Will This Be The Club That Turns Callaway Around? More Likely, Will These Irons Ever Make It To The Market?
Check out this iron invention!
The drawings come from a patent that issued this week as USPN An iron-type golf club head is disclosed herein. The iron-type golf club head has multiple movable mass members which allow for the center of gravity to be moved at least 0.170 inch in a feel to toe direction and 0.070 inch in a crown to sole direction. Each of the movable mass members is preferably composed of a material having a density ranging from 12 g/cm^3 and 14 g/cm^3.
It goes on to explain:
The prior art discloses various iron-type golf club heads. Irons are typically composed of a stainless steel or titanium material, and are typically cast or forged. Most golfers desire that their irons have a large sweet spot for greater forgiveness, a low center of gravity to get the ball in the air, a solid sound, reduced vibrations during impact, and a trim top line for appearance. Unfortunately, these desires are often in conflict with each other as it pertains to an iron.
Most existing irons, both those intended for play or for fitting, do not have adjustable weights in the head. Those few that do have adjustable weights have several disadvantages. First, the amount of moveable weight is inadequate to meaningfully affect mass properties in both heel-toe and up-down directions. Second, the weighting elements detract from the visual appeal of the head. For example, the weights can be seen at address and are distracting during a golf swing. Third, the weighting elements detract from the sound or feel at impact with a golf ball. Fourth, the weighting elements loosen during use.
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The present invention comprises an iron-type golf club head with a body substantially lighter than normal (e.g. 232 grams instead of 257 grams for a 6 iron golf club head) with multiple threaded receptacles on the back side of the face for retention of one or more mass members that are selected and positioned to achieve a final head weight similar to normal (e.g. 257 grams). The various combinations of mass members result in a range of different mass properties that can be perceived by a golfer.One aspect of the present invention is an iron-type golf club head with a center of gravity movement in a heel to toe direction of at least 0.170 inch and a center of gravity movement in a crown to sole direction of at least 0.070 inch. There various examples of mass property variants achievable from the invention based on using different mass weights and different combinations and positions.
I understand that Furyk is breaking in a set of these at Bethpage this week! (kidding) Interesting concept that may appeal to 1% of iron purchasers; in other words, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for these to hit store shelves.