Progressive grooves in golf club heads

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a set of golf club heads with improved striking surfaces. More specifically, the present invention relates to a set of golf club heads having at least one golf club head in a loft angle range having a first groove type and at least one other golf club head in a different loft angle range having a second groove type. The different groove types based on loft angle ranges provide more predictable spin characteristics throughout the set and more consistent spin performance for various shot conditions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A set of golf clubs, comprising:
 a first golf club head comprising:
 a striking face including a front surface configured to strike a golf ball; 
 a body extending rearward from said striking face and having a sole, a topline opposite said sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite said heel side, and a hosel at said heel side configured to attach to a shaft; and 
 at least one groove in said striking face extending in a heel-to-toe direction; 
   a second golf club head comprising:
 a striking face including a front surface configured to strike a golf ball; 
 a body extending rearward from said striking face and having a sole, a topline opposite said sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite said heel side, and a hosel at said heel side configured to attach to a shaft; and 
 at least one groove in said striking face extending in a heel-to-toe direction, 
   wherein said first golf club head has a loft angle less than or equal to 28 degrees,   wherein said second golf club head has a loft angle greater than 28 degrees, and   wherein said at least one groove of said first golf club head has a cross-sectional profile different than a cross-sectional profile of said at least one groove of said second golf club head.   
     
     
         2 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one groove of said first golf club head comprises:
 a first sidewall;   a second sidewall;   a bottom wall between said first sidewall and said second sidewall;   a first edge between said first sidewall and said front surface of said striking face; and   a second edge between said second sidewall and said front surface of said striking face,   wherein said at least one groove of said first golf club head is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane located equidistant from said first sidewall and said second sidewall and extending in said heel-to-toe direction perpendicular to said front surface of said striking face,   wherein said at least one groove of said second golf club head comprises:   a first sidewall;   a second sidewall;   a bottom wall between said first sidewall and said second sidewall;   a first edge between said first sidewall and said front surface of said striking face; and   a second edge between said second sidewall and said front surface of said striking face,   wherein said at least one groove of said second golf club head is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane located equidistant from said first sidewall and said second sidewall and extending in said heel-to-toe direction perpendicular to said front surface of said striking face.   
     
     
         3 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one groove of said first golf club head includes a wall angle defined between said first sidewall and said longitudinal plane,
 wherein said at least one groove of said second golf club head includes a wall angle defined between said first sidewall and said longitudinal plane, and   wherein said wall angle of said at least one groove of said second golf club head is less than said wall angle of said at least one groove of said first golf club head.   
     
     
         4 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 3 , wherein said wall angle of said at least one groove of said first golf club head is between 24 degrees and 32 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 3 , wherein said wall angle of said at least one groove of said second golf club head is between 16 degrees and 24 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 3 , wherein said wall angle of said at least one groove of said second golf club head is between 10 degrees and 18 degrees. 
     
     
         7 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 2 , wherein said at least one groove of said first golf club head includes a depth defined between said front surface of said striking face and said bottom wall,
 wherein said at least one groove of said second golf club head includes a depth defined between said front surface of said striking face and said bottom wall, and   wherein said depth of said at least one groove of said second golf club head is greater than said depth of said at least one groove of said first golf club head.   
     
     
         8 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 7 , wherein said depth of said at least one groove of said first golf club head is between 0.010 inches and 0.016 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 7 , wherein said depth of said at least one groove of said second golf club head is between 0.015 inches and 0.020 inches. 
     
     
         10 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 3 , wherein said at least one groove of said first golf club head includes a depth defined between said front surface of said striking face and said bottom wall,
 wherein said at least one groove of said second golf club head includes a depth defined between said front surface of said striking face and said bottom wall, and   wherein said depth of said at least one groove of said second golf club head is greater than said depth of said at least one groove of said first golf club head.   
     
     
         11 . A set of golf clubs, comprising:
 a first golf club head comprising:
 a striking face including a front surface configured to strike a golf ball; 
 a body extending rearward from said striking face and having a sole, a topline opposite said sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite said heel side, and a hosel at said heel side configured to attach to a shaft; and 
 at least one groove in said striking face extending in a heel-to-toe direction; 
   a second golf club head comprising:
 a striking face including a front surface configured to strike a golf ball; 
 a body extending rearward from said striking face and having a sole, a topline opposite said sole, a heel side, a toe side opposite said heel side, and a hosel at said heel side configured to attach to a shaft; and 
 at least one groove in said striking face extending in a heel-to-toe direction, 
   wherein said first golf club head has a loft angle less than or equal to 31 degrees,   wherein said second golf club head has a loft angle greater than 31 degrees, and   wherein said at least one groove of said first golf club head has a cross-sectional profile different than a cross-sectional profile of said at least one groove of said second golf club head.   
     
     
         12 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one groove of said first golf club head comprises:
 a first sidewall;   a second sidewall;   a bottom wall between said first sidewall and said second sidewall;   a first edge between said first sidewall and said front surface of said striking face; and   a second edge between said second sidewall and said front surface of said striking face,   wherein said at least one groove of said first golf club head is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane located equidistant from said first sidewall and said second sidewall and extending in said heel-to-toe direction perpendicular to said front surface of said striking face,   wherein said at least one groove of said second golf club head comprises:   a first sidewall;   a second sidewall;   a bottom wall between said first sidewall and said second sidewall;   a first edge between said first sidewall and said front surface of said striking face; and   a second edge between said second sidewall and said front surface of said striking face,   wherein said at least one groove of said second golf club head is symmetrical about a longitudinal plane located equidistant from said first sidewall and said second sidewall and extending in said heel-to-toe direction perpendicular to said front surface of said striking face.   
     
     
         13 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one groove of said first golf club head includes a wall angle defined between said first sidewall and said longitudinal plane,
 wherein said at least one groove of said second golf club head includes a wall angle defined between said first sidewall and said longitudinal plane, and   wherein said wall angle of said at least one groove of said second golf club head is less than said wall angle of said at least one groove of said first golf club head.   
     
     
         14 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 13 , wherein said wall angle of said at least one groove of said first golf club head is between 30 degrees and 45 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 13 , wherein said wall angle of said at least one groove of said second golf club head is between 16 degrees and 24 degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one groove of said first golf club head includes a depth defined between said front surface of said striking face and said bottom wall,
 wherein said at least one groove of said second golf club head includes a depth defined between said front surface of said striking face and said bottom wall, and   wherein said depth of said at least one groove of said second golf club head is greater than said depth of said at least one groove of said first golf club head.   
     
     
         17 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 16 , wherein said depth of said at least one groove of said first golf club head is between 0.012 inches and 0.019 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 16 , wherein said depth of said at least one groove of said second golf club head is between 0.015 inches and 0.020 inches. 
     
     
         19 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 12 , wherein said first edge and said second edge of said at least one groove of said first golf club head are each curved and have an edge radius,
 wherein said first edge and said second edge of said at least one groove of said second golf club head are each curved and have an edge radius, and   wherein said edge radius of said first edge and said second edge of said at least one groove of said first golf club head is less than said edge radius of said first edge and said second edge of said at least one groove of said second golf club head.   
     
     
         20 . The set of golf clubs of  claim 19 , wherein said edge radius of said first edge and said second edge of said at least one groove of said first golf club head is between 0.0025 inches and 0.0075 inches, and
 wherein said edge radius of said first edge and said second edge of said at least one groove of said second golf club head is between 0.005 inches and 0.01 inches.