Golf club heads having constant blade length

Abstract

Golf club heads having the same striking face length regardless of sole configuration are disclosed herein. More specifically, the golf club heads in accordance with the present invention utilize the same leading edge blade length for same-lofted golf club heads to achieve consistent striking face length for different bounce angles and/or grind types on the soles.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A plurality of golf club heads comprising:
 a first golf club head; and   a second golf club head,   wherein said first golf club head comprises:
 a first striking face; 
 a first back portion behind said first striking face extending from a first topline to a first sole; 
 a first leading edge at a transition between said first striking face and said first sole; 
 a first hosel configured to receive a first shaft having a first shaft axis, said first hosel located on a first heel portion, said first heel portion located opposite a first toe portion; 
 a first coordinate system centered at a first face center of said first striking face, said first coordinate system comprising a first y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a first ground plane when said first golf club head is in a first address position at a first prescribed loft angle and a first prescribed lie angle, a first x-axis perpendicular to said first y-axis and parallel to said first striking face, extending towards said first heel portion of said first golf club head, and a first z-axis, perpendicular to said first y-axis and said first x-axis and extending through said first striking face; 
 a first leading edge plane parallel to said first ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of said first leading edge; 
 a first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where said first shaft axis intersects said first leading edge plane; 
 a first vertical heel plane perpendicular to said first ground plane and passing through said first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; 
 a first vertical toe plane perpendicular to said first ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of said first golf club head; 
 a first leading edge blade length defined as a distance along said first x-axis between said first vertical toe plane and said first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; and 
 a first striking face length defined as a distance along said first x-axis between said first vertical toe plane and said first vertical heel plane, 
   wherein said second golf club head comprises:
 a second striking face; 
 a second back portion behind said second striking face extending from a second topline to a second sole; 
 a second leading edge at a transition between said second striking face and said second sole; 
 a second hosel configured to receive a second shaft having a second shaft axis, said second hosel located on a second heel portion, said second heel portion located opposite a second toe portion; 
 a second coordinate system centered at a second face center of said second striking face, said second coordinate system comprising a second y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a second ground plane when said second golf club head is in a second address position at a second prescribed loft angle and a second prescribed lie angle, a second x-axis perpendicular to said second y-axis and parallel to said second striking face, extending towards said second heel portion of said second golf club head, and a second z-axis, perpendicular to said second y-axis and said second x-axis and extending through said second striking face; 
 a second leading edge plane parallel to said second ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of said second leading edge; 
 a second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where said second shaft axis intersects said second leading edge plane; 
 a second vertical heel plane perpendicular to said second ground plane and a second vertical toe plane perpendicular to said second ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of said second golf club head; 
 a second leading edge blade length defined as a distance along said second x-axis between said second vertical toe plane and said second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; and 
 a second striking face length defined as a distance along said second x-axis between said second vertical toe plane and said second vertical heel plane, 
   wherein a geometry of said first sole is different than a geometry of said second sole, and   wherein said first leading edge blade length is equal to said second leading edge blade length.   
     
     
         2 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 1 , wherein said first prescribed loft angle is equal to said second prescribed loft angle. 
     
     
         3 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 2 , wherein said first prescribed lie angle is equal to said second prescribed lie angle. 
     
     
         4 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 2 , wherein a maximum height of said first sole along said first y-axis is different than a maximum height of said second sole along said second y-axis. 
     
     
         5 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 2 , wherein a bounce angle of said first sole is different than a bounce angle of said second sole. 
     
     
         6 . A plurality of golf club heads comprising:
 a first golf club head; and   a second golf club head,   wherein said first golf club head comprises:
 a first striking face comprising a first plurality of scorelines having a heelwardmost extent and a toewardmost extent; 
 a first back portion behind said first striking face extending from a first topline to a first sole; 
 a first leading edge at a transition between said first striking face and said first sole; 
 a first hosel configured to receive a first shaft having a first shaft axis, said first hosel located on a first heel portion, said first heel portion located opposite a first toe portion; 
 a first coordinate system centered at a first face center of said first striking face, said first coordinate system comprising a first y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a first ground plane when said first golf club head is in a first address position at a first prescribed loft angle and a first prescribed lie angle, a first x-axis perpendicular to said first y-axis and parallel to said first striking face, extending towards said first heel portion of said first golf club head, and a first z-axis, perpendicular to said first y-axis and said first x-axis and extending through said first striking face; 
 a first leading edge plane parallel to said first ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of said first leading edge; 
 a first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where said first shaft axis intersects said first leading edge plane; 
 a first vertical heel plane perpendicular to said first ground plane and passing through said first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; 
 a first vertical toe plane perpendicular to said first ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of said first golf club head; 
 a first leading edge blade length defined as a distance along said first x-axis between said first vertical toe plane and said first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; 
 a first striking face length defined as a distance along said first x-axis between said first vertical toe plane and said first vertical heel plane; 
 a first scoreline region defined as a region of said first striking face between said heelwardmost extent of said first plurality of scorelines and said toewardmost extent of said first plurality of scorelines; 
 a first toe region defined as a region of said first striking face between said toewardmost extent of said first plurality of scorelines and said first vertical toe plane; and 
 a first heel region defined as a region of said first striking face between said heelwardmost extent of said first plurality of scorelines and said first vertical heel plane, 
   wherein said second golf club head comprises:
 a second striking face comprising a second plurality of scorelines having a heelwardmost extent and a toewardmost extent; 
 a second back portion behind said second striking face extending from a second topline to a second sole; 
 a second leading edge at a transition between said second striking face and said second sole; 
 a second hosel configured to receive a second shaft having a second shaft axis, said second hosel located on a second heel portion, said second heel portion located opposite a second toe portion; 
 a second coordinate system centered at a second face center of said second striking face, said second coordinate system comprising a second y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a second ground plane when said second golf club head is in a second address position at a second prescribed loft angle and a second prescribed lie angle, a second x-axis perpendicular to said second y-axis and parallel to said second striking face, extending towards said second heel portion of said second golf club head, and a second z-axis, perpendicular to said second y-axis and said second x-axis and extending through said second striking face; 
 a second leading edge plane parallel to said second ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of said second leading edge; 
 a second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where said second shaft axis intersects said second leading edge plane; 
 a second vertical heel plane perpendicular to said second ground plane and passing through said first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; 
 a second vertical toe plane perpendicular to said second ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of said second golf club head; 
 a second leading edge blade length defined as a distance along said second x-axis between said second vertical toe plane and said second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; 
 a second striking face length defined as a distance along said second x-axis between said second vertical toe plane and said second vertical heel plane; 
 a second scoreline region defined as a region of said second striking face between said heelwardmost extent of said second plurality of scorelines and said toewardmost extent of said second plurality of scorelines; 
 a second toe region defined as a region of said second striking face between said toewardmost extent of said second plurality of scorelines and said second vertical toe plane; and 
 a second heel region defined as a region of said second striking face between said heelwardmost extent of said second plurality of scorelines and said second vertical heel plane, 
   wherein a maximum height of said first sole along said first y-axis is different than a maximum height of said second sole along said second y-axis, and   wherein a length of said first scoreline region along said first x-axis is equal to a length of said second scoreline region along said second x-axis.   
     
     
         7 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 6 , wherein a length of said first toe region along said first x-axis is equal to a length of said second toe region along said second x-axis. 
     
     
         8 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 7 , wherein a length of said first heel region along said first x-axis is equal to a length of said second heel region along said second x-axis. 
     
     
         9 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 6 , wherein said first golf club head further comprises a first shaft axis/ground plane intersection point located where said first shaft axis intersects said first ground plane,
 wherein said second golf club head further comprises a second shaft axis/ground plane intersection point located where said second shaft axis intersects said second ground plane, and   wherein a distance between said first shaft axis/ground plane intersection point and said first vertical toe plane is different than a distance between said second shaft axis/ground plane intersection point and said second vertical toe plane.   
     
     
         10 . A plurality of golf club heads comprising:
 a first golf club head; and   a second golf club head,   wherein said first golf club head comprises:
 a first striking face comprising a first plurality of scorelines having a heelwardmost extent and a toewardmost extent; 
 a first back portion behind said first striking face extending from a first topline to a first sole; 
 a first leading edge at a transition between said first striking face and said first sole; 
 a first hosel configured to receive a first shaft having a first shaft axis, said first hosel located on a first heel portion, said first heel portion located opposite a first toe portion; 
 a first coordinate system centered at a first face center of said first striking face, said first coordinate system comprising a first y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a first ground plane when said first golf club head is in a first address position at a first prescribed loft angle and a first prescribed lie angle, a first x-axis perpendicular to said first y-axis and parallel to said first striking face, extending towards said first heel portion of said first golf club head, and a first z-axis, perpendicular to said first y-axis and said first x-axis and extending through said first striking face; 
 a first leading edge plane parallel to said first ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of said first leading edge; 
 a first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where said first shaft axis intersects said first leading edge plane; 
 a first shaft axis/ground plane intersection point located where said first shaft axis intersects said first ground plane; 
 a first vertical heel plane perpendicular to said first ground plane and passing through said first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; 
 a first vertical toe plane perpendicular to said first ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of said first golf club head; 
 a first leading edge blade length defined as a distance along said first x-axis between said first vertical toe plane and said first shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; 
 a first striking face length defined as a distance along said first x-axis between said first vertical toe plane and said first vertical heel plane; 
 a first scoreline region defined as a region of said first striking face between said heelwardmost extent of said first plurality of scorelines and said toewardmost extent of said first plurality of scorelines; 
 a first toe region defined as a region of said first striking face between said toewardmost extent of said first plurality of scorelines and said first vertical toe plane; and 
 a first heel region defined as a region of said first striking face between said heelwardmost extent of said first plurality of scorelines and said first vertical heel plane, 
   wherein said second golf club head comprises:
 a second striking face comprising a second plurality of scorelines having a heelwardmost extent and a toewardmost extent; 
 a second back portion behind said second striking face extending from a second topline to a second sole; 
 a second leading edge at a transition between said second striking face and said second sole; 
 a second hosel configured to receive a second shaft having a second shaft axis, said second hosel located on a second heel portion, said second heel portion located opposite a second toe portion; 
 a second coordinate system centered at a second face center of said second striking face, said second coordinate system comprising a second y-axis extending vertically, perpendicular to a second ground plane when said second golf club head is in a second address position at a second prescribed loft angle and a second prescribed lie angle, a second x-axis perpendicular to said second y-axis and parallel to said second striking face, extending towards said second heel portion of said second golf club head, and a second z-axis, perpendicular to said second y-axis and said second x-axis and extending through said second striking face; 
 a second leading edge plane parallel to said second ground plane and passing through a forwardmost point of said second leading edge; 
 a second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point located where said second shaft axis intersects said second leading edge plane; 
 a second shaft axis/ground plane intersection point located where said second shaft axis intersects said second ground plane; 
 a second vertical heel plane perpendicular to said second ground plane and passing through said second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; 
 a second vertical toe plane perpendicular to said second ground plane and passing through a toewardmost point of said second golf club head; 
 a second leading edge blade length defined as a distance along said second x-axis between said second vertical toe plane and said second shaft axis/leading edge plane intersection point; 
 a second striking face length defined as a distance along said second x-axis between said second vertical toe plane and said second vertical heel plane; 
 a second scoreline region defined as a region of said second striking face between said heelwardmost extent of said second plurality of scorelines and said toewardmost extent of said second plurality of scorelines; 
 a second toe region defined as a region of said second striking face between said toewardmost extent of said second plurality of scorelines and said second vertical toe plane; and 
 a second heel region defined as a region of said second striking face between said heelwardmost extent of said second plurality of scorelines and said second vertical heel plane, 
 wherein said first prescribed loft angle is equal to said second prescribed loft angle, 
   wherein a geometry of said first sole is different than a geometry of said second sole, and   wherein a distance between said first shaft axis/ground plane intersection point and said first vertical toe plane is different than a distance between said second shaft axis/ground plane intersection point and said second vertical toe plane.   
     
     
         11 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 10 , wherein a maximum height of said first sole along said first y-axis is different than a maximum height of said second sole along said second y-axis. 
     
     
         12 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 11 , wherein said first striking face length is equal to said second striking face length. 
     
     
         13 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 12 , wherein said first prescribed lie angle is equal to said second prescribed lie angle. 
     
     
         14 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 11 , wherein a length of said first scoreline region along said first x-axis is equal to a length of said second scoreline region along said second x-axis. 
     
     
         15 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 14 , wherein a length of said first toe region along said first x-axis is equal to a length of said second toe region along said second x-axis. 
     
     
         16 . The plurality of golf club heads of  claim 15 , wherein a length of said first heel region along said first x-axis is equal to a length of said second heel region along said second x-axis.