending backward of the club head from the upper edge of the club face4.

The sole6is the lower part of the club head1extending backward of the club head from the lower edge of the club face4.

The toe7is a part which is most distant from the hosel portion3and smoothly connects between the top5and the sole6.

The heel10is a part on the opposite side of the toe7of the club head1.

The hosel portion3is tubular in this example, and has a shaft inserting hole9into which a club shaft (not shown) is inserted.

According to the present invention, the club head1is characterized by satisfying the following conditions:

(1) a loft angle is not more than 41 degrees,

(2) a thickness of the club head is not more than 23 mm,

(3) a height of the club face is not less than 53 mm, and

(4) the ratio M/Sh (g sq·cm/mm) of a moment M of inertia (g sq·cm) around a first axis passing through the sweet spot SS in parallel with the club face4and perpendicularly to the grooves8as shown inFIG. 3, and a sweet spot height Sh (mm) which is the vertical height from the horizontal plane HP to the sweet spot SS is not less than 152.

The conditions (1), (2) and (3) are for determining iron-type golf club heads targeted by the present invention. Namely, the iron-type golf club heads satisfying the conditions (1), (2) and (3) include iron-type golf club heads having conventional shapes, but a sand wedge and a pitching wedge for short game and a utility club are not included.

By the conditions (1), club heads having larger loft angles such as a sand-wedge and a pitching wedge are excluded from the target of the present invention. In the case of such club heads, the flying distance will not become an issue.

According to the conventional relationship between the club number and loft angle, the target of the present invention may be up to nine iron club.

Iron-type golf club heads targeted by the present invention are such that importance is put on both of the flying distance and directionality. For example, iron-type golf club heads having loft angles in a range of from 18 to 41 degrees may be targeted.

Further, the conditions (1)-(3) give a limitation to iron-type club heads which are easy to address. In the case of iron-type clubs satisfying the conditions (1)-(3), the trailing edge of the club head may be out of sight of the golfer when properly addressed. This makes it easy for the average golfer to address.

As shown inFIG. 2, the thickness Ft of the club head referred in the condition (2) is a dimension measured from the club face4to the rearmost point of the club head in a direction perpendicular to the club face4in the vertical cross section of the club head at the most toe-side end8aof the grooves8.

As the target of the present invention, an iron-type golf club head having a thickness Ft of from 15 to 23 mm is suitable.

As shown inFIG. 2, the height Fh of the club face referred in the condition (3) is a dimension measured along the club face4at the most toe-side end8aof the grooves8.

As the target of the present invention, an iron-type golf club head having a height Fh of from 53 to 63 mm is suitable.

The reason why the thickness Ft and the height Fh of the club face are measured at the most toe-side end8aof the grooves8is that the thickness Ft and the height Fh usually become maximum at the above-mentioned position.

FIG. 3shows a vertical section (perpendicular to the club face) of the club head including the center G of gravity of the club head corresponding to the cross sectional view taken along line B-B ofFIG. 1.

The condition (4) defines the ratio M/Sh (g sq·cm/mm) as being not less than 152. The ratio M/Sh (g sq·cm/mm) is that of the moment M of inertia (g sq·cm) around a first axis11passing through the sweet spot SS in parallel with the club face4and perpendicularly to the grooves8, and the sweet spot height Sh (mm) which is the vertical height from the horizontal plane HP to the sweet spot SS.

The iron-type golf club head1satisfying the conditions (4) can achieve both of a large moment M of inertia and a low sweet spot height Sh.

The value of the moment M of inertia becomes slightly larger than the value of a moment of inertia around a vertical axis passing through the center of gravity of the club head G, and there is a correlation therebetween.

FIG. 4shows relationships between moment M of inertia and sweet spot height Sh of conventional iron-type golf club heads obtained by measurements made by the inventor.

As apparent therefrom, in the case of conventional iron-type golf club heads indicated as comparative examples, if the sweet spot height Sh is low, then the moment M of inertia is small, and if the moment M of inertia is large, then the sweet spot height Sh is also high.

On the other hands, in the case of iron-type golf club heads as embodiments of present invention, the moment M of inertia can be increased while maintaining a low sweet spot height to satisfy the ratio M/Sh of not less than 152. Accordingly, the club head1according to the present invention can significantly improve the average golfers' flying distance and directionality.

Preferably, the ratio M/Sh (g sq·cm/mm) is set in a range of not less than 156, more preferably not less than 160.

In so far as the mass of the iron-type golf club head is within a conventional range (for example, 230 to 280 g), it is preferable that the sweet spot height Sh is as low as possible, and the moment M of inertia is as large as possible. Therefore, an upper limit is not given to the ratio M/Sh (g sq·cm/mm).

It is not essential but preferable that the sweet spot height Sh is not more than 21.0 mm, more preferably not more than 20.5 mm, still more preferably not more than 20.0 mm, yet still more preferably not more than 19.8 mm.

It is not essential but preferable that the moment M of inertia is not less than 2900 g sq·cm, more preferably not less than 2950 g sq·cm, still more preferably not less than 3000 g sq·cm.

FIG. 5shows an example of the structure of the club head1especially designed to satisfy the limitation of the ratio M/Sh.

As shown, the structural members of the club head1include a head main body30and a weight member50.

Preferably, the head main body30includes a face plate31forming a major part of the club face4, and a face plate receiving frame32on which the face plate31is mounted.

The face plate31is made of a material having a specific gravity which is smallest in the structural members of the club head1. For the face plate31, a metal material whose specific gravity is not more than 4.5 is preferably used. Especially, the use of a titanium alloy is preferred.

The face plate receiving frame32is provided with a though hole O penetrating in the front-back direction of the club head, while being surrounded by the top5, the sole6, toe7and the heel10.

The face plate receiving frame32is provided around the hole O with a club face mount portion33to which a peripheral part of the face plate31is fixed.

By the face plate31fixed to the club face mount portion33, the hole O of the face plate receiving frame32is closed.

The face plate receiving frame32integrally includes the hosel portion3.

Preferably, the face plate receiving frame32is made of an iron-based alloy having strength and good workability. Preferably, stainless steel or carbon steel having a specific gravity of not less than 7.5 can be used. Such face plate receiving frame32is helps to increase the moment M of inertia.

FIG. 6is a bottom view of the club head1under the standard state. As shown, the head main body30is provided in the sole6with a channel34extending in the toe-heel direction.

The channel34extends in the sole6along the toe-heel direction as shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 6. In this embodiment, the channel34is formed over the substantially entire extent of the sole6in the toe-heel direction. The toe-side end and the heel-side end of the channel34reach to the toe7and the hosel portion3, respectively.

As shown inFIG. 6, the channel34has a width in the front-back direction of the club head which is within the width between the leading edge L1and the trailing edge L2.

FIG. 7is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG. 6.

The channel34comprises a toe-side channel portion34a, a heel-side channel portion34b, and a middle channel portion34cextending therebetween as shown inFIG. 5andFIG. 7. The toe-side channel portion34aand the heel-side channel portion34bdent from the outer surface of the sole6more than the middle channel portion34c. In other words, the bottoms of the toe-side channel portion34aand the heel-side channel portion34bare positioned more upward away from the horizontal plane HP.

The weight member50is fixed to the channel34.

In this embodiment, the weight member50includes three separate members: a toe-side weight member51, a heel-side weight member52and a sole cover53.

The weight members51,52and53each have a specific gravity more than the specific gravity of the head main body30(namely, the face plate31and the face plate receiving frame32).

It is preferable that the specific gravity of each weight member50(51,52and53) is not less than 9.0.

The toe-side weight member51is disposed on the toe-side of the center of the club face FC in order to concentrate the mass at a toe-side part of the club head1.

The center of the club face FC means the center in the toe-heel direction of the grooved range.

The toe-side weight member51has an outer shape such that the toe-side weight member51fits into the toe-side channel portion34awithout a space therebetween in substance. Thereby, movements of the toe-side weight member51in the upper direction, the front-back direction and the toe-heel direction of the club head are restrained by being inserted in the toe-side channel portion34a.

The under surface of the toe-side weight member51is positioned above the outer surface of the sole6so as not to form the outer surface of the sole6.

It is not essential but preferable that the toe-side weight member51is curved upward toward the toe-side. Thereby, it is possible to effectively actualize the lowering of position of the center of gravity and a mass distribution toward a toe-side upper part.

The heel-side weight member52is disposed on the heel-side of the center of the club face FC in order to concentrate the mass at a heel-side part of the club head1.

The heel-side weight member52has an outer shape such that the heel-side weight member52fits into the heel-side channel portion34bwithout a space therebetween in substance. Thereby, movements of the heel-side weight member52in the upper direction, the front-back direction and the toe-heel direction of the club head are restrained by being inserted in the heel-side channel portion34b.

The under surface of the heel-side weight member52is positioned above the outer surface of the sole6so as not to form the outer surface of the sole6.

It is not essential but preferable that the heel-side weight member52is curved upward toward the heel-side. Thereby, it is possible to effectively actualize the lowering of position of the center of gravity and a mass distribution toward a heel-side upper part.

The sole cover53extends in the toe-heel direction across the center of the club face FC. In this embodiment, the sole cover53extends in the toe-heel direction over the entire length of the channel34. Thereby, the sole cover53in this embodiment completely covers the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52from the under side (sole side).

Preferably, each of the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52has a specific gravity more than that of the sole cover53. Thereby, it is possible to achieve the above-described lowered center of gravity of the club head G and increased moment M of inertia at the same time.

It is especially effective for effectively increasing the moment M of inertia while achieving the lowered center of gravity, to configure the sole cover53to have a specific gravity more than that of the head main body30, and less than those of the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52. Further, since the hosel portion3provides a relatively large mass in a heel side part of the club head1, in order to balance therewith, the toe-side weight member51preferably has a specific gravity more than that of the heel-side weight member52.

In order to allow the ratio M/Sh in a preferable range, it is desirable that

the specific gravity of the toe-side weight member51is more than 14, preferably not less than 15, more preferably not less than 16,

the specific gravity of the heel-side weight member52is more than 10, preferably not less than 11, more preferably not less than 13, and

the specific gravity of the sole cover53is not more than 9 and not less than 10.

In this embodiment, the weight members51,52and53are each made of a tungsten-nickel-iron alloy containing w, Ni and Fe. The specific gravity of each of the weight members51,52and53can be adjusted by mainly changing the content of tungsten W having a large specific gravity.

In this embodiment, the alloy materials of the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52each has a content of tungsten w more than that of the alloy material of the sole cover53so as to have a specific gravity more than that of the sole cover53.

The weldability of the tungsten-nickel-iron alloy with the iron-based alloy of the head main body30is decreased with the increase in the content of w. Accordingly, if a tungsten-nickel-iron alloy having a high tungsten content is used as the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52, it becomes difficult to make a strong weld joint between the head main body30of the iron-based alloy and the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52.

However, the sole cover53whose tungsten content is lower than the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52has a better weldability with the iron-based alloy than those of the weight members51and52.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the sole cover53is fixed to the head main body30(face plate receiving frame32) by welding. But, the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52are not welded to the face plate receiving frame32and the sole cover53. Accordingly, the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52are fixedly held in an interior space of the club head defined by the head main body30and the sole cover53, essentially by being closely fitted therewith.

When fixing the three weight members51-53to the head main body30, the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52can be easily located at their proper positions by fitting these into the toe-side channel portion34aand the heel-side channel portion34b.

Then, by welding only the sole cover53to the channel34of the head main body30, the weight members51-53can be fixed to the head main body30.

In the club head1in this embodiment, accordingly, the weight members can be fixed to the head main body30with a simple process.

The toe-side thin portion53ais a portion located beneath the toe-side weight member51.

The heel-side thin portion53bis a portion located beneath the heel-side weight member52.

It is desirable that the toe-side thin portion53aand the heel-side thin portion53bare made as thin as possible. Thereby, while giving a large mass to the toe side and heel side, the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52can be positioned on the further lower side (toward the outer surface of the sole6). Therefore, the club head can be provided with the further lowered center of gravity.

Preferably, the thickness t1of the toe-side thin portion53aand the thickness t2of the heel-side thin portion53bare set in a range of not more than 3.0 mm, more preferably not more than 2.5 mm, still more preferably not more than 2.0 mm.

The thickness t3of the in-between thick portion53cis more than the thickness t1of the toe-side thin portion53aand the thickness t2of the heel-side thin portion53b.

Due to such thickness variation, the upper surface of the sole cover53has a step54at the boundary between the in-between thick portion53cand the toe-side thin portion53a, and a step55at the boundary between the in-between thick portion53cand heel-side thin portion53b.

The steps54and55can closely contact with the toe-side weight member51and the heel-side weight member52disposed in the channel34without being welded, therefore, their positions in the toe-heel direction are more certainly fixed. Thereby, unpleasant hit feeing and sound can be prevented.

Preferably, the thickness t3of the in-between thick portion53cis gradually increased towards the toe. Such sole cover53helps to increase a mass distribution toward the toe while achieving the lowering of position of the center of gravity. This helps to further increase the ratio M/Sh (g sq·cm/mm).

FIG. 8shows a modification of the heel-side part shown inFIG. 7, wherein the heel-side part is shown bottom-up.

In this example, in order to assure the positioning of the heel-side weight member52, a temporary fixing part60is used.

The temporary fixing part60is formed by solidifying a molten metal material. Preferably, the molten metal material is the same metal material as that of the head main body30(in particular, the face plate receiving frame32) or a metal material whose major component is the same as the major component the head main body30(in particular, the face plate receiving frame32).

After the heel-side weight member52is fitted in the heel-side channel portion34b, for example, molten stainless steel as the temporary fixing part60is attached to spots arranged along the boundary between the heel-side weight member52and the heel-side channel portion34b.

Preferably, the temporary fixing part is bent into a hook as shown inFIG. 8so that a part of the molten metal covers a sole-side surface52aof the heel-side weight member52. Such molten metal is not for serving for metallic binding with the heel-side weight member52. But, it exhibits continuous metallic binding with the head main body30, therefore, the heel-side weight member can be surely prevented from moving toward the sole.

Although not shown, it is of course possible to apply such temporary fixing part60to the toe-side weight member51in the same manner as described above.

While detailed description has been made of preferable embodiments of the present invention, the present invention can be embodied in various forms without being limited to the illustrated embodiment

Comparison Tests

Based on the structure and shape shown inFIGS. 5 to 7, club heads as working examples were experimentally manufactured and measured for the moment M of inertia and the sweet spot height Sh.

Further, a club head as comparative example made up of a face plate (a), a face plate receiving frame (b) and a weight member (c) integrated with a hosel portion (d) as shown inFIG. 9was also manufactured and measured for the moment M of inertia and the sweet spot height Sh. The weight member (c) integrated with the hosel portion (d) is described in the US Patent Application Publication No. 2015-0038263A1.

Specifications of these club heads are as follows.

club head: for six iron club

Working Example 1

Comparative Example 1

As shown inFIG. 3, the height (sh) from the horizontal plane to the sweet spot under the standard state of the club head was measured.

The moment M of inertia around the first axis11under the standard state of the club head as shown inFIG. 3was measured with a moment of inertia measuring instrument (MODEL NO. 005-002) manufactured by INERTIA DYNAMICS Inc.

<Flying Distance and Directionality>

The club heads were attached to identical FRP shafts to make #6 iron clubs. Then, using the #6 iron clubs, each of ten average golfers having average scores ranging from 85 to 100 hit golf balls lying on lawn twenty times per club to obtain the flying distance of the struck ball and the distance of the point of fall of the struck ball from the target trajectory was measured in each shot regardless of slice or hook. For each of the clubs, two hundred measurements obtained from the ten golfers were averaged, and the averaged values are shown in Table 1.

From the test results, it was confirmed that working examples were increased in the ratio M/Sh and improved in the average golfers' flying distance and directionality.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST