A golf club head or other ball striking device includes a face having a striking surface and being defined by an outer periphery, a body connected to the face and extending rearwardly from the outer periphery, the body having a sole configured to face a playing surface and a crown opposite the sole, and an inwardly recessed channel extending across at least a portion of the sole of the body, where the channel is elongated between a heel portion and a toe portion. The heel portion and the toe portion of the channel are spaced rearwardly approximately equal distances from the outer periphery of the face, and a center portion of the channel is spaced a greater distance from the outer periphery of the face than the heel portion and the toe portion. The channel may be bowed or curved away from the face.