Golf club having an elastomer element for ball speed control

Abstract

A golf club head including a club head body including a back portion and a striking face, wherein the striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface, wherein the back portion is spaced from the rear surface, a deformable element residing between the back portion and the rear surface of the striking face, wherein the deformable element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the back portion, wherein the acoustic sound profile comprises a first sound power peak below 3,800 Hz, a second sound power peak above 3,800 Hz, and a sound power ratio including the magnitude of the second power peak divided by the magnitude of the first power peak, wherein the sound power ratio is less than 1.40

1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a club head body comprising a back portion and a striking face;   wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;   wherein said back portion is spaced from said rear surface;   a deformable element residing between said back portion and said rear surface of said striking face;   wherein said deformable element comprises a front surface in contact with said rear surface of said striking face and a rear surface in contact with said back portion;   wherein said front surface of said deformable element is circular having a front diameter;   wherein said rear surface of said deformable element is circular having a rear diameter;   wherein said front diameter divided by said rear diameter is greater than 1.2; and   wherein at least a portion of said striking face comprises a thickness of less than or equal to 2.4 mm.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said striking face is substantially constant in thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said deformable element comprises an elastomer which displays an elastic modulus of about 1 to about 50 GPa. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said golf club head comprises an acoustic sound profile when striking a golf ball, wherein said acoustic sound profile comprises a first sound power peak below 3,800 Hz, a second sound power peak above 3,800 Hz, and a sound power ratio comprising the magnitude of the second power peak divided by the magnitude of the first power peak, wherein said sound power ratio is less than 1.40. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , further comprising a contact energy absorption factor greater than 0.2 and less than 1.0. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said deformable element comprises a tapered portion between said front surface and said rear surface. 
     
     
         7 . A golf club head comprising:
 a club head body comprising a back portion and a striking face;   wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;   wherein said back portion is spaced from said rear surface;   a deformable element residing between said back portion and said rear surface of said striking face;   wherein said deformable element comprises a front surface in contact with said rear surface of said striking face and a rear surface in contact with said back portion;   a contact energy absorption factor greater than 0.2 and less than 1.0; and   wherein said deformable element comprises a tapered portion between said front surface and said rear surface.   
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein said striking face is substantially constant in thickness. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein said deformable element comprises an elastomer which displays an elastic modulus of about 1 to about 50 GPa. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein said golf club head comprises an acoustic sound profile when striking a golf ball, wherein said acoustic sound profile comprises a first sound power peak below 3,800 Hz, a second sound power peak above 3,800 Hz, and a sound power ratio comprising the magnitude of the second power peak divided by the magnitude of the first power peak, wherein said sound power ratio is less than 1.40. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein said sound power ratio is less than 1.20. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of said striking face comprises a thickness of less than or equal to 2.4 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein an area of said front surface of said deformable element divided by an area of said rear surface of said deformable element is greater than 1.4. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein said deformable element further comprises a constant diameter portion located adjacent said back portion of said golf club head. 
     
     
         15 . A golf club head comprising:
 a club head body comprising a back portion and a striking face;   wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;   wherein said back portion is spaced from said rear surface;   a deformable element residing between said back portion and said rear surface of said striking face;   wherein said deformable element comprises a front surface in contact with said rear surface of said striking face and a rear surface in contact with said back portion;   an acoustic sound profile when striking a golf ball, wherein said acoustic sound profile comprises a first sound power peak below 3,800 Hz, a second sound power peak above 3,800 Hz, and a sound power ratio comprising the magnitude of the second power peak divided by the magnitude of the first power peak, wherein said sound power ratio is less than 1.40.   
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein said striking face is substantially constant in thickness. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein said deformable element comprises an elastomer which displays an elastic modulus of about 1 to about 50 GPa. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein said sound power ratio is less than 1.20. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein at least a portion of said striking face comprises a thickness of less than or equal to 2.4 mm. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein an area of said front surface of said deformable element divided by an area of said rear surface of said deformable element is greater than 1.4.