Today’s drivers sound a lot different than clubs of ten years ago. The changes are largely associated with the changes in the materials used in the construction of drivers. Now days virtually every driver incorporates titanium alloys, and many incorporate composite materials.

With regard to the sound of impact, manufacturers can choose to either (a) ignore how the club sounds at impact (not smart), (b) tune the club head to achieve a desirable sound at impact (see this post), or (c) seek to reduce, or attenuate, the sound of impact.

Last week Acushnet was granted a patent directed at the later; namely reducing, or attenuating, the sound of impact. The patented invention incorporates a vibration dampening and acoustical attenuating material to coat a portion of the crown of the club head. The claimed invention "produces a reduction in noise of at least 28 percent over a frequency range between about 3800 Hz to 10,000 Hz at a swing speed of 90 mph." I encourage you to check out USPN 7,214,142 titled “Composite Metal Wood Club.”

Congratulations Acushnet.

David Dawsey – The Golf Attorney Listening to Club Head Patents