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.

1 . An iron-type golf club head comprising 
 a sole,    a face having a leading edge,    a center of gravity CG, and    a static contact point SCP 2  on the sole when the club head is in an address position, the SCP 2  lying in an imaginary substantially vertical plane substantially parallel to the leading edge and passing through the CG when the club head is in the address position, the sole having no points lower than the SCP 2  when the club head is in the address position.    
   
   
       2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the SCP 2  and at least two other points are substantially coplanar and lie on an imaginary horizontal plane substantially parallel to the ground plane, characterizing a static contact surface area SCA 2 .  
   
   
       3 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein the static contact surface area SCA 2  is planar.  
   
   
       4 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein the static contact surface area SCA 2  is non-planar.  
   
   
       5 . 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.    
   
   
       6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , 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.  
   
   
       7 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , wherein the lowest point surface area LPA is planar.  
   
   
       8 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , wherein the lowest point surface area LPA is non-planar.  
   
   
       9 . 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.  
   
   
       10 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the SCP 2  and at least two other points are substantially coplanar and lie on an imaginary horizontal plane substantially parallel to the ground plane, characterizing a static contact surface area SCA 2 .  
   
   
       11 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the static contact surface area SCA 2  is planar.  
   
   
       12 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , wherein the static contact surface area SCA 2  is non-planar.  
   
   
       13 . The golf club head of  claim 9 , 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.  
   
   
       14 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the lowest point surface area LPA is planar.  
   
   
       15 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the lowest point surface area LPA is non-planar.