Golf club head with top line insert

Abstract

A golf club head having a recess located in a top portion thereof is described and claimed. The recess is located between the heel and the toe and extends toward the sole. The recess may be in the top line of the club head. An insert may be placed within the recess. The insert has a density that is less than the density of the club head body, and the insert preferably is a light-weight insert. The insert may include one or more damping materials. The recess removes material from the club head, which in turn may do one or more of the following: increase the overall size of the club head, expand the size of the club head sweet spot, lower the club head center of gravity, and/or produce a greater club head moment of inertia. Thus, the recess and insert produce a more forgiving and playable golf club. As an alternative to a recess, a thin protrusion may be provided at the top line of the club head and the insert provided with a corresponding groove to facilitate attachment.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A golf club head comprising:
 a body formed of a first material and having a front surface, a sole, a back, a heel, a toe, and a top;   a protrusion extending away from the body at the top, wherein the protrusion is directed backwards and away from the face when the club head is at address; and   an insert formed of a second material and coupled to the protrusion.   
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the protrusion is located near, and substantially parallel to, a top line of the club head. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the first material has a first density and the second material has a second density that is less than the first density. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein the first density is greater than the second density by at least  3  grams per cubic centimeter. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein the second density is within a range from about 0.5 grams per cubic centimeter to about 5 grams per cubic centimeter. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the second material is a vibration damping material. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein the first material extends to the upper-most portion of the face when the club head is at address. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein a moment of inertia—measured about a vertical axis passing through a center of gravity of the club head when the club head is at address—is at least 20 gm·in 2  greater than a similarly-measured moment of inertia of a substantially similar golf club head in which the second material is replaced with the first material. 
     
     
         21 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the body has a first volume;   the insert has a second volume; and   the second volume is from 0.5% to 10% of the first volume.   
     
     
         22 . An iron-type golf club head comprising:
 a body made with a first material and defining a front portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a heel portion, a toe portion, and a hosel, the body comprising an extension at the top portion and extending backwards from the club head; and   an insert made with a second material and attached to the extension.   
     
     
         23 . The club head of  claim 22 , wherein the insert comprises a groove and is attached to the body at an interface between the groove and the extension. 
     
     
         24 . The club head of  claim 22 , wherein the top portion and the insert cooperate to define a substantially smooth upper surface of the club head. 
     
     
         25 . The club head of  claim 22 , wherein the club head is a cavity-back iron style club head comprising a cavity in a back of the club head. 
     
     
         26 . The club head of  claim 25 , wherein the front portion has a first side providing a ball striking face and an opposed second side providing a wall of the cavity. 
     
     
         27 . The club head of  claim 25 , wherein the cavity is open to the back but otherwise substantially surrounded by the front portion, the sole portion, the heel portion, the toe portion, and the insert. 
     
     
         28 . The club head of  claim 25 , wherein the second material is less dense than the first material. 
     
     
         29 . The club head of  claim 25 , wherein the insert makes contact with the body along an upper strip that is above the extension member and a lower strip that is below the extension member when the club head is at address. 
     
     
         30 . The club head of  claim 25 , wherein the insert extends along the top portion from the heel portion to the toe portion. 
     
     
         31 . The club head of  claim 30 , wherein the insert wraps around and substantially conceals the extension member. 
     
     
         32 . The club head of  claim 31 , wherein the first material extends to the upper most portion a face of the club head at a top line of the club head. 
     
     
         33 . The club head of  claim 32 , wherein the second material meets the first material substantially along the top line. 
     
     
         34 . A cavity-backed iron-type golf club head comprising:
 a body comprising a front portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a heel portion, a toe portion, a hosel, and a projection jutting back from the top portion; and   a low density insert covering at least a portion of the projection and cooperating with the heel portion, the toe portion and the sole portion to define a cavity open to a back side of the club head.   
     
     
         35 . The club head of  claim 34 , wherein the low-density insert makes contact with the body above, along, and below the projection when the club head is at address. 
     
     
         36 . The club head of  claim 35 , wherein the a back surface of the front portion defines a wall of the cavity. 
     
     
         37 . The club head of  claim 36 , wherein an edge of the insert is adjacent an edge of the top portion along a top line of the club head. 
     
     
         38 . The club head of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the low density insert extends along the top portion from the heel portion to the toe portion and makes contact with the top portion above and below the projection, and   the club head comprises a cavity that is open to a back of the club head but otherwise substantially surrounded by the front portion, the sole portion, the heel portion, the toe portion, and the low density insert,.