US Patent 9993704 Striking face deflection structures in a golf club

An iron-type golf club head has a club head body that includes a back portion, a topline, a sole portion, and a striking face. The golf club head also may include a rib that extends from the back portion of the club head body to a rear surface of the striking face. A symmetric portion of the striking face is defined by contact with the topline, the sole portion, and the rib. A second rib may also be included in the golf club head and the symmetric portion of the striking face is defined by contact with the topline, the sole portion, the first rib, and the second rib. A flex support structure may also be incorporated into the golf club head. The flex support structures may have multiple profiles that contact the rear surface of the striking face at differing deflection depths.