JP2009018112A - Wood type golf club head - Google Patents

Abstract

A wood type golf club head capable of obtaining a large flight distance is provided.
A hollow wood-type golf club head 1 having a face for hitting a ball, the head surface being the furthest away from the shaft axis center line and the shaft axis center line when viewed from the front in the reference state A toe-heel direction length L (mm) which is a distance between the point and the toe side point, a plane in contact with the sweet spot of the face, and a head surface point farthest from the plane toward the head rear side The ratio (W / L) of the head depth length W (mm), which is the length between the backmost side point, is 0.85 or more and 1.0 or less, and between the head center of gravity and the leading edge. The ratio (FP / GL) of the center of gravity depth GL, which is the horizontal distance, and the face progression FP is 0.50 to 0.75.
[Selection] Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a wood type golf club head capable of increasing a flight distance while stabilizing the directionality of a hit ball.

  A wood-type golf club head with a large moment of inertia about the vertical axis passing through the center of gravity of the head has the advantage that the head has little blurring when hitting the ball on the toe side or heel side of the face, and the directionality of the hit ball is stable. (See Patent Document 1 below). As a method for increasing the moment of inertia, for example, increasing the length of the club head in the front-rear direction can be considered.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the golf club head a having a large length in the front-rear direction has a position where the center of gravity G of the head is largely separated rearward from the shaft axis center line CL (a position separated by a distance A in this example). Provided. Accordingly, when viewed from the heel side, due to the centrifugal force during the swing, the club head a rotates clockwise so that the center of gravity G of the head approaches the shaft axis center line CL as indicated by the phantom line. . Such a rotational movement of the club head during the swing increases the dynamic loft angle of the face b. Further, the rotational movement increases in proportion to the distance A.

  However, when a ball is hit with a club head in which such a large rotational movement is generated, a so-called “top” miss shot that hits the ball with its leading edge Le tends to occur. Further, the above-described rotational movement of the club head a makes it easier to hit the ball on the sole side of the face b, the back spin amount of the hit ball increases due to the vertical gear effect, and the dynamic loft angle at the time of hitting is also large. Therefore, the hit ball tends to blow up and there is a tendency that a sufficient flight distance cannot be obtained.

JP 2006-20719 A

  The present invention has been devised in view of the above situation, and the ratio (W / L) between the toe-heel direction length L and the head depth length W, the center of gravity depth GL, and the face progression FP. Based on limiting the ratio (FP / GL) to a certain range, the wood type golf which is useful for suppressing the rotational movement of the head during the swing described above and thus increasing the flight distance while stabilizing the directionality of the hit ball. The main purpose is to provide club heads.

  A first aspect of the present invention is a wood-type golf club head having a hollow structure having a face for hitting a ball, the shaft axis center line being arranged in an arbitrary vertical plane and defined with respect to a horizontal plane The shaft axis center line and the most toe side point that is the head surface point furthest away from the shaft axis center line in the standard state when the face is tilted at a lie angle and the face is held at a specified loft angle Toe-heel direction length L, and the distance between the plane that is in contact with the sweet spot of the face and the backmost point that is the head surface point farthest from the plane toward the back of the head The head depth length W ratio (W / L) is 0.85 or more and 1.0 or less, and the center of gravity depth GL which is the horizontal distance between the head center of gravity and the leading edge is The ratio of the face progression FP (FP / GL) is characterized in that it is a 0.50 to 0.75.

The invention according to claim 2 is the wood type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the head volume is 400 to 470 cm ³ .

A third aspect of the present invention is the wood type golf club head according to the first or second aspect, wherein the moment of inertia about a vertical axis passing through the center of gravity of the head in the reference state is 4000-5900 (g · cm ² ).

  The invention according to claim 4 is the wood type golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ratio (FP / GL) is 0.65 to 0.75.

  In the wood type golf club head of the present invention, the ratio (W / L) of the club head toe / heel direction length L and the head depth length W is set to 0.85 or more and 1.0 or less. Thus, by setting the head depth length W to be large in relation to the toe-heel direction length L, a sufficiently large moment of inertia can be secured and the center of gravity depth is also increased. Therefore, even when the hit position of the ball is shifted to the toe side or the heel side of the face, it is possible to suppress head blurring and to stabilize the directionality of the hit ball.

  In addition, as described above, a golf club head having a large head depth length W is likely to cause a rotational motion in which the center of gravity of the head is close to the shaft axis center line due to centrifugal force during swing. However, in the wood type golf club head of the present invention, the ratio (FP / GL) between the center of gravity depth GL which is the horizontal distance between the center of gravity of the head and the leading edge and the face progression FP (FP / GL) is 0.50 to 0.75. Is set. That is, the face progression FP is set to be larger than that in the related art in association with the gravity center depth GL. For this reason, the distance in the front-rear direction between the center of gravity of the head and the shaft axis center line can be reduced, thereby suppressing the above-mentioned rotational movement that tends to occur during the swing, and thus the top of the hit ball and the rising of the ball are prevented, thereby improving the flight distance. .

  Thus, the wood type golf club head of the present invention can increase the flight distance while stabilizing the directionality of the hit ball.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4 are a perspective view, a front view, a plan view, and A-A of a wood type golf club head (hereinafter, simply referred to as “head” or “club head”) 1 of the present embodiment. A enlarged end views are shown respectively.

  The club head 1 according to the present embodiment includes a head body 1a having a hollow structure and a hosel portion 1b provided on the heel side thereof.

  The head main body 1a includes a face portion 3 having a face 2 for hitting a ball on the front surface, a crown portion 4 connected to the upper edge 2a of the face 2 and forming the upper surface of the head, and a bottom surface of the head connected to the lower edge 2b of the face 2. And a side portion 6 that connects between the crown portion 4 and the sole portion 5 and extends from the toe side edge 2c of the face 2 through the back face BF to the heel side edge 2d.

  The hosel portion 1b is provided with a cylindrical shaft insertion hole 7 provided on the heel side of the crown portion 4 of the head body 1a and to which a shaft (not shown) is attached. The shaft center line of the shaft insertion hole 7 substantially coincides with the shaft axis center line CL when a shaft (not shown) is attached later. Accordingly, when the shaft is not attached to the club head 1, the shaft center line of the shaft insertion hole 7 is used as the shaft axis center line CL.

  1 to 4, the club head 1 is kept in the reference state. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 3, this reference state means that the shaft axis center line CL is arranged in an arbitrary vertical plane VP and is inclined with respect to the horizontal plane HP at a specified lie angle β, and the face 2 is The vertical plane VP (or a plane parallel thereto) is inclined at a specified loft angle α (real loft angle, the same applies hereinafter). In the present specification, unless otherwise specified, the head 1 is described as being in such a reference state. The prescribed lie angle β and loft angle α mean the lie angle and loft angle set for the head.

  Further, the vertical or height direction with respect to the club head 1 means the vertical or height direction with respect to the head 1 in the reference state. The front-rear direction with respect to the club head 1 is a direction parallel to a straight line N connecting the head center of gravity G and the sweet spot SS in a plan view (FIG. 3) when the club head 1 in the reference state is viewed from above. Is the front side, and the back face BF side is the rear side. Note that the sweet spot SS is a perpendicular foot standing on the face 2 from the center of gravity G of the head.

  The wood-type golf club head does not mean that the head material is made of a wood material, but has a head shape that has conventionally been mainly formed of a wood material. Specifically, it includes at least the driver (# 1), the plush (# 2), the spoon (# 3), the buffy (# 4), and the creek (# 5). This concept includes a head having a similar shape.

  In the present embodiment, the club head 1 is made of a metal material. Although the said metal material is not specifically limited, Preferably 1 type (s) or 2 or more types, such as stainless steel, maraging steel, pure titanium, a titanium alloy, or an aluminum alloy, are preferable. However, a non-metallic material such as a fiber reinforced resin or an ionomer resin may be used in part for the purpose of weight reduction.

Further, the volume club head 1 is preferably 400 cm ³ or more, more preferably 420 cm ³ or more, more preferably 430 cm ³ or more. Here, the said volume is taken as the whole volume enclosed by the outer surface of the head obtained by filling the shaft insertion hole 7 of the hosel part 1b. Such a large volume provides a sense of security at the time of addressing, and is useful for increasing the moment of inertia and the center of gravity depth of the club head 1 and improving the directionality of the hit ball. On the other hand, too large a volume of the club head 1, the increase in head weight, deterioration of swing balance, because of a problem such as a reduction and the golf rule violation durability, preferably 470 cm ³ or less, more preferably 460 cm ³ or less Is desirable.

  The total weight of the club head 1 is preferably 180 g or more, more preferably 183 g or more, and further preferably 185 g or more in consideration of swing balance, resilience, ease of swinging, and the upper limit. Preferably it is 220 g or less, more preferably 215 g or less, and still more preferably 213 g or less.

  In the club head 1 of the present embodiment, the ratio (W / L) between the length L (mm) in the toe-heel direction and the head depth length W (mm) is set to 0.85 or more and 1.0 or less. The

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the “toe-heel direction length L” indicates the shaft axis center line CL and the shaft in the front view in the reference state (viewed from the direction perpendicular to the vertical plane VP). This is the length in the direction perpendicular to the axial center line CL between the axial center line CL and the toe side point T that is the head surface point farthest away from the axial center line CL. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the “head depth length W” includes a plane P3 in contact with the sweet spot SS of the face 2 and a back surface side that is the head surface point farthest from the plane P3 toward the head rear side. This is the length in the direction perpendicular to the plane P3 between the point B and the point B.

  The club head is required to have the highest strength in the face portion 3 for hitting the ball. For this reason, normally, the thickness tf of the face portion 3 is formed to be the largest in the head. Accordingly, the face portion 3 has the largest weight among the heads, and normally occupies about 30 to 40% of the total weight of the head. On the other hand, in order to increase the moment of inertia around the vertical axis passing through the head center of gravity G, it is effective to keep the head center of gravity G away from the face portion 3.

  Therefore, in the present invention, by setting the ratio (W / L) to 0.85 or more, the head depth length W is sufficiently increased in relation to the toe-heel direction length L, and as a result, a large moment of inertia and center of gravity are obtained. The depth GL is secured. Thereby, even when the hitting position is shifted to the toe side or the heel side of the face, head blurring is suppressed, and the directionality of the hit ball is stabilized. Further, since the length L in the toe-heel direction can be appropriately suppressed, hitting a ball can be prevented from being sliced. From such a viewpoint, the ratio (W / L) is more preferably 0.86 or more, further preferably 0.88 or more, and particularly preferably 0.92 or more.

Here, in the club head 1 of the present embodiment, the moment of inertia around the vertical axis passing through the head center of gravity G is preferably 4000 (g · cm ² ) or more, more preferably 4100 (g · cm ² ) or more, and even more preferably. Is preferably 4200 (g · cm ² ) or more. Thereby, even when the ball hitting position is shifted to the toe or heel side of the face 2, the rotation amount (blur) of the head around the vertical axis can be reduced, and the directionality of the hit ball can be stabilized more reliably. Note that even if the moment of inertia is too large, the head weight may increase or the shape of the head may become unique. Therefore, the value is preferably 5900 (g · cm ² ) or less, more preferably. Is preferably 5800 (g · cm ² ) or less.

  Also, if the head depth length W is excessively large with respect to the length L in the toe-heel direction, the face of the club head cannot be properly returned to the holding state at the moment when the ball is hit during the swing, and as a result The trapping of the ball is worse, especially for beginners, there is a risk that a miss shot such as slicing will occur, and this may cause the flight distance to decrease. From such a viewpoint, the ratio (W / L) is desirably 1.0 or less, more preferably 0.99 or less, and further preferably 0.96 or less.

  Here, the value of the depth length W of the club head 1 is not particularly limited, but if it becomes small, there is no sense of volume when the head is held and it is difficult to obtain a sense of security. The center of gravity depth GL becomes small, and the direction stability of the hit ball may be deteriorated. From such a viewpoint, the depth length W is preferably 100 mm or more, more preferably 105 mm or more, and still more preferably 110 mm or more. On the other hand, when the depth length W is increased, the height of the sweet spot SS is increased, and as a result, a trajectory that is blown up with a large backspin amount may be lost. From such a viewpoint, the depth length W is preferably 127 mm or less.

  Further, the value of the length L in the toe-heel direction of the club head 1 is not particularly limited. However, if the length is reduced, the length of the face 2 in the toe-heel direction is also reduced, and the meat ratio is deteriorated. There is a risk that the sense of security will be lost. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the center-of-gravity distance GSL, which is the distance between the head center-of-gravity G and the perpendicular foot X extending from the head center-of-gravity G to the shaft axis center line CL, is remarkably reduced, and hooks are likely to occur. Tend to be. From such a viewpoint, the length L in the toe-heel direction is preferably 105 mm or more, more preferably 110 mm or more, and further preferably 115 mm or more. On the other hand, if the length L in the toe-heel direction is excessively large, the catching of the ball may be deteriorated, and is preferably 127 mm or less.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, the club head 1 of the present embodiment has a ratio (FP / GL) between the center of gravity depth GL, which is the horizontal distance between the head center of gravity G and the leading edge Le, and the face progression FP. Is set to 0.50 to 0.75. Here, as shown in FIG. 5, the leading edge Le is at a position in contact with the vertical surface P4 parallel to the vertical surface VP on the front side of the club head 1 in the reference state, and the gravity center depth GL is the vertical surface P4. And the center of gravity G of the head. The face progression FP is measured as the distance between the vertical planes VP and P4.

  As described above, in the club head 1 in which the ratio (FP / GL) is set larger than the conventional one, the distance A (= GL−FP) from the vertical plane VP to the head gravity center G becomes small. For this reason, the rotational motion in which the center of gravity of the club head 1 moves to the shaft axis center line CL by the centrifugal force at the time of swing is suppressed to a small level. As a result, miss shots such as the top and the opportunity to hit the ball on the sole side of the face 2 are reduced. It is also possible to prevent the dynamic loft angle of the face 2 from being excessively large when the ball is hit. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the launch angle of the hit ball from becoming extremely large. As described above, the club head 1 according to the present invention can prevent miss shots and shot-up of the hit ball, so that the flight distance can be increased while stabilizing the directionality of the hit ball.

  When the ratio (FP / GL) is less than 0.50, the rotational movement of the club head 1 due to the centrifugal force during the swing cannot be sufficiently reduced, and as a result, the above-described action cannot be expected. From such a viewpoint, the ratio (FP / GL) is more preferably 0.54 or more, further preferably 0.61 or more, and particularly preferably 0.65 or more.

  On the other hand, by increasing the ratio (FP / GL), the rotational movement of the club head during the swing can be further suppressed. However, in this case, the face progression FP may increase. In the club head 1 having a large face progression FP, since the face 2 is located far ahead of the vertical plane VP, the timing at the time of hitting the ball is likely to be earlier, and as a result, miss shots such as slices are likely to occur frequently. Further, when the ratio (FP / GL) is large, the center of gravity depth GL may be small. In this case, the directionality of the hit ball is deteriorated, and the flight distance is likely to decrease due to this. From such a viewpoint, the ratio (FP / GL) is preferably 0.72 or less, more preferably 0.70 or less.

  Moreover, the value of the said gravity center depth GL will not be specifically limited if the above-mentioned ratio is satisfy | filled. However, if the depth of center of gravity GL is too small, the moment of inertia around the vertical axis passing through the center of gravity G of the head may be reduced. Therefore, it is preferably 30 mm or more, more preferably 32 mm or more, and even more preferably 33 mm or more. On the other hand, if the depth of center of gravity GL is too large, the center of gravity G of the head will be far away from the face 2 and it will be difficult to feel the feel at impact, which in turn may deteriorate the feel at impact. From such a viewpoint, the center of gravity depth GL is preferably 60 mm or less, more preferably 57 mm or less, and further preferably 55 mm or less.

  Further, the value of the face progression FP is not particularly limited as long as it satisfies the above ratio. However, when the value of the face progression FP becomes small, the timing of hitting the ball tends to be delayed, so that it is easy to hit the ball with the face 2 closed. Such hitting is difficult for the ball to rise and the flying distance tends to decrease. From such a viewpoint, the face progression FP is preferably 15 mm or more, more preferably 16 mm or more, and further preferably 17 mm or more. On the other hand, when the face progression FP is increased, the timing of hitting the ball is advanced, so that the ball is hit with the face 2 open, and slicing is likely to occur. From this point of view, the face progression FP is preferably 35 mm or less, more preferably 34 mm or less, and even more preferably 32 mm or less.

As a particularly preferable aspect, the ratio (FP / GL) between the center-of-gravity depth GL and the face progression FP is defined in relation to the ratio (W / L) between the toe-heel direction length L and the head depth length W. It is desirable to do. Specifically, it is desirable to define the ratios (FP / GL) and (W / L) so as to satisfy the following expression (1).
(FP / GL) −0.6 × (W / L) ≧ 0 (1)

FIG. 7 shows a graph with the ratio (FP / GL) set on the vertical axis and the ratio (W / L) set on the horizontal axis. The club head of the present invention is included in the shaded area, but the range is further limited when the above formula (1) is satisfied. First, as the ratio (W / L) increases, a large moment of inertia and a deep depth of the center of gravity can be obtained, but on the other hand, the rotational movement of the head during the swing tends to increase and the flight distance tends to decrease. In order to solve this problem, it is preferable to increase the ratio (FP / GL). Further, the larger the ratio (W / L), the greater the rotational motion. Therefore, it is preferable to increase the ratio (FP / GL) as the head has a larger ratio (W / L). The inventors have evaluated various heads having different ratios (W / L) and ratios (FP / GL) in light of this technical theory, and found the formula (1). By satisfying this expression (1), it is possible to achieve both the directionality of the hit ball and the high flight distance in a higher dimension. Especially (FP / GL) −0.6 × (W / L) ≧ 0.03 (2)
More preferably, (FP / GL) −0.6 × (W / L) ≧ 0.11 (3)
It is desirable to satisfy When the value of “(FP / GL) −0.6 × (W / L)” is excessively large, the value of the ratio (W / L) is small, and as a result, the head blur increases and the directionality is increased. Or the ratio (FP / GL) increases, the head returns poorly and slices are likely to occur, and the directionality tends to decrease.
(FP / GL) −0.6 × (W / L) ≦ 0.19 (4)
It is desirable to satisfy.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated specific examples and can be implemented in various modes.

  A wood-type golf club head having the basic shape shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 was made on the basis of the specifications shown in Table 1 and tested for the flight distance and directionality of the hit ball. Each club head was manufactured by welding a plate-like face member f and a hollow head base m as indicated by a chain line in FIG.

The head base m was prepared by precision casting Ti-6Al-4V. Further, the face member f is an α + β-based titanium alloy (a titanium alloy “SP700HM” manufactured by JFE Steel Co., Ltd.), and the composition thereof is Al: 4.0-5.0 wt%, V: 2.5-3. 5 wt%, Mo: 1.8-2.2 wt%, Fe: 1.7-2.3 wt%, balance Ti and inevitable impurities) are machined and pressed by NC to thicken the central portion and the peripheral portion The thin was formed. The head base m and the face member f were joined by laser welding. As a result, club heads having the following common specifications were manufactured.
Total head weight: 200g
Head volume: 460cm ³
Real loft angle: 11 degrees Crown thickness: 0.7mm
The thickness of the center of the face: 3.2mm
Thickness of the peripheral part of the face part: 2.2mm

The depth length W and the toe-heel direction length L were adjusted so that the head volume did not change. Further, the center of gravity and the moment of inertia were adjusted by changing the thickness of the sole part and the side part.
The test method is as follows.

<Flight distance and direction stability of the hit ball>
A wood-type golf club having a total length of 45 inches was manufactured by mounting the same shaft on each club head. Ten right-handed golfers with handicap 15 to 30 hit 10 golf balls in each club, and the average value of the flight distance was calculated. Further, the direction stability of the hit ball was evaluated by the sensitivity of the ten testers. The criteria are as follows, and Table 1 shows the average value of 10 people. The larger the value, the better.
5: Very good directional stability 4: Slightly good directional stability 3: Normal 2: Slightly poor directional stability 1: Poor directional stability

<Average deviation of hit ball>
From the result of the flight distance test, an average value of the amount of deviation of the hit ball with respect to the target flying ball line was obtained. Note that the amount of deviation was measured as a positive value regardless of whether the deviation was left or right. The smaller the value, the better.

<Ease of hitting the ball>
The ease of raising the hit ball was evaluated by the sensitivity of the 10 testers. The criteria are as follows, and Table 1 shows the average value of 10 people. The larger the value, the better.
5: Very good 4: Somewhat good 3: Normal 2: Somewhat bad 1: Bad Test results are shown in Table 1. Moreover, an Example and a comparative example are also shown in the graph of FIG.

  As a result of the test, it was confirmed that the club head of the example had an improved flight distance and a stable directionality compared to the comparative example.

It is a perspective view of the standard state of the club head which shows the embodiment of the present invention. It is a front view of the club head of FIG. It is a top view of the club head of FIG. It is AA sectional drawing of FIG. It is the side view which looked at the club head of this embodiment from the heel side. It is the side view seen from the heel side of the club head explaining the effect | action of this invention. It is a graph which shows the relationship between ratio (W / L) and ratio (FP / GL). It is the side view seen from the heel side of the club head explaining a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Golf club head 2 Face 3 Face part 4 Crown part 5 Sole part 6 Side part G Head center-of-gravity L Head toe-heel direction length SS Sweet spot W Head depth length VP Vertical plane B Backmost point T Maximum toe point FP Face progression GL Depth of center of gravity

Claims (4)

A wood-type golf club head having a hollow structure having a face for hitting a ball,
In a front view of a reference state in which the shaft axis center line is arranged in an arbitrary vertical plane and tilted at a specified lie angle with respect to a horizontal plane and the face is held at a specified loft angle, the shaft axis center line and the shaft axis A toe-heel direction length L that is a distance between the toe side point that is the head surface point farthest away from the shaft axis center line, and a plane in contact with the sweet spot of the face, and the head from the plane The ratio (W / L) of the head depth length W, which is the length between the back surface point that is the head surface point away from the rear side, is 0.85 or more and 1.0 or less, and the center of gravity of the head A wood-type golf club having a ratio (FP / GL) of a depth of center of gravity GL, which is a horizontal distance to the leading edge, and a face progression FP (FP / GL) of 0.50 to 0.75 Head. 2. The wood type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein the head volume is 400 to 470 cm < ³ >. 3. The wood type golf club head according to claim 1, wherein a moment of inertia about a vertical axis passing through the center of gravity of the head in the reference state is 4000 to 5900 (g · cm ² ).   The wood type golf club head according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ratio (FP / GL) is 0.65 to 0.75.

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