Method and apparatus for optimizing launch characteristics of a golf club

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed having a body member which includes a face surface and a receiving portion recessed into the face surface. A face insert having a striking surface is also included and is adapted to attach to the recessed receiving portion. The face insert and the striking surface are a single body made from an injection moldable material which provides the striking surface of the face insert with a combination of properties configured to improve performance characteristics of an associated ball. A method of enhancing surface strike performance using the aforementioned apparatus is also disclosed.

1 . An apparatus for enhancing surface strike performance, comprising:
 a body member including a face surface and a receiving portion recessed into the face surface; and,   a face insert having a striking surface, the face insert adapted to attach to the recessed receiving portion, the face insert and the striking surface comprising a single body made from an injection moldable material;   wherein the injection moldable material provides the striking surface of the face insert with a combination of properties configured to improve performance characteristics of an associated ball, the performance characteristics including at least one of a launch angle, a carry distance, and a spin rate.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the combination of properties of the striking surface includes a hardness of at least Shore D 65, a surface roughness of Ra 1 μm or less, and a resistance to indentation at 1,500 psi or greater for a duration of about 30 minutes measured according to Mil-D-3134F. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the combination of properties of the striking surface further includes a wear resistance minimum of zero weight loss at a load of 1 kg per 1000 cycles measured according to ASTM-C-501, a flexural strength of greater than about 3,000 psi measured according to ASTM C-580, includes a tensile strength of greater than about 3,000 psi measured according to ASTM C-307, and a compressive strength of greater than about 5,000 psi measured according to ASTM C-579. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the striking surface of the face insert further comprises one or more surface features. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more surface features of the striking surface include at least one of a ridge or groove extending vertically between a top and a bottom of the face insert. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more surface features of the striking surface include at least one of a ridge or groove extending horizontally between a right side and a left side of the face insert. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more surface features of the striking surface include punch marks spaced across the face insert. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more surface features of the striking surface are selected from one or more of a ridge or groove extending vertically between a top and a bottom of the face insert, a ridge or groove extending horizontally between a right side and a left side of the face insert, punch marks spaced across the face insert, and repeating patterns thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the face insert is removable from the recessed receiving portion of the body member. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the face insert has a thickness of about 1,000 μm to about 2,000 μm. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the injection moldable material is a polymeric material including Acetal. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the body member is a golf club head and the face surface is a clubface. 
     
     
         13 . A method of enhancing surface strike performance, comprising:
 providing a body member having a face surface and a receiving portion recessed into the face surface;   forming a face insert having a striking surface using an injection molding process, the face insert and striking surface being made from a polymeric material providing a combination of properties configured to improve performance characteristics of an associated ball; and,   attaching the face insert to the recessed receiving portion of the body member;   wherein the improved performance characteristics include at least one of a launch angle, a carry distance, and a spin rate.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising selecting one or more surface features comprising the striking surface of the face insert and based on a desired performance characteristic to improve. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more surface features are selected from at least one of a ridge or groove extending vertically between a top and a bottom of the face insert, a ridge or groove extending horizontally between a right side and a left side of the face insert, punch marks spaced across the face insert, and repeating patterns thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising removing the face insert from the recessed receiving portion of the body member. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising replacing the removed face insert with a different face insert having improved performance characteristics. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the polymeric material includes Acetal. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus for enhancing surface strike performance, comprising:
 a body member including a face surface and a receiving portion recessed into the face surface; and,   a face insert having a striking surface, the face insert adapted to attach to the recessed receiving portion, the face insert and the striking surface comprising a single body made from an injection moldable material;   wherein the single body comprising the face insert and striking surface has a thickness of about 1,000 μm to about 2,000 μm; and,   wherein the injection moldable material is a polymeric material including Acetal which provides the striking surface of the face insert with a combination of properties configured to improve performance characteristics of an associated ball, the performance characteristics including at least one of a launch angle, a carry distance, and a spin rate.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19 , further comprising one or more surface features comprising the striking surface of the face insert and selected from at least one of a ridge or groove extending vertically between a top and a bottom of the face insert, a ridge or groove extending horizontally between a right side and a left side of the face insert, punch marks spaced across the face insert, and repeating patterns thereof.