Golf club having a damping element for ball speed control

Abstract

A golf club head including a striking face; a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from the striking face; wherein the striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite the front surface; a support arm spaced from the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the support arm abuts the periphery portion at two distinct locations; a damping element residing between the support arm and the rear surface of the striking face; wherein the damping element comprises a front surface in contact with the rear surface of the striking face and a rear surface in contact with the support arm.

1 . A golf club head comprising:
 a striking face;   a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from said striking face;   a coordinate system centered at a center of gravity of said golf club head, said coordinate system comprising a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when said golf club head is in an address position at prescribed loft and lie, an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to the striking face, extending towards a heel of said golf club head, and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face;   wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;   a support arm spaced from said rear surface of said striking face;   a damping element residing between said support arm and said rear surface of said striking face;   wherein said damping element comprises a front surface in contact with said rear surface of said striking face and a rear surface in contact with said support arm;   wherein said damping element comprises a first portion and a second portion, said second portion completely surrounding said first portion;   wherein said first portion of said damping element has a greater durometer than said second portion of said damping element.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said damping element comprises an elastomer. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said support arm abuts said periphery portion at two distinct locations. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners, each of said plurality of fasteners engaging said support arm and said periphery portion. 
     
     
         5 . A golf club head comprising:
 a striking face;   a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from said striking face;   a coordinate system centered at a center of gravity of said golf club head, said coordinate system comprising a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when said golf club head is in an address position at prescribed loft and lie, an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to the striking face, extending towards a heel of said golf club head, and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face;   wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;   a support arm spaced from said rear surface of said striking face;   wherein said support arm abuts said periphery portion at two distinct locations;   a damping element residing between said support arm and said rear surface of said striking face;   wherein said damping element comprises a front surface in contact with said rear surface of said striking face and a rear surface in contact with said support arm;   wherein said damping element comprises a first portion and a second portion, said second portion at least partially surrounding said first portion;   wherein said first portion of said damping element has a greater durometer than said second portion of said damping element;   wherein said first portion of said damping element has a Shore A hardness greater than 30 and less than 95; and   wherein said second portion of said damping element has a Shore A hardness less than 20.   
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners, each of said plurality of fasteners engaging said support arm and said periphery portion. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , further comprising a medallion secured to said golf club head via said plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 6 , wherein said support arm comprises a plurality of apertures configured to receive said plurality of fasteners, and wherein said periphery portion comprises a plurality of apertures configured to receive said plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein said support arm is formed separately from said periphery portion. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein said support arm extends substantially vertically. 
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein said damping element comprises an elastomer. 
     
     
         12 . A golf club head comprising:
 a striking face;   a periphery portion surrounding and extending rearwards from said striking face;   a coordinate system centered at a center of gravity of said golf club head, said coordinate system comprising a y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a ground plane when said golf club head is in an address position at prescribed loft and lie, an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to the striking face, extending towards a heel of said golf club head, and a z-axis, perpendicular to said y-axis and said x-axis and extending through said striking face;   wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface;   a support arm spaced from said rear surface of said striking face;   a damping element residing between said support arm and said rear surface of said striking face;   wherein said damping element comprises a front surface in contact with said rear surface of said striking face and a rear surface in contact with said support arm;   a weight member located on a toe side or a heel side of said golf club head;   wherein said support arm extends from said weight member.   
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said damping element comprises a first portion and a second portion, said second portion at least partially surrounding said first portion. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein said first portion of said damping element has a greater durometer than said second portion of said damping element. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein said first portion of said damping element has a Shore A hardness greater than 30 and less than 95. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 13 , wherein said first portion is substantially cylindrical in shape and wherein said second portion comprises a substantially cylindrical cavity, where said first portion resides within said substantially cylindrical cavity of said second portion. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said support arm is coupled to said weight member by a fastener. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , further comprising a medallion adhered to said periphery portion of said golf club head creating an internal cavity, wherein said support arm and said damping element reside within said internal cavity. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said damping element comprises an elastomer. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said damping element covers a majority of said rear surface of said striking face.