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, a damping element including a front surface and a rear surface, the rear surface of the damping element opposite the front surface of the damping element, wherein the striking face comprises a first portion having a substantially constant thickness, wherein the front surface of the damping element comprises a geometric center, wherein the golf club head includes additional damping structures and materials to achieve desired acoustic characteristics.

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 a prescribed loft and lie, an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to said 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;   a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on a heel side of said golf club head, said heel side located opposite a toe side;   a shelf extending inward from said periphery portion on a back portion of said golf club head;   a back cavity bridge extending across said shelf;   a first opening bounded by said shelf and a first side of said back cavity bridge; and   a second opening bounded by said shelf and a second side of said back cavity bridge opposite said first side of said back cavity bridge.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , further comprising a back cover attached to said shelf covering said first opening and said second opening. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club head of  claim 2 , wherein said back cover includes a thermoset material. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said back cavity bridge extends from a sole side of said shelf to a toe side of said shelf. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said back cavity bridge extends from a topline side of said shelf to a toe side of said shelf. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface; and
 wherein said rear surface of said striking face includes a thermoset material.   
     
     
         7 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said back cavity bridge is attached to said shelf by an adhesive. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said back cavity bridge is attached to said shelf by welding. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein said back cavity bridge is integrally formed with said shelf. 
     
     
         10 . 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 a prescribed loft and lie, an x-axis perpendicular to said y-axis and parallel to said 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;   a hosel configured to receive a shaft, said hosel located on a heel side of said golf club head, said heel side located opposite a toe side;   a shelf extending inward from said periphery portion on a back portion of said golf club head;   a back cavity bridge extending across said shelf;   a first opening bounded by said shelf and a first side of said back cavity bridge;   a second opening bounded by said shelf and a second side of said back cavity bridge opposite said first side of said back cavity bridge; and   a back cover attached to said shelf covering said first opening and said second opening;   wherein said back cavity bridge is integrally formed with said shelf.   
     
     
         11 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein said back cavity bridge extends from a sole side of said shelf to a toe side of said shelf. 
     
     
         12 . The golf club head of  claim 11 , wherein said back cover includes a thermoset material. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club head of  claim 12 , wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface; and
 wherein said rear surface of said striking face includes a thermoset material.   
     
     
         14 . The golf club head of  claim 10 , wherein said back cavity bridge extends from a topline side of said shelf to a toe side of said shelf. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club head of  claim 14 , wherein said back cover includes a thermoset material. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club head of  claim 15 , wherein said striking face comprises a front surface configured to strike a golf ball and a rear surface opposite said front surface; and
 wherein said rear surface of said striking face includes a thermoset material.