Abstract:
The present invention relates to an improved golf club head having a ball striking face with vertical grooves and intermediate vertical land areas between the grooves. The club head includes a resonator system having specific resonant frequencies which are determined by the specific variable width and depth combinations of vertical grooves and specific variable widths of the land areas between the vertical grooves. This controls the harmonics and feedback of a golf club head when it is used to stroke or strike a ball. In accordance with the invention, having more land area between the vertical grooves, creates a lower frequency resonance when striking a golf ball resulting in more energy transfer to the ball from a greater surface contacting the ball. Having less land area where the vertical grooves are closer together, creates a higher frequency resonance and somewhat less energy is transferred to a golf ball struck by the club head, thereby providing a softer feel. In addition, the variable depths and widths of the vertical grooves are used to control the resonance. Deeper and wider vertical grooves create a lower resonance and conversely narrow shallow vertical grooves create a higher resonance on the respective club heads.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 08/937,169, filed Sep. 25, 1997 entitled GRID CONFIGURATION FOR GOLF BALL STRIKING FACE, now abandoned. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to golf club heads and, in particular, to improved golf club heads having a plurality of vertical grooves, preferably with “frequency-matched” ball striking face configurations. 
     Conventional golf clubs, such as woods and irons, as well as putters, have been provided with grooves forming land areas and other shaped indentations, on the ball striking face, in order to control the spin and direction, as well as the feel, of a golf ball being struck by the particular golf club. Most iron and wood type clubs have used horizontal groove configurations in a heel-to-toe direction in a pattern of U-shaped or V-shaped grooves. U-shaped grooves have two opposing surfaces, each at 90° to the ball striking face. V-shaped grooves are angled to form a V-configuration with respect to the ball striking face. 
     Prior art configurations of interest are shown in a number of U.S. Patents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,505 to Stuff shows a golf putter club head with wide vertical grooves on the ball striking face extending from the top ridge to the bottom surface. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,450 to Stuff shows, in FIGS. 7 and 8, a putter having a groove configuration wherein the grooves generally converge toward the longitudinal center of the club head in the direction of the top surface and diverge away from the longitudinal center of the club head in the direction of the sole surface. 
     British Patent No. 25564, 1905, shows a putter type golf club head with vertical grooves which extend all the way from the bottom sole to the top surface of the ball striking face. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,034,936 to Barnhart shows, in FIG. 9, a golf club having a plurality of transverse slots which extend completely through the club head from the front to the rear side. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,854,548 to Hunt shows a golf club head with vertical grooves on the rear and extending through the club head. U.S. Pat. No. 1,289,533 to Sanders shows an iron type golf club head with a horizontal raised groove, which is sawtooth or triangular in cross-section. 
     Another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 1,532,545 to Peterson, which shows a curved ball striking face with a sawtooth groove configuration. 
     U.S. Design Pat. No. 63,284 to Challis shows a putter configuration including horizontal and vertical grooves, which form series of square or rectangular land areas on the ball striking face. 
     Still another prior art ball striking face structure is disclosed in the September 1998 issue of GOLF MAGAZINE, page 94 which describes a putter with a series of nubs which project outwardly from the putter face to grip a golf ball when it is struck by the putter to impart a softer feel to the golfer&#39;s hands. 
     In addition to groove configurations, many putter faces are currently made with face inserts of various materials, which are softer and provide a solid feel and an improved responsive sensation when putting a golf ball. However, such putters are generally more complex to produce and, consequently, are more expensive than standard conventional putters. Also, the ball striking faces of many currently marketed iron and metalwood type club heads include face inserts made of a variety of materials, other than the “basic” single stainless steel material used to produce the main club heads. Such face insert materials include titanium, beryllium copper, zirconium, nickel, bronze, manganese, and a variety of other blended alloy materials suitable for golf clubs. 
     The primary purpose of some of the prior art club face configurations are directed mainly to “imparting corrective or specific action to a golf ball”, or “achieving a variety of different actions to a golf ball struck by the face”. Some rely on plurality of grooves “extending along the face in non-parallel directions or with pads or both.” Also they include “means for imparting a desired action along the club face” having a resilience greater than the material used to produce the club head. 
     The entire golf industry has moved rapidly into hi-tech to market their respective products that are better designed to dramatically improve the golfing skills and enjoyment for all golfers. For example, golf club shaft makers have expanded the use of frequency-matched shaft technology that offer a variety of flexing, rigidness and recovery characteristics, that best suit each golfer, regardless of age, gender or physical abilities. The frequency-matched technology for golf club shafts creates shafts that produce better feel, increased accuracy and distance, less vibration and undesirable shocks. 
     Also the ongoing fierce competition in the golf ball industry compels the golf ball manufacturers to perpetually utilize the most sophisticated new component materials and availability of hi-tech equipment improvements, with their latest new technology in making golf balls that are best suited for each class of golfers and conform to the rules of golf. The combinations of components, such as the various types and sizes of inner cores, are frequency-matched to the various types of outer coverings, such as Balata, Surlyn and other materials, specifically blended to provide the best performing balls, most suitable for each caliber of golfer. 
     The leading golf ball manufacturers have been concentrating on producing a new breed of balls. Their advanced technology is producing balls with different types of cores, combined with variety of outer cover materials, having combinations of aerodynamic dimple designs. The dimples in the outer-ball covers include a variety of different shapes and sizes, and have been combined to produce a particular ball-cover design, specifically to greatly increase ball-flight control and accuracy. (This improvement alone has increased the overall performances of at least five golf balls with different compression ranges [70 to 100+]). Just as important, are the substantial improvements that have been made to the basic inner cores of the balls. Generally, the cores are round spheres made from steel, Titanium, solid rubber, rubber wound or other fluid-filled contained means. These are used to produce 3-piece wound Balata balls, 2-piece Surlyn cover balls and even 1-piece solid-core-and-cover golf balls. All of these advanced hi-tech improvements have been combined to dramatically increase their respective distances and overall performances . . . they offer a better, more desirable, audible harmonic and sensual feedback that produces the preferred “click” and enhanced solid sensations. These are the preferred features that are felt even when stroking a putted ball or striking a ball, with high velocity swings using iron and metalwood club heads to reach greater distances. 
     The ongoing challenge that the golf ball industry constantly faces, is not only to make a better ball than their competitors, but also to make it within the rigid parameters to conform to the rules of golf as defined and established by the U.S.G.A. 
     Likewise, the vertical groove concept of the present invention, is uniquely adaptable and very practical for use on all golf club heads, particularly since all of the golf club heads can be fine-tuned by having various combinations of coordinated, precision, frequency-matched, ball striking club face configurations. The vertical grooves are formed with variable precisely sized widths and depths that are adjacent properly sized land areas, also having coordinated widths, to produce the preferred results for all caliber of golfers. The vertical groove concept, for fine-tuning the respective golf club heads, relies on various combinations of precisely sized and shaped frequency matched configurations on the ball striking club faces to create the preferred feel and sound and performance for club heads, such as putters, irons, and woods. For some embodiments, this can be accomplished without using a second material, such as face inserts. 
     Various musical instruments use strings and wires, such as violins, guitars, banjos, pianos, and so forth, to produce different sounds. They rely on the different thickness and length of their strings or wires to repeatedly produce the desired resonance and preferred harmonic qualities when properly used. The present invention preferably provides preferred resonance and harmonic qualities, for a particular club and its application. 
     The feather at the end of an arrow helps to stabilize the shaft by resisting twisting and minimizing other undesirable movements, upon release while airborne and traveling toward it target. Similarly, the borings in the barrel of a gun help to stabilize the bullet as it leaves the muzzle to propel it in a practically straight-line trajectory to its target. 
     There is some comparison between the behavior of an arrow and a bullet and the concept of the present invention. The vertical grooves on the club faces of the present invention have a beneficial effect on the ball and tends to generate a forward top spin traction producing a straight-line trajectory. Having only vertical groove face configurations, the vertical groove concept of this invention minimizes adverse direction such as exaggerated slicing or hooking and produces a low trajectory boring ball flight with top spin and increased distance. The ball also lands softly. This concept does not impart adverse spin like the prior art. 
     The club face configurations are created by an array of shorter vertical grooves and shorter vertical land areas, formed in a perpendicular direction to the ball striking face, rather than the much longer array of horizontal grooves formed on traditional golf club heads. In the preferred embodiments, the uniquely structured frequency-matched configurations formed on the ball striking faces utilize combinations of specifically predetermined dimensions, best suited for the isolated vertical land areas and or the coordinating adjacent vertical grooves. The various coordinated combinations of both, extend perpendicularly to the club face, but generally do not extend into or beyond the top or bottom outer surfaces of the club face. 
     The land located between the vertical grooves meet with longitudinal planar land areas, located adjacent the top ridge and bottom sole of the club head, together with the properly coordinated vertical grooves and surrounding land areas, to form a grid that produces preferred harmonic and resonant characteristics, such as a specific frequency when ball contact occurs on the club face. 
     The specifically designed structure of the preferred configurations on the club faces, closes-off both end-portions of the vertical grooves on the ball striking face of putters, irons and metalwood club heads. This “corralled” energy requirement as described below, is critical to obtaining and maintaining the most proficient and desired matching frequency of the club face to achieve the superior performance and success of the invention. In addition, the dynamic force transferred to the club face must be contained and controlled, even for fractions of a second, to minimize and prevent the energy available from being totally dissipated, when ball contact occurs. It is paramount to trap and harness as much energy, at the moment of ball impact and at the precise point on the club face, where ball contact is made. This will permit a greater amount of energy created to be retained and be immediately available and transmittable, directly to the ball, upon contact. Since the shorter combination of various precision sized vertical grooves effectively isolates the variably-sized and coordinated vertical land areas on the club face, this concept permits the unique frequency-matched club face configurations to produce the unusual feel and preferred harmonics resulting in the superior performances for all golf club heads with this invention. 
     This invention relies on test data, accumulated from successfully applied extensive research and development knowledge, experimentation and relentless testing, to produce the impressive and formidable results in the present invention. 
     The extraordinary performance of the frequency-matched vertical grooves concept for club faces of all golf club heads, is supported by one of nature&#39;s phenomena that involve the laws of physics and dynamics. This is revealed and visually established in a very simple related demonstration of nature&#39;s phenomena. 
     When a pebble or golf ball lands in a pond of water, it instantly produces a rippling effect on the surface. A pattern of concentric circles or rings are formed immediately upon the pebble or ball striking the water&#39;s surface. This clearly demonstrates that the energy level of the force at impact is evenly distributed, mostly laterally, and radiating outwardly in a 360° direction at the water&#39;s surface, dissipating as the force or energy level diminishes equally in every direction. This phenomenon of nature also reveals other startling facts. The concentric ripples are symmetrically shaped, evenly spaced, and their outward flowing-pace is even controlled so that no ripple overtakes another. This phenomenon of one of nature&#39;s wonders never deviates from its repeating, precisely-regulated performance, no matter where or how often it occurs. This display of the laws of dynamics indicates that a given force, at impact, is evenly distributed, unimpeded, in all directions, but predominantly along a smooth or planar surface. These revealing facts relating to the laws of dynamics, along with the “fire break” or “fire gap” proven techniques used by professional firefighters to fight devastating forest fires, are combined to create the novel and practical concept of the disclosed invention, uniquely applicable for producing completely new types of frequency-matched club faces on all types of golf club heads. 
     The first prototype club heads tested established superior, different breed of high-performing club heads for all caliber of golfers. It was determined that variable sized vertical grooves on the club faces of the high-velocity swung iron club heads, will impart little, if any, backspin to the ball, like the horizontal grooves on traditional golf club heads. However, the ball has a slightly lower initial trajectory and yet farther carry, when struck by club heads of the present invention with vertical grooves. This is due to minimal, if any, backspin that can be produced by the traditional horizontal grooves. On the other hand, with the lower flight pattern of golf balls struck with frequency-matched club faces having vertical grooves, the ball landed softer and with increased stop action, on the green, but without the unpredictable effect from the degree of backspin produced by horizontal grooves. 
     The configuration of vertical grooves on club faces not only dramatically improves the feel and responsiveness, but also substantially reduces the negative effects from shocks and vibrations and other adverse results from mis-hits, thin shots and fat shots, particularly when ground contact occurs behind the ball. With the present invention, balls track straighter and go farther, especially against strong headwinds or unmanageable severe crosswinds. 
     Mis-hits, on club faces with horizontal grooves, can cause diverse shock waves and vibrations to be much more noticeable. This occurs because the shock waves and vibrations travel laterally along the recessed channels, formed by the elongated horizontal grooves on the club faces of traditional club heads, directly to the hosel, up the shaft, and to the gripping hands of the golfer. 
     These undesirable effects are practically eliminated when using club heads with the shorter vertical grooves of the present invention on their faces. The specifically designed vertical grooves and coordinated land areas act as buffers, impeding and effectively restricting the adverse shock waves and vibrations from moving laterally, as they do in the horizontal grooves of traditional golf club heads. Consequently, any force or energy distributed from the club face at impact, will tend to travel only the shorter distance upwardly and downwardly through the vertical grooves at the impact zone. This concept effectively alters and/or eliminates any of the harsh forces incurred at impact, that travel horizontally to, and up through, the hosel and up the shaft to the gripping hands of traditionally-used clubs. 
     Also, there is a more noticeable, much softer feel when impacting different quality balls, regardless if they are the softer covered Balata balls or the harder covered Surlyn balls. Golf balls fly straighter and farther when struck by iron or wood type club heads having such club faces with vertical grooves. Balls hit with club faces having frequency-matched vertical grooves have a more consistent flight pattern and trajectory, whereby ballooning is reduced considerably, if not eliminated. Furthermore landing is softer, especially on greens, with minimum forward movement and, of course, with practically no backspin. Also, making ball contact towards the toe or heel portions of the club faces with such vertical grooves, does not severely penalize the shot; rather the ball stays in play with minimum or no loss of distance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an improved golf club head having a ball striking face using variable sized and shaped combinations of vertical grooves and coordinated land vertical spaces between the vertical grooves, to create a predetermined harmonic relationship between the grooves and spacings which, in turn, controls the feel of a golf club when it is used to strike a ball. The grooves preferably do not extend all of the way to the top and bottom of the club head. In effect, there are horizontal lands adjacent the top and bottom of the head. As explained below, in some embodiments the club heads also include a horizontal or inclined land at the middle area of the club head, to further restrict and control the harmonic and energy transferring effect of the vertical grooves and lands. It will be appreciated that the terms vertical and horizontal are relative to the position of the club head relative to the ground or support surface, when the club head is soled to hit the ball. 
     For the purpose of the present invention, the term vertical is defined relative to a golf club head on a support surface in position it would normally assume at address just prior to the execution of a golf shot. For example, when using a putter, a vertical direction is the direction perpendicular to the putting green surface at address and during the execution of a putting stroke. A vertical direction is further defined as the direction generally perpendicular to a longitudinal line extending in a heel to toe direction and to the top and bottom surfaces of the club head, it being appreciated that a golf club head is not precisely rectangular in shape but includes a number of curved surfaces. 
     In accordance with the invention, having more land areas between the vertical grooves, a lower resonance or frequency of vibration occurs when striking a golf ball and, in turn, more energy is transferred to the ball because of the greater surface which contacts the ball. When less land area is provided, that is, where the vertical grooves are closer together, a higher resonance or harmonic frequency occurs and a different energy transfer occurs when a golf ball is struck, thereby providing a softer feel. In addition, the widths of the land areas and the widths and depths of the vertical grooves are combined to create and control the preferred resonances. Deeper and wider vertical grooves combined with variable land area widths create a lower resonance, and conversely shallower and narrower vertical grooves create a higher resonance. In the preferred embodiments, the width of the vertical lands between the grooves on iron and wood club heads is approximately three times the width of the vertical grooves. 
     The various size and shape combinations of the vertical grooves and the land areas create different feel and sound characteristics. Ideally, the invention permits a specific feedback vibrational “click” -sensation or harmonic relationship which can be created to satisfy every golfer or at least several different general types of golfers. For example, a golfer who wishes a softer feel to the golf club head would choose a club head having a vertical groove and land area combination configuration with a high resonance, whereas a golfer who wanted greater energy transfer for a given stroke would choose a golf club head having a coordinated vertical groove and land area combination which produces a lower resonance. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 TABLE OF PREFERRED COORDINATED DIMENSIONS 
               
               
                 TO PRODUCE VARIABLE HARMONICS AND SENSUAL 
               
               
                 FEEDBACKS (In Thousandths of an Inch) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Vertical Grooves for: 
                 Land Areas for: 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Iron and Wood 
                   
                 Iron and 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Heads 
                 Putter Heads 
                 Wood Heads 
                 Putter Heads 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Widths 
                 Less than 
                 Variable 
                 3 x width 
                 Variable 
               
               
                   
                 0.035 
                 Range from 
                 of Vertical 
                 Range from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0.010 up 
                 Grooves 
                 0.020 to 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to 0.060 
                   
                 1.000 
               
               
                 Depths 
                 Less than 
                 Variable 
                 -0- 
                 -0- 
               
               
                   
                 0.020 
                 Range from 
               
               
                   
                   
                 0.010 up 
               
               
                   
                   
                 to 0.060 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of using coordinated vertical groove and land area combinations on the ball striking face which allows a golfer to selectively determine the preferred sound and performance characteristics of the golf club head. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which set forth certain embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a putter type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 shows three different combinations of grooves used with the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows three additional versions of grooves used with the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of putter type golf club head in accordance with the present invention shown partially in section. 
     FIG. 5 is a top plan view, partially in section, of a third embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a top plan view, partially in section, of fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 is a top plan view, partially in section, of a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 8 is a top plan view, partially in section, of a sixth embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 9 is a top plan view, partially in section, of seventh embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of an iron type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of an iron type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of an iron type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective, exploded, sectional view of fourth embodiment of an iron type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of a wood type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 15 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of a wood type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of a third embodiment of wood type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 17 is a perspective, sectional exploded view of a fourth embodiment of a wood type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 18 is a front perspective, exploded view of an alternate embodiment of a putter type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 19 is an exploded sectional view of a detail of FIG.  18 . 
     FIG. 20 is a perspective view of still another putter type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 21 is an exploded sectional view taken along the lines XI—XI of FIG.  20 . 
     FIG. 22 is a front perspective view of an eighth embodiment of the putter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 23 is a front perspective view of a ninth embodiment of a putter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 24 is a front perspective view of a tenth embodiment of a putter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of a eleventh embodiment of a putter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 26 is a front perspective view of a twelfth embodiment of a putter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 27 is a front perspective view of a thirteenth embodiment of a putter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 28 is a front perspective view of a fourteenth embodiment of a putter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 29 is a front perspective view of a fifteenth embodiment of a putter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 30 is a front perspective view of a sixteenth embodiment of a putter of the present invention. 
     FIG. 31 is a front elevational view of a fifth embodiment of an iron type golf club in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 32 is a front elevational view of a sixth embodiment of an iron type golf club in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 33 is a front elevational view of a seventh embodiment of an iron type golf club in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 34 is a fifth embodiment of a wood type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 35 is a sixth embodiment of a wood type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 36 is a front perspective view of a seventeenth embodiment of a putter in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 37 is a front perspective view of an eighteenth embodiment of a putter in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 38 is a front perspective view of a nineteenth embodiment of a putter in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 39 is a front elevational view of an eighth embodiment of an iron type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 40 is a front elevational view of a seventh embodiment of a wood type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 41 is a front perspective view of a twentieth embodiment of a putter in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 42 is a front perspective view of a twenty-first embodiment of a putter in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 43 is a front perspective view of a twenty-second embodiment of a putter in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 44 is a front perspective view of a twenty-third embodiment of a putter in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 45 is a front elevational view of a ninth embodiment of an iron type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 46 is a front elevational view of a tenth embodiment of an iron type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 47 is a front elevational view of a eleventh embodiment of an iron type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 48 is a front elevational view of a twelfth embodiment of an iron type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 49 is a front elevational view of a thirteenth embodiment of an iron type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 50 is a front elevational view of a fourteenth embodiment of an iron type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 51 is a front elevational view of a eighth embodiment of a wood type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 52 is a front elevational view of a ninth embodiment of a wood type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 53 is a front elevational view of a tenth embodiment of a wood type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
     FIG. 54 is a front elevational view of a eleventh embodiment of a wood type golf club head in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limited, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention. 
     Referring to FIG. 1, a putter type golf club head  10  including a hosel  12  and shaft socket  14 , is connected to a club head body  16  having an upper surface  18 , lower surface  20 , heel  22  and toe  24 . The club head body  16  includes a ball striking face  26  having an array of vertically disposed grooves  28 , that is, the grooves  28  and land areas  30  formed between the grooves  28  are perpendicular to the upper surface  18  and lower surface  20  of the club head body  16 . As shown, the grooves  28  do not extend to the top and bottom of the club head. Thus, the club head in effect includes horizontal lands on the club face adjacent the top and bottom. The combination of the structure of the grooves  28  and the land areas  30  forms a resonator system  32  having given frequency resonance as a result of the vibrational impact when the club head  10  is used to strike a golf ball. The frequency of the resonance is determined by the dimensional relationship between the grooves  28  and land areas  30  and their length. That is, the frequency of the resonance is determined by the size, shape and spacing of the grooves  28  relative to the land areas  30 . In this preferred embodiment, the grooves  28  are shallow, V-shaped grooves and are separated by wide land areas  30 . 
     Referring to FIG. 2, various groove configurations A, B and C are disclosed. Groove A is a shallow V-shaped groove. Groove B is an intermediate depth V-shaped groove. Groove C is a deep V-shaped groove. FIG. 3 illustrates a variety of U-shaped grooves that can be applied to the present invention. Groove A is a shallow U-shaped groove, Groove B is an intermediate depth U-shaped groove, and C shows deep U-shaped grooves. 
     It will be appreciated that a variety of the V-shaped or U-shaped grooves may be used on the ball striking face of the golf club head in accordance with the present invention. Furthermore, the grooves may be spaced close or further apart creating gradually larger or smaller land areas depending upon the resonance characteristics which are desired. For instance, the spacing between the vertical grooves may progressively and symmetrically increase from the center of the club head to the heel and toe, much like the ripples made by a drop of water on a pond. This will produce vertical land areas that progressively increase in width, from the center outwardly. Similarly, the width of the grooves can increase in the same manner. 
     It will be appreciated that a wide variety of combinations may be used whereby a golfer may individually select a golf club head that provides a superior feel for the golfer&#39;s particular swing characteristics. Preferably, the land areas between the edges of adjacent grooves for putter heads are variable in the range of 0.020-1.000 inches. Given a groove that is 0.035 inches wide and has a depth of 0.020 inches, the land areas would be at least 0.105 inches wide, specifically for iron and wood type club heads. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a second embodiment of a putter type golf club head  100  in accordance with the present invention including an array of grooves  102  on the ball striking face  104  as shown in the sectional view. In this embodiment, the outer grooves  102 a are shallow U-shaped grooves, whereas the grooves  102 b at the center of he club head body are deep U-shaped grooves  102 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a third embodiment of a putter type golf club head  200  using wide and deep U-shaped grooves  202 . The grooves  202  have the same width and depth and also the same width of the land areas  204  between the grooves  202 . 
     FIG. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of a putter type golf club head  300  which includes variable width and depth of U-shaped grooves  304 , the largest grooves and deepest  306  being centrally located on the ball striking face  308 . 
     FIG. 7 shows a fifth embodiment of a putter type golf club head  400  having an array of U-shaped vertical grooves  402  that have the same width and depth but with land areas  404  between the grooves that are at least three times the width of the groove  402 . 
     FIG. 8 illustrates a sixth embodiment of a putter type golf club head  500  having an array of V-shaped vertical grooves  502  having the same width and depth and the same width land areas  504 . 
     FIG. 9 is a view of a sixth embodiment of a putter type golf club head  600  having an array of U-shaped vertical grooves  602  with the same width and depth and the same width as land areas  604 . The grooves  602  are smaller than the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 
     FIG. 10 is a first embodiment of an iron type golf club head  700  including a hosel  710  and a ball striking face  712  having a array of coordinated vertical grooves  714  equally spaced and adjacent to and between cooperating land areas  716  having relatively narrow widths across the length of the ball striking face  712  between the heel  718  and toe  720 . The ends of the vertical grooves do not extend into the top and bottom of the club face. Instead they terminate at the horizontal sections of the land areas  716  located adjacent the top and bottom portions of the club face  712 . The horizontal sections of the lands  716  of the present invention preferably are sufficiently large and strong to stabilize the vertical lands  716 . The vertical sections of the land areas  716  thus in effect are elongated bands of strings that are connected and fixed to the horizontal land sections located at the top and bottom of the club face and have a particular resonance or harmonic frequency. Also, this structure of the vertical grooves and land areas provide additional cushioning at impact, especially for iron and wood type club heads. 
     FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of an iron type golf club head  800  in accordance with the present invention including a hosel  810  and a ball striking face  812 . A series of widely spaced vertical grooves  814  are located adjacent to and between cooperating wide land areas  816  on the ball striking face  812  between the heel  818  and toe  820 . 
     FIG. 12 shows a third embodiment of an iron type golf club head  900  in accordance with the present invention including a hosel  10  and ball striking face  912 . In this embodiment, a variety of grooves  914  and land areas  916  are disclosed located on the ball striking face  912  between the heel  918  and toe  920 . As can be seen from the drawings, a series of four narrow grooves closely spaced between narrow land areas are disposed at the center of the ball striking face. Wider grooves spaced between wider land areas are located at the heel  918  and toe  920 , respectively. It will be appreciated that a wide variety of narrow and wide grooves and narrow and wide land areas may be provided on a golf club ball striking face in keeping within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the centrally located grooves can be narrow and closely spaced while the outward grooves progressively increase in width and/or as distance between each other, while being symmetrically positioned relative to the center of the club head. 
     FIG. 13 shows an exploded sectional view of a fourth embodiment of an iron type golf club head  1000  in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a series of U-shape vertical grooves  1014  having equal widths and equal depths are show located adjacent to land areas  1016  having equal widths. As with the putter type golf club heads, it will be appreciated that a wide variety of groove configurations of the types shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 may be used in accordance with the present invention. For example, the iron type golf club heads may use V-shaped groove configurations of the type shown in FIG. 2, or may use the U-shaped groove configurations of the type shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 14 discloses a first embodiment of a wood type golf club head  1100  in accordance with the present invention. The club head includes a hosel  1110  and a club head body  1112  having a heel  1114 , toe  1116  and ball striking face  1118 . A series of vertical grooves  1120  are equally spaced and adjacent to and between cooperating land areas  1122  having relatively narrow widths. Again, the grooves do not extend into the top and bottom of the club face but instead stop short of the top and bottom sections of horizontal land areas  1122 , by approximately the same distance, so that generally horizontal land sections  1122  are formed adjacent the top and bottom of the club face. These horizontal lands  11222  are sufficiently large and strong to stabilize and secure the top and bottom sections of vertical lands  1122 . 
     FIG. 15 shows a second embodiment of a wood type golf club head  1200  in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a series of vertical grooves  1220  are widely spaced on a ball striking face  1218  adjacent to and between cooperating horizontal and vertical sections of land areas  1222  having relatively wide widths. 
     FIG. 16 shows a third embodiment of a wood type golf club head  1300  in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a series of vertical grooves  1320  are disposed at various widths across the ball striking face  1318 . As seen in the drawings, four centrally located vertical grooves  1320  are relatively close between relatively narrow land areas  1322 , whereas vertical grooves  1320  located at the heel  1314  and at the toe  1316  are spaced relatively far apart between wide land areas  1322 . In this and other embodiments, the centrally located grooves can be narrow and closely spaced while the outward grooves progressively increase in width as well as distance between each other, while being symmetrically positioned relative to the center of the club head. 
     FIG. 17 shows a sectional exploded view of a fourth embodiment of a wood type golf club head  1400  in accordance with the present invention. In this embodiment, a series of U-shape vertical grooves  1420  are positioned on a ball striking face  1418 . The grooves  1420  have equal depth, and equal widths and the land areas  1422  have equal widths. 
     FIGS. 18 and 19 illustrate another embodiment of a putter type golf club head  1500  in accordance with the present invention having a separate insert  1502  located in the ball striking face  504 . The insert  1502  is formed with an array of vertical land areas  1506  and adjacent the vertical grooves  1508  which function in a manner similar to the embodiments described hereinabove. The sectional view of FIG. 19 illustrates the insert  1502  wherein the vertical grooves are U-shaped and have the same width and depth. The land areas  1506  between the grooves  1508  are also equal in width. 
     Inserts such as that shown in FIGS. 18-19 can also be applied to iron and wood type club heads. Moreover, the inserts can be designed so that the vertical grooves in the face of the insert do not extend all the way to the top or bottom of the club face but instead fall short and form generally horizontal sections of lands  1506  adjacent the top and bottom of the insert. These horizontal sections of the lands preferably are sufficiently large and strong to stabilize the tops and bottoms of the vertical sections of lands. This overall configuration provides greater cushioning against shocks and vibrations and a formidable support to the club face giving it more strength for greater overall club head stability and control, when impacting the ball. In addition, such an embodiment should better control the range of the harmonics and resonance of the lands of metal between the grooves. 
     FIGS. 20 and 21 illustrates still another embodiment of a putter type golf club head  1600  in accordance with the present invention including a curved ball striking face  1602  having a series of vertical grooves  1604  positioned between vertical land area  1606 . The grooves terminate at land areas at their respective tops and bottoms. 
     FIG. 22 shows a putter type golf club head  1700  having a curved ball striking face  1702  and a series of vertical grooves  1704  and vertical land areas  1706 . An elongated, longitudinal land area forms a gap between upper and lower grooves  1704 , the gap being positioned adjacent a top edge  1710  of the putter  1700 . This intermediate longitudinal land area (and the others disclosed herein) is preferably sufficiently large and strong to stabilize and tie down or fix the ends of the vertical lands attached to it. 
     FIG. 23 shows a putter type golf club head  1800  having a curved ball striking face  1802  and a series of vertical grooves  1804  and vertical land areas  1806 . An elongated, longitudinal land area  1808  forms a gap between upper and lower grooves  1804 , the gap being positioned adjacent the bottom edge  1810  of the putter  1800 . 
     FIG. 24 shows a putter type golf club head  1900  having a flat ball striking face  1902  having a series of grooves  1904  and land areas  1906 . A longitudinal land area  1908  separates upper and lower portions of the grooves  1904  and is positioned adjacent a top surface  1910  of the putter  1900 . This embodiment thus has three horizontal land areas, one at the top, one at the bottom, and one between. Preferably the land area  1908  is located at a position where a golf ball is most often struck. 
     FIG. 25 shows a putter type golf club head  2000  having a flat ball striking face  2002  and includes a series of grooves  2004  and land areas  2006 . A longitudinal land area  2008  separates upper and lower portions of the grooves  2004  and is positioned adjacent a bottom surface  2010  of the putter  2000 . 
     FIG. 26 shows a putter type golf club head  2100  including a flat ball striking face  2102 , vertical grooves  2104  and land areas  2106 . In this embodiment, two elongated longitudinal land areas  2108  and  2110  are provided separating the grooves  2104 . The club head thus has four longitudinal land areas, each of which is generally horizontal. 
     FIG. 27 shows an embodiment of a putter type golf club head  2200  in accordance with the present invention including a triangular shaped hosel  2202  and a club head body  2204  having a ball striking face  2206  with a grid configuration formed of a single horizontal, elongated slot  2208  extending in a toe  2210  to heel  2212  direction and a series of vertical grooves  2214  extending through top surface  2222  and bottom sole  2224  and corresponding vertical land areas  2216  formed thereby and separated by the slot. 
     FIG. 28 illustrates an embodiment of a putter type golf club head  2300  in accordance with the present invention including a single stem hosel  2302  and club head body  2304  having a ball striking face  2306 . A grid configuration is formed on the ball striking face  2306  with a series of raised land areas  2308  extending outwardly from the ball striking face  2306  and lying in a vertical direction when the club head  2300  is in a normal ball striking position relative to a support surface. The land areas  2308  are separated by an elongated horizontal slot  2310  running in a heel  2312  to toe  2314  direction. 
     FIG. 29 illustrates an embodiment of a putter type golf club head  2400  in accordance with the present invention and is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 28 with the exception that an elongated, horizontal slot  2410  is positioned toward the top ridge  2412  of a club head body  2404 . 
     FIG. 30 illustrates an embodiment of a putter type golf club head  2500  in accordance with the present invention similar to the previous two embodiments wherein an elongated slot  2510  separates a series of vertical land areas  2508  and is located toward the bottom leading edge  2512  of the club head body  2504 . 
     FIG. 31 shows an iron type golf club head  2600  having a ball striking face  2602  with vertical grooves  2604  and vertical land areas  2606 . An elongated longitudinal land area  2608  separates the grooves  2604  and extends between the toe  2610  and heel  2612  of the club head  2600  adjacent the top ridge  2614 . This particular land area  2608  is aligned with the top ridge of the golf club head. Such a longitudinal land area can be incorporated into any of the previously described groove and land systems for iron type club heads. 
     FIG. 32 shows an iron type golf club head  2700  having a ball striking face with vertical grooves  2704  and vertical land area  2706 . An elongated longitudinal land area  2708  separates the grooves  2704  and extends between the toe  2710  and heel of the club head  2700  adjacent the bottom edge  2714  of the club head  2700 . This land area is generally centrally located at the height where the center of a ball is generally hit. Again, this longitudinal land area can be incorporated into any of the previously described groove and land configurations. 
     FIG. 33 shows an iron type golf club head  2800  including vertical grooves  2804 , land areas  2806  and a pair of longitudinal land areas  2808 , and  2810  separating the grooves  2804  and extending in a heel  2812  to toe  2814  direction. Such a pair of longitudinal lands can be incorporated into the various vertical groove and land designs previously described. Preferably all of the generally horizontal land areas disclosed herein are sufficiently large and strong to stabilize and securely hold in place the ends of the vertical lands that attach to these generally horizontal lands. 
     FIG. 34 shows a wood type golf club head  2900  including ball striking face  2902 , vertical grooves  2904  and land areas  2906 . A longitudinal land area  2908  extends between the toe  2910  and heel  2912  and separates the grooves  2904 . This land is preferably positioned at the center height of the club slightly above the middle height of the club. 
     FIG. 35 shows a wood type golf club head  3000  including ball striking face  3002 , vertical grooves  3004  and land areas  3006 . In this embodiment, an elongated longitudinal land area  3008  extending between the toe  3010  and heel  3012 , is located toward the bottom  3014  of the club head  3000 . 
     The intermediate longitudinal lands illustrated in FIGS. 34 and 35 can be incorporated into any of the vertical groove and land configurations previously described for wood-type golf club heads. The resultant clubs would have a face with three longitudinal, generally horizontal lands, one at the top, one at the bottom, and one in the middle. These land areas help to control the resonance, frequency, and energy transferring characteristics of the lands and coordinated grooves. Each of the land areas are designed to provide optimum stability and club head control when ball contact occurs. This eliminates or minimizes possible distortions or damage to the club face from repeated high velocity swing speeds from certain caliber of golfers. 
     FIG. 36 shows a seventeenth embodiment of a putter type golf club head  3100  in accordance with the present invention. A ball striking face  3110  includes a series of vertical grooves  3112  adjacent the heel  3116  and toe  3118  respectively. The grooves  3112  are separated by generally horizontal land areas  3114 . The center of the ball striking face  3110  is planar forming a single isolated, wide land area  3120  between the adjacent vertical grooves  3112 . In this embodiment, the grooves  3112  act to dampen excess vibration, particularly if a golf ball is mis-hit. 
     FIG. 37 illustrates an eighteenth embodiment of a putter type golf club head  3200  in accordance with the present invention in which an array of wide, isolated land areas  3210  and adjacent vertical grooves  3212  are spaced widely apart on the ball striking face approximately ¼ inch or 0.250 inches apart. Horizontal grooves  3214  are located between, but not touching, the vertical grooves  3212 . 
     FIG. 38 illustrates a nineteenth embodiment of a golf club putter head  3300  in accordance with the present invention having a series of vertical land areas  3350  and adjacent grooves  3312 . Horizontal grooves  3314  are located between and touching, the vertical grooves  3312 . 
     FIG. 39 illustrates an iron type golf club head  3400  including a ball striking face  3406  having a series of vertical land areas  3410  separated by a series of broken grooves  3412 . 
     FIG. 40 illustrates a wood type golf club head  3500  in accordance with the present invention having a separate insert  3502  located in the ball striking face  3506 . The insert  3502  is formed with an array of vertical land areas  3510  and adjacent vertical grooves  3512  which function in a manner similar to the embodiment described herein above. 
     FIG. 41 shows a putter type golf club head  3600  having vertical land areas  3610  and vertical grooves  3612  and a single centrally located horizontal land area  3614  on the ball striking face  3616 . 
     FIG. 42 shows another putter head  3700  having vertical land areas  3710 , vertical grooves  3712  and two horizontal land areas  3714 ,  3716  on the ball striking face  3718  located adjacent the heel  3720  and toe  3722 , respectively. 
     FIG. 43 illustrates a putter golf club head  3800  having vertical land areas  3810 , vertical grooves  3812  and two angularly disposed land areas  3814 ,  3816  on the ball striking face  3818 . 
     FIG. 44 illustrates a putter type golf club head  3900  having vertical land areas  3910 , vertical grooves  3912  and a single arcuate land area  3914  on the ball striking face  3916  extending from the toe  3918  to the heel  3920 . 
     It will be appreciated that the various configurations of horizontal land areas combined with the vertical groove structure of each of the putter heads described with respect of FIGS. 41-44 provide a different resonance characteristic creating a different feel when a golf ball is struck. The depth of the walls forming the vertical grooves will vary which affects the thickness, height and the width of adjacent land areas. The specifically required dimensions produce the preferred and desired harmonics feedback, along with the improved cushioning. 
     FIGS. 45-50 show iron type golf club heads having a variety of land area configurations combined with vertical grooves which also provide different resonance characteristics when the club head is used to strike a golf ball. The land areas disclosed in these embodiments can be incorporated into any of the previously disclosed vertical land and groove configurations. The various combinations of both vertical and horizontal land areas literally surround the vertical grooves on the club face of the respective club heads. This improvement produces increased cushioning for both irons and woods when swung at high-velocity swings. 
     FIG. 45 illustrates a golf club head  4000  having vertical land areas  4010 , vertical grooves  4012  and three staggered horizontal land areas  4014 ,  4016  and  4018 . In this embodiment, the centrally located horizontal land areas  4016  is disposed above the horizontal land areas  4014 ,  4018 . The horizontal land areas separate the vertical grooves  4012  to create a variable resonance characteristic. 
     FIG. 46 illustrates an iron type golf club head  410  including vertical land areas  4110 , vertical grooves  4112 , and three horizontal land areas  4114 ,  4116 ,  4118  on the ball striking face  4120 . In this embodiment, the centrally located horizontal land area  4116  is below the horizontal land areas  4114 ,  4118 . 
     FIG. 47 shows an iron type golf club head  4200  including vertical land area  4210 , vertical grooves  4212  and angularly disposed land areas  4214 ,  4216  on the ball striking face  4218 . 
     FIG. 48 shows an iron type golf club head  4300  having vertical land areas  4310  and vertical grooves  4312 . In this embodiment, two angularly disposed land areas  4314 ,  4316  extend across the ball striking face  4318  from the heel  4320  to the toe  4322 . 
     FIG. 49 shows an iron type golf club head  4400  including vertical land areas  4410 , vertical grooves  4412  and a singular arcuately shaped land area  4214  extending across the ball striking face  4416  between the heel  4418  and toe  4420 . 
     FIG. 50 shows a golf club head  4500  having a ball striking face  4510  and a series of vertical grooves  4512  of various widths. Wider grooves have a width in the range of 0.040 to 0.060 which are flanked by grooves with lesser widths in the range of 0.020 to 0.040. Gaps  4514  separate both the wide and narrow grooves  4512  to provide a variety of resonance characteristics. 
     FIG. 51 shows a wood type golf club head  4600  having series of vertical land areas  4610 , vertical grooves  4612  and angularly disposed land areas  4614 ,  4616  on the ball striking face  4618 . The land areas  4614  and  4616  separate the vertical grooves  4612  whereby a larger array of vertical grooves area adjacent the lower portion of the club face  4618 . 
     FIG. 52 shows a wood type golf club head  4700  including vertically disposed land areas  4710 , vertical grooves  4712  and angularly disposed  4714 ,  4716  on the ball striking face  4718 . In this embodiment, the land areas  4714 ,  4716  separate the vertical grooves  4712  such that there is a larger array of vertical grooves adjacent the top portion of the ball striking face  4718 . 
     FIG. 53 shows a wood type golf club head  4800  having vertical land areas  4810 , vertical grooves  4812  and a single arcuate land area  4814  toward the lower portion of the ball striking face  4816 . 
     FIG. 54 illustrates a wood type golf club head  4900  having a series of different sized vertical grooves  4910  on the ball striking face  4912 . This embodiment also includes a horizontal land area  4914  separating the vertical grooves  4910  toward the bottom of he ball striking face  4912 . 
     The longitudinal land areas disclosed and described relative FIGS. 51-54 can be incorporated into any of the previously disclosed vertical groove and land configurations. 
     In certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, when applied to putter, iron, and wood type club heads, the vertical grooves and vertical land configurations are constructed and designed in a coordinated fashion such that at least some of the vertical land areas on a given club head have substantially different resonant characteristics than other vertical land areas on the same club head. As previously explained, the vertical land areas on the club face of the present invention are analogous to strings on a guitar or other string instrument, in that the vertical land areas will vibrate or resonate when the club head strikes a golf ball. The vibrational or resonant characteristics of a given vertical land area between two given vertical grooves of the present invention, will depend upon a variety of factors including but not limited to the length of the vertical land area, the width of the vertical land area, the depth of the vertical land area (defined by the depth of the walls of the adjacent grooves on the sides of the land area), and the manner in which the ends of the land area are either left free or are stabilized and held in place by a horizontal land area at its end. In certain preferred embodiments the resonant characteristics of at least two, and preferably more than two, of the vertical land areas for a given club head are varied relative to each other by changing one or more of these aspects of the different vertical land areas. By means of example, in some preferred embodiments the widths of at lest two, and preferably a plurality, of the vertical land areas differ from one another, while the lengths and the depths of the vertical land areas are the same or substantially the same. In other preferred embodiments the depths of at least two, and preferably a plurality, of the vertical land areas differ from one another (by having grooves with different depths), while the lengths of the widths of the vertical land areas are the same or substantially the same. In still other preferred embodiments, both the widths and depths of at least two, and preferably a plurality, of the vertical land areas differ from one another, wile the lengths of the vertical land areas are the same or substantially the same. In yet other embodiments, the lengths of at least two, and preferably a plurality, of the vertical land areas differ from one another, while the depths and widths are the same or substantially the same. In the preferred application of any of the above variations and others wherein different vertical land areas have different resonant characteristics, the top and bottom ends of the vertical lands are stabilized and effectively held in place, like the strings of a guitar, by horizontal land areas, as previously disclosed. In certain preferred embodiments, the vertical groove and land areas are configured so that the vertical land areas not only include land areas having different individual characteristics but also progressively vary in the characteristic from the general center of the club face outwardly. For example, the respective resonant frequencies of the different vertical land areas may progressively increase or decrease, from the center outwardly. 
     While various preferred embodiments have been shown and described, it will be understood that there is no intent to limit the invention by such disclosure, but rather, is intended to cover all modifications and alternate constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.