Golf Clubs and Golf Club Heads

Abstract

Ball striking devices, such as golf clubs, have a head that includes a face member having a striking face and a rear side opposite the face, and a rear member positioned behind the face member and connected to the rear side of the face member. A connection assembly includes a torsion bar connected to the face member and the rear member, such that the torsion bar is the most rigid point of connection between the face member and the rear member. The torsion bar is configured to create a mass damping effect upon an impact on the face, such that the torsion bar exerts at least a counterclockwise torsional force on the face during the impact on the toe portion of the face and at least a clockwise torsional force on the face during the impact on the heel portion of the face, to create the mass damping effect.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ball striking device comprising:
 a face member having a striking face configured for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the striking face, the striking face having a heel portion and a toe portion;   a rear member positioned behind the face member and connected to the rear side of the face member, the rear member having a heel end and a toe end; and   a connection assembly connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the connection assembly comprises a torsion bar having a first connection point connected to the face member and rotationally fixed with respect to the face member, and a second connection point connected to the rear member and rotationally fixed with respect to the rear member,   wherein the torsion bar is configured to create a mass damping effect upon an impact on the striking face, such that the torsion bar is configured to exert at least a counterclockwise torsional force on the striking face during the impact on the toe portion of the striking face and to exert at least a clockwise torsional force on the striking face during the impact on the heel portion of the striking face, when viewed from above, to create the mass damping effect.   
     
     
         2 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein the torsion bar is the most rigid point of connection between the face member and the rear member. 
     
     
         3 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein the torsion bar comprises a pin having a non-circular cross-section and being fixedly connected to one of the face member and the rear member, and the connection assembly further comprises a receiver in the other of the face member and the rear member, the receiver having a complementary non-circular cross-section and receiving the pin therein, wherein the non-circular cross-section of the pin and the complementary non-circular cross-section of the receiver rotationally fix the pin with respect to the receiver. 
     
     
         4 . The ball striking device of  claim 3 , wherein the receiver comprises a blind hole. 
     
     
         5 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient material engaging the rear member and the rear side of the face member and positioned between a front side of the rear member and the face member on the heel end and the toe end of the rear member, wherein the resilient material has greater flexibility than the torsion bar. 
     
     
         6 . The ball striking device of  claim 5 , wherein the resilient material is configured to be compressed between the rear member and the face member during the impact on the striking face. 
     
     
         7 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein the torsion bar is welded to the face member at the first connection point and is welded to the rear member at the second connection point. 
     
     
         8 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection point of the torsion bar is positioned substantially equidistant from a heel edge and a toe edge of the face member. 
     
     
         9 . The ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein the first connection point of the torsion bar is generally aligned with a center of gravity of the face member. 
     
     
         10 . A golf putter comprising the ball striking device of  claim 1 , wherein the ball striking device is a golf putter head, and a shaft connected to the ball striking device. 
     
     
         11 . A ball striking device comprising:
 a face member having a striking face configured for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the striking face, the striking face having a heel portion and a toe portion;   a rear member positioned behind the face member and connected to the rear side of the face member, the rear member having a heel end and a toe end; and   a connection assembly connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the connection assembly comprises a torsion bar connected to the face member and the rear member, wherein the torsion bar is the most rigid point of connection between the face member and the rear member,   wherein the torsion bar is configured to create a mass damping effect upon an impact on the striking face, such that the torsion bar is configured to exert at least a counterclockwise torsional force on the striking face during the impact on the toe portion of the striking face and to exert at least a clockwise torsional force on the striking face during the impact on the heel portion of the striking face, when viewed from above, to create the mass damping effect.   
     
     
         12 . The ball striking device of  claim 11 , wherein the torsion bar comprises a pin having a non-circular cross-section and being fixedly connected to one of the face member and the rear member, and the connection assembly further comprises a receiver in the other of the face member and the rear member, the receiver having a complementary non-circular cross-section and receiving the pin therein, wherein the non-circular cross-section of the pin and the complementary non-circular cross-section of the receiver rotationally fix the pin with respect to the receiver. 
     
     
         13 . The ball striking device of  claim 11 , wherein the torsion bar is welded to the face member and the rear member. 
     
     
         14 . The ball striking device of  claim 11 , wherein the torsion bar is positioned substantially equidistant from a heel edge and a toe edge of the face member. 
     
     
         15 . The ball striking device of  claim 11 , wherein the torsion bar is generally aligned with a center of gravity of the face member. 
     
     
         16 . The ball striking device of  claim 11 , wherein the face member further comprises a wall extending rearwardly on a rear surface of the face member, and wherein the rear member is connected to the torsion bar on a top side of the wall. 
     
     
         17 . The ball striking device of  claim 11 , wherein the face member further comprises a wall extending rearwardly on a rear surface of the face member, and wherein the rear member is connected to the torsion bar on a bottom side of the wall. 
     
     
         18 . A golf putter comprising the ball striking device of  claim 11 , wherein the ball striking device is a golf putter head, and a shaft connected to the ball striking device. 
     
     
         19 . A ball striking device comprising:
 a face member having a striking face configured for striking a ball and a rear side opposite the striking face, the striking face having a heel portion and a toe portion;   a rear member positioned behind the face member and connected to the rear side of the face member, the rear member having a heel end and a toe end; and   a connection assembly connecting the face member to the rear member, wherein the connection assembly comprises a pin having a first connection point connected to and rotationally fixed with respect to one of the face member and the rear member, and a receiver located on another of the face member and the rear member, the pin further having a second connection point received within the receiver; and   a resilient material positioned within the receiver, the resilient material engaging the pin and the receiver and separating the pin from the receiver, wherein the resilient material permits the pin to create a mass damping effect by flexing the resilient material,   wherein the connection assembly is configured to create the mass damping effect upon an impact on the striking face, such that the resilient material is configured to be compressed at the toe end of the rear member during the impact on the toe portion of the striking face, and the resilient material is configured to be compressed at the heel end of the rear member during the impact on the heel portion of the striking face.   
     
     
         20 . The ball striking device of  claim 19 , wherein the resilient material is a gasket connected to an inner surface of the receiver and defining an opening receiving and engaging the pin. 
     
     
         21 . The ball striking device of  claim 19 , wherein the resilient material is a lining on the pin that engages an inner surface of the receiver when the pin is received within the receiver. 
     
     
         22 . The ball striking device of  claim 19 , wherein the pin and the receiver have non-circular cross-sections. 
     
     
         23 . The ball striking device of  claim 19 , wherein the pin and the receiver are positioned substantially equidistant from a heel edge and a toe edge of the face member. 
     
     
         24 . The ball striking device of  claim 19 , wherein the pin and the receiver are generally aligned with a center of gravity of the face member. 
     
     
         25 . A golf putter comprising the ball striking device of  claim 19 , wherein the ball striking device is a golf putter head, and a shaft connected to the ball striking device.