Golf club set

Abstract

Golf club irons having improved forgiveness, playability and performance characteristics are disclosed. The embodiments set forth parameters of various irons that affect performance either alone or in combination with other parameters when the irons are utilized to strike a golf ball. The parameters, which in some cases may be systematically progressed or varied, include golf club shaft length, striking face area, loft, coefficient of restitution, face thickness, topline thickness, swing weight, sole width at the heel and toe, and other performance characteristics.

1 . A set of golf club irons, comprising:
 at least three irons wherein the irons have topline thicknesses that progress from about 7.5 mm for a shorter iron in the set to about 9.4 mm for a longer iron in the set.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club set of  claim 1  wherein the clubs have shaft lengths that progress from about 34.5 inches for a shorter iron in the set to about 38.6 inches for a longer iron in the set. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club set of  claim 1  wherein the set has 3-, 4- and 5-irons with sole toe widths from about 25.5 mm to about 26.5 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club set of  claim 1  wherein the clubs have a face area of greater than about 3100 mm 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The golf club set of  claim 4  wherein the set includes a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8- and 9-iron and wherein said irons have a face area of substantially the same size. 
     
     
         6 . A set of golf club irons, comprising:
 at least three irons wherein the irons have face thicknesses that progress from about 1.9 mm for a longer iron in the set to about 2.5 mm for a shorter iron in the set.   
     
     
         7 . The golf club set of  claim 6  wherein the clubs have shaft lengths that progress from about 34.5 inches for a shorter iron in the set to about 38.6 inches for a longer iron in the set. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club set of  claim 6  wherein the clubs have topline thicknesses that progress from about 7.5 mm for a shorter iron in the set to about 9.4 mm for a longer iron in the set. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club set of  claim 6  wherein the clubs have a face area greater than about 31 00 mm 2 . 
     
     
         10 . The golf club set of  claim 9  wherein the clubs have a face area of substantially the same size. 
     
     
         11 . A set of golf club irons, comprising
 at least three irons wherein the irons have shaft lengths that progress from about 34.5 inches for a shorter iron in the set, the shorter iron being one of a pitching wedge and a 9-iron, to about 38.0 inches for a longer iron in the set, the longer iron being one of a 2-iron, a 3-iron, and a 4-iron.   
     
     
         12 . The golf club set of  claim 11  wherein the set has 3-, 4- and 5-irons with sole toe widths from about 25.5 mm to about 26.5 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club set of  claim 11  wherein the set has 3-, 4- and 5-irons each having a face thickness of 1.9 mm. 
     
     
         14 . A set of golf club irons, comprising:
 a 3-, 4-, 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, and 9-iron, wherein said irons each have a face area of substantially the same size and greater than about 3100 mm2 and wherein the 3-, 4-, and 5-irons each have a face thickness of about 1.9 mm, the 6-iron and 7-iron each have a face thickness of about 2.2 mm, and the 8-iron and 9-iron each have a face thickness of about 2.5 mm.   
     
     
         15 . The golf club set of  claim 14  wherein the irons each have a face area of about 3152 mm 2 . 
     
     
         16 . The golf club set of  claim 14  wherein the set further includes at least a SW, AW or PW having a face thickness of about 2.5. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club set of  claim 16  wherein the SW, AW or PW has a face area greater than about 3100 mm 2 . 
     
     
         18 . The golf club set of  claim 14  wherein the 3-, 4-, and 5-irons each have a shaft length greater than about 37.0 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club set of  claim 14  wherein the 3-iron has a shaft length of about 38.6 mm, the 4-iron has a shaft length of about 37.9 mm, and the 5-iron has a shaft length of about 37.3 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club set of  claim 14  wherein two of said irons have a coefficient of restitution greater than 0.800.