Patent ID: 7374499

Claim:
A golf club head comprising: a body having a heel region, a toe region, a back surface and a front surface with a cavity formed therein, the cavity having a bottom wall proximal the back surface of the body and a side wall defining a depth dimension of the cavity; a face insert disposed within the recess, said face insert comprising, an insert core made of a first material, said insert core comprising a body having a forward surface proximal the front surface of the body, a rearward surface proximal the bottom surface of the cavity, and a perimeter surface defining a depth dimension of said insert core, the forward surface of said insert core forming a striking surface adapted for impacting a golf ball; and an insert shell made of a second material softer than said first material, said insert shell surrounding and substantially encapsulating at least the rearward surface and the perimeter surface of said insert core; said insert shell having an exterior surface adjacent the bottom wall of the cavity, an interior surface adjacent the rearward surface of said insert core, and a border surface defining a depth dimension of said insert shell, wherein said insert core includes a plurality of tabs substantially encapsulated by said insert shell, said plurality of tabs extending rearward and radially outward from a perimeter region of said insert core, said plurality of tabs defining a volume between the bottom wall of the cavity and the rearward surface of said insert core, said volume being filled with the second material forming a part of said insert shell.