What are Golf Club Heads Made Of

Golf club heads play a vital role in the performance of golf clubs, and the materials used to create them can significantly affect the overall playability and feel of each club. Over the years, technological advancements have led to a variety of materials being used to optimize golf club heads for specific purposes. In this article, we will discuss the common materials used in making golf club heads and how these materials contribute to the functionality and performance of the clubs.

Materials Used in Golf Club Heads

1. Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is the most common material used in the production of golf club heads, particularly for irons and putters. This is due to its strength, durability, and affordability. Stainless steel is resistant to rust and corrosion, making it a long-lasting option for golfers. It is also a relatively heavy material, providing a solid feel to the club and assisting with control and stability during the swing.

2. Titanium

Titanium is a popular choice for the construction of drivers and some fairway woods, as it is lightweight, strong, and durable. The light weight of titanium allows manufacturers to create larger club heads with thinner walls, which helps to maximize the sweet spot for greater forgiveness on off-center shots. Furthermore, the strength of titanium allows the club face to flex upon impact, resulting in a higher launch angle and increased ball speed for greater distance.

3. Carbon Fiber (Composite Materials)

Carbon fiber, a composite material, is becoming more popular in the manufacturing of golf club heads, especially for drivers and woods. Carbon fiber is lighter than both stainless steel and titanium, allowing for weight to be redistributed within the club head for improved performance. The incorporation of carbon fiber in club heads can help increase the moment of inertia (MOI), which leads to greater forgiveness on off-center hits and overall stability during the swing.

4. Zinc and Aluminum Alloys

Zinc and aluminum alloys are less commonly used in the production of golf club heads, but they can still be found in some entry-level or beginner sets. These materials are relatively inexpensive and lightweight but may lack the durability and performance characteristics of stainless steel, titanium, or carbon fiber. They are generally used for putters or cavity-back irons and can offer a decent option for golfers on a budget or those new to the game.

5. Maraging Steel

Maraging steel is a specialized high-strength alloy that has been increasingly used in the construction of golf club heads, particularly in fairway woods and hybrid clubs. This type of steel undergoes a unique hardening process that results in a stronger and more resilient material compared to traditional stainless steel. The increased strength of maraging steel allows for the creation of ultra-thin club faces, which results in a higher COR (coefficient of restitution) and faster ball speeds off the face for enhanced distance and performance.

6. Tungsten

Tungsten is a dense and heavy metal that is sometimes incorporated into golf club head designs, particularly for irons and some hybrids. It is not used as the primary material for the entire club head but rather added strategically to specific areas to improve the club’s performance characteristics. The high density of tungsten allows for precise weight distribution within the club head, lowering the center of gravity (CG) and increasing the MOI for enhanced forgiveness and launch conditions.

7. Multi-Material Construction

In recent years, club manufacturers have started to utilize multi-material construction techniques to further optimize golf club head performance. By combining various materials, such as titanium, carbon fiber, stainless steel, and tungsten, club designers can strategically place weight and fine-tune the club head’s properties. This approach allows for the creation of clubs with specific performance characteristics tailored to individual golfers’ needs, such as improved launch angles, increased forgiveness, and enhanced ball speed.

 

Materials used in golf club heads

Material	Advantages	Disadvantages	Commonly Used In	Manufacturing Process
Stainless Steel	Durable, affordable	Heavier	Irons, wedges	Casting, forging
Titanium	Lightweight, strong	Expensive	Drivers, fairway woods	Casting, forging
Carbon Steel	Soft feel, precise	Rust-prone, expensive	Forged irons	Forging
Zinc	Low cost, easy to mold	Less durable, lower performance	Lower-end clubs	Casting
Carbon Fiber Composite	Lightweight, customizable	Expensive, complex production	High-end drivers, fairway woods	Composite molding

Golf club head styles

Style	Purpose	Material Options	Typical Loft Range	Club Types
Blade	Precision, workability	Carbon steel, stainless steel	18-64 degrees	Irons, wedges
Cavity Back	Forgiveness, distance	Stainless steel, carbon steel	12-64 degrees	Irons, wedges
Muscle Back	Feel, control	Carbon steel, stainless steel	18-64 degrees	Irons, wedges
Perimeter Weighted	Forgiveness, stability	Stainless steel, titanium	9-64 degrees	Drivers, irons, wedges
Multi-material	Customizable, performance	Titanium, carbon fiber composite	9-30 degrees	Drivers, fairway woods

Golf club head coatings

Coating	Benefits	Common Materials	Application Methods	Used With
Chrome	Corrosion resistance, aesthetics	Stainless steel, carbon steel	Electroplating	Irons, wedges
PVD	Wear resistance, aesthetics	Stainless steel, carbon steel, titanium	Physical vapor deposition	Irons, wedges, drivers
Black Oxide	Rust resistance, glare reduction	Carbon steel	Chemical treatment	Forged irons
Paint	Aesthetics, branding	All materials	Spray, brush, dip	All club types
Uncoated	Raw feel, aesthetics	Carbon steel	None	Forged irons

 Golf club head face technologies

Technology	Benefits	Materials	Club Types	Examples
Grooves	Spin control, debris removal	All materials	Irons, wedges	V-grooves, U-grooves
Face Inserts	Vibration dampening, feel	Stainless steel, titanium, carbon fiber composite	Drivers, fairway woods, hybrids	Metalwood Face Inserts
Variable Face Thickness	Forgiveness, ball speed	Stainless steel, titanium, carbon fiber composite	Drivers, fairway woods, hybrids	Callaway Jailbreak, TaylorMade Twist Face
Face Milling	Consistent spin, feel	Carbon steel, stainless steel	Irons, wedges	CNC milling
Bulge and Roll	Forgiveness, gear effect	Titanium, carbon fiber composite	Drivers, fairway woods	Curved face drivers

Golf club head weighting systems

Weighting System	Purpose	Materials	Club Types	Examples
Perimeter Weighting	Forgiveness, stability	Stainless steel, titanium	Irons, wedges, drivers	Ping G series, Callaway Big Bertha
Muscle Back	Control, workability	Carbon steel, stainless steel	Irons, wedges	Mizuno MP series

 

Conclusion

The materials used in the construction of golf club heads play a significant role in determining the performance, feel, and durability of the clubs. Stainless steel, titanium, carbon fiber, and zinc or aluminum alloys are commonly used, each offering unique benefits and characteristics. Golfers should carefully consider the material composition of the club heads in their set to ensure they select clubs that best suit their skill level, preferences, and style of play.