Club heads with bounded face to body yield strength ratio and related methods

Abstract

Some embodiments include a club head with a bounded face to body yield strength ratio. Other embodiments of related club heads and methods are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a crown,   a sole,   a face comprising a face insert;   wherein a crown intersection provides a smooth transition between the face and the crown and refers to a crown radius of the golf club head;   wherein a sole intersection comprises a smooth transition between the face and the sole and refers to a lead edge radius of the golf club head;   wherein a face portion is limited to the face insert, and comprises only a portion of the face;   the face portion comprising a first material having a first yield strength, the first yield strength being approximately 1551 megapascals; and   a support body comprising a second material having a second yield strength, the support body being configured to be coupled to the face portion,   the second yield strength being approximately 1138 megapascals;   wherein the support body further comprises a face support body comprising a remaining portion of the face;   and wherein the support body completely surrounds a perimeter edge of the face portion;   wherein:   the first material comprises a first alloy;   the second material comprises a second alloy; and   a yield strength ratio of the second yield strength to the first yield strength is greater than or equal to approximately 0.50.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein:
 the yield strength ratio is approximately 0.73. 
 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first material comprises a carpenter grade 455 steel. 
 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein:
 the second material comprises a 17-4 stainless steel. 
 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein:
 the face portion consists essentially of the first material. 
 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein:
 the support body comprises a crown support body; 
 and the crown comprises the crown support body; and 
 the crown support body consists essentially of the second material. 
 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein:
 the support body comprises a sole support body; 
 and the sole comprises the sole support body; and 
 the sole support body consists essentially of the second material. 
 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein:
 the face portion comprises a face center, and a thickness of the face portion at the face center is less than or equal to approximately 0.2540 centimeter. 
 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 10  wherein:
 the thickness of the face portion at the face center is less than or equal to approximately 0.1905 centimeter. 
 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 1  wherein:
 the golf club head comprises a wood-type golf club head. 
 
     
     
         13 . A golf club head comprising:
 a crown,   a sole,   a face comprising a face insert;   wherein a crown intersection provides a smooth transition between the face and the crown and refers to a crown radius of the golf club head;   wherein a sole intersection comprises a smooth transition between the face and the sole and refers to a lead edge radius of the golf club head;   wherein a face portion is limited to the face insert, and comprises only a portion of the face;   the face portion comprising a first material having a first yield strength, the first yield strength being approximately 1620 megapascals; and   a support body comprising a second material having a second yield strength, the support body being configured to be coupled to the face portion,   the second yield strength being approximately 1138 megapascals;   wherein the support body further comprises a face support body comprising a remaining portion of the face;   and wherein the support body completely surrounds a perimeter edge of the face portion;   wherein:   the first material comprises a first alloy;   the second material comprises a second alloy; and   a yield strength ratio of the second yield strength to the first yield strength is greater than or equal to approximately 0.50.   
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 13  wherein:
 the yield strength ratio is approximately 0.70. 
 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 13  wherein:
 the first material comprises a carpenter grade 475 steel. 
 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 13  wherein:
 the second material comprises a 17-4 stainless steel. 
 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 13  wherein:
 the face portion consists essentially of the first material. 
 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 13  wherein:
 the support body comprises a crown support body; 
 and the crown comprises the crown support body; and 
 the crown support body consists essentially of the second material. 
 
     
     
         19 . A golf club head comprising:
 a crown,   a sole,   a face comprising a face insert;   wherein a crown intersection provides a smooth transition between the face and the crown and refers to a crown radius of the golf club head;   wherein a sole intersection comprises a smooth transition between the face and the sole and refers to a lead edge radius of the golf club head;   wherein a face portion is limited to the face insert, and comprises only a portion of the face;   the face portion comprising a first material having a first yield strength, the first yield strength being approximately 1848 megapascals; and   a support body comprising a second material having a second yield strength, the support body being configured to be coupled to the face portion,   the second yield strength being approximately 1138 megapascals;   wherein the support body further comprises a face support body comprising a remaining portion of the face;   and wherein the support body completely surrounds a perimeter edge of the face portion;   wherein:   the first material comprises a first alloy;   the second material comprises a second alloy;   and   a yield strength ratio of the second yield strength to the first yield strength is greater than or equal to approximately 0.50.   
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 19  wherein:
 the yield strength ratio is approximately 0.62.