JPH11192329A - Head for golf club - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve a carry at the time of hitting a ball and to prevent the damage by thinning a face plate. SOLUTION: This head 1 for golf clubs has a face plate 2 having a clubface 2a for hitting the ball and a head body 3 disposed on the front surface of this face plate 2 and is internally formed with a hollow part 4. A reinforcing plate 5 facing the rear surface 2a side of the face plate 2 is disposed in the hollow part 4 on the rear surface 2a side and a gap part 6 of a thickness S at which the rear surface 2b of the face plate 2 deformed by the strong impact with the ball can come into contact with the reinforcing plate 5 is formed between this reinforcing plate 5 and the face plate 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a golf club head capable of reducing the thickness of a face plate and preventing its breakage.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a technique for improving the flight of a hit ball, the present applicant has disclosed Japanese Patent Publication No.
No. 6630 proposes a so-called "impedance matching theory". This theory lowers the natural frequency of the face surface of the golf club head so as to approach the natural frequency of the ball. Thereby, the energy loss at the time of hitting the ball can be reduced, the kinetic energy transmitted to the ball increases, and the flight distance can be improved.

Generally, in order to make the natural frequency of the face of a golf club head close to the natural frequency of the ball, the natural frequency of the face must be lowered. It has been known that it is effective to reduce the thickness of the film as much as possible. However, in recent golf club heads in which the inside of the head is hollow, if the thickness of the face plate is too thin,
For example, when a powerful golfer hits a ball strongly, there is a problem that the face plate is greatly deformed and damaged.

The present invention has been devised in view of such problems, and can reduce the thickness of the face plate to improve the hit ball's flight and effectively prevent the breakage of the face plate. It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf club head that can be used.

[0005]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a face plate having a face surface for hitting a ball, a head body having the face plate disposed on a front surface, and A golf club head having a hollow portion formed therein, wherein a reinforcing plate facing the rear surface is arranged in the hollow portion on the back surface side of the face plate, and between the reinforcing plate and the face plate, It is characterized in that the back surface of the face plate deformed by the strong impact of the ball forms a gap having a thickness capable of contacting the reinforcing plate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the face plate is made of a titanium alloy having a thickness of 2.0 to 2.5 mm, and a gap between the reinforcing plate and the face plate has a thickness of 0.6 mm. ~
2. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the diameter is 1.0 mm.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, which is an AA cross section of FIG. 1, the golf club head 1 of the present embodiment (hereinafter, may be simply referred to as “head 1”).
Has a face plate 2 having a face surface 2a for hitting a ball, a head body 3 having the face plate 2 disposed on the front surface, and a hollow portion 4 formed inside, such as a driver. 1 illustrates a wood type golf club head.

In the present invention, a reinforcing plate 5 facing the back surface 2b is provided in the hollow portion 4 on the back surface 2b side of the face plate 2, and a reinforcing plate 5 is provided between the reinforcing plate 4 and the face plate 2. It is characterized in that the back surface 2b of the face plate 2 deformed by the strong impact of the ball forms a gap portion 6 having a thickness S that can contact the reinforcing plate 5.

In such a head 1, even if the thickness of the face plate 2 is reduced, breakage of the face plate 2 can be effectively prevented, so that the flight distance of a hit ball can be improved.

That is, since the natural frequency of the face surface 2a can be made closer to that of the ball because the thickness d of the face plate 2 is thin, the flight distance of the hit ball is improved based on the above-described impedance theory, and the head speed is improved. Golfer hits the ball (hereinafter,
Sometimes simply referred to as "light hits." ) Is face plate 2
Even if the thickness is small, the deformation amount is small and the deformation of the face plate 2 stays within the elastic deformation, so that the face plate 2 is not damaged. Also, if the amount of deformation of the face plate 2 is small, the back surface 2b of the deformed face plate 2 at the time of hitting the ball does not contact the reinforcing plate 5 and energy loss at the time of hitting does not occur. Kinetic energy is efficiently transmitted to the ball.

On the other hand, when the golf player hits the ball with a high head speed, the face plate 2 has a large deformation amount as shown by a dashed line in FIG. 3, but the back surface 2b of the deformed face plate 2 Abuts against the reinforcing plate 5, the subsequent deformation of the face plate 2 can be prevented, and damage to the face plate 2 can be effectively prevented.

In view of the fact that the head speed of most golfers is generally in the range of 35 to 50 (m / s), this embodiment assumes that the boundary between the weak hit and the strong hit is a head speed of 40 m / s. For example.

That is, the head speed is 40 m / s or less, preferably 35 to 40 m / s, more preferably 3 to 40 m / s.
In the case of 7 to 40 m / s, the thickness S of the gap is determined so that the face plate 2 of the head 1 does not come into contact with the reinforcing plate 5 when the ball is hit. On the other hand, the head speed is more than 40 m / s and 50 m / s or less, more preferably 4 m / s or less.
In the case of more than 0 m / s and 48 m / s or less, it is desirable to determine the thickness S of the gap 6 so that the face plate 2 of the head 1 and the reinforcing plate 5 come into contact with each other when the ball is hit.

The thickness d of the face plate 2 is desirably as thin as possible within the range in which the above-mentioned action is achieved. However, if the thickness d of the face plate 2 is too small, the face plate 2 can be made even with the weak hit. In some cases, the face plate may be damaged. On the contrary, if the thickness of the face plate is too large, it tends to be impossible to improve the flight distance of the hit ball based on the impedance matching theory.

In this embodiment, the head 1 has a head volume of 250 to 300 cc, and the face plate 2, the head body 3 and the reinforcing plate 5 are all made of titanium alloy, for example, so-called 6-
An example is shown which is composed of 4 titanium (Ti-6% Al-4% V alloy). The height H of the face 2a
(Shown in FIG. 2) illustrates an example having a size of about 40 mm.
In this case, the thickness d of the face plate 2 can be reduced to a range of 2.0 to 2.5 mm.

When such a face plate 2 is employed, the maximum thickness of the void portion 6 in which the back surface 2b of the face plate 2 deformed by the strong impact can abut on the reinforcing plate 5 within a range of elastic deformation. S is 0.6 to 1.0 mm, more preferably 0.8 to 1.0 mm.

In the case of the face plate 2, a bending deformation of about 0.9 to 1.2 mm is observed before the face plate 2 reaches the yield limit when the ball is hit hard. Therefore, prior to the deformation of the face plate 2 reaching the yield limit, the back surface 2b of the face plate 2 is brought into contact with the reinforcing plate 5 to disperse the stress and further increase the face plate 2
Therefore, it is preferable to select the thickness S of the gap 6 from the range of 0.6 to 1.0 mm.

On the other hand, when the ball is weakly hit, such a face plate 2 is within the range of elastic deformation, and is approximately 0.1 mm.
Since the deformation is suppressed to 7 mm or less, the thickness S of the gap 6 is set to 0.6 to 1.0 mm, more preferably 0.8 to 1.0 mm.
By doing so, the back surface 2b of the face plate 2 does not come into contact with the reinforcing plate 5 in a weak hit, so that the ball can be hit without loss of kinetic energy.

As described above, according to the head 1 of the present embodiment, the thickness of the face plate 2 is reduced at the time of a weak hit,
The natural frequency of the face surface 2a can be reduced to improve the hitting ball flight distance based on the impedance matching theory.
Abuts on the reinforcing plate 5 within a range of elastic deformation, thereby reliably preventing the breakage.

The head 1 is manufactured by manufacturing the face plate 2, the head body 3, the reinforcing plate 5 and the like, respectively, by various molding methods such as casting and forging, and forming the head plate 3 in the recess 7 formed on the inner surface of the head body 3. It is obtained by press-fitting the reinforcing plate 5 and firmly fitting the same, and welding the face plate 2 to the head main body 3 and joining them by caulking fitting or the like. However,
The manufacturing method of the head 1 is not limited to this. For example, a composite body in which the face plate 2 in which the gap 6 has been previously formed and the reinforcing plate 5 are formed integrally, and this is mounted on the head body 3 Various methods can be adopted, such as a method of performing the above-described method and a method of using an adhesive or the like instead of the above-described swaging.

In the present embodiment, the reinforcing plate 5 is arranged substantially in parallel along the entire back surface 2b of the face plate 2, but at least corresponds to a region where at least the face surface 2a can be hit normally. The shape and thickness may be variously modified as long as they are partially provided on the back surface 2b of the face plate 2.

If the thickness of the reinforcing plate 5 is too large, the weight increases, which is not preferable. If the thickness of the reinforcing plate 5 is too thin, the effect of preventing the deformation of the face plate 2 by the reinforcing plate 5 tends to be insufficient. The reinforcing plate itself is easily damaged, which is not preferable. Therefore, the thickness of the reinforcing plate 5 is preferably 1.0 to 3.0 mm, more preferably 1.5 to 2.5 mm, and further preferably 1.8 to 2.3 mm.

The hollow portion 4 of the head 1 may contain, for example, a synthetic resin material, a fluid, compressed air, or the like, as long as the action of suppressing the deformation of the face plate of the gap 6 is not hindered. The weight and balance of the head can be adjusted.

As described in detail above, the face plate 2, the head body 3, and the reinforcing plate 5 may be made of pure titanium, stainless steel, aluminum, various other alloys, composite materials, Material can be adopted.

[0025]

Example: Head volume 270cc, head weight about 298
g, a golf club head (material: 6-4 titanium) having a face area of 3600 mm ² and a specification shown in Table 1 was trial-produced, and attached to a swing robot manufactured by True Temper Corporation. Two head speeds of 35 m / s and 50 m were used. / S
Each test ball was hit for 500 balls, and the flight distance of the hit ball and the presence or absence of damage to the face plate were examined. The ball used was a commercially available two-piece ball with an ionomer cover, and the flight distance was represented by the average value of all hit balls. Table 1 shows the test results.

[0026]

[Table 1]

As a result of the test, in the golf club heads of Examples 1 and 2, the flight distance was improved because the face plate was thinner than the conventional example, and the ball was hit at a head speed of 50 m / s. Even in this case, damage to the face plate could be prevented. In the test hitting at a head speed of 35 m / s, the flight distance of Example 2 was slightly smaller than that of Example 1 because the thickness S of the gap was small, and the face plate was reinforced even at this head speed. It is considered that the plate slightly touched the plate.

In Comparative Example 1, the head speed was 35 m
/ S, there is no inferiority to the example product, but the face plate cannot contact the reinforcing plate within the range of elastic deformation even when hit at a head speed of 50 m / s because the thickness S of the gap is too large. The board was damaged. Further, in the head of the thin face plate without the reinforcing plate (Comparative Example 2), the face plate was also damaged when hit at a head speed of 50 m / s.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a reinforcing plate extending along the back surface of the face plate is provided in the hollow portion of the head. Between the face plate and the back surface of the face plate deformed by a strong blow of the ball, forming a gap that can be attached to the reinforcing plate, thereby making the face plate thinner and lowering the natural frequency of the face surface. Accordingly, it is possible to improve the flight distance of the hit ball, and also to prevent the face plate from being deformed by the reinforcing plate even when the ball is hit hard, so that the face plate can be effectively prevented from being damaged.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the material and thickness of the face plate, and the thickness of the gap between the reinforcing plate and the face plate are each limited. Since the plate and the face plate do not come into contact with each other, the flight distance based on the thickness of the face plate can be reliably improved.
Also, when the head speed is high, the face plate can be brought into contact with the reinforcing plate within the range of elastic deformation at the time of impact,
Since subsequent deformation of the face plate can be suppressed, breakage of the face plate can be more reliably prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a head showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the head according to the embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the face surface.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 golf club head 2 face plate 2a face surface 2b back surface of face plate 3 head main body 4 hollow portion 5 reinforcing plate 6 void portion

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A golf club head comprising: a face plate having a face surface for hitting a ball; and a head body having the face plate disposed on a front surface, and having a hollow portion formed therein. A reinforcing plate facing the back surface is disposed in the hollow portion on the back surface side of the face plate, and between the reinforcing plate and the face plate, the back surface of the face plate deformed by a strong hit of a ball is formed on the reinforcing plate. A golf club head, wherein a gap portion having a thickness that can be abutted is formed. 2. The face plate is made of a titanium alloy of 2.0 to 2.5 mm, and the thickness of a gap between the reinforcing plate and the face plate is 0.6 to 1.0 mm. The golf club head according to claim 1, wherein: