Golf club head

Abstract

A golf club head has a body having a top, a sole, a toe end, a heel end, and a forward wall. The forward wall defines a front opening about which a face support is disposed. The face support receives a face plate, thereby enclosing the front opening of the body. The face support includes portions proximate to the top, the toe end, and the heel end, each portion having a peripheral member extending rearward from the forward wall and a rear member extending inward from the peripheral member, with respect to the front opening. The face support can be combined with a preferred face construction and weight elements to optimize club head performance to help a golfer achieve greater distance and control.

1. A golf club head, comprising:
 a body having a top, a sole, a toe end, a heel end, and a forward wall, the forward wall defining a front opening, the body further having a face support disposed about the front opening, the face support having portions proximate to at least one of the top, the toe end, and the heel end, the face support including 
 a peripheral member extending rearward from the forward wall for a length between about 3 mm and 30 mm, measured from a forward surface of the forward wall, the peripheral member having a thickness between about 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm, and 
 a rear member extending inward from the peripheral member, with respect to the front opening, for a length of at least about 2 mm and no more than about 25 mm, the rear member having a thickness between about 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm; and 
 a face plate received by the face support. 
 
     
     
       2. A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the face support further includes a portion proximate to the sole of the body, the portion proximate to the sole having a rear member extending inward with respect to the front opening and configured to support a lower edge of the face plate. 
     
     
       3. A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the face support further includes a portion proximate to the sole of the body, the portion proximate to the sole having
 a peripheral member extending rearward from the forward wall for a length between about 3 mm and 30 mm, measured from a forward surface of the forward wall, the peripheral member having a thickness between about 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm, and 
 a rear member extending inward from the peripheral member, with respect to the front opening, for a length of at least about 2 mm and no more than about 25 mm, the rear member having a thickness between about 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm. 
 
     
     
       4. A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the rear member of the face support is continuous about the front opening, the rear member extending inward from the peripheral member of each of the portions of the face support. 
     
     
       5. A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral member has a thickness of about 1 mm and a length between about 4 mm and 6 mm, and the rear member has a thickness between about 0.6 mm and 1.5 mm and a length between about 2 mm and 7 mm. 
     
     
       6. A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein a junction of the peripheral and rear members of the face support has a maximum thickness of between about 1.5 and 2 mm. 
     
     
       7. A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the rear member tapers from a junction of the peripheral and rear members to an inward end, the inward end having a thickness of between about 0.6 and 0.9 mm. 
     
     
       8. A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral member is spaced from a skirt of the body at one or both of the toe and heel ends a horizontal distance of at least 1.5 mm measured about 2 mm inward from a side forward surface of the body at the front opening. 
     
     
       9. A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the face support further includes a portion proximate to the sole, the portion proximate to sole having a rear member extending inward with respect to the front opening the portion proximate to sole face disposed such that the front surface of the face plate is substantially flush with the forward wall of the body. 
     
     
       10. A golf club head as defined in  claim 9 , wherein the portion proximate to the sole further having a peripheral member, the peripheral member extending rearward from the forward wall proximate to the sole for a length between about 3 mm and 30 mm, the peripheral member having a thickness between about 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm, the rear member extending inward from the peripheral member, with respect to the front opening, for a length of at least about 2 mm and no more than about 25 mm, the rear member having a thickness between about 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm. 
     
     
       11. A golf club head as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral member is spaced from the top a vertical distance of at least 1 mm measured about 2 mm rearward of an upper forward surface of the body at the front opening. 
     
     
       12. A golf club head as defined in  claim 11 , wherein the peripheral member is spaced from the sole a vertical distance of at least 1 mm measured about 2 mm rearward of a lower forward surface of the body at the front opening. 
     
     
       13. A golf club head comprising:
 a crown;   a sole;   a skirt disposed between the crown and the sole, the skirt having a toe end and a heel end;   a forward wall coupled to the crown, the sole, and the skirt, the forward wall defining a front opening;   a peripheral member coupled to at least a portion of a periphery of the front opening and extending rearwardly therefrom;   a rear member directly coupled to the peripheral member and extending inwardly therefrom, partially towards a center of the front opening; and   a face plate coupled to the rear member.   
     
     
       14. The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of each of the peripheral member and the rear member is disposed proximate to the crown, the sole, the toe end, or the heel end, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       15. The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the peripheral member extends between about 3 mm and 30 mm from a forward surface of the forward wall. 
     
     
       16. The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein the peripheral member extends between about 4 mm and 6 mm from a forward surface of the forward wall. 
     
     
       17. The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the peripheral member has a thickness between about 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm. 
     
     
       18. The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the peripheral member is spaced a first distance of at least 1.5 mm measured in a horizontal direction from the skirt, and wherein the first distance is measured about 2 mm rearward from a side forward surface proximate the front opening. 
     
     
       19. The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the peripheral member is spaced a first distance of at least 1 mm measured in a vertical direction from the crown, and wherein the first distance is measured about 2 mm rearward from an upper forward surface proximate the front opening. 
     
     
       20. The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the peripheral member is spaced a first distance of at least 1 mm measured in a vertical direction from the sole, and wherein the first distance is measured about 2 mm rearward of a lower forward surface proximate the front opening. 
     
     
       21. The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the rear member is continuous about the periphery of the front opening. 
     
     
       22. The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the rear member extends between about 2 mm and 25 mm from an inner surface of the peripheral member, relative to the center of the front opening. 
     
     
       23. The golf club head of  claim 22 , wherein the rear member extends between about 2 mm and 7 mm from an inner surface of the peripheral member, relative to the center of the front opening. 
     
     
       24. The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the rear member has a thickness between about 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm. 
     
     
       25. The golf club head of  claim 24 , wherein the rear member has a thickness between about 0.6 mm and 1.5 mm. 
     
     
       26. The golf club head of claim 1, the face support having portions proximate to the top, the toe end, and the heel end. 
     
     
       27. A golf club head comprising:
 a body;   a forward wall defining a front opening;   a peripheral member coupled to at least a portion of a periphery of the front opening and extending rearwardly therefrom, the peripheral member being spaced from the body;   a rear member directly coupled to the peripheral member and extending inwardly therefrom, partially towards a center of the front opening;   a face plate coupled to the rear member;   a crown;   a sole; and   a skirt disposed between the crown and the sole, the skirt having a toe end and a heel end;   wherein the forward wall is coupled to the crown, the sole, and the skirt.   
     
     
       28. The golf club head of claim 27, wherein at least a portion of each of the peripheral member and the rear member is disposed proximate to the crown, the sole, the toe end, or the heel end, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       29. A golf club head comprising:
 a body;   a forward wall defining a front opening;   a peripheral member coupled to at least a portion of a periphery of the front opening and extending rearwardly therefrom, the peripheral member being spaced from the body;   a rear member directly coupled to the peripheral member and extending inwardly therefrom, partially towards a center of the front opening;   a face plate coupled to the rear member;   the rear member having a thickness between about 0.5 mm and 2.5 mm; and   wherein the thickness of the rear member tapers inwardly toward a center of the front opening.   
     
     
       30. The golf club head of claim 29, wherein an inner end of the rear member has a thickness between about 0.6 mm and 0.9 mm. 
     
     
       31. A golf club head comprising:
 a crown;   a sole;   a skirt disposed between the crown and the sole, the skirt having a toe end and a heel end;   a forward wall coupled to the crown, the sole, and the skirt, the forward wall defining a front opening;   a peripheral member coupled to at least a portion of a periphery of the front opening and extending rearwardly therefrom, between about 4 mm and 6 mm from a forward surface of the forward wall, wherein the peripheral member has a thickness between about 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm;   a rear member directly coupled to the peripheral member and extending inwardly between about 2 mm and 15 mm from an inner surface of the peripheral member, partially towards a center of the front opening, wherein the rear member has a thickness between about 0.6 mm and 1.5 mm; and   a face plate coupled to the rear member.   
     
     
       32. The golf club head of claim 31, wherein at least a portion of each of the peripheral member and the rear member is disposed proximate to the crown, the sole, the toe end, or the heel end, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       33. The golf club head of claim 31, wherein the peripheral member is spaced a first distance of at least 1.5 mm measured in a horizontal direction from the skirt, a second distance of at least 1 mm measured in a vertical direction from the crown, and a third distance of at least 1 mm measured in a vertical direction from the sole, and wherein the first distance is measured about 2 mm rearward from a side forward surface proximate the front opening, the second distance is measured about 2 mm rearward from an upper forward surface proximate the front opening, and the third distance is measured about 2 mm rearward of a lower forward surface proximate the front opening. 
     
     
       34. The golf club head of claim 31, wherein the rear member is continuous about the periphery of the front opening. 
     
     
       35. The golf club head of claim 31, wherein the crown has a thickness between about 0.7 mm and 1 mm. 
     
     
       36. The golf club head of claim 31, wherein the skirt has a thickness between about 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm. 
     
     
       37. The golf club head of claim 31, wherein the sole has a thickness between about 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm. 
     
     
       38. The golf club head of claim 31, wherein the forward wall has a thickness between about 0.8 mm and 1.0 mm. 
     
     
       39. The golf club head of claim 31, wherein the crown has a thickness between about 0.7 mm and 1 mm, the skirt has a thickness between about 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, and the sole has a thickness between about 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, and the forward wall has a thickness between about 0.8 mm and 1.0 mm. 
     
     
       40. The golf club head of claim 31, wherein the face plate is comprised of a composite material. 
     
     
       41. The golf club head of claim 40, further comprising a metallic cap covering at least a portion of a striking surface of the face plate. 
     
     
       42. The golf club head of claim 40, further comprising a plurality of removable weights coupled to the club head. 
     
     
       43. The golf club head of claim 42, wherein first and second removable weights are disposed in a rear region of the club head, a third removable weight is disposed in a toe region of the club head, and a fourth removable weight is disposed in a heel region of the club head. 
     
     
       44. The golf club head of claim 40, wherein the golf club head displaces a volume between about 130 cm 3  and 460 cm 3 . 
     
     
       45. The golf club head of claim 44, wherein the golf club head displaces a volume of at least about 400 cm 3 . 
     
     
       46. The golf club head of claim 40, wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia I ZZ  of at least 300 kg-mm 2 . 
     
     
       47. The golf club head of claim 46, wherein the golf club head has a moment of inertia I ZZ  of at least 350 kg-mm 2 . 
     
     
       48. The golf club head of claim 31, wherein
 at least a portion of each of the peripheral member and the rear member is disposed proximate to the crown, the sole, the toe end, or the heel end, or combinations thereof;   the crown has a thickness between about 0.7 mm and 1 mm, the skirt has a thickness between about 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, and the sole has a thickness between about 0.8 mm and 1.2 mm, and the forward wall has a thickness between about 0.8 mm and 1.0 mm;   the face plate is comprised of a composite material;   the golf club head displaces a volume of at least about 400 cm 3 ; and   the golf club head has a moment of inertia I ZZ  of at least 350 kg-mm 2 .