Iron-type golf club head with sole having stable static address position

Abstract

An iron-type golf club head having a sole, a center of gravity CG, and a static contact point SCP on the sole substantially vertically below the CG for providing stability when the club head is in an address position, but the sole has no points lower than the SCP when the club head is in the address position. Additionally, the club head may have a centerline plane orthogonal to the plane of the club face and containing the centerline of the club face, with the center of gravity lying in the centerline plane and the lowest point LP on the sole also lying substantially in the centerline plane when the centerline plane is substantially vertical, for minimizing mis-hits with the club head.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An iron-type golf club head comprising 
 a sole,    a center of gravity CG, and    a static contact point SCP on said sole, said SCP being substantially vertically below the CG when said club head is in an address position, and said sole has no points lower than said SCP when said club head is in the address position.    
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the SCP and at least one other point substantially vertically below the CG define a static contact line SCL.  
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the SCP and at least two other points substantially vertically below the CG define a static contact surface area SCA.  
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein the static contact surface area SCA is planar.  
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein the static contact surface area SCA is non-planar.  
     
     
         6 . An iron-type golf club head, comprising 
 a sole,    a center of gravity CG, and    having a centerline plane orthogonal to the plane of the club face and containing the centerline of the club face, with the center of gravity lying in said centerline plane and the lowest point LP on said sole also lying substantially in said centerline plane when the centerline plane is substantially vertical.    
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , wherein the sole additionally comprises a lowest point surface area LPA which is comprised of points substantially vertically below the center of gravity when the centerline plane is vertical, and no points on the sole are lower than said LP when the centerline plane is vertical.  
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the lowest point surface area LPA is planar.  
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the lowest point surface area LPA is non-planar.  
     
     
         10 . The iron-type golf club head of  claim 1 , additionally having a centerline plane orthogonal to the plane of the club face and containing the centerline of the club face, with the center of gravity lying in said centerline plane and the lowest point LP on said sole also lying substantially in said centerline plane when the centerline plane is substantially vertical.  
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein the SCP and at least one other point substantially vertically below the CG define a static contact line SCL.  
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein the SCP and at least two other points substantially vertically below the CG define a static contact surface area SCA.  
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the static contact surface area SCA is planar.  
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein the static contact surface are SCA is non-planar.  
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein the sole additionally comprises a lowest point surface area LPA which is comprised of points substantially vertically below the center of gravity when the centerline plane is vertical, and no points on the sole are lower than said LP when the centerline plane is vertical.  
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein the lowest point surface area LPA is planar.  
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein the lowest point surface area LPA is non-planar.