Golf club having a damping element for ball speed control

Abstract

A golf club head including a club head body comprising a back portion, a striking face, and an interior cavity formed between the back portion and the striking face, wherein the striking face includes a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface, a deformable member residing between the back portion and the rear surface of the striking face, wherein the deformable member includes a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face, wherein the deformable member includes a rear surface in contact with the back portion, wherein the deformable member includes a free thickness and an installed thickness, and wherein the free thickness is at least 5% greater than the installed thickness.

1 . A method of manufacturing a golf club head comprising:
 identifying a target coefficient of restitution value for said golf club head;   choosing an appropriate deformable member and an adjustment driver for said golf club head to reach said target coefficient of restitution value;   installing said appropriate deformable member and said adjustment driver into said golf club head through an aperture formed in a back portion of said golf club head, wherein said deformable member abuts a rear surface of a striking face of said golf club head.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising testing the coefficient of restitution value of said golf club head. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising choosing an alternative deformable member or adjustment driver in order to meet said target coefficient of restitution value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising placing a spacer between said deformable member and said adjustment driver in order to meet said target coefficient of restitution value. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising deforming said deformable member as it is installed into said golf club head such that a diameter of a portion of said deformable member abutting said rear surface of said striking face is greater than a diameter of said aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising testing the coefficient of restitution value of said golf club head.