CN114129986A - Golf club configured with gliding element extending from sole - Google Patents

Abstract

A fairway wood or hybrid golf club head may have a club head body including a top crown, a sole, a back, a front face having a front edge, and a male sliding element extending from the sole, the male sliding element being located as an auxiliary element in a front half area of the sole and occupying no more than about 75% of the front half area of the sole.

Description

Golf club configured with gliding element extending from sole

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to fairway and hybrid golf clubs having soles with auxiliary male gliding elements.

Background

In playing a game of golf, some golfers attempt to sweep the surface before hitting a golf ball when swinging a fairway wood or hybrid (as opposed to swinging an iron). When swinging an iron club, a player often intentionally strikes the ground and cuts grass off the ground during the stroke of the ball. This is why most golfers lay their fairway woods and hybrids on a surface prior to making a swing, rather than being placed at an angle consistent with the golfer's intent to cut grass on the ground or scoop into sand, as is done with iron. The soles of fairway woods and hybrid clubs typically have a relatively small bounce angle (if any) across the width of the sole, for example, between 0-3 degrees formed by the natural radius of the sole, in order to facilitate placement of the club on the surface of the ground.

One significant design change for fairway woods and hybrid soles is the incorporation of a guide rail that helps cut into the ground before the golf ball head strikes the golf ball. Such guides typically do not significantly change the bounce angle of the club because they are incremental and conform to the natural radius of the sole of the club head. The guide rail is most beneficial in deep, long grass areas, providing little advantage on thin and thick shots, and in some cases, being inferior on hard earth surfaces. The guide rails may also elevate the club face to a position higher than the ground line, thereby promoting a thin shot when impacting to a lower position on the ball surface.

Accordingly, there is a continuing need to improve the sole construction of fairway woods and hybrid golf clubs, particularly for use by amateur golfers. Many amateur golfers are unable to sweep the fairway wood and mix golf clubs on grass or rough or sandy ground without hitting the ground or shoveling into the sand, such as "heavy shots," and by doing so, lose significant distance when hitting a golf ball. Many such amateur golfers also tend to "hit thin" balls, for example, by hitting the golf ball above its equator with the lowest point on the club face, which again results in a significant distance loss when hitting the golf ball. Conventional sole constructions provide little relief and in most cases no relief at all for this undesirable problem, only for ordinary shots.

Disclosure of Invention

One advantage of the present disclosure is a fairway and hybrid golf club head that includes a convex gliding element extending outwardly from the sole of the club head as an auxiliary element on the sole. Such a convex gliding element may reduce the loss of distance when a golfer's swing may result in a thick shot prior to impact (a thick shot may result in the club face striking the ground, rough or sand). Such a convex gliding element may also advantageously improve thin hits.

These and other advantages are met, at least in part, by a golf club head (e.g., a fairway wood or hybrid golf club) that includes a club head body that includes a top crown, a sole, a back, and a front face having a front edge. Advantageously, the club head further comprises a male gliding element extending outwardly from the sole.

In certain aspects, at least 75% of the surface area of the male sliding element is located on a forward half region of the sole closest to the forward edge, and the surface area of the male sliding element occupies no more than 75% of the forward half region of the sole.

In other aspects, the male gliding element has an apex extending outwardly from the sole, the apex being located on a forward half region of the sole proximate the forward edge. The apex may have a height of from about 3mm to about 14 mm. The male gliding element may cause a forward bounce angle. In some aspects, the metal wood golf club head has a bounce angle from about 3 degrees to about 25 degrees (e.g., from about 3 degrees to about 14 degrees) formed between a horizontal ground plane and a line drawn from the leading edge to an apex of the convex gliding element.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination. For example, the club head body may also include a skirt joining the top crown and sole (or a sidewall wrapped around the entire sole). The sole may have a flat or curved profile, for example, a convex curvature in the width (toe to heel) direction or the breadth (front to back) direction, or both. The club head may consist essentially of a metal or metal alloy. In some embodiments, the male gliding element may have a width that is no more than approximately 50% of the width of the sole, and preferably no more than approximately 45% of the width of the sole, such as no more than approximately 30% of the width of the sole. In other embodiments, at least 80% of the area of the male gliding element is located on the front half area of the sole, and preferably 90% and 100% are located on the front half area of the sole. In other embodiments, the surface area of the male gliding element occupies no more than 65%, 60%, 55%, 50%, 45%, 40% of the front half area of the sole. In still further embodiments, the apex has a height of about 3mm to about 14mm, for example, from about 3mm to about 12 mm.

Additional advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the following detailed description, wherein only the preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, all without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive.

Drawings

Referring to the drawings wherein elements having the same reference number designation represent like elements throughout, and wherein:

fig. 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D, and 1E illustrate various views of a metal wood golf club head according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1F shows a separate embodiment of a metal wood golf club head according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2A and 2B are illustrations of another metal wood golf club head according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Figure 3 shows various shapes of the male gliding element.

Fig. 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate another metal wood golf club head according to aspects of the present disclosure.

Fig. 5A and 5B illustrate an extent radius and a width radius, respectively, of a sole for a metal wood pole according to aspects of the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows the bounce angle of a metal wood golf club head, formed between a horizontal ground plane and a line drawn from the leading edge of a convex gliding element on the sole of the club to the apex.

Fig. 7A and 7B compare the bounce angles of a metal wood golf club with a convex gliding element and a metal wood golf club without a convex element.

Figures 8A and 8B show the advantage of the convex gliding element on the sole of a metal wood golf club compared to a metal wood club without the convex gliding element.

Fig. 9A and 9B show additional advantages of the male sliding element on the sole of a metal wood golf club compared to a metal wood club without the male sliding element.

Detailed Description

The present invention relates to fairway wood-type golf club heads and hybrid golf club heads that include a male gliding element as an auxiliary element extending outwardly from the sole of the golf head, i.e., as a distinct element from the sole and occupying certain areas of the sole. The convex gliding element helps to influence the path of the club head as the golfer swings the club, and may increase the distance the golf ball travels after being struck by such a club.

For example, a less skilled golfer will not consistently hit on the same swing plane. Some of their swings may not be on the optimum swing plane, and the angle at which the golf ball is struck is too high or too steep, often contacting the ground, prior to striking the ball. Advantageously, the convex gliding element on the sole of a fairway wood-type golf club head or a hybrid golf club head may minimize some of the effects of these poor swing shots and may position the impact face of the club in a location of improved impact with the ball.

In aspects of the present disclosure, a fairway wood or hybrid golf club may include a club head body including a top crown, a sole, a back, and a front face having a front edge. The front face also includes a toe portion and a heel portion. The club head body may also include a skirt (or a sidewall wrapped around the entire sole) joining the top crown and the sole. The sole may have a flat or curved profile, for example, a convex curvature in the width (toe to heel) direction or the breadth (front to back) direction, or both.

Furthermore, the sole comprises a male gliding element, wherein the surface area of the male gliding element is located only or mainly in the front half area of the sole closest to the front edge. Unlike club-type golf clubs, the fairway wood-type golf club heads and hybrid golf club heads of the present disclosure are expected to impact the ground at least occasionally. Thus, the male element and sole are generally ridged and non-deformable. The male gliding element preferably has a stiffness which is about the same as or higher than the stiffness of all other areas of the sole. The male gliding element and the sole may be composed of the same or different materials and are preferably composed of a metal or metal alloy, including for example titanium, or a titanium alloy or a steel alloy. For some ease of manufacture, the male gliding element and the sole are constructed of the same material. The top crown and skirt may also be composed of metal or primarily of metal, and thus, for ease of reference, the fairway-type golf club heads and hybrid-type golf club heads of the present disclosure may be generally referred to as fairway and hybrid metal wood or simple metal wood. The male gliding element may be formed as an integral part of the sole, such as, for example, by casting or stamping or forging into the sole. The top crown and skirt may also be formed by casting, and the faces may be produced by forging or stamping and then welded to, for example, the body and/or the sole.

The convex gliding element has an outer surface with a convex curvature at least from front to back (i.e., from the front to the back of the club head). Preferably, the convex gliding element has an outer surface with a convex curvature from the front to the back and from the toe to the heel (i.e., from side to side). Advantageously, the male gliding element has an apex. The apex of the convex gliding element provides the benefit of the gliding element as an auxiliary element on the sole of the pole, as the apex naturally allows a bounce angle of 360 degrees around the apex.

The apex is preferably located in the front half region of the sole and, in some aspects, in the front third or quarter region of the sole. In some embodiments, the apex of the gliding element is approximately 8mm to 30mm rearward from the forward edge of the front face. Further, the apex has a height of about 3mm to about 14mm, for example, from about 3mm to about 12mm, about 3mm to about 10mm, about 4mm to about 10mm, and about 4mm to 8 mm.

In some embodiments, the convex gliding element provides a back-and-forth bounce angle for a golf club head of the present disclosure in a range of about 3 degrees to about 25 degrees, for example, in a range of about 3 degrees to about 18 degrees, about 4 degrees to about 12 degrees, and from about 4 degrees to about 10 degrees.

The male gliding element has a width ranging from approximately 10mm to approximately 30mm, and has a width ranging from approximately 20mm to approximately 30 mm. The male sliding element may occupy a range of about 900mm on the sole²To about 200mm²E.g. from about 900mm for a fairway club head²To about 300mm²For a hybrid club head, the surface area is from about 600mm²To about 200mm². The male gliding element has a larger surface area than it occupies on the sole of the pole due to its height dimension.

In certain aspects of the present disclosure, the male sliding element has at least about 75% of its surface area on the front half region of the sole closest to the front edge of the face of the club, and preferably has at least about 80%, 90%, and 100% of its surface area on the front half region of the sole closest to the front edge. Furthermore, the surface area of the male gliding element occupies no more than about 75% of the front half area of the sole closest to the front edge, such as no more than about 65%, 55% of the front half area of the sole closest to the front edge. Through experimentation, it has been found to be advantageous to have the surface area of the male gliding element occupy no more than about 50%, 45% or even 40% of the front half area of the sole.

For general approximate dimensions, the golf club heads of the present disclosure may have a length of approximately 105mm to 35mm, for example, fairway golf club heads may have a length of approximately 95mm to approximately 65mm, and hybrid golf club heads may have an extent of approximately 55mm to approximately 35 mm. The golf club heads of the present disclosure may have a width of from about 120mm to about 60mm, for example, from about 110mm to about 70 mm.

In certain aspects, the male sliding element has a width that is no more than approximately 50% of the width of the sole, and preferably no more than approximately 45% of the width of the sole, such as no more than approximately 40%, 35%, 30%, 25%, or 20% of the width of the sole, and the like.

Fig. 1A-1E illustrate metal wood-type golf club heads according to aspects of the present disclosure. As shown, golf club head 100 includes a top crown 102, a sole 104, a back 114, and a front impact surface 112 having a toe portion 106 and a heel portion 108. For this example, the crown 102 and sole 104 are joined by a skirt 120 that forms the side and back surfaces of the club head. The club head further includes a hosel 110 on the top crown 102 for securing a shaft to the golf club head.

As shown in fig. 1B and 1C, the front face 112 includes a front edge 118 defined as the forwardmost edge of the golf club head when the hosel 110 is at a vertical 90 degree position from the horizontal ground plane 190.

The sole 104 further includes a back edge point 104b defined as the rearmost point of the sole from the front edge. The distance from the leading edge to the back edge point 104b defines the broadside distance (Bd) of the sole 104. The extent of the front half of the sole 104 closest to the front edge (Bd1) is determined by taking one-half of the distance from the front edge 118 of the sole 104 to the rear edge 104b of the sole. In other embodiments, the front third or quarter extent of the sole closest to the front edge is determined by taking the third or quarter, respectively, of the distance from the front edge 118 of the sole 104 to the rear edge 104 b. In some embodiments, the breadth of the sole (Bd) may be from about 105mm to about 35 mm. The extent may be from about 95mm to about 65mm for a fairway-type metal wood pole, and from about 55mm to about 35mm for a hybrid metal wood pole.

As shown in fig. 1C, the sole 104 further includes a toe edge point 104t of the sole and a heel edge point 104h of the sole. The toe edge point (104t) and heel edge point (104h) of the sole 104 are the farthest points on the toe side and heel side of the sole, respectively. The width (Wd) of the sole 104 is determined by measuring the distance from the toe edge point (104t) to the heel edge point (104 h). In some embodiments, the width (Wd) of the sole can be from about 120mm to about 60mm, for example, from about 110mm to about 70 mm.

Half of the toe side width (Wdt) of the sole 104 is determined by measuring half of the distance from the toe edge point 104t to the heel edge point 104 h. Half the heel-side width (Wdh) of the sole 104 is determined by measuring half the distance from the heel-edge point 104h to the toe-edge point 104 t.

The sole length and width dimensions further define the sole area and its front half area and front toe and heel side quadrant areas. That is, the front half area of the sole closest to the front edge is determined by the front half extent (Bd1) of the sole 104 closest to the front edge and the width (Wd) of the sole. The frontal toe side quadrant area of the sole is determined by the front half extent (Bd1) of the sole 104 closest to the front edge and half the toe side width (Wdt) of the sole 104, while the frontal heel side quadrant area of the sole is determined by the front half extent (Bd1) of the sole 104 closest to the front edge and half the heel side width (Wdh) of the sole 104 (not shown in fig. 1C for ease of illustration).

In some cases, when the club head has no defined boundary between the sole and the crown, the back, toe, and heel edge points of the sole are considered the farthest points (e.g., 114) of the back of the club head, the farthest points on the toe side of the club head, and the farthest points on the heel side of the club head, respectively.

As further shown in the particular example of fig. 1A-1C, the metal wood golf club head 100 includes a male gliding element 140 extending outwardly from the sole 104. In this illustration, the convex gliding element has an outer surface with a convex curvature from front to back and from side to side (i.e., from front 112 to back 114 and from toe 106 to heel 108). In this particular example, the male sliding element 140 is circular in shape, approximately 20mm to approximately 25mm in diameter. In this example, the male sliding element 140 is located in the front half region of the sole 104 closest to the front edge 118 and extends rearwardly no further than the front half region of the sole 104. As shown, the male gliding element occupies no more than 30% of the front half area of the sole.

As shown in fig. 1C, 1D, and 1E, the convex gliding element 140 has a vertex 146 that is located approximately equidistant between the toe edge point 104t and the heel edge point 104h of the sole portion 104. In other embodiments, the apex 146 may be located on the anterior toe side quadrant of the sole or on the anterior heel side quadrant of the sole. The apex of the gliding element may be located approximately 8mm to approximately 30mm rearward from the front edge of the front face, and in this example approximately 15mm rearward from the front edge 118.

The apex has a height, as measured from the outer surface 156 of the sole 104 (just before the leading edge of the gliding element 140) to the apex of the gliding element (the furthest point on the gliding element outward from the outer surface 152 of the sole 104), which is shown by the designation h1 in fig. 1E. The apex height may be from about 3mm to about 14mm, for example, from about 4mm to about 10mm and from about 4mm to about 8 mm. The sole may have an average thickness (t1) from the inner surface (154) of the sole to the outer surface (152) of the sole of about 0.5mm to about 1.5 mm.

As shown in the example of fig. 1E, the male sliding element may be a solid block integrally formed with the sole portion 104. In another embodiment shown in fig. 1F, male glide elements 140F form depressions along inner surface 154 of sole 104. When forming the recess along the inner surface of the sole, the convex gliding element may be described as having a front wall closest to the front edge of the face and a rear wall closest to the back of the club head, where the walls are tapered and form an apex. Such male gliding elements also have side walls joining the front and rear walls, and the side walls are also preferably tapered from an apex. In some embodiments, the thickness of the front and rear walls of such a gliding element may be approximately the same thickness as the thickness of the sole, at least in the portion of the sole comprising the gliding element. Fig. 1F illustrates an embodiment in which male sliding element 140F includes a front wall thickness and a rear wall thickness that are about the same as the thickness of pole bottom 104. Thus, the shape of the male gliding element used in this example is a result of changing the geometry of the sole rather than the thickness to create the male element. However, even when the male sliding element forms a depression in the interior of the pole bottom, the male sliding element preferably has a stiffness that is about the same as or higher than the stiffness of all other walls and areas of the pole bottom so that it does not deform with impact against the ground or a ball.

Fig. 2A and 2B illustrate another example of a metal wood-type golf club head having a sole with a convex gliding element extending outwardly therefrom. As shown, the metal wood golf club head includes a top crown 202, a sole 204, a back 214, and a front impact surface 212 having a front edge 218 and a toe portion 206 and a heel portion 208. The club head also includes a hosel 210 on the top crown 202. The sole portion 204 includes a back edge point 204b, which is defined as the most rearward point of the sole from the front edge 218, and toe and heel edge points 204t and 204h are the most distal points on the toe and heel sides of the sole 204, respectively.

In this example, the male gliding element 240 is located on the forward heel side quadrant region of the sole 204. As described with respect to fig. 1C, the anterior half area of the shaft bottom closest to the anterior edge is determined by the anterior half extent (Bd1) of the shaft bottom 204 closest to the anterior edge and the width (Wd) of the shaft bottom. The frontal heel side quadrant area of the sole 204 is determined by the extent of the front half of the sole 204 closest to the front edge (Bd1) and half the heel side width (Wdh) of the sole 204. Half the heel-side width (Wdh) of sole 204 is determined by measuring half the distance from heel-edge point 204h to toe-edge point 204 t. In this example, the male gliding element 240 is about 15mm rearward from the front edge 218.

The male gliding element of the present disclosure has a vertex and sides that taper at least toward the front and toward the rear of the sole, and preferably also taper from the toe to the heel. Fig. 3 shows a generally circular convex gliding element when viewed from the apex towards the sole (340a, 340b, 340 c). As used herein, a generally circular male sliding element refers to an element that is in the shape of a circle (340a), a tear drop (340b), or an ellipse (340 c). Fig. 3 also shows a cross-sectional view of the corresponding male element. The generally convex gliding element extending outward from the sole of the metal wood golf club head of the present disclosure may have a leading edge, such as the edge closest to the leading edge of the face, that is curved (e.g., 342a, 342b, 342 c). The convex gliding element of the present disclosure has a vertex (346a, 346b, 346c), and the vertex is preferably located on the front half region of the sole and about 8mm to about 30mm rearward of the front edge of the front face.

Fig. 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate another example of a metal wood-type golf club head having a sole with a convex gliding element extending outwardly therefrom. As shown, the metal wood golf club head includes a top crown 402, a sole 404, a back 414, and a front impact surface 412 having a front edge 418 and a toe portion 406 and a heel portion 408. The club head also includes a hosel 410 on the top crown 402. The sole 404 includes a back edge point 404b defined as the most rearward point of the sole from the front edge 418, the toe edge point 404t and the heel edge point 404h being the most distal points on the toe side and the heel side of the sole 404, respectively.

In this example, male sliding element 440 is oval in shape. In this example, the male gliding element 440 is located in the front half area of the sole 404 closest to the front edge 418 and extends rearwardly no further than the front half area of the sole 104. As shown, the male gliding element occupies no more than 30% of the front half area of the sole and has a width that is no more than approximately 30% of the width of the sole.

In addition to the male gliding elements, the club heads of the present disclosure may include other features on the sole. For example, as shown in fig. 4C, the sole 404 may include a recessed portion 450t on the toe side and a recessed portion 450h on the heel side of the sole 404. These depressions in the sole help to control the club head when the sole hits the ground.

Further, the sole of the club head of the present disclosure may have a flat profile or have a convex curvature in the width or breadth direction or in both the width and breadth directions. Fig. 5A and 5B illustrate a metal wood-type golf club head having a convex sole. In fig. 5A and 5B, the convex gliding element is not shown to illustrate the convex curvature of the sole without this element.

In certain embodiments, the sole of the metal wood-type golf club head of the present disclosure has a convex overall shape, with the central section of the sole at the convex apex, and the radius, whether from heel to toe (width radius) or front to back (breadth radius), tapers toward the sole edge. Both are possible. The convex shape of the fairway sole and the hybrid sole provides better control of the golf club head when it impacts the ground. In contrast, a flat sole has a tendency to scoop into the ground unless the ball is picked up cleanly between the sole of the club and the ground without interaction. However, the golfer's swing patterns differ from each other, and the front half of the sole of the metal wood club has a convex radius that provides relief in terms of interaction with the turf.

Advantageously, the metalwood-type golf club head of the present disclosure further includes a male gliding element having an apex extending outwardly from the sole. As previously mentioned, the apex of the convex gliding element provides the benefit of the gliding element as an auxiliary element on the bottom of the pole. The apex of the gliding element may be approximately 8mm to 30mm rearward from the front edge of the front face and have a height of about 3mm to about 14mm, for example, from about 4mm to about 10 mm. The geometry of the convex gliding element creates at least a front to rear bounce angle for the golf club head of the present disclosure.

Fig. 6 illustrates a bounce angle that results from a convex gliding element extending from the sole of a golf club head of the present disclosure. As shown in fig. 6, golf club head 600 includes a top crown 602, a sole 604, a back 614, and a front impact surface 612. The club head also includes a hosel 610 on the top crown 602 for securing a shaft to the golf club head. The front face 612 includes a front edge 618 defined as the forward-most point of the golf club head when the hosel 610 is at a position 90 degrees vertically from the horizontal ground plane 190. The metal wood golf club head 600 further comprises a male glide member 640 extending outwardly from the sole 604, wherein the male glide member 640 has an apex 646.

When the club head of the present disclosure rests on the ground and the hosel is at a 90 degree angle to the horizontal ground plane, the trailing contact point of the sole and the apex of the gliding element contacts the ground. When the hosel is at a 90 degree angle to the horizontal ground plane and when the apex 646 contacts the ground with the trailing contact point on the sole, the bounce angle θ is the angle formed between the horizontal ground plane 190 and the line drawn from the leading edge of the front face back to the apex on the male runner. The straight line drawn is perpendicular to the hosel used for this measurement.

For the example shown in fig. 6, when the hosel 610 is at a 90 degree angle to the horizontal ground plane 190, and when the apex 646 and the trailing contact point TCP on the sole 604 contact the horizontal ground plane 190, the bounce angle θ is the angle formed between the horizontal ground plane 190 and the line drawn from the leading edge 618 back to the apex 646 on the male runner element 640. The straight line drawn from leading edge 618 back to apex 646 is further perpendicular to the hosel 610 for this measurement. For this example, the bounce angle θ may range from about 3 degrees to about 14 degrees, such as from about 4 degrees to about 10 degrees.

Fig. 7A and 7B compare the effect of a male gliding element on a golf club including such an element (fig. 7A) and a club head without a male gliding element (fig. 7B). Fig. 7A illustrates a club head with a gliding element having an apex 746 at a distance D from the front edge 718A, according to aspects of the present disclosure. This configuration advances the point of contact of the sole with the ground and also causes at least a front to rear bounce angle, e.g., θ A, on the club head. The distance of the apex of the male gliding element from the leading edge of the front face and the height of the apex affect the bounce angle θ A. However, club heads with convex gliding elements typically have a greater bounce angle than club heads without such elements. As shown in FIG. 7B, a fairway wood pole with a convex sole may form a natural bounce angle (e.g., θ B may be 1-3 degrees) due to the convex radius of the pole bottom.

Another advantage of the club head of the present disclosure is the location where the club contacts the ground compared to a club head without a convex gliding element. For example, the Trailing Contact Point (TCP) of a convex sole with the ground without a convex gliding element is typically at the mid-point of the sole, e.g., distance D in fig. 7B is about half the length of the sole. While the magnitude of the rebound force plays a role in the performance of the club head, the location at which the club first contacts the ground can also have a significant impact on the performance of the club in use. The club head with gliding elements according to the present disclosure not only forms a forward bounce angle, but also provides a point of contact with the ground closer to the front edge of the sole due to the presence of the apex of the gliding element as compared to a club head without the gliding element.

Fig. 8A-8B and 9A-9B illustrate the effect that a convex gliding element on the sole of a metal wood club head of the present disclosure has on a golf swing. Less skilled golfers do not consistently hit on the same swing plane. Some of their swings may be shallow, resulting in a swing bottoming out before contacting the ball. This is known as a thin shot (thin shot). The opposite, false swing makes the club head angle too steep, often in contact with the turf before hitting the ball. This is known as "Chili dip" or "thick" shots (fat shot). The convex gliding element minimizes the impact of these bad swing shots and positions the face at an improved impact with the ball to reduce the distance loss that may occur.

As shown in fig. 8B and 9B, the convex element at the bottom of the sole creates a new dynamic interaction between the sole of the club and the ground (which may be fairway grass, turf, rough, sand, etc.). When the club impacts the ground before contacting the ball, the convex gliding element lowers the loft angle of the club upon impact, thereby raising the rear portion of the club (compare fig. 8A-8B). This provides a clean impact between the ball and the club face with less skill required due to the assistance of the auxiliary male elements extending outwardly from the sole of the club.

Fig. 9A and 9B show what may happen with thin shots, both without and with gliding elements. In a thin shot, the golfer hits the sole before impacting the golf ball. As shown in fig. 9A, a small amount of the natural bounce force in the convex sole of the golf club may help adjust the face position when in contact with the turf. However, since the rear contact point of the sole of such clubs is located further rearward from the face, the face is typically at a high and upward angle upon impact. Although more lofts are thus created, the contact point on the face is very low, resulting in a low ball trajectory. A golf club having a gliding element extending from a sole advances a first contact point of the sole with the ground. See fig. 9B. Even if the swing plane has bottomed out prior to impact, the apex of the gliding element reduces the lead angle when the ground contacts and forces the head through the turf due to its more forward position. The male gliding element does not eliminate the squat; however, it improves the results compared to a sole with only a convex radius.

Only the preferred embodiments of the invention and examples of its versatility are shown and described in the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the present invention is capable of use in various other combinations and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the inventive concept as expressed herein. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, numerous equivalents to the specific materials, procedures, and arrangements described herein. Such equivalents are considered to be within the scope of the invention and are covered by the following claims.

Claims (20)

1. A metal wood golf club head comprising a club head body including a top crown, a sole, a back, and a front face having a front edge,

wherein the club head includes a male sliding element extending outwardly from the sole, and at least 75% of the surface area or volume of the male sliding element is located on a front half area of the sole closest to the front edge, and the surface area of the male sliding element occupies no more than 75% of the front half area of the sole, and wherein the male sliding element has a vertex and a side, the side tapering toward a front to a rear of the sole and tapering toward a toe to a heel of the sole, and wherein the vertex is located within a front third area of the sole.

2. The metal wood golf club head of claim 1 wherein the convex gliding element has a vertex located substantially equidistant between a toe edge and a heel edge of the sole.

3. The metal wood golf club head of claim 1, wherein the male gliding element has an apex located in a forward heel side quadrant region of the sole.

4. The metal wood golf club of claim 1, wherein the sole has a convex curvature in a widthwise or breadth direction.

5. The metal wood golf club of claim 1, wherein the male sliding element has an extent ranging from approximately 10mm to approximately 30mm and a width ranging from approximately 20mm to approximately 30 mm.

6. The metal wood golf club of claim 1, wherein the surface area of the male sliding element occupies no more than 50% of the front half area of the sole.

7. The metal wood golf club of claim 1, wherein the male sliding element has a curved edge nearest the front edge.

8. The metal wood golf club of claim 1, wherein the metal wood golf club head has a bounce angle of about 3 degrees to about 14 degrees, the bounce angle being formed by a convex gliding element and being determined between a horizontal ground plane and a line drawn from the leading edge to an apex of the convex gliding element.

9. The metal wood golf club of claim 1, wherein the male sliding element has a width that is no more than approximately 50% of the width of the sole.

10. The metal-wood golf club of claim 1, wherein the male sliding element is a solid block extending outwardly from the sole.

11. The metal wood golf club of claim 1, wherein the male gliding element forms a recess along an inner surface of the sole.

12. A metal wood golf club head comprising:

a club head body comprising a top crown, a sole, a back, a front face having a front edge, and a male gliding element having an apex extending outward from the sole, the apex located on a front half region of the sole closest to the front edge,

wherein the apex has a height from about 3mm to about 14mm, and wherein the metal wood golf club head has a bounce angle from about 3 degrees to about 25 degrees, the bounce angle being formed by a convex gliding element and being defined between a horizontal ground plane and a straight line drawn from the leading edge to the apex.

13. The metal wood golf club of claim 12, wherein at least 75% of the surface area or volume of the male sliding element is located on a front half region of the sole closest to the front edge, and the surface area of the male sliding element occupies no more than 50% of the front half region of the sole.

14. The metal wood golf club of claim 12, wherein the male sliding element has an extent ranging from approximately 10mm to approximately 30mm and a width ranging from approximately 20mm to approximately 30 mm.

15. The metal wood golf club of claim 12, wherein the sole has one or more male gliding elements having curvature in a widthwise or widthwise direction or in both a widthwise and widthwise direction.

16. The metal wood golf club of claim 12, wherein the apex is located 8mm to about 30mm rearward of the front edge.

17. The metal wood golf club head of claim 1 wherein the distance lost for a thick shot is reduced by raising the front portion of the head so that the front edge slides under the ball.

18. The metal wood pole of claim 1 wherein the distance lost to a thin shot is reduced by raising the rear portion of the head so that the front edge slides under the ball.

19. The metal wood pole of claim 12 wherein the distance lost for a thick shot is reduced by raising the front portion of the head so that the front edge slides under the ball.

20. The metal wood pole of claim 12 wherein the distance lost for a thin shot is reduced by raising the rear portion of the head so that the front edge slides under the ball.

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