Golf Equipment Myths
Cup Face Design-More forgiving or just more hype?
There are basically three methods of manufacturing clubfaces in the industry today.
1. Traditional face ( forged 3 or 4 piece ), where the face is welded along the edge where the face turns into the crown, toe, heel and sole. It is a full piece of titanium or steel and is most popular method of manufacturing style in the industry.
2. Cup Face Design ( forged 3 or 4 piece ), where the face is actually formed where it could hold water if turned upside down on a table. This requires a weld line that is back from the edge and on the crown, sole, face and heel.
3. Cast clubheads, made in a two piece format, where the face is really oftentimes much smaller that the other two and is more of an insert. The weld line is actually right on the face itself in many cases.
There are a few of OEM companies and a couple of component companies that profess and will lead us to believe that their cup face design driver is "a much more forgiving feature than a traditional welded face design". They go on to say that, "because the face is welded back from the edges of the face that the "sweet spot" is somehow larger making their clubhead more forgiving".
If we were to believe these claims, it could be equally and quite effectively argued that cast clubheads, oftentimes with the much smaller face "insert" style of manufacturing, would be considered in effect, much less forgiving due to the fact that the face is actually quite often completely smaller than both the cup face design as well as the traditioanl face welding style of manufacturing because the weld lines are actually right on the face itself, instead of back from the face as on the cup face design clubhead.
Of course, if anyone were to make any sort of a statement regarding an "unforgiving cast clubhead design", it would immediately be considered complete hogwash and would not be believed for a minute by anyone in the industry on either side of the counter, yet we somehow believe just the opposite when the marketing folks tell us that "welding the face to the body of the driver back away from the striking surface makes the club much more forgiving".
Think about it realistically before dropping your credit card on the counter after reading a slick sales ad or discussion forum post from an "expert", for it just doesn't make sense if you look at it from both sides. To say absolutely nothing of the fact that the "sweetspot" cannot get "bigger" in any way due to the method of adhereing the face to the rest of the clubhead.
Mike Tait
Owner and clubhead designer
SMT Golf
"The Winningest Component Heads In Golf History"
Thanks to Mike Tait at SMT for this article. If you're interested in SMT Components or would like me to build you a SMT driver, please email me and reference this article to receive 10% off on SMT components or assembled clubs. Tell me a bit about your game and swing and I'd be happy to help you choose the right combination for your game.
John Muir
clubmaker-online
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