JP2026003963A - iron golf club head - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an iron golf club head that has a low center of gravity and can suppress a decrease in the coefficient of restitution, particularly on off-center shots.
[Solution] An iron golf club head 100 includes a head body 1 and a high-specific-gravity member 2 having a higher specific gravity than the head body 1. The head body 1 includes a face portion 10 having a face surface 11 and a back surface 12, a toe portion 20, a heel portion 30, a top edge portion 40, a sole portion 50, and a step portion 13 disposed with a gap G between it and the back surface 12 in a face-back direction FB in which the face surface 11 and the back surface 12 face each other. The high-specific-gravity member 2 is placed on the step portion 13, and is disposed with a space S between it and the sole portion 50 in a top-sole direction TS in which the top edge portion 40 and the sole portion 50 face each other.
[Selected Figure] Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to an iron golf club head.

Conventionally, iron golf club heads equipped with high-density components to lower the center of gravity have been proposed. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-178933 (Patent Document 1) describes an iron golf club head equipped with a weight member that has a higher specific gravity than the head body and face plate. The weight member is inserted into a recess in the head body.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-178933

The iron golf club head described in the above publication has the problem of a lower coefficient of restitution because the weight member suppresses deflection of the sole portion.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to provide an iron golf club head that has a low center of gravity and can suppress a decrease in the coefficient of restitution, particularly on off-center shots.

The iron golf club head of the present invention comprises a head body and a high-specific-gravity member having a higher specific gravity than the head body. The head body includes a face portion having a face surface and a back surface, a toe portion continuous with the face portion, a heel portion continuous with the face portion and facing the toe portion across the face portion, a top edge portion continuous with the face portion, a sole portion continuous with the face portion and facing the top edge portion across the face portion, and a step portion disposed with a gap from the back surface in the face-back direction in which the face surface and the back surface face each other. The high-specific-gravity member is placed on the step portion, and is disposed with a space between the high-specific-gravity member and the sole portion in the top-sole direction in which the top edge portion and the sole portion face each other.

The iron golf club head of the present invention achieves a lower center of gravity and suppresses a decrease in the coefficient of restitution, especially on off-center shots.

1 is a front view schematically showing a configuration of an iron golf club head according to an embodiment. 1 is a rear view schematically showing the configuration of an iron golf club head according to an embodiment. 1 is a right side view schematically showing a configuration of an iron golf club head according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 2. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 2. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 2. FIG. 8 is a diagram in which the high specific gravity member is removed from FIG. 7. 1 is a rear view showing a schematic configuration of an iron golf club according to an embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise specified, identical or corresponding parts in the following drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will not be repeated.

The iron golf club head 100 according to the embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 8.

As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the iron golf club head 100 according to this embodiment includes a head body 1 and a high-specific-gravity member 2.

The head body 1 includes a face portion 10, a toe portion 20, a heel portion 30, a top edge portion 40, a sole portion 50, a hosel portion 60, and a cavity wall portion 70.

The face portion 10 has a face surface 11 and a back surface 12. The face surface 11 is located on the front side of the face portion 10. The face surface 11 forms the ball-striking surface. A plurality of scorelines 11a are provided on the face surface 11. Each of the plurality of scorelines 11a is provided continuously on the face surface 11.

Each of the multiple scorelines 11a extends in a toe-heel direction TH, in which the toe portion 20 and heel portion 30 face each other. Each of the multiple scorelines 11a is provided linearly in a direction across the face surface 11. The multiple scorelines 11a are provided at intervals in a top-sole direction TS, in which the top edge portion 40 and sole portion 50 face each other. The multiple scorelines 11a are provided at approximately equal intervals in a direction across the face surface 11.

The back surface 12 is located behind (on the back side of) the face surface 11. The back surface 12 is located on the opposite side from the face surface 11.

The toe portion 20 connects the top edge portion 40, which is on the side away from the hosel portion 60, to the sole portion 50. The toe portion 20 is continuous with the face portion 10. The heel portion 30 is the portion that extends from the lower end of the hosel portion 60 to the sole portion 50. The heel portion 30 is continuous with the face portion 10. The heel portion 30 faces the toe portion 20 across the face portion 10.

The top edge portion 40 constitutes the upper edge of the iron golf club head 100, extending from the hosel portion 60 to the toe portion 20. The top edge portion 40 is continuous with the face portion 10. The sole portion 50 constitutes the bottom of the iron golf club head 100. The sole portion 50 is continuous with the face portion 10. The sole portion 50 faces the top edge portion 40, with the face portion 10 in between.

The hosel portion 60 is connected to the heel portion 30. The hosel portion 60 is the portion to which the shaft is connected. The hosel portion 60 includes an area that is flexed when adjusting the lie angle and loft angle.

The face portion 10 and the hosel portion 60 are made of the same material. The material of the face portion 10 and the hosel portion 60 is, for example, chrome-molybdenum steel or nickel-chrome-molybdenum steel. The material of the face portion 10 and the hosel portion 60 is preferably nickel-chrome-molybdenum steel. The face portion 10 other than the face surface 11 of the iron golf club head 100 according to this embodiment is made of the same material as the face surface 11.

The face portion 10 and the hosel portion 60 may be formed by casting or forging. For example, the iron golf club head 100 according to the embodiment has a one-piece cast structure.

The cavity wall portion 70 surrounds the periphery of the back surface 12. The cavity wall portion 70 is configured to fit along the toe portion 20, heel portion 30, top edge portion 40, and sole portion 50. The cavity wall portion 70 defines a cavity 80. The cavity 80 is surrounded by the cavity wall portion 70.

The sole portion 50 includes a thin-walled portion 51. The thin-walled portion 51 of the sole portion 50 is a portion where the cavity wall portion 70 is not provided. In the top-sole direction TS, the thickness (first thickness) T1 of the thin-walled portion 51 facing the toe side portion 21 and the thickness (second thickness) T2 of the thin-walled portion 51 facing the heel side portion 22 are each thinner than the thickness (third thickness) T3 of the thin-walled portion 51 facing the central portion 23. The first thickness T1 is, for example, 1.5 mm. The second thickness T2 is, for example, 1.5 mm. The third thickness T3 is, for example, 1.9 mm.

The head body 1 has a stepped portion 13. The stepped portion 13 is disposed with a gap G between it and the back surface 12 in the face-back direction FB, in which the face surface 11 and the back surface 12 face each other. The stepped portion 13 is disposed so as to face the back surface 12 in the face-back direction FB. The stepped portion 13 is provided to protrude from the thin-walled sole portion 51 that defines the cavity 80.

The step portion 13 includes a rising portion 13a and a shelf portion 13b. The rising portion 13a is configured to rise from the sole portion 50. The shelf portion 13b is connected to the tip of the rising portion 13a. The shelf portion 13b is configured to be flat. The shelf portion 13b is configured so that the high-specific-gravity member 2 can be placed on it. The shelf portion 13b is within the width of the scoreline 11a in the toe-heel direction TH.

The high specific gravity member 2 has a higher specific gravity than the head body 1. In other words, the specific gravity of the high specific gravity member 2 is higher than the specific gravity of the entire head body 1. The material of the high specific gravity member 2 is, for example, a tungsten alloy. The high specific gravity member 2 is placed on the step portion 13. The high specific gravity member 2 is fixed to the shelf surface portion 13b of the step portion 13. Specifically, the high specific gravity member 2 is fixed to the shelf surface portion 13b of the step portion 13 by a method such as adhesive, brazing, or welding. Note that the high specific gravity member 2 is not fixed to the head body 1 on the side opposite the shelf surface portion 13b. In other words, the top surface of the high specific gravity member 2 is not fixed to the head body 1.

The high specific gravity member 2 is arranged with a space S between it and the sole portion 50 in the top sole direction TS where the top edge portion 40 and the sole portion 50 face each other. Specifically, the high specific gravity member 2 is arranged with a space S between it and the thin sole portion 51 in the top sole direction TS where the top edge portion 40 and the sole portion 50 face each other. The high specific gravity member 2 is arranged with a space S between it and the inner surface of the sole portion 50. The shelf portion 13b is located near the sole portion 50 in the top sole direction TS. Specifically, the shelf portion 13b is arranged 15 mm or less from the ground contact surface of the sole portion 50.

The high-specific-gravity member 2 is configured to protrude from the step portion 13 toward the back surface 12. Specifically, the high-specific-gravity member 2 is configured to protrude from the rising portion 13a toward the back surface 12. It is preferable that the lower surface 2a of the high-specific-gravity member protruding portion is parallel to the inner surface 52 of the thin-walled portion 51, or that the angle on the face side between a perpendicular line to the inner surface 52 of the thin-walled portion 51 and the lower surface 2a of the high-specific-gravity member protruding portion is 90 degrees or less.

As shown in Figures 4 to 8, the length of the space S between the high specific gravity member 2 and the sole portion 50 varies in the top-sole direction TS. In the toe-heel direction TH, in which the toe portion 20 and the heel portion 30 face each other, the high specific gravity member 2 includes a toe-side portion 21 located near the toe portion 20, a heel-side portion 22 located near the heel portion 30, and a central portion 23 located between the toe-side portion 21 and the heel-side portion 22. The toe-side portion 21 is located at the end of the high specific gravity member 2 on the toe portion 20 side in the toe-heel direction TH. The heel-side portion 22 is located at the end of the high specific gravity member 2 on the heel portion 30 side in the toe-heel direction TH. The central portion 23 is located in the center of the high specific gravity member 2 in the toe-heel direction TH.

In the top sole direction TS, the length (first length) L1 of the space S between the toe side portion 21 and the sole portion 50 and the length (second length) L2 of the space S between the heel side portion 22 and the sole portion 50 are each longer than the length (third length) L3 of the space S between the central portion 23 and the sole portion 50. The first length L1 is, for example, 2.5 mm. The second length L2 is, for example, 2.5 mm. The third length L3 is, for example, 2.1 mm.

In the toe-heel direction TH, the step portion 13 includes a first portion 131 located near the toe portion 20, a second portion 132 located near the heel portion 30, and a third portion 133 located between the first portion 131 and the second portion 132. In the face-back direction FB, the shortest distance (first distance) D1 between the back surface 12 and the first portion 131 and the shortest distance (second distance) D2 between the back surface 12 and the second portion 132 are each longer than the shortest distance (third distance) D3 between the back surface 12 and the third portion. The first distance D1 is, for example, 7.8 mm. The second distance D2 is, for example, 7.4 mm. The third distance D3 is, for example, 6.0 mm.

In the face-back direction FB, the width (first width) W1 of the thin-walled portion 51 between the back surface 12 and the first portion 131 and the width (second width) W2 of the thin-walled portion 51 between the back surface 12 and the second portion 132 are each larger than the width (second width) W3 of the thin-walled portion 51 between the back surface 12 and the third portion 133. The first width W1 is, for example, 7.8 mm. The second width W2 is, for example, 7.4 mm. The third width W3 is, for example, 6.0 mm.

Note that the first length L1 and the second length L2 may each be longer than the third length L3, and the first distance D1, the second distance D2, and the third distance D3 may each be the same. Also, the first length L1, the second length L2, and the third length L3 may each be the same, and the first distance D1 and the second distance D2 may be longer than the third distance D3.

An iron golf club 200 according to an embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 2 and 9. The iron golf club 200 is constructed by combining the iron golf club head 100 with a shaft 201 and a grip 202. Note that well-known shafts 201 and grips 202 can be used.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the iron golf club 200 according to the embodiment includes the iron golf club head 100 according to the embodiment, a shaft 201, and a grip 202. The iron golf club head 100 is attached to the shaft 201. The grip 202 is attached to the shaft 201.

As shown in Figures 2 and 9, specifically, the shaft 201 has one end and the other end. The iron golf club head 100 is attached to one end of the shaft 201. The shaft 201 is attached to the hosel portion 60 of the iron golf club head 100. One end of the shaft 201 is inserted into the hosel portion 60. The grip 202 is attached to the other end of the shaft 201. The other end of the shaft 201 is inserted into the grip 202.

Next, we will explain the effects of this embodiment.

In the iron golf club head 100 according to this embodiment, the high specific gravity member 2 is placed on a stepped portion 13 that is spaced apart from the back surface 12 in the face-back direction FB. This allows for a lower center of gravity. Furthermore, the high specific gravity member 2 is arranged with a space S between it and the sole portion 50 in the top-sole direction TS, where the top edge portion 40 and the sole portion 50 face each other. Therefore, the high specific gravity member 2 does not easily suppress the flexing of the sole portion 50, so the sole portion 50 flexes easily. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the coefficient of restitution. As described above, it is possible to suppress a decrease in the coefficient of restitution while also achieving a lower center of gravity.

In addition, the high specific gravity member 2 is configured to protrude from the step portion 13 toward the back surface 12. This reduces the adhesive area between the high specific gravity member 2 and the head body 1.

With the iron golf club head 100 according to this embodiment, in the top-sole direction TS, the length (first length) L1 of the space S between the toe side portion 21 and the sole portion 50 and the length (second length) L2 of the space S between the heel side portion 22 and the sole portion 50 are each longer than the length (third length) L3 of the space S between the central portion 23 and the sole portion 50. This makes it possible to suppress a decrease in the coefficient of restitution, particularly on the toe portion 20 side and the heel portion 30 side. This therefore makes it possible to suppress a decrease in flight distance on off-center shots, particularly on the toe portion 20 side and the heel portion 30 side.

With the iron golf club head 100 according to this embodiment, in the face-back direction FB, the distance (first distance) D1 between the back surface 12 and the first portion 131 and the distance (second distance) D2 between the back surface 12 and the second portion 132 are both longer than the distance (third distance) D3 between the back surface 12 and the third portion. This further reduces the decrease in the coefficient of restitution, particularly on the toe 20 and heel 30 sides. This further reduces the decrease in flight distance on off-center shots, particularly on the toe 20 and heel 30 sides.

In the iron golf club head 100 according to the embodiment, the face portion 10 and the hosel portion 60 are made of the same material. Therefore, the face portion 10 and the hosel portion 60 can be manufactured in the same process.

In the iron golf club head 100 according to this embodiment, the face portion 10 and hosel portion 60 are made of nickel-chromium-molybdenum steel. This makes the face portion 10 harder, improving durability, and allows the face portion 10 to be designed thinner, improving resilience.

The iron golf club 200 according to the embodiment includes the iron golf club head 100 according to the embodiment. As a result, it is possible to provide an iron golf club 200 that can achieve a low center of gravity and suppress a decrease in the coefficient of restitution.

The embodiments disclosed herein should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, not the above description, and is intended to include all modifications that are equivalent in meaning to and within the scope of the claims.

1 head body, 2 high-density member, 10 face portion, 11 face surface, 11a score line, 12 back surface, 13 step portion, 13a rising portion, 13b shelf portion, 20 toe portion, 21 toe side portion, 22 heel side portion, 23 center portion, 30 heel portion, 40 top edge portion, 50 sole portion, 60 hosel portion, 70 cavity wall portion, 80 cavity, 100 iron golf club head, 131 first portion, 132 second portion, 133 third portion, 200 iron golf club, FB face-back direction, G gap, S space, TH toe-heel direction, TS top-sole direction.

Claims (4)

A head body,
a high-specific-gravity member having a specific gravity higher than that of the head body,
The head body includes:
a face portion having a face surface and a back surface;
a toe portion continuous with the face portion;
a heel portion that is continuous with the face portion and faces the toe portion across the face portion;
a top edge portion continuous with the face portion;
a sole portion that is continuous with the face portion and faces the top edge portion across the face portion;
a step portion disposed with a gap from the back surface in a face-back direction in which the face surface and the back surface face each other,
the high-specific-gravity member is placed on the step portion, and is arranged with a space between the high-specific-gravity member and the sole portion in a top-sole direction in which the top edge portion and the sole portion face each other. the step portion includes, in a toe-heel direction in which the toe portion and the heel portion face each other, a first portion disposed near the toe portion, a second portion disposed near the heel portion, and a third portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion,
2. The iron golf club head according to claim 1, wherein in the face-back direction, a distance between the back surface and the first portion and a distance between the back surface and the second portion are each longer than a distance between the back surface and the third portion. the high-specific-gravity member includes, in a toe-heel direction in which the toe portion and the heel portion face each other, a toe side portion disposed near the toe portion, a heel side portion disposed near the heel portion, and a central portion disposed between the toe side portion and the heel side portion,
3. The iron golf club head according to claim 1, wherein, in the top-sole direction, the length of the space between the toe side portion and the sole portion and the length of the space between the heel side portion and the sole portion are each longer than the length of the space between the central portion and the sole portion. the head body includes a hosel portion,
The iron golf club head according to claim 1 , wherein the face portion and the hosel portion are made of the same material.