Low Profile Driver Type Golf Club Head

Abstract

A driver type golf club head used to strike a golf ball on a tee or lying on the ground having outer dimensions forming a large footprint and a low profile configuration. The club head is further defined as having a breadth to vertical height ratio of at least 2 to 1, the breadth being measured between the striking face and rear surface and the height being measured between the top crown and the bottom sole. The structure and design of the club head also locates the center of gravity on a lower and more rearward location of the club head. The club head also includes a bounce area on the bottom sole behind the ball striking face that prevents the leading edge of the club head from digging into the ground when a golf ball lying on the ground is struck during a golf shot.

1 . A driver type golf club head including a top crown, heel, toe, side surfaces, bottom sole, rear surface, a ball striking face between said top crown and said bottom sole, and a leading edge at the interface of said ball striking face and said bottom sole;
 said club head further characterized by a large footprint outer dimension defined as a projection of an outer periphery of said club head onto a ground plane and wherein said outer periphery has a breadth of at least 95 mm measured between said leading edge of said ball striking face and said rear surface;   and, said club head is further characterized as having a low profile defined by a breadth to vertical height ratio of at least 2 to 1, said vertical height being measured between said top crown and said bottom sole.   
     
     
         2 . The driver type golf club head of  claim 1  further defined by having a width of at least 95 mm measured between said heel and said toe; and having a width to vertical height ratio of at least 2 to 1. 
     
     
         3 . The driver type golf club head of  claim 1  wherein said vertical height between said top crown and said bottom sole is less than 55 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The driver type golf club head of  claim 1  wherein the height of said ball striking face is a maximum of 42 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The driver type golf club head of  claim 1  further characterized by a center of gravity located at or below a midline between said top crown and bottom sole of said club head. 
     
     
         6 . The driver type golf club head of  claim 1  further characterized by a center of gravity located rearward of said ball striking face at least one third of the distance of the breadth measurement from the leading edge of said ball striking face toward said rear surface. 
     
     
         7 . The driver type golf club head of  claim 5  further characterized by said center of gravity located rearward of said ball striking face at least one third of the distance of the breadth measurement from the leading edge of the striking face toward the rear surface. 
     
     
         8 . The driver type golf club head of  claim 1  further characterized by a bounce area on said bottom sole extending rearward from said ball striking face having a downward angle from said face of at least 3 degrees or greater. 
     
     
         9 . A driver type golf club head having a large footprint outer dimension and a low profile height to width configuration including a top crown, bottom sole, heel, toe, side surfaces, rear surface, and ball striking face wherein said club head is characterized by having a breadth to height ratio of at least 2 to 1; the breadth being measured between said striking face and rear surface and the height being measured between said top crown and said bottom sole; and, said club head further including a bounce area on said bottom sole extending rearward from said ball striking face. 
     
     
         10 . The driver type golf club head of  claim 9  wherein the breadth of said club head is at least 95 mm and the height of said club head is less than 55 mm. 
     
     
         11 . The driver type golf club head of  claim 9  wherein said bounce area has a downward angle from said ball striking face at least 3 degrees or greater. 
     
     
         12 . A driver type golf club head including a top crown, bottom sole, heel, toe, side surfaces, rear surface, ball striking face, and a leading edge at the interface of said ball striking face and said bottom sole; said club head characterized by having a breadth to vertical height ratio of at least 2 to 1, the breadth being measured between said striking face and rear surface and the height being measured between said top crown and said bottom sole; and, said club head further including a center of gravity located at or below a midline between said top crown and said bottom sole and located rearward from said ball striking face at least one third of the distance of the breadth measurement from the leading edge of the striking face toward the rear surface. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club of  claim 12  further including an angular bounce of at least 3 degrees or more extending downwardly and rearward from said ball striking face.