Failure Analysis of a Titanium Golf Club Head

摘要

This article details the investigation of a failed head of a golf club driver that developed multiple cracks during normal use. The golf club head was manufactured from a titanium alloy, and the analysis revealed a progressive failure initiated on the interior surface of the club head face plate at a deep, concentric groove created from a forming during manufacturing. In addition, the welding operation used to assemble the head permitted contamination and, consequently, embrittlement, which could have also contributed to the failure of the golf club head.