Iron-type golf clubs

Abstract

A set of iron-type golf clubs includes long irons with channel back configurations and short irons with cavity back configurations. The rear face configurations transition from channel backs through to pure cavity backs for increased performance continuum for the set. Additional design parameters for the set may also be systematically varied through the set, such as groove type and depth, loft angle, cavity volume, hitting face roughness, and sole width. At least one of the clubs of the set includes a sandwich-type construction for the hitting face having a dampening element disposed between a hitting face insert and a lightweight reinforcing core. In one embodiment, at least one club head is oversized.

1 . An iron-type golf club head comprising:
 a body comprising a hitting face and a rear flange, wherein a lower portion of a rear surface of the hitting face forms a first side wall of a channel and the rear flange forms a second side wall of the channel and a bottom wall of the channel, and the channel includes an opening;   a core extending at least partially into the opening and including a portion that abuts the rear surface of the hitting face; and   a dampening element that abuts a portion of the core.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the opening has a first rearward length and the bottom wall has a second rearward length that is greater than the first rearward length. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the dampening element is enclosed in a cavity defined by at least the core and the hitting face. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the dampening element is an elongate member. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein the dampening element is oriented so that a longitudinal axis of the dampening element generally extends in a heel-to-toe direction of the club head. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the core extends between the rear flange and the rear surface of the hitting face. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the dampening element is sandwiched between the core and the hitting face. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the dampening element is disposed at least partially within the channel. 
     
     
         9 . An iron-type golf club head comprising:
 a body comprising a hitting face and a rear flange, wherein a lower portion of a rear surface of the hitting face forms a first side wall of a channel and the rear flange forms a second side wall of the channel and a bottom wall of the channel, and the channel includes an opening;   a hitting face insert disposed in the hitting face and forming at least a portion of the first side wall;   a core extending at least partially into the opening and including a portion that abuts the rear surface of the face insert; and   a dampening element that abuts a portion of the core.   
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the opening has a first rearward length and the bottom wall has a second rearward length that is greater than the first rearward length. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the dampening element is enclosed in a cavity defined by at least the core and the face insert. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the dampening element is an elongate member. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the dampening element is oriented so that a longitudinal axis of the dampening element generally extends in a heel-to-toe direction of the club head. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the core extends between the rear flange and the rear surface of the face insert. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the dampening element is sandwiched between the core and the face insert. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the dampening element is disposed at least partially within the channel.