Golf club head

Abstract

A golf club head having a head body generally includes a face, a sole, and a shaft attachment. A blade, such as a rudder blade or an outrigger blade, for instance, may be affixed to the sole. A rudder blade, one or more outrigger blades, or some combination thereof, may be suitably positioned and dimensioned to facilitate squaring the face with the swing path as the club head moves into contact with a golf ball through an impact zone. Disclosed blade configurations may provide stability to the club head through the impact zone; additionally or alternatively, improved aerodynamic characteristics of the club head may be achieved.

1 . A golf club head comprising: 
 a head body including a face, a sole, and a shaft attachment; and    means for squaring said face with a swing path.    
   
   
       2 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein said means for squaring comprises a rudder blade affixed to said sole.  
   
   
       3 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein said means for squaring comprises an outrigger blade affixed to said sole.  
   
   
       4 . The golf club head of  claim 2  wherein said rudder blade extends generally perpendicular to said face.  
   
   
       5 . The golf club head of  claim 2  wherein said head body includes a toe and heel, and wherein said rudder blade is positioned intermediate said toe and said heel.  
   
   
       6 . The golf club head of  claim 5  wherein said rudder blade is positioned approximately midway between said toe and said heel.  
   
   
       7 . The golf club head of  claim 2  wherein said face includes a sweet spot, and wherein said rudder blade is substantially aligned with said sweet spot.  
   
   
       8 . The golf club head of  claim 3  wherein said face includes a sweet spot, and wherein said outrigger blade is not aligned with a center of said sweet spot.  
   
   
       9 . The golf club head of  claim 2  wherein said rudder blade is positioned rearward of said shaft attachment.  
   
   
       10 . The golf club head of  claim 2  further comprising a pair of outrigger blades, each of said pair of outrigger blades affixed to said sole on a respective side of said rudder blade.  
   
   
       11 . The golf club head of  claim 10  wherein each of said pair of outrigger blades extends generally perpendicular to said face.  
   
   
       12 . The golf club head of  claim 10  wherein each of said pair of outrigger blades is canted outwardly with respect to said rudder blade.  
   
   
       13 . The golf club head of  claim 10  wherein said rudder blade is positioned rearward of said shaft attachment and each of said pair of outrigger blades is positioned forward of said rudder blade.  
   
   
       14 . The golf club head of  claim 10  wherein said pair of outrigger blades defines a plane, and wherein said rudder blade extends below said plane.  
   
   
       15 . The golf club head of  claim 3  wherein said head body includes a toe and heel, and further comprising a toe outrigger blade affixed to said sole proximal to said toe and a heel outrigger blade affixed to said sole proximal to said heel.  
   
   
       16 . A golf club head comprising: 
 a head body including a face, a sole, and a shaft attachment; and    a blade affixed to said sole, said blade positioned rearward of said shaft attachment and operative to square said face with a swing path.    
   
   
       17 . The golf club head of  claim 16  wherein said head body includes a toe and heel, and wherein said blade is positioned intermediate said toe and said heel.  
   
   
       18 . The golf club head of  claim 17  wherein said blade is a rudder blade.  
   
   
       19 . The golf club head of  claim 17  wherein said blade is an outrigger blade.  
   
   
       20 . The golf club head of  claim 18  wherein said face includes a sweet spot, and wherein said rudder blade is aligned with said sweet spot.  
   
   
       21 . The golf club head of  claim 18  wherein said rudder blade extends generally perpendicular to said face.  
   
   
       22 . The golf club head of  claim 18  further comprising a pair of outrigger blades, each of said pair of outrigger blades affixed to said sole on a respective side of said rudder blade.  
   
   
       23 . The golf club head of  claim 22  wherein each of said pair of outrigger blades extends generally perpendicular to said face.  
   
   
       24 . The golf club head of  claim 23  wherein each of said pair of outrigger blades is canted outwardly with respect to said rudder blade.  
   
   
       25 . The golf club head of  claim 22  wherein said pair of outrigger blades defines a plane, and wherein said rudder blade extends below said plane.  
   
   
       26 . The golf club head of  claim 19  wherein said face includes a sweet spot and further comprising a pair of outrigger blades, each of said pair of outrigger blades affixed to said sole on a respective side of said sweet spot.  
   
   
       27 . A golf club head comprising: 
 a head body including a face, a sole, and a shaft attachment; and    a blade affixed to said sole and operative to encourage air flow across said sole substantially parallel to said blade during a golf swing.    
   
   
       28 . The golf club head of  claim 27  wherein said head body includes a toe and heel, and wherein said blade is positioned intermediate said toe and said heel.  
   
   
       29 . The golf club head of  claim 28  wherein said face includes a sweet spot, and wherein said blade is aligned with said sweet spot.  
   
   
       30 . The golf club head of  claim 29  further comprising a pair of outrigger blades and wherein each of said pair of outrigger blades is affixed to said sole on a respective side of said sweet spot.  
   
   
       31 . The golf club head of  claim 30  wherein a respective one of said pair of outrigger blades is operative to prevent generation of vortices at a respective one of said toe and said heel during a golf swing.  
   
   
       32 . The golf club head of  claim 27  wherein said substantially parallel airflow is operative to reduce drag on said club head during a golf swing.