Golf club head with variable flexural stiffness for controlled ball flight and trajectory

Abstract

The present invention relates to a golf club head with a hitting face. The hitting face comprises a directional control portion, which has at least two zones with different flexural stiffness, such that when the hitting face strikes a golf ball the two zones deform differently to selectively control the direction of the flight of the golf ball. The directional control portion may comprise an upper zone and a lower zone, where the upper zone has a lower flexural stiffness. Alternatively, the lower zone has a lower flexural stiffness. On the other hand, the directional control portion may comprise a left zone and a right zone, and either the left or right zone may have a lower flexural stiffness to selectively control the lateral launch angle either to the left of right. The hitting face may further comprise a central zone disposed within the directional control zone, wherein the central zone has a flexural stiffness of at least about three times greater than the flexural stiffness of the directional control zone.

1 . A golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft and having a hitting face, wherein the hitting face comprises a central portion and an intermediate portion surrounding the central portion, said central portion contains the geometric center of the hitting face, and wherein the central portion and the intermediate portion have different flexural stiffness such that after impact with a golf ball the central portion is substantially un-deformed.  
   
   
       2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein after impact with the golf ball, the intermediate portion deforms.  
   
   
       3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the flexural stiffness of the central portion is at least about three times greater than the flexural stiffness of the intermediate portion.  
   
   
       4 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein the flexural stiffness of the central portion is at least about six times greater than the flexural stiffness of the intermediate portion.  
   
   
       5 . The golf club head of  claim 4 , wherein the flexural stiffness of the central portion is at least about twelve times greater than the flexural stiffness of the intermediate portion.  
   
   
       6 . A golf club head adapted for attachment to a shaft and having a hitting face, wherein the hitting face comprises a central portion and an intermediate portion said central portion contains the geometric center of the hitting face, and wherein the central portion and the intermediate portion have different flexural stiffness such that after an impact with a golf ball the central portion is movable into and out of an outer surface of the hitting face.  
   
   
       7 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , wherein after impact with the golf ball, the intermediate portion deforms.  
   
   
       8 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , wherein the flexural stiffness of the central portion is at least about three times greater than the flexural stiffness of the intermediate portion.  
   
   
       9 . The golf club head of  claim 8 , wherein the flexural stiffness of the central portion is at least about six times greater than the flexural stiffness of the intermediate portion.  
   
   
       10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the flexural stiffness of the central portion is at least about twelve times greater than the flexural stiffness of the intermediate portion.