Golf club with vibration dampening pocket

Abstract

A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head has a body member and a face insert formed of different materials. The body material is relatively soft and ductile to allow the club to be customized, and the face insert member is relatively hard and wear resistant to ensure that the face groove geometry remains substantially unaltered through use. A bimetallic face insert may be used. The outer layer is hard and wear resistant, and the inner layer is softer and may include copper. The outer layer is thin, and the inner layer may be seen in the bottoms of the face grooves. A cavity may be provided underneath the face insert. This cavity may be either empty or filled, such as with a dampening member or a weight member.

1 . A golf club head, comprising: 
 a body defining a front surface, a top line, a sole, a back, a heel, and a toe, and including a first cavity located in said front surface between said heel and said toe; and    an insert positioned within said cavity, said insert including an outer metallic material and an inner metallic material coupled together, said outer metallic material being harder than said inner metallic material, said inner metallic material including copper, said insert including grooves formed in the outer metallic material and extending into said inner metallic material;    wherein said grooves have a width that changes less than approximately 40% upon blast testing.    
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said grooves have a depth and said outer metallic material has a thickness less than said groove depth.  
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said outer metallic material has a thickness less than approximately 1 mm.  
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein said thickness less than approximately 0.5 mm.  
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said insert is coupled to said body by one or more of press-fitting, welding, or braising.  
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said outer metallic material has a Rockwell C hardness of greater than or equal to approximately 45; and    said body has a Rockwell C hardness of less than or equal to approximately 25.    
     
     
         7 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein said inner metallic material is a different color than said outer metallic material such that said inner metallic material is visible within at least some of said grooves.  
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , further comprising a second cavity located within said first cavity.  
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 8 , wherein said front surface includes a first surface, a second surface stepped-down from said first surface, and a third surface stepped-down from said second surface.  
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein: 
 said insert includes a striking surface and an attachment surface; and    at least a portion of said attachment surface contacts said second surface.    
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 8 , wherein said body and said insert create an enclosed volume within said second cavity.  
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 8 , further comprising a second insert positioned within said second cavity.  
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said second insert includes a dampening material.  
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein said dampening material contains one or more of an elastomer, a polymer, an ionomer, a soft metal, foam, and movable media.  
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 8 , wherein said body includes a hole therethrough from said back to said second cavity.  
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said outer metallic material has a wear resistance from approximately 40 to 0.  
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein said inner metallic material has a wear resistance of greater than 40.  
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 16 , wherein said body is of a third material that is softer than said outer metallic material.  
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 18 , further comprising a sole insert coupled to said body, said sole comprising said outer metallic material.  
     
     
         20 . A golf club head, comprising: 
 a body defining a front surface with a cavity therein, a sole, and a top line; and    an insert positioned within said cavity, said insert having grooves therein and including an outer layer comprising a first material and an inner layer comprising a second material;    wherein said grooves have a maximum depth and said outer layer has a thickness less than or equal to said maximum depth.    
     
     
         21 . The golf club head of  claim 20 , wherein said second material is of a different color than said first material.  
     
     
         22 . The golf club head of  claim 20 , wherein: 
 said first material has a Rockwell C hardness greater than or equal to 45; and    said second material has a Rockwell C hardness less than or equal to 45.    
     
     
         23 . The golf club head of  claim 22 , wherein: 
 said first material has a Rockwell C hardness from 50 to 55.    said second material has a Rockwell C hardness from 35 to 45.    
     
     
         24 . The golf club head of  claim 20 , wherein said cavity extends from said sole toward said top line.  
     
     
         25 . The golf club head of  claim 20 , wherein said maximum depth is 0.02 inch.  
     
     
         26 . The golf club head of  claim 24 , wherein said cavity does not extend to said top line.  
     
     
         27 . The golf club head of  claim 20 , wherein said grooves have a width that changes less than approximately 40% upon blast testing