Golf club heads

Abstract

Some disclosed golf club heads include body having at least one raised sole portion and a cantilevered ledge extending down around a perimeter of the club head below the level of the raised sole portion. Some disclosed golf club heads include one or more sole openings in the body and a sole insert that is mounted inside the body over the sole openings. The sole can include weight tracks as well, and a rear weight track can extend between a toe side sole opening and a heel side sole opening. A crown insert can also be included that is mounted over an upper opening in the body.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A golf club head comprising:
 a front end, a rear end, a top side, a lower side, a toe side, a heel side, a hosel positioned at the heel side and defining a hosel axis, a sole positioned at the lower side, a crown positioned at the top side, and an interior cavity, wherein the golf club head has a volume of 350 cm 3  to 600 cm 3 ; and   a face positioned at the front end of the golf club head and including a striking surface;   wherein:
 the striking surface has a club head origin positioned at a geometric center of the striking surface; 
 the club head origin defines a head origin coordinate system including:
 a head origin z-axis extending through the head origin in a generally vertical direction relative to a ground plane when the golf club head is in a normal address position, and extending in a positive direction from the club head origin towards the crown of the golf club head; 
 a head origin x-axis extending through the head origin in a toe-to-heel direction generally parallel to the striking surface and generally perpendicular to the head origin z-axis, and extending in a positive direction from the club head origin toward the heel side of the golf club head; and 
 a head origin y-axis extending through the head origin in a front-to-back direction and generally perpendicular to the head origin x-axis and to the head origin z-axis, and extending in a positive direction from the club head origin towards the rear end of the golf club head; 
 
 a golf club head center of gravity z-axis extends generally parallel to the head origin z-axis, and a ratio of a moment of inertia about the golf club head center of gravity z-axis (Izz) to the volume of the golf club head is at least 0.93 kg/m; 
 a golf club head center of gravity x-axis extends generally parallel to the head origin x-axis, and a ratio of a moment of inertia about the golf club head center of gravity x-axis (Ixx) to the volume of the golf club head is at least 0.596 kg/m; 
 a golf club head center of gravity y-axis extends generally parallel to the head origin y-axis, and a moment of inertia about the golf club head center of gravity y-axis (Iyy) is at least 258 kg-mm 2 ; 
 at least 40% of the crown is made of a first fiber-reinforced polymeric material; 
 a moment of inertia about the hosel axis is at least 626 kg-mm 2 ; and 
 Izz is at least 400 kg-mm 2 , Ixx is at least 270 kg-mm 2 . 
   
     
     
         22 . The golf club head according to  claim 21 , wherein the ratio of Izz to the volume of the golf club head is at least 0.988 kg/m and the ratio of Ixx to the volume of the golf club head is at least 0.672 kg/m. 
     
     
         23 . The golf club head according to  claim 22 , further comprising an adjustable head-shaft connection assembly coupled to the hosel and configured to adjust an orientation of the golf club head relative to a golf club shaft; and further wherein a rear portion of the golf club head is configured to retain a weight. 
     
     
         24 . The golf club head according to  claim 23 , further comprising:
 a frame comprising:
 a first opening that extends from at least a portion of the top side towards the rear end, wherein the first opening extends at least from a toe portion of the top side to a heel portion of the top side; 
 a peripheral ledge at least partially surrounding the first opening; and 
 a second opening at the front end of the golf club head; 
   a crown insert covering the first opening and adhesively bonded to the peripheral ledge, wherein the crown insert covers at least 60% of a surface area of the crown; and   a face plate attached to the frame and closing the second opening.   
     
     
         25 . The golf club head according to  claim 24 , wherein at least a portion of the frame comprises a 7000 series aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         26 . The golf club head according to  claim 24 , wherein the frame comprises a combination of one or more aluminum alloys and one or more steel alloys. 
     
     
         27 . The golf club head according to  claim 24 , wherein the frame comprises a combination of one or more aluminum alloys and at least one of the one or more aluminum alloys comprises a 7000 series aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         28 . The golf club head according to  claim 24 , wherein the crown comprises one or more materials selected from the following: polysulfones, polyetherimides, and/or polyamide-imides. 
     
     
         29 . The golf club head according to  claim 21 , wherein the crown comprises one or more materials selected from the following: polysulfones, polyetherimides, and/or polyamide-imides. 
     
     
         30 . The golf club head according to  claim 24 , further comprising the weight, wherein the weight is retained in a weight port located proximate the rear end of the golf club head. 
     
     
         31 . The golf club head according to  claim 24 , wherein a difference between Zup of the golf club head, defined as a distance between a center of gravity of the golf club head and a ground plane in the z-axis direction when the golf club head is in a normal address position on the ground plane, and half of a maximum head height of the golf club head is less than about −4.0 mm. 
     
     
         32 . The golf club head according to  claim 31 , wherein the difference between Zup of the golf club head and half of the maximum head height of the golf club head is less than about −4.5 mm. 
     
     
         33 . The golf club head according to  claim 22 , wherein a difference between Zup of the golf club head, defined as a distance between a center of gravity of the golf club head and a ground plane in the z-axis direction when the golf club head is in a normal address position on the ground plane, and half of a maximum head height of the golf club head is less than about −4.0 mm. 
     
     
         34 . The golf club head according to  claim 24 , wherein:
 a forgiveness ratio of the golf club head is at least 0.915;   the forgiveness ratio is equal to (hosel axis to back dimension)*(face area)/(volume);   the hosel axis to back dimension is a total distance, along the head origin y-axis, between a rearward-most portion of the golf club head and the hosel axis;   the face area is a total surface area of the striking surface; and   the volume is the volume of the golf club head.   
     
     
         35 . The golf club head according to  claim 34 , wherein the forgiveness ratio is at least 0.945. 
     
     
         36 . The golf club head according to  claim 35 , wherein a total surface area of the striking surface is no more than 4,600 mm 2 . 
     
     
         37 . The golf club head according to  claim 31 , wherein a ratio of the moment of inertia about the hosel axis to Izz is at least 1.561. 
     
     
         38 . The golf club head according to  claim 37 , wherein the ratio of Ixx to the volume of the golf club head is no more than 0.926 kg/m. 
     
     
         39 . The golf club head according to  claim 38 , wherein the ratio of Ixx to the volume of the golf club head is no more than 0.773 kg/m. 
     
     
         40 . The golf club head according to  claim 38 , wherein:
 the maximum head height of the golf club head corresponds with a highest point on the crown of the golf club head; and   the highest point on the crown of the golf club head is located rearward of the hosel, and the highest point on the crown of the golf club head is defined by a portion of the crown made of the first fiber-reinforced polymeric material.   
     
     
         41 . The golf club head according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 the moment of inertia about the hosel axis is at least 2.5 times greater than Iyy;   the ratio of Izz to the volume of the golf club head is at least 1.048 kg/m; and   the ratio of Ixx to the volume of the golf club head is at least 0.677 kg/m.   
     
     
         42 . The golf club head according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 the moment of inertia about the hosel axis is between 711 kg-mm 2  and 896 kg-mm 2 ;   Ixx is between 293 kg-mm 2  and 403 kg-mm 2 ;   Iyy is at least 275 kg-mm 2 ; and   Iyy is less than Ixx.   
     
     
         43 . The golf club head according to  claim 21 , wherein at least a portion of the face comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         44 . A golf club head comprising:
 a front end, a rear end, a top side, a lower side, a toe side, a heel side, a hosel positioned at the heel side and defining a hosel axis, a sole positioned at the lower side, a crown positioned at the top side, and an interior cavity, wherein the golf club head has a volume of 350 cm 3  to 600 cm 3 ; and   a face positioned at the front end of the golf club head and including a striking surface;   wherein:
 the striking surface has a club head origin positioned at a geometric center of the striking surface; 
 the club head origin defines a head origin coordinate system including:
 a head origin z-axis extending through the head origin in a generally vertical direction relative to a ground plane when the golf club head is in a normal address position, and extending in a positive direction from the club head origin towards the crown of the golf club head; 
 a head origin x-axis extending through the head origin in a toe-to-heel direction generally parallel to the striking surface and generally perpendicular to the head origin z-axis, and extending in a positive direction from the club head origin toward the heel side of the golf club head; and 
 a head origin y-axis extending through the head origin in a front-to-back direction and generally perpendicular to the head origin x-axis and to the head origin z-axis, and extending in a positive direction from the club head origin towards the rear end of the golf club head; 
 
 a golf club head center of gravity z-axis extends generally parallel to the head origin z-axis, and a ratio of a moment of inertia about the golf club head center of gravity z-axis (Izz) to the volume of the golf club head is at least 0.93 kg/m; 
 a golf club head center of gravity x-axis extends generally parallel to the head origin x-axis, and a ratio of a moment of inertia about the golf club head center of gravity x-axis (Ixx) to the volume of the golf club head is at least 0.596 kg/m; 
 a golf club head center of gravity y-axis extends generally parallel to the head origin y-axis, and a moment of inertia about the golf club head center of gravity y-axis (Iyy) is at least 258 kg-mm 2 ; 
 at least 60% of the crown is made of a first fiber-reinforced polymeric material; 
 a rear portion of the golf club head is configured to retain a weight; 
 a moment of inertia about the hosel axis is at least 626 kg-mm 2 ; 
 Izz is at least 400 kg-mm 2 ; and 
 Ixx is at least 270 kg-mm 2 . 
   
     
     
         45 . The golf club head according to  claim 44 , further comprising:
 a frame comprising:
 a first opening that extends from at least a portion of the top side towards the rear end, wherein the first opening extends at least from a toe portion of the top side to a heel portion of the top side; 
 a peripheral ledge at least partially surrounding the first opening; and 
 a second opening at the front end of the golf club head; 
   a crown insert covering the first opening and adhesively bonded to the peripheral ledge, wherein the crown insert covers at least 70% of a surface area of the crown; and   a face plate attached to the frame and closing the second opening.   
     
     
         46 . The golf club head according to  claim 44 , further comprising an adjustable head-shaft connection assembly coupled to the hosel and configured to adjust an orientation of the golf club head relative to a golf club shaft; and further wherein a rear portion of the golf club head is configured to retain a weight. 
     
     
         47 . The golf club head according to  claim 46 , further comprising the weight, wherein the weight is retained in a weight port located proximate the rear end of the golf club head; and
 wherein a difference between Zup of the golf club head, defined as a distance between a center of gravity of the golf club head and a ground plane in the z-axis direction when the golf club head is in a normal address position on the ground plane, and half of a maximum head height of the golf club head is less than about −4.0 mm.