Patent Publication Number: US-8540588-B2

Title: Golf club head with composite weight port

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/363,551, filed on Feb. 1, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/248,855, filed on Sep. 29, 2011, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/388,124, filed on Sep. 30, 2010, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/940,371, filed on Nov. 5, 2010, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/286,971, filed on Dec. 16, 2009, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a golf club head having a composite sole or composite body patch with one or more weight ports to house one or more removable weights. More specifically, the present invention relates to a golf club head having a composite sole or composite body patch with integrally formed weight ports and a removable, metal weight insert. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     As driver golf club heads have increased in volume to greater than 300 cubic centimeters, their moments of inertia have also increased, providing greater forgiveness for off-center hits. The conventional method for enlargement of golf club heads was to maximize the spatial distribution of mass in all three orthogonal orientations. Although this approach was effective in increasing the moments of inertia of the golf club heads, it also resulted in the center of gravity of the golf club head being positioned substantially rearward from the front face of the golf club head. 
     As the center of gravity is positioned further rearward from the front face, deleterious effects result for shots struck off-center from the sweet spot of the golf club head. Increased gear effect is the main cause of the deleterious effects. For heel-ward or toe-ward off-center hits, the increased gear effect can cause increased side-spin, which increases dispersion, reduces distance and reduces robustness of ball flight. For off-center hits above the sweet spot, the increased gear effect causes reduced backspin, which can cause an undesirable trajectory having insufficient carry length or time of flight, which in turn can result in reduced distance and reduced robustness. 
     In addition, the same conventional golf club head designs are limited with regard to the maximum face area, both physical and practical limitations. The physical limitation is due to the golf club head having insufficient mass to both increase the length and width of the golf club head and also to increase the face size without exceeding the upper range of the preferred total golf club head mass. Such mass distributions are dependent on minimum wall thickness values required to achieve acceptable in-service durability. 
     The practical limitation is that as the face size is increased, hit locations in certain regions around the face perimeter will yield an unsatisfactory ball flight due to the above-mentioned deleterious effects, which are accentuated for larger faces. The deleterious effects increase in a non-linear manner as the distance from the face center increases. Thus the incremental face area gained by increasing face size will be subject to more extreme deleterious effects. This limits the practical length of the club, because probable hit distribution across the surface of the face broadens as the club length increases. As a result, a longer club will yield a larger percentage of hits in the perimeter regions of the face where the deleterious effects occur. This offsets the otherwise beneficial effect of increased head speed. As club length increases, head speed increases up to a length of approximately 52 inches, at which point aerodynamic and biomechanical effects offset the length effect. 
     Further, conventional head designs having a center of gravity positioned substantially rearward from the face are subject to significant dynamic loft effects, which can be undesirable. Dynamic loft increases with head speed, so that golfers with higher head speeds experience more dynamic loft than those with slower swing speeds. This is opposite of what is desired as higher head speeds generally require less loft, otherwise excess backspin will be generated, which negatively affects trajectory and performance. 
     Currently, golf club heads made of metal, composite, or other material are produced with a specific weight which is fixed once the golf club head is finished. The fixed weight of the golf club head determines the center of gravity and moment of inertia. After the golf club head is finished, there exists a small amount of weight which needs to be adjusted. This small amount of weight is called the swing weight. Presently, if the swing weight needs to be adjusted, to alter the center of gravity and/or moment of inertia, the fixed weight must be changed, which requires the manufacture of a new golf club head. 
     One invention that addresses a golf club head with an improved moment of inertia and center of gravity is U.S. Pat. No. 7,559,851 issued to Cackett et al. for Golf Club Head with High Moment of Inertia. This patent discloses a golf club head with a moment of inertia, Izz, about the center of gravity of the golf club head that exceeds 5000 grams-centimeters squared. 
     Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,066 to Belmont which discloses a wooden golf club head having removably inserted weight adjustment members. The members are parallel to a central vertical axis running from the face section to the rear section of the club head and perpendicular to the crown to toe axis. The weight adjustment members may be held in place by the use of capsules filled with polyurethane resin, which can also be used to form the faceplate. The capsules have openings on a rear surface of the club head with covers to provide access to adjust the weight means. 
     Yet another example is U.S. Pat. No. 2,750,194 to Clark which discloses a wooden golf club head with weight adjustment means. The golf club head includes a tray member with sides and bottom for holding the weight adjustment preferably cast or formed integrally with the heel plate. The heel plate with attached weight member is inserted into the head of the golf club via an opening. 
     Although the prior art has disclosed many variations of golf club heads with weight adjustment means, the prior art has failed to provide a club head with both a superior material construction and a high-performance weighting configuration. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of this invention to adjust the swing weight of the golf club head externally, without having to manufacture or purchase a new golf club head. A golfer using the present invention will be able to adjust the center of gravity and moment of inertia to best suit his or her playing needs. The golf club head has external weights positioned at specific locations on the golf club head body to improve the center of gravity and moment of inertia characteristics. The weights to be inserted into the cavities of the golf club head all may be of the same size and shape, however will vary in density. This allows for the weights to be interchangeable depending on the golfer&#39;s individual needs. The aft-body of the golf club head is preferably composed of a composite material with recessed cavities to engage the weights. Alternatively, the aft-body comprises a cutout covered by a body patch composed of composite material having one or more recessed cavities to engage the weights. 
     One aspect of the invention is a golf club head comprising a face component, a crown, and a composite sole having exterior and interior surfaces, wherein the composite sole includes at least one weight port. In another embodiment of the invention, the weight port comprises a composite component and a metal component. In yet a further embodiment of the invention, the metal component is affixed to the interior surface of the composite sole. In a further embodiment of the invention, the golf club head comprises a weight insert, wherein the weight insert is affixed to the weight port with a screw. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the weight insert is composed of a metal material. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the screw is composed of a metal material. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the weight port has a conical shape and the weight insert has a shape that fits within the weight port. In a further embodiment of the present invention, the weight insert has a conical shape. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a metal face component, a crown, a composite sole, and a metal weight insert having a conical shape, wherein the composite sole has at least one, integrally formed weight port, wherein the weight port is conical in shape, wherein the weight port has a metal screw receiving component, and wherein the weight insert is affixed to the weight port with a metal screw. In another embodiment, the metal screw receiving component is threaded. In yet another embodiment, the metal screw attaches to the metal screw receiving component and thereby secures the weight insert in the weight port. In a further embodiment, the face component is composed of titanium. In another embodiment, the crown is composed of titanium. In yet another embodiment, the crown is composed of composite material. In another embodiment, the sole has at least three integrally formed weight ports and at least three metal weight inserts. In another embodiment, the golf club is a driver. In yet another embodiment, the golf club is a fairway wood. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a wood-type golf club head comprising a metal face component comprising a striking surface and a face extension, an aft body comprising a crown, a sole, an interior surface, an exterior surface, and a cutout portion, and a composite body patch comprising an interior surface, an exterior surface, and at least one, integrally formed weight port, wherein the weight port comprises a composite component and a metal boss, and wherein the composite body patch is affixed to the aft body and covers the cutout portion. In some embodiments, the metal boss may be affixed to the interior surface of the composite body patch. In other embodiments, the metal boss may be affixed to the exterior surface of the composite body patch. In another embodiment, the aft body may further comprise a ledge surrounding the cutout portion, and a portion of the interior surface of the composite body patch may be affixed to the exterior surface of the ledge with an adhesive. In some embodiments, the composite body patch may further comprise a ledge, and the exterior surface of the ledge may be affixed to the interior surface of the aft body with an adhesive. This embodiment may further comprise a weight insert affixed to the weight port with a screw. The weight port may have a conical shape and the weight insert may have a shape that fits within the weight port. In an alternative embodiment, the present invention may further comprise a weight screw comprising a head portion and a screw portion, which may have a weight of at least 1 gram and no more than 20 grams. This embodiment may be a driver having a volume of 400 to 500 cubic centimeters. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a golf club head comprising a metal face component, an aft body comprising a crown, a sole, and a cutout portion, a composite body patch, a threaded boss composed of a metal material, and a weight screw, wherein the composite body patch comprises an exterior surface, an interior surface, and at least one, integrally formed weight port, wherein the threaded boss is affixed to the at least one weight port with an adhesive, wherein the composite body patch is affixed to the aft body with an adhesive and covers the cutout portion, and wherein the golf club head has a volume of 400 to 500 cubic centimeters. The cutout portion may be located on a toe section of the aft body. In some embodiments, the face component and the aft body may be composed of a titanium alloy. In other embodiments, the crown may be composed of a composite material, the sole may be composed of a metal alloy, and the cutout may be located on the sole. The aft body may in some embodiments comprise at least one integrally formed weight port. In other embodiments, the composite body patch may have an asymmetrical shape. In yet another embodiment, the aft body may further comprise a ledge surrounding the cutout portion, and the interior surface of the composite body patch may be affixed to the exterior surface of the ledge. In an alternative embodiment, the composite body patch may comprise a ledge, and the external surface of the ledge may be affixed to the interior surface of the aft body. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is a driver-type golf club head comprising a face component comprising a striking surface and a return portion, the face component composed of a titanium alloy, an aft body comprising a toe side, a heel side, a crown, a sole, and a cutout portion, the aft body composed of a titanium alloy, a composite body patch comprising an exterior surface, an interior surface, a ledge, and at least one, integrally formed weight port, a threaded boss composed of a metal material, and a weight screw comprising threads sized to fit within the threaded boss, wherein the threaded boss is affixed to the weight port, wherein an exterior surface of the ledge is affixed to the interior surface of the aft body with an adhesive material such that the composite patch fully covers the cutout portion, and wherein the golf club head has a mass of 180 grams to 215 grams. In some embodiments, the cutout portion may be located in the sole proximate a toe side of the golf club head. 
     Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is sole-side view of a golf club head according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a heel-side view of the golf club head shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the golf club head shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of a weight port shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the weight port and golf club head shown in  FIG. 4  along line A-A. 
         FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of a weight insert that can be used with the golf club head shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative configuration of the weight port and golf club head shown in  FIG. 4  along line A-A. 
         FIG. 8  is a side plan view of an alternative weight that can be used with the golf club head of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom, rear perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention with an exposed cutout portion. 
         FIG. 10  is a bottom, toe-side perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9  with the cutout portion covered by a composite body patch. 
         FIG. 11  is top perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention with an exposed cutout portion. 
         FIG. 12  is a bottom, toe-side perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11  with the cutout portion covered by a composite body patch. 
         FIG. 13  is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of a composite body patch of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the composite body patch shown in  FIG. 13  along lines  14 - 14 . 
         FIG. 15  is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a composite body patch of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the composite body patch shown in  FIG. 15  along lines  16 - 16 . 
         FIG. 17  is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a composite body patch of the present invention. 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of the composite body patch shown in  FIG. 17  along lines  18 - 18 . 
         FIG. 19  is a rear perspective view of another embodiment of a composite body patch of the present invention. 
         FIG. 20  is a cross-sectional view of the composite body patch shown in  FIG. 19  along lines  20 - 20 . 
         FIG. 21A  is a top perspective view of a golf club according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 21B  is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 21A . 
         FIG. 22  is an exploded, top perspective view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 21A . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is generally directed to a golf club head with one or more weight ports that are formed in a composite sole or a composite sole patch and house removable weight inserts. In the preferred embodiments, the one or more weight ports are integrally formed in the sole or body patch. 
     Views of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . The golf club head  40  shown in  FIGS. 1-3  has a hollow interior  90 , shown in  FIG. 5 , and is generally composed of a face component  30  comprising a face  60 , a face extension  65 , and a hosel  50 , and an aft body  70  comprising a crown  62  and a sole  64  having three weight ports  80 ,  82 ,  84 . In alternative embodiments, the golf club head  40  may have one, two, or more than three weight ports. The club head  40  also may optionally have a ribbon, skirt, or side portion (not shown) disposed between the crown  62  and sole  64  portions. The golf club head  40  is preferably partitioned into a heel section  66  nearest the hosel  50 , a toe section  68  opposite the heel section  66 , and a rear section  75  opposite the face  60 . The preferred embodiment of the golf club head  40  shown in  FIGS. 1-5  has a volume of approximately 460 cubic centimeters and a face  60  with a characteristic time that is close to, but does not exceed, 257 μs. 
     In the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the face component  30  is made of titanium and the aft body  70  (including the crown  62  and sole  64 ) is made of a composite material. The composite crown  62  and sole  64  may be formed using one or more of the techniques described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 20100139079 and 20110065528, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/886,773, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties herein. 
     At least part of each weight port  80 ,  82 ,  84  is integrally formed in the composite sole  64 . As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the weight port  82  comprises a weight receiving region  100  and a screw-receiving region  105 . In the preferred embodiment, the weight receiving region  100  is the portion of the weight port  82  that is integrally formed in the composite and the screw-receiving region  105  is a separate metal piece, e.g., a screw-receiving boss with internal threads, which is affixed to the interior surface  102  of the composite weight receiving region  100 . The screw-receiving region  105  preferably is affixed to the interior surface  102  of the composite weight receiving region  100  with an adhesive or another means. 
     The screw-receiving region  105  may also, in an embodiment shown in  FIG. 7 , be affixed to the exterior surface  103  of the composite weight receiving region  100  with an adhesive or with a mechanical fastener such as a nut  90 , which is affixed to a lower portion of the screw-receiving region  105  to effectively sandwich the weight-receiving region  100  between the screw-receiving region  105  and the nut  90 . In this embodiment, the screw-receiving region  105  rests against the exterior surface  103  of the weight receiving region  100  and extends into the golf club head. If the screw-receiving region  105  is mechanically affixed to the weight receiving region  100  in this manner, it is preferable for an exterior surface of the screw-receiving region  105  to have threads so that the nut  90  can securely engage with the screw-receiving region  105 . Other techniques of affixing the screw-receiving region  105  to the composite weight receiving region  100  may be utilized. In alternative embodiments, the screw-receiving region  105  may be composed of a material other than metal, such as composite or plastic. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , a weight  200  is placed into the weight port  82  and received by the composite weight receiving region  100 . The weight  200  is secured within the weight port  82  with a screw  210 . The weight  200  may be removed from the weight port  82  by unscrewing the screw  210  and removing both the screw  210  and the weight  200  from the weight port  82 . 
     In the preferred embodiment, the weight ports  80 ,  82 ,  84  are shaped to receive a conical weight. Also in the preferred embodiment, the weight  200  is conical in shape with a central aperture  205  for receiving a screw  210 , as shown in  FIG. 6 , and both the weight  200  and the screw  210  are composed of a metal material. The weight  200  and screw  210  may, in alternative embodiments, be composed of other materials, such as composite or plastic. In some embodiments, the weight  200  and/or screw  210  may be made of stainless steel, titanium, tungsten, or other metal materials. In an alternative embodiment, the weight  200  may be a different shape, such as asymmetric or cylindrical instead of conical, and may comprise an integrally formed screw portion  220  as shown in  FIG. 8 , which makes a separate screw  210  unnecessary. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 8 , the weight  200  is a weight screw having an integrally formed screw portion  220  and a cylindrical head portion  230 . 
     The weight  200  preferably ranges in mass between 1 grams and 40 grams, more preferably between 10 grams and 30 grams, and most preferably 15 grams to 25 grams. More specifically, if the weight  200  is chosen for insertion in the toe-section  68  weight port  80 , the weight  200  preferably ranges in mass between 5 grams and 25 grams, more preferably between 6 grams and 20 grams, and most preferably 6 grams to 16 grams. More specifically, if the weight  200  is chosen for insertion in the heel section  66  weight port  84 , the weight  200  preferably ranges in mass between 10 grams and 40 grams, more preferably between 10 grams and 30 grams, and most preferably 12 grams to 29 grams. More specifically, if the weight  200  is chosen for insertion in the rear section  75  weight port  82 , the weight  200  preferably ranges in mass between 10 grams and 40 grams, more preferably between 15 grams and 30 grams, and most preferably 23 grams. 
     Other embodiments of the present invention are shown in  FIGS. 9-12 . In these embodiments, only a portion of the aft body  70 , specifically a body patch  300 , is formed of a composite material. The remainder of the aft body  70 , which includes a cutout portion  77  in the sole  64  near the toe section  68  of the club head  40 , can be composed of any material, but is most preferably composed of a metal alloy, and most preferably a titanium alloy such as 6-4 titanium. The aft body  70  includes a ledge  72  against which the composite body patch  300  rests and to which the composite body patch  300  is bonded. In alternative embodiments, discussed in greater detail herein, the composite body patch  300  may comprise a ledge  305  instead of or in addition to the aft body  70  ledge  72 . In alternative embodiments, the cutout portion  77  may be located in an area of the aft body  70  other than the toe section  68 . The composite body patch  300  may be formed using one or more of the techniques described in U.S. Patent Publication Nos. 20100139079 and 20110065528, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/886,773, and includes an integrally formed weight port  350  similar or identical to the one described with reference to the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-5 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9-12 , the composite body patch  300 , which preferably has an asymmetric, teardrop shape (but can be manufactured to have any desired shape), is sized to completely cover the cutout portion  77  of the aft body  70 , thus preventing dirt and debris from entering the golf club head  40 . The composite body patch  300  preferably is permanently affixed to the aft body  70  with an adhesive material. The cutout portion  77  preferably is circumscribed entirely by the material of the sole  64 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , but in an alternative embodiment it may be enclosed by the sole  64  on only one or two sides, as shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 . In both of these structures, the crown (not shown) may be integrally cast with the rest of the club head, or it may be affixed to the club head  40  after the composite body patch  300  has been bonded to the sole  64 . The crown used with this embodiment is preferably composed of a metal alloy material, but it may instead be a composite material formed using one or more of the techniques referenced above. 
     The composite body patch  300  shown in  FIGS. 9-12  may be formed to have a consistent shape and size, such that it can be mass-produced for use in many different club heads. The composite body patch  300  is preferably formed with a ledge  305  to assist in alignment with the aft body  70  of the golf club head  40 . The weight port  350  of the composite body patch  300  may have different features, as shown in  FIGS. 13-20 . In particular, the metal screw-receiving boss  105  may have different configurations and can be affixed to the weight receiving region  100  of the weight port  350  in different ways. The manner in which the metal screw-receiving boss  105  is affixed to the weight port  350  can affect both the durability of the weight port  350  and the retention of the weight  200  within the weight port  350 . The features shown in  FIGS. 13-20  may be applied to the weight ports  80 ,  82 ,  84  disclosed in connection with the preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1-5  in addition to the weight port  350  disclosed in connection with the composite body patch  300 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14 ,  16 , and  18 , the metal screw-receiving boss  105  preferably has an upper flange  106  and an internal bore  110  with threads sized to receive either a screw  210  or the integrally formed screw portion  220  of a weight screw. The metal screw-receiving boss  105  preferably is a single piece of metal that is either cast, forged, or machined to have the features described herein. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , the upper flange  106  of the metal screw-receiving boss  105  is affixed to an interior surface  352  of the weight receiving region  100  of the integrally formed weight port  350 . The flange  106  preferably rests against and is bonded to the interior surface  352  with a strong adhesive material. In this configuration, the weight  200 , or the cylindrical head portion  230  of a weight screw, never directly touches the metal screw-receiving boss  105 , as it is separated from the boss  105  by the composite material of the weight receiving region  100 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 15 and 16 , the metal screw-receiving boss  105  has a slight “T” shape such that an upper portion  107  extends partly into the weight receiving region  100  of the integrally formed weight port  350 . This configuration provides a greater contact surface between the metal screw-receiving boss  105  and the weight port  350 , and thus decreases the likelihood that the boss  105 , and thus the weight  200 , will detach from the weight port  350 . The weight  200  will have minimal contact with the boss  105  at the upper portion  107 , so a user may wish to insert a washer or o-ring into the weight port  350  to prevent unwanted friction. In this embodiment, the flange  106  rests against and is bonded to the interior surface  352  of the weight receiving region  100  of the weight port  350 . As shown in  FIG. 15 , the interior surface  352  of the weight receiving region  100  has a depression  355  that is sized to receive the flange  106 , and also has keyed sides  340  to prevent the metal screw-receiving boss  105  from twisting once it is placed and bonded within the depression  355 . 
     The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18  is similar to the one shown in  FIG. 7 , as the flange  106  of the metal screw-receiving boss  105  rests against and is bonded to the exterior surface  353  of the weight receiving region  100 . In this embodiment, however, the weight receiving region  100  of the weight port  350  has a tube portion  345  extending away from the weight port  350 . The metal screw-receiving boss  105  is received within and bonded to the tube portion  345 , thus providing significant contact and bonding surface to prevent the boss  105  from disengaging from the weight port  350 . In this configuration, the weight  200  directly contacts the boss  105 , so a user can place a washer between the boss  105  and the weight  200  to prevent unwanted friction. 
     The embodiment shown in  FIGS. 19 to 20  is similar to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 18 and 19 , as the weight port  350  also includes the tube portion  345 . The boss  105  in this embodiment, however, is much smaller than in the other embodiments because it lacks a flange  106 , and is retained entirely within the tube portion  345 . This configuration reduces the amount of material needed to form the boss  105 , and thus reduces the overall weight of the weight port  350 . Furthermore, since the weight  200  will have only minimal contact with the boss, a washer or o-ring is not needed to reduce friction. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 21A ,  21 B, and  22 . In this embodiment, the golf club head  140  comprises a body  145  with a face component  130  having a face  160  and a face extension  166 , which is integrally formed with a hosel  150 , a crown portion  162 , and a sole portion  164 . The golf club body  145  also comprises two large cutout portions  177 ,  178 , one on its heel side  142 , and one on its toe side  144 . The body  145  preferably is integrally cast from a metal alloy, but may in alternative embodiments be pieced together from multiple components. Composite body patches  180 ,  185  are bonded to the body  145  to cover the cutout portions  177 ,  178 . The composite body patches  180 ,  185  which are cup-shaped and form part of both the crown and the sole surfaces of the golf club head  140  when it is fully assembled, may further comprise weight ports having any of the structural features disclosed herein. 
     In the embodiment shown in these Figures, the body  145  comprises a first shallow recess  163  on the crown portion  162  and a second shallow recess  165  on the sole portion  164 . Thin weights  190 ,  192  are disposed within these recesses  163 ,  165 , secured with screws (not shown), and concealed with covers  194 ,  196  that preferably are formed from the same material as the body patches  180 ,  185 . The weights  190 ,  192  may be removable to permit a golfer to adjust overall weighting of the golf club head  140 , and may further be exchanged for other weights having different material compositions and densities. In an alternative embodiment, however, the weights  190 ,  192  are permanently retained within the recesses  163 ,  165 , which can be achieved by bonding the covers  194 ,  196  to the golf club body  145 . 
     In other embodiments, the face component  30  and crown  62  may be made from cast or forged metals or from composite materials, and may be formed integrally or pieced together. In yet other embodiments, the face component  30  and crown  62  each may be composed of different materials. The golf club of the present invention may also have material compositions such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,244,976, 6,332,847, 6,386,990, 6,406,378, 6,440,008, 6,471,604, 6,491,592, 6,527,650, 6,565,452, 6,575,845, 6,478,692, 6,582,323, 6,508,978, 6,592,466, 6,602,149, 6,607,452, 6,612,398, 6,663,504, 6,669,578, 6,739,982, 6,758,763, 6,860,824, 6,994,637, 7,025,692, 7,070,517, 7,112,148, 7,118,493, 7,121,957, 7,125,344, 7,128,661, 7,163,470, 7,226,366, 7,252,600, 7,258,631, 7,314,418, 7,320,646, 7,387,577, 7,396,296, 7,402,112, 7,407,448, 7,413,520, 7,431,667, 7,438,647, 7,455,598, 7,476,161, 7,491,134, 7,497,787, 7,549,935, 7,578,751, 7,717,807, 7,749,096, and 7,749,097, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein. 
     The golf club head of the present invention may be constructed to take various shapes, including traditional, square, rectangular, or triangular. In some embodiments, the golf club head of the present invention takes shapes such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,163,468, 7,166,038, 7,169,060, 7,278,927, 7,291,075, 7,306,527, 7,311,613, 7,390,269, 7,407,448, 7,410,428, 7,413,520, 7,413,519, 7,419,440, 7,455,598, 7,476,161, 7,494,424, 7,578,751, 7,588,501, 7,591,737, and 7,749,096, the disclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein. 
     The golf club head of the present invention may also have variable face thickness, such as the thickness patterns disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,163,682, 5,318,300, 5,474,296, 5,830,084, 5,971,868, 6,007,432, 6,338,683, 6,354,962, 6,368,234, 6,398,666, 6,413,169, 6,428,426, 6,435,977, 6,623,377, 6,997,821, 7,014,570, 7,101,289, 7,137,907, 7,144,334, 7,258,626, 7,422,528, 7,448,960, 7,713,140, the disclosure of each of which is incorporated in its entirety herein. The golf club of the present invention may also have the variable face thickness patterns disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20100178997, the disclosure of which is incorporated in its entirety herein. 
     Another aspect of the golf club head  40  of the present invention is directed a golf club head  40  that has a high coefficient of restitution for greater distance of a golf ball hit with the golf club head of the present invention. The coefficient of restitution (also referred to herein as “COR”) is determined by the following equation: 
             e   =         v   2     -     v   1           U   1     -     U   2               
wherein U 1  is the club head velocity prior to impact; U 2  is the golf ball velocity prior to impact which is zero; v 1  is the club head velocity just after separation of the golf ball from the face of the club head; v 2  is the golf ball velocity just after separation of the golf ball from the face of the club head; and e is the coefficient of restitution between the golf ball and the club face.
 
     The values of e are limited between zero and 1.0 for systems with no energy addition. The coefficient of restitution, e, for a material such as a soft clay or putty would be near zero, while for a perfectly elastic material, where no energy is lost as a result of deformation, the value of e would be 1.0. The golf club head  40  preferably has a coefficient of restitution ranging from 0.80 to 0.94, as measured under conventional test conditions. 
     The coefficient of restitution of the club head  40  of the present invention under standard USGA test conditions with a given ball preferably ranges from approximately 0.80 to 0.94, more preferably ranges from 0.82 to 0.89 and is most preferably 0.86. 
     As defined in  Golf Club Design, Fitting, Alteration  &amp;  Repair,  4 th  Edition, by Ralph Maltby, the center of gravity, or center of mass, of the golf club head  40  is a point inside of the club head determined by the vertical intersection of two or more points where the club head balances when suspended. A more thorough explanation of this definition of the center of gravity is provided in Golf Club Design, Fitting, Alteration &amp; Repair. 
     The center of gravity and the moment of inertia of a golf club head  40  are preferably measured using a test frame (X T , Y T , Z T ), and then transformed to a head frame (X H , Y H , Z H ). The center of gravity of a golf club head  40  may be obtained using a center of gravity table having two weight scales thereon, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,607,452, entitled High Moment Of Inertia Composite Golf Club, and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. If a shaft is present, it is removed and replaced with a hosel cube that has a multitude of faces normal to the axes of the golf club head. Given the weight of the golf club head  40 , the scales allow one to determine the weight distribution of the golf club head when the golf club head  40  is placed on both scales simultaneously and weighed along a particular direction, the X, Y or Z direction. 
     In general, the moment of inertia, Izz, about the Z axis for the golf club head  40  of the present invention is preferably greater than 3000 g-cm 2  , and more preferably greater than 3500 g-cm 2 . The moment of inertia, Iyy, about the Y axis for the golf club head  40  of the present invention is preferably in the range from 2000 g-cm 2  to 4000 g-cm 2 , more preferably from 2300 g-cm 2  to 3800 g-cm 2 . The moment of inertia, Ixx, about the X axis for the golf club head  40  of the present invention is preferably in the range from 1500 g-cm 2  to 3800 g-cm 2 , more preferably from 1600 g-cm 2  to 3100 g-cm 2 . 
     From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes, modifications and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claims. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.