Golf club head

Abstract

A golf club includes a golf club head having a body defining an interior cavity. The body includes a sole, a crown and a skirt positioned around a periphery between the sole and crown. A face defines a forward portion of the club head and includes a striking surface width and a hosel defining a hosel bore. A channel and a recessed port are positioned in the sole. The channel extends substantially in a heel-to-toe direction. A sleeve is mounted on a tip end of the golf club shaft and is adapted to be inserted into the hosel bore. A fastener has a shaft portion extending through a passage and a head portion located in the recessed port. Selectively attaching the sleeve adjusts at least one of a loft angle and a lie angle of the club head.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a golf club head body defining an interior cavity, a sole defining a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown defining a top portion of the golf club head, a face defining a forward portion of the golf club head and including a striking surface, and a rear portion opposite the face;   a sleeve for securing a shaft to the golf club head, wherein the sleeve has a threaded lower opening;   a fastener has a threaded shaft adapted to engage the threaded lower opening of the sleeve to thereby attach the shaft to the golf club head;
 wherein the golf club head body has a head origin defined as a position on the striking surface at approximately a geometric center of the striking surface, the head origin including a head origin x-axis, a head origin y-axis, and a head origin z-axis; 
 wherein the head origin x-axis is tangential to the striking surface and generally parallel to a ground plane when the golf club head is in an address position, further wherein a positive x-axis extends towards a heel portion of the golf club head body; 
 wherein the head origin y-axis extends perpendicular to the head origin x-axis and generally parallel to the ground plane when the golf club head is in the address position, further wherein a positive y-axis extends rearward from the striking surface and through the rear portion of the golf club head body; and 
 wherein the head origin z-axis extends perpendicular to the ground plane, and perpendicular to both the head origin x-axis and head origin y-axis when the golf club head is in the address position, further wherein a positive z-axis extends generally upward from the head origin; and 
   a plurality of weight ports positioned in the sole of the golf club head, comprising:
 a first weight port configured to retain a first weight, the first weight port defining a first central axis; 
 a second weight port configured to retain a second weight, the second weight port defining a second central axis that extends through the sole and the crown of the golf club head; and 
 a third weight port configured to retain a third weight, the third weight port defining a third central axis that extends through the sole and the crown of the golf club head;
 wherein the first weight port is positioned a first distance from the head origin, the second weight port is positioned a second distance from the head origin, and the third weight port is positioned a third distance from the head origin; 
 wherein the second weight port is positioned toeward of the first weight port and the third weight port is positioned heelward of the first weight port; 
 wherein the first, second, and third weight ports are similarly sized such that the first, second, and third weight ports are configured to interchangeably receive the first, second, and third weights; 
 
   wherein the golf club head body is at least partially comprised of a metal alloy and the crown is at least partially comprised of a composite material;   wherein at least one of the plurality of weight ports is positioned within 30 mm of a nearest portion of a forward edge of the sole of the golf club head; and   wherein the first, second, and third weights are positioned within the first, second and third weight ports, respectively.   
     
     
         22 . The golf club head of  claim 21 , wherein each of the first, second, and third weights has a mass not exceeding 20 grams; and
 wherein the metal alloy comprises a titanium alloy.   
     
     
         23 . The golf club head of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third weights has a mass between 0.5 grams and 10 grams. 
     
     
         24 . The golf club head of  claim 23 , wherein the golf club head has a crown height less than 46 mm, a volume less than 210 cm 3 , and an above ground center-of-gravity location, Zup, not exceeding 19 mm, and the face has a loft angle exceeding 13 degrees. 
     
     
         25 . The golf club head of  claim 24 , wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about a center-of-gravity z-axis Izz measured in kg-mm 2 ;
 wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about a center-of-gravity x-axis Ixx measured in kg-mm 2 ;   wherein Izz and Ixx are related to Zup by the equation:
     Ixx+Izz≥ 20 ·Z up+165; and 
   wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution (COR) of no less than 0.80 as measured at a balance point on the striking surface, and a characteristic time measured at the geometric center of the striking surface of no less than 218 microseconds.   
     
     
         26 . The golf club head of  claim 24 , wherein the crown has a crown apex and the crown apex is positioned rearward of a hosel axis. 
     
     
         27 . The golf club head of  claim 26 , further comprising a recess located on the bottom portion of the golf club head and extending into the interior cavity, the recess extending at least in a heel-to-toe direction. 
     
     
         28 . The golf club head of  claim 21 , wherein the crown has a crown apex and the crown apex is positioned rearward of a hosel axis;
 wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about a center-of-gravity z-axis Izz measured in kg-mm 2 ;   wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about a center-of-gravity x-axis Ixx measured in kg-mm 2 ;   wherein Izz and Ixx are related to an above ground center-of-gravity location, Zup, by the equation:
     Ixx+Izz ≥20 ·Z up+165; and
 
   wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution (COR) of no less than 0.80 as measured at a balance point on the striking surface, and a characteristic time measured at the geometric center of the striking surface of no less than 218 microseconds.   
     
     
         29 . The golf club head of  claim 28 , wherein the striking surface comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         30 . The golf club head of  claim 28 , wherein a majority of the crown is located above an XY plane passing through the above ground center-of-gravity location. 
     
     
         31 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a golf club head body defining an interior cavity, a sole defining a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown defining a top portion of the golf club head, a face defining a forward portion of the golf club head and including a striking surface, and a rear portion opposite the face;
 wherein the crown is at least partially comprised of a composite material, and the golf club head has a front to back depth (Dch) greater than 85 mm; 
   a sleeve for securing a shaft to the golf club head, wherein the sleeve has a threaded lower opening;   a fastener has a threaded shaft adapted to engage the threaded lower opening of the sleeve to thereby attach the shaft to the golf club head;
 wherein the golf club head body has a head origin defined as a position on the striking surface at approximately a geometric center of the striking surface, the head origin including a head origin x-axis, a head origin y-axis, and a head origin z-axis; 
 wherein the head origin x-axis is tangential to the striking surface and generally parallel to a ground plane when the golf club head is in an address position, further wherein a positive x-axis extends towards a heel portion of the golf club head body; 
 wherein the head origin y-axis extends perpendicular to the head origin x-axis and generally parallel to the ground plane when the golf club head is in the address position, further wherein a positive y-axis extends rearward from the striking surface and through the rear portion of the golf club head body; and 
 wherein the head origin z-axis extends perpendicular to the ground plane, and perpendicular to both the head origin x-axis and head origin y-axis when the golf club head is in the address position, further wherein a positive z-axis extends generally upward from the head origin; and 
   a plurality of weight ports positioned in the sole of the golf club head, comprising:
 a first weight port configured to retain a first weight, the first weight port defining a first central axis; 
 a second weight port configured to retain a second weight, the second weight port defining a second central axis that extends through the sole and the crown of the golf club head; 
 a third weight port configured to retain a third weight, the third weight port defining a third central axis that extends through the sole and the crown of the golf club head;
 wherein the first weight port is positioned a first distance from the head origin, the second weight port is positioned a second distance from the head origin, and the third weight port is positioned a third distance from the head origin; and 
 wherein the second weight port is positioned toeward of the first weight port and the third weight port is positioned heelward of the first weight port; 
 wherein the first, second, and third weight ports comprise internal threads that correspond to external threads formed on the first, second, and third weights; 
 wherein the first, second, and third weight ports are similarly sized such that the first, second, and third weight ports are configured to interchangeably receive the first, second, and third weights; 
 
   wherein the golf club head is at least partially comprised of a titanium alloy;   wherein the first, second, and third weights are positioned within the first, second and third weight ports, respectively; and   wherein at least one of the first weight, the second weight, or the third weight is interchangeably positionable between (i) a forward position having its center of gravity forward of a midline of the golf club head, and (ii) a rear position having its center of gravity within 40 mm of the rear portion of the golf club head body.   
     
     
         32 . The golf club head of  claim 31 , wherein each of the first, second, and third weights has a mass not exceeding 20 grams; and
 wherein at least one of the first, second, or third weights has a mass between 0.5 grams and 10 grams.   
     
     
         33 . The golf club head of  claim 32 , wherein the crown has a crown apex and the crown apex is positioned rearward of a hosel axis. 
     
     
         34 . The golf club head of  claim 33 , wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about a center-of-gravity z-axis Izz measured in kg-mm 2 ;
 wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about a center-of-gravity x-axis Ixx measured in kg-mm 2 ;   wherein Izz and Ixx are related to an above ground center-of-gravity location, Zup, by the equation:
     Ixx+Izz ≥20 ·Z up+165; and
 
   wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution (COR) of no less than 0.80 as measured at a balance point on the striking surface, and a characteristic time measured at the geometric center of the striking surface of no less than 218 microseconds.   
     
     
         35 . The golf club head of  claim 33 , further comprising a recess located on the bottom portion of the golf club head and extending into the interior cavity, the recess extending at least in a heel-to-toe direction. 
     
     
         36 . The golf club head of  claim 34 , wherein at least a portion of the golf club head located above the head origin comprises an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         37 . The golf club head of  claim 34 , wherein the forward portion of the golf club head comprises a cup-face structure and a rearward portion of the golf club head is formed as a separate piece that is joined to the cup-face structure adhesively bonding. 
     
     
         38 . The golf club head of  claim 34 , wherein the striking surface comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         39 . The golf club head of  claim 34 , wherein a majority of the crown is located above an XY plane passing through the above ground center-of-gravity location. 
     
     
         40 . A golf club head, comprising:
 a golf club head body defining an interior cavity, a sole defining a bottom portion of the golf club head, a crown defining a top portion of the golf club head, a face defining a forward portion of the golf club head and including a striking surface, and a rear portion opposite the face;
 wherein the crown is at least partially comprised of a composite material, and the golf club head has a front to back depth (Dch) greater than 85 mm; 
   a sleeve for securing a shaft to the golf club head, wherein the sleeve has a threaded lower opening;   a fastener has a threaded shaft adapted to engage the threaded lower opening of the sleeve to thereby attach the shaft to the golf club head;
 wherein the golf club head body has a head origin defined as a position on the striking surface at approximately a geometric center of the striking surface, the head origin including a head origin x-axis, a head origin y-axis, and a head origin z-axis; 
 wherein the head origin x-axis is tangential to the striking surface and generally parallel to a ground plane when the golf club head is in an address position, further wherein a positive x-axis extends towards a heel portion of the golf club head body; 
 wherein the head origin y-axis extends perpendicular to the head origin x-axis and generally parallel to the ground plane when the golf club head is in the address position, further wherein a positive y-axis extends rearward from the striking surface and through the rear portion of the golf club head body; and 
 wherein the head origin z-axis extends perpendicular to the ground plane, and perpendicular to both the head origin x-axis and head origin y-axis when the golf club head is in the address position, further wherein a positive z-axis extends generally upward from the head origin; and 
   a plurality of weight ports positioned in the sole of the golf club head, comprising:
 a first weight port configured to retain a first weight, the first weight port defining a first central axis; and 
 a second weight port configured to retain a second weight, the second weight port defining a second central axis that extends through the sole and the crown of the golf club head;
 wherein the first weight port is positioned a first distance from the head origin, and the second weight port is positioned a second distance from the head origin; and 
 wherein the second weight port is positioned toeward of the first weight port; 
 wherein the first and second weight ports comprise internal threads that correspond to external threads formed on the first and second weights; 
 wherein the first and second weight ports are similarly sized such that the first and second weight ports are configured to interchangeably receive the first and second weights; 
 
   wherein the golf club head is at least partially comprised of a titanium alloy;   wherein the first and second weights are positioned within the first and second weight ports, respectively; and   wherein at least one of the first weight or the second weight is interchangeably positionable between (i) a forward position having its center of gravity forward of a midline of the golf club head, and (ii) a rear position having its center of gravity within 40 mm of the rear portion of the golf club head body.   
     
     
         41 . The golf club head of  claim 40 , wherein each of the first and second weights has a mass not exceeding 20 grams; and
 wherein at least one of the first or second weights has a mass between 0.5 grams and 10 grams.   
     
     
         42 . The golf club head of  claim 41 , wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about a center-of-gravity z-axis Izz measured in kg-mm 2 ;
 wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia about a center-of-gravity x-axis Ixx measured in kg-mm 2 ;   wherein Izz and Ixx are related to an above ground center-of-gravity location, Zup, by the equation:
     Ixx+Izz ≥20 ·Z up+165; and
 
   wherein the golf club head has a coefficient of restitution (COR) of no less than 0.80 as measured at a balance point on the striking surface, and a characteristic time measured at the geometric center of the striking surface of no less than 218 microseconds.   
     
     
         43 . The golf club head of  claim 42 , wherein the crown has a crown apex and the crown apex is positioned rearward of a hosel axis. 
     
     
         44 . The golf club head of  claim 43 , further comprising a recess located on the bottom portion of the golf club head and extending into the interior cavity, the recess extending at least in a heel-to-toe direction. 
     
     
         45 . The golf club head of  claim 43 , wherein at least a portion of the golf club head located above the head origin comprises an aluminum alloy. 
     
     
         46 . The golf club head of  claim 43 , wherein the forward portion of the golf club head comprises a cup-face structure and a rearward portion of the golf club head is formed as a separate piece that is joined to the cup-face structure adhesively bonding. 
     
     
         47 . The golf club head of  claim 43 , wherein the striking surface comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         48 . The golf club head of  claim 43 , wherein a majority of the crown is located above an XY plane passing through the above ground center-of-gravity location.