Golf club head having deflection features and related methods

Abstract

Described herein is a golf club head comprising a deflection feature to increase ball speed and launch distance, while producing desirable acoustics and optimized mass distribution. The deflection feature can include any one of or any combination of an insert comprising a gap, an insert comprising voids, a thin uniform sole, a cutout in the top rail, optimized face material, a thin sole, a reinforcement device, or a multi material weight.

1 . A golf club head, comprising;
 a club head body comprising a front end, a rear end, a toe end, a top rail, and a sole;   a face element comprising a face surface located at the front end and a rear surface located at the rear end and opposite to the face surface;   a cavity formed by a rear end interior wall, a sole interior surface, and a face interior surface;   a first deflection feature positioned within the cavity comprising an insert with an insert first surface and an insert second surface offset from the insert first surface by a step creating a gap with the face interior surface;   a second deflection feature comprising a cutout in the top rail adjacent to the rear surface;   a dual density weight positioned in the rear end of the golf club head comprising a base portion and a shell portion wherein the shell portion surrounds an exterior portion of the base portion to directly come in contact with the golf club head;
 wherein the base portion comprises a first surface exposed to an exterior of the golf club head and a second surface opposite the first surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the gap comprises a width measures perpendicular from the face interior surface to the insert second surface ranging between 0.001 inches to 0.125 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein the gap comprises 10% to 60% of a front surface of the insert. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein a tapering angle is defined between the insert second surface and the face interior surface ranging between 0.10° to approximately 15°. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises a first material with a first weight density and the shell portion comprises a second material with a second weight density. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein the first weight density is higher than the second weight density. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the dual density weight can be welded to the rear end of the golf club head along a perimeter of the shell portion. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the shell portion can surround any portion of the base portion to create a space between the base portion and the golf club head. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the first surface comprises a flat first side surface extending between a first weld spot and a second weld spot. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the dual density weight has a thickness “A” measured between the first weld spot and the second weld spot ranging between 0.1 and 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the dual density weight has a depth “B” measured between the first surface and the second surface ranging between 0.1 and 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the base portion comprises 90% of a total volume of the dual density weight, while the shell portion comprises 10% of the total volume of the dual density weight.