Golf Club Head Construction and Method for Improved Target Alignment

Abstract

A golf club head is configured for an orientation of the face such that an intended target line is directed along an actual target line for a non-zero lofted club face and a preselected non-zero sole angle selected from sole angles within heel up and toe up orientations of the golf club head.

1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a sole defined by a sole plane passing therethrough, the sole extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge thereof; and   a club face defined by a face plane passing therethrough, the club face having a loft defined by an angle between the face plane to the sole plane, the club face further operable within a face angle defined by a position of the club face relative to an intended target line directed toward a target, the face angle defined within a face angle plane perpendicular to the face plane, wherein a square face angle has an intended target line aligned with the actual target line,   wherein the golf club head is configured for an orientation of the face plane such that the intended target line is directed along the actual target line for a non-perpendicular angle between the sole plane and the face plane, and a preselected non-zero sole angle selected from sole angles within heel up and toe up orientations of the golf club head.   
   
   
       2 . The golf club head according to  claim 1 , wherein the head is a putter head. 
   
   
       3 . The golf club head according to  claim 1 , wherein the club face includes a non-zero loft angle defined by an orientation of the face plane to a reference plane extending from the leading edge of the sole and perpendicular to the sole plane. 
   
   
       4 . The golf club head according to  claim 3 , wherein the non-zero loft angle is four degrees. 
   
   
       5 . The golf club head according to  claim 3 , wherein the non-zero sole angle is selected from any angles greater than zero. 
   
   
       6 . The golf club head according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hosel positioned for connection to a shaft. 
   
   
       7 . A golf club head comprising:
 a sole defined by a sole plane passing therethrough, the sole extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge thereof;   a club face defined by a face plane passing therethrough, the club face forming a loft angle defined by an orientation of the face plane to a reference plane extending along the leading edge of the sole and perpendicular to the sole plane, the club face operable at a face angle defined by a position of the club face relative to an actual target line directed toward a target, the face angle defined within a face angle plane being perpendicular to the reference and face planes, wherein a square face angle has an intended target line aligned with the actual target line;   wherein the golf club head is configured for an orientation of the face plane to be such that the intended target line is directed toward the target for a non-zero loft angle at a preselected non-zero sole angle, the sole angle being measured between the sole plane and a surface plane on which a golf ball is moving, the preselected non-zero sole angle selected from angles within heel up and toe up orientations of the golf club head.   
   
   
       8 . The golf club head according to  claim 7 , wherein the head is a putter head. 
   
   
       9 . The golf club head according to  claim 7 , wherein the non-zero loft angle is four degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The golf club head according to  claim 9 , wherein the non-zero sole angle is selected from any angles greater than zero. 
   
   
       11 . A golf club head comprising:
 a sole defined by a sole plane extending therewith, the sole extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge thereof; and   a club face defined by a face plane extending therewith, the club face having an nonzero loft angle defined by an orientation of the face plane to a reference plane extending from the leading edge of the sole and perpendicular to the sole plane, the club face further operable at a face angle defined by a position of the club face relative to an intended target line directed toward a target, the face angle defined within a face angle plane perpendicular to the reference and face planes for providing a square face angle,   wherein the intended target line is directed at the target when the sole plane is parallel and generally proximate a surface plane over which a golf ball is to be mover, and   wherein the club face is configured to have an orientation of the face plane to be such that the intended target line is within the face angle plane for the non-zero loft angle at a preselected non-zero sole angle, the preselected non-zero sole angle being measured between the sole plane and a surface plane on which a golf ball is moving, the preselected non-zero sole angle selected from angles with heel up and toe up orientations of the golf club head.   
   
   
       12 . The golf club head according to  claim 11 , wherein the head is a putter head. 
   
   
       13 . The golf club head according to  claim 12 , wherein the non-zero loft angle is four degrees. 
   
   
       14 . The golf club head according to  claim 13 , wherein the non-zero sole angle is selected from angles greater than zero. 
   
   
       15 . The golf club head according to  claim 12 , further comprising a hosel positioned for connection to a shaft. 
   
   
       16 . A method of fabricating a golf club head for providing a desired alignment to a target, the method comprising:
 selecting a golf club head having a non-zero loft, the golf club head having a club face and a sole, wherein the sole is defined by a sole plane, and the club face is defined by a reference face plane, the club face further defined by a non-perpendicular angle measured between the reference face plane and the sole plane for providing the non-zero loft;   providing a first club face orientation by positioning the sole, wherein the sole plane is parallel a ground plane defining a surface over which a golf ball is to be moved toward a target;   aligning the reference face plane perpendicular to a target plane having an actual target line therein directed toward the target;   providing a second club face orientation having a single non-zero sole angle selected from sole angles within heel up and toe up orientations of the golf club head; and   forming the club face in the second club face orientation to be within a modified face plane that is parallel to the reference face plane when the golf club head is in the second club face orientation,   thus providing the club face such that an intended target line is directed along the actual target line for the non-perpendicular angle between the sole plane and the face plane, and a golf club head with the loft providing a desired alignment to the target for a non-zero sole angle.   
   
   
       17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the selecting comprises selecting a putter head. 
   
   
       18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the club face forming to be within a modified face plane comprises grinding a surface of the club face. 
   
   
       19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the single non-zero sole angle selected from sole angles within heel up and toe up orientations of the golf club head comprise angles greater than zero. 
   
   
       20 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the aligning comprises use of a light beam.