US Patent 10569146 Golf club head with face damping and stress-reduction features

An golf club head with a structure that improves the sound and reduces stress placed on the face upon impact with a golf ball is disclosed herein. In particular, the golf club head is an iron with a face having a rear protrusion, also referred to as a piston, with both forward and rearward facing surfaces. The piston is at least partially received within a receptacle provided in the body of the golf club head. The receptacle also includes a pair of bumpers, one of which interacts with the piston to improve the sound of the face upon impact with a golf ball at speeds at which an average golfer would swing the club head, and the other of which reduces the stress placed on the face when the club makes impact with a golf ball at high speeds.