What Is Cup Face Technology & Will It Help Me Drive The Ball Farther?

The Science of Cup Face Technology

Most manufacturers have found out how to make a driver that pushes the maximum allowable spring-like effect but still conforms to the Rules of Golf. This is done by using very thin or special beta titanium alloy faces. Because titanium heads are hollow they are constructed from as little as two pieces to as many as six. Most foundries will use a separate face plate from the crown, hosel and sole plate. The faceplate is then welded to the other pieces of the head around the perimeter of the face. The location of the weld becomes thicker than the areas around it so the outermost regions of the face do not deflect much. As a result, the highest performance part of the face is located at its’ center of gravity. This is fine if you are a pro and continuously hit in the center of the face, but few of us are.

In cup-face construction, part of the faceplate is incorporated into the sole, crown and skirt area of the head. This pushed the weld back away from the actual face. By moving the weld further back away from the face, the areas around the perimeter could be made thinner and deflect more, thus producing a higher ball speed to areas other than the center of the face as compared to traditional welding techniques. Even when you miss-hit the ball, clubs with cup-face technology provides you that extra spring-like effect for longer, straighter drivers.

Why don’t you see it on all new golf drivers? The reason is the additional cost that is passed on to the consumer. Many very high-end drivers, especially in the Japanese market, use cup-face construction in their drivers, although they may not always tout that as one of the attributes.

Examples of drivers that incorporate cup face technology are the Dynacraft Avatar models. These are available in a both offset and non-offset versions as well as a myriad of lofts for true custom fitting. Soon you will see an addition to the Caiman line that will incorporate cup-face technology as well. Stay tuned for this exciting new design…