Patent ID: 7347794

Claim:
A golf club head comprising: a face plate having a contoured rear surface, the contoured rear surface including a central thickened region having a first non-circular, elliptical outer edge surrounded by a transition region tapered from the central thickened region toward a thinner peripheral region, the transition region having a second non-circular, elliptical outer edge and a curved lateral surface extending from the first non-circular, elliptical outer edge to the second non-circular, elliptical outer edge, wherein the first non-circular, elliptical outer edge has a first aspect ratio, a first major axis and a first minor axis, wherein the second non-circular, elliptical outer edge has a second aspect ratio, a second major axis and a second minor axis, the second major axis being equal to the first major axis plus a predetermined distance and the second minor axis being equal to the first minor axis plus the predetermined distance, wherein the first aspect ratio is greater than the second aspect ratio, and wherein each point along the second non-circular, elliptical outer edge is displaced outward from the first non-circular, elliptical outer edge by an amount equal to half of the predetermined distance.