Patent Grant
12201885
The present technology relates to golf and, more particularly, to an alignment aid for a golf club.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.
A key to a good golf score is the ability to predict a trajectory and a result of a golf shot. Such consistency is desired by amateur players and professionals alike. However, even a small change in a golf swing can alter a flight path of the golf ball and cause the golf ball to miss its intended target.
Without a proper alignment of the golf club, it is difficult for a golfer to build consistency within their golf game. If, for example, the club face of the golf club is not properly aligned and is a degree open or closed based on the intended target line at impact, this can cause a miss of 10-15 yards or more (depending on club head speed).
The position of the golf club shaft and club face at address influences the flight path of the golf ball. For example, a zero-shaft lean, where the club shaft is positioned orthogonal to a club impact surface, is a sub-optimal condition to strike the golf ball for maximum distance and accuracy. A forward press or positive shaft lean, where the golf club shaft is leaned toward the target, forces a downward hit on the ball, compresses the ball and achieves a better ball strike and a purer flight path.
Currently, however, there is no single tool or golf aid that coaches a user to align a club face consistently and accurately. Consequently, the proper angle of the club head cannot be reproduced, which leads to inconsistent golf swings and inconsistent golf shots.
There is a need for a golf aid that creates a consistent and reproducible alignment of the golf club and the golf club face to create a reproducible ball strike.
In concordance with the instant disclosure, an alignment aid for a golf club that creates a consistent and reproducible alignment of the golf club face and a consistent and reproducible ball strike, has surprisingly been discovered. The present technology includes articles of manufacture, systems, and processes that relate to an alignment aid for a golf club. Ways of making and using the alignment aid are also provided.
In a first embodiment, an alignment aid for a golf club includes a centerline marker for marking a centerline of a shaft of a golf club, one or more alignment angle markers, and an angle indicator configured to couple to the centerline marker at a first end and one of the one or more alignment angle markers at a second opposite end, wherein the angle indicator indicates a preselected club angle for a user. In some embodiments, the centerline marker, the one or more alignment angle markers, and the angle indicator comprise one or more stickable decals.
The centerline marker, the one or more alignment angle markers and the angle indicator can be attached to the golf club by an end user. In some embodiments, the centerline marker, the one or more alignment angle markers, and the angle indicator are permanently affixed to the golf club. In some embodiments, the one or more alignment angle markers are one of printed on, pressed into, and a decal that is fitted into a recess of a grip of the golf club. The alignment aid can further comprise a club face indicator for indicating whether a face of the golf club is in an open position or a closed position. In some embodiments, the centerline marker further comprises one or more distance indicators, wherein the one or more distance indicators enable the user to judge a distance of the golf ball from an object.
In another embodiment, a golf club alignment system comprises the golf club comprising a golf club grip, a golf club shaft, and a golf club head. The golf club alignment system further comprises a centerline marker disposed on the golf club shaft, wherein the centerline marker indicates a centerline of the golf club shaft, one or more alignment angle markers disposed on the golf club, and an angle indicator configured to couple to the centerline marker at a first end and one of the one or more alignment angle markers at a second opposite end, wherein the angle indicator indicates a preselected club angle for a user. In some embodiments, the centerline marker, the one or more alignment angle markers and the angle indicator comprise one or more stickable decals. The centerline marker, the one or more alignment angle markers and the angle indicator can be attached to the golf club by an end user. In some embodiments, the centerline marker, the one or more alignment angle markers and the angle indicator are permanently affixed to the golf club. In some embodiments, the one or more alignment angle markers are one of printed on, pressed into, and a decal that is fitted into a recess of a grip of the golf club. In some embodiments, the alignment system further comprises a club face indicator for indicating whether a face of the golf club is in an open position or a closed position. The golf club can comprise one of a driver, a wood, a hybrid club, an iron, a wedge, and a putter, and other appropriately desired clubs as needed.
In a further embodiment, a method of aligning a golf club to a preselected shot angle when hitting a golf ball from a surface comprises choosing a shot angle, placing a shot angle indicator onto a golf club, wherein the shot angle indicator points to an alignment angle marker disposed on the golf club, and which indicates a preselected shot angle, addressing the golf ball, and tilting the golf club shaft in a direction toward a target until the preselected shot angle indicator is orthogonal to the surface. In some embodiments, tilting the club shaft toward to the target changes a loft angle of the golf club. The alignment angle marker and the angle indicator can be attached to the golf club by an end user. In some embodiments, the alignment angle marker is disposed on the golf club during manufacture of the golf club. The alignment angle marker can be printed on and/or pressed into a grip of the golf club. The golf club can comprise one of a driver, a wood, a hybrid club, an iron, a wedge, and a putter, and other appropriately desired clubs as needed.
Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
The following description of technology is merely exemplary in nature of the subject matter, manufacture and use of one or more inventions, and is not intended to limit the scope, application, or uses of any specific invention claimed in this application or in such other applications as may be filed claiming priority to this application, or patents issuing therefrom. Regarding methods disclosed, the order of the steps presented is exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps can be different in various embodiments, including where certain steps can be simultaneously performed, unless expressly stated otherwise. “A” and “an” as used herein indicate “at least one” of the item is present; a plurality of such items may be present, when possible. Except where otherwise expressly indicated, all numerical quantities in this description are to be understood as modified by the word “about” and all geometric and spatial descriptors are to be understood as modified by the word “substantially” in describing the broadest scope of the technology. “About” when applied to numerical values indicates that the calculation or the measurement allows some slight imprecision in the value (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If, for some reason, the imprecision provided by “about” and/or “substantially” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” and/or “substantially” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring or using such parameters.
Although the open-ended term “comprising,” as a synonym of non-restrictive terms such as including, containing, or having, is used herein to describe and claim embodiments of the present technology, embodiments may alternatively be described using more limiting terms such as “consisting of” or “consisting essentially of.” Thus, for any given embodiment reciting materials, components, or process steps, the present technology also specifically includes embodiments consisting of, or consisting essentially of, such materials, components, or process steps excluding additional materials, components or processes (for consisting of) and excluding additional materials, components or processes affecting the significant properties of the embodiment (for consisting essentially of), even though such additional materials, components or processes are not explicitly recited in this application. For example, recitation of a composition or process reciting elements A, B and C specifically envisions embodiments consisting of, and consisting essentially of, A, B and C, excluding an element D that may be recited in the art, even though element D is not explicitly described as being excluded herein.
As referred to herein, disclosures of ranges are, unless specified otherwise, inclusive of endpoints and include all distinct values and further divided ranges within the entire range. Thus, for example, a range of “from A to B” or “from about A to about B” is inclusive of A and of B. Disclosure of values and ranges of values for specific parameters (such as amounts, weight percentages, etc.) are not exclusive of other values and ranges of values useful herein. It is envisioned that two or more specific exemplified values for a given parameter may define endpoints for a range of values that may be claimed for the parameter. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have value A and also exemplified to have value Z, it is envisioned that Parameter X may have a range of values from about A to about Z. Similarly, it is envisioned that disclosure of two or more ranges of values for a parameter (whether such ranges are nested, overlapping or distinct) subsume all possible combination of ranges for the value that might be claimed using endpoints of the disclosed ranges. For example, if Parameter X is exemplified herein to have values in the range of 1-10, or 2-9, or 3-8, it is also envisioned that Parameter X may have other ranges of values including 1-9, 1-8, 1-3, 1-2, 2-10, 2-8, 2-3, 3-10, 3-9, and so on.
When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.
Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
The present technology includes an alignment aid for a golf club that enables a consistent and reproducible alignment of the golf club face and a consistent and reproducible ball strike. An alignment aid for a golf club can be on the grip of a golf club or on the shaft itself. The alignment aid can allow a user to tilt, turn, or move in the desired direction to allow the user to look at a line or dots for an angle reference. Examples include, but are not limited to, a forward press angle and a closed face club loft angle, or other needed or preselected angles for the user. In particular, a different degree of forward shaft lean can affect the angle of impact on the ball giving it the desired backspin, height distance and ball roll on the green.
Ways of making and using the alignment aid can include the following aspects. The alignment aid can be used as a training tool or used as an alignment aid when playing. This alignment aid can be used as a tool when having a golf club fitted for a user's needs. This alignment aid is used to help the user place the club in a desired position to have the best possible alignment when hitting the ball. The alignment aid can be printed onto or recessed into the grip with as many angles as desired. Colored lines or color shaded areas can be used to show the alignment angles. In some embodiments, the alignment aid can comprise a decal that is fitted into a recess of a grip of the golf club. The alignment aid can be placed on the shaft below the grip to allow the user to look down at the aid to see the angles of alignment on a decal or printer/raised artwork on the shaft. The alignment aid can be a one piece or multiple pieces going down the shaft to show a straight line down the shaft for a center of alignment angle. A line or colored artwork can be used at the end of the shaft to view the open or closed face position of the club head. Again, the alignment aid can be attached to or printed on the shaft in many different ways and with different types of material on the market, and with different colors within the artwork. The alignment aid is used to help the user look down at the aid and move the club at a desired angle according to the lines or artwork provided for the user's needs.
In some embodiments, a main decal and/or alignment aid comprising a plurality of alignment angle markings is placed below a grip. A decal and/or alignment aid is placed in a center of a club shaft, going down the full length of the shaft. A small decal and/or alignment aid is placed at a bottom end of the center decal near the club head. This decal can be used to see open and closed face angles of the head of the club and can be any color or shape. A small decal and/or alignment aid with a center line can be placed on the main decal placed below the top alignment aid and is angled to cover the desired angle, with just the center line being viewed for alignment needs. If desired, this small decal can be left off and the alignment aid with the plurality of alignment angle markings can be used to position the club shaft as needed.
In other embodiments, one or more small hash marks on the side of the alignment aid running the length of the shaft are user to held judge a distance to a ball on the green or distance to other objects as needed. This can be done by placing the end of the golf grip on the ground with the head of the club pointed upwards. In this configuration, the user can use the one or more hashmarks as marker to judge the distance to the ball. By kneeling down and/or lining up the ball or target with one of the one or more hashmarks, a user is able calculate a reasonable distance to an intended target. For example, the closer a user is to a ball the lower the hash mark on the shaft would be. The alignment aid allows a user to flip a club upside down and place the grip end on the ground and use the line of sight to look at the ball and based on which hash mark lines up with the ball while the user is kneeling and/or eye level with the correct hash mark helps the user quickly and better judge the distance to the hole. In some embodiments, the alignment aid comprises 2 different sets of marks. The first set of marks can judge a distance the ball distance and the other can be used to judge flag distance. In some embodiments, the two sets of marks comprise different colors. However, the two marks can be differentiated in any appropriately desired manner.
In yet further embodiments, the alignment aid is not placed on a shaft of the golf club. In these further embodiments, the angles of alignment can be printed on and/or recessed into the golf club grip. In this manner, a grip can be placed on a golf shaft with the alignment aid already on it. The alignment aid can be any color and/or artwork as appropriately desired. In some embodiments, the alignment aid can comprise a decal that is fitted into a recess of a grip of the golf club. The golf cub grip can be tilted left or right such that a right-handed user and a left-handed user is able to look down the line to find their desired angle of choice.
In use, the alignment aid when placed on a grip, attached, or printed on the shaft and/or the golf club grip, can allow a user to tilt or angle the shaft to the desired angle for a forward press or other desired angle. Particularly, the alignment aid allows a user to place the grip of the club slightly left or right of center of the head of the club for left- or right-handed players appropriately. Additionally, the alignment aid can allow a left-handed or a right-handed user to have a consistent shaft lean when needed or the center line down the shaft can show a neutral loft and/or club angle position. The different degrees of forward shaft lean affect the angle of impact on the ball to give the ball the desired backspin, height, distance and ball roll on the green. The alignment aid can be used on all clubs to give the user the preferred head club position at impact of the ball.
Example embodiments of the present technology are provided with reference to the several figures enclosed herewith.
Referring to
In some embodiments, the centerline marker 101 comprises a centerline marker body 102 and a centerline marking 104. The centerline marker 101 is coupled to and/or otherwise disposed on the shaft 203 of the golf club 200 and is configured to indicate the centerline of the golf club shaft 203. In some embodiments, the centerline marker 101 is configured to run the entire length of a golf club shaft 203. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the centerline marker 101 runs only partially down a length of the golf club shaft 203. Particularly, the centerline marker 101 can be any appropriately desired length for indicating a centerline of the golf club shaft 203. As shown in
In some embodiments, such as described further below, the angle indicator 120 is placed on a top of the golf club alignment angle marker 110 in a desired configuration to indicate a desired golf club alignment. Particularly, the angle indicator 120 can be placed on a top of the golf club alignment marker 110 such that an alignment line 122 of the angle indicator 120 points to an alignment mark (
The golf club alignment aid 100 can comprise one or more pieces as appropriately desired. For example, in some embodiments, the golf club alignment aid 100 comprises two or three pieces that can be separately attached to the golf club. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the golf club alignment aid 100 is preprinted and/or etched onto the golf club shaft 203 or the golf club grip 201. In some embodiments, the alignment aid 100 can be used on one of a driver, a wood, a hybrid club, an iron, a wedge, and a putter. Particularly, the alignment aid 100 can be used on any appropriately desired golf club for practice and/or for use while playing a round of golf.
As described above, in some embodiments, the alignment marker 110 comprises a stickable decal which is attached to the golf club 200. However, the alignment angle marker 110 can be pre-printed, etched, and/or attached to the golf club 200 during manufacture of the golf club 200, if desired. Particularly, the alignment angle marker 110 can be disposed on the golf club in any appropriately desired manner.
As shown within
As described above, in some embodiments the angle indicator 120 comprises a stickable decal which can be placed onto the alignment angle marker 110. In some embodiments, the angle indicator 120 is permanently affixed onto the alignment angle marker 110 such that the angle indicator 120 indicates the same club alignment with each shot using the golf club 200. It should be appreciated that the permanent affixing may be desired for reasons of certain professional golfing rules and standards. Alternatively, the angle indicator 120 can be removably coupled with the alignment angle marker 110. In these embodiments, the angle indicator 120 is coupled to the alignment angle marker 110 and can be removed and rotated such as when a user wishes to hit a golf shot with the golf club 200 aligned at a different angle. In alternate embodiments, the angle indicator 120 couples with the alignment angle marker 110 using a hook and loop fastening system, magnetic connection, snap fastener or other appropriately desired removable fastening system.
As shown within
With the golf club face indicator 130 disposed on, or otherwise coupled to the golf club shaft 203, the club 200 can be rotated to the right or left. When the golf club 200 is at a neutral alignment, the user will only see the club face indicator centerline 131 as the user looks down the golf club shaft 203. As the golf club is rotated to the left and the right, the user will see more of the first club face indicator 132 and the second club face indicator 133, indicating the club face is open or closed.
In some embodiments, the golf club face indicator 130 is used with the alignment aid 100, such as described above. Alternatively, the golf club face indicator 130 can be used on its own, without the alignment aid 100. The club face indicator 130 can be wrapped around the base of the golf club shaft 203 near the golf club head (205, shown in
As further shown within
With an alignment reference strip 103, 105, and 107 attached to a top center of the grip 201 where the shaft 203 starts and a bottom center of the golf club shaft 203 where the golf club head 205 is connected, the centerline marker 101 can be coupled to the golf club shaft 203. To couple the centerline marker 101 with the golf club shaft, the centerline marking 104 is aligned with the reference strip at a top center of the golf club grip 201 and the reference strip at the bottom center of the golf club shaft 203 so that the centerline marking 104 indicates the centerline of the golf club shaft 203. When the centerline marker 101 is properly aligned it can be pressed onto the golf club shaft 203 to couple to the golf club shaft 203. The one or more alignment reference strips 103, 105, and 107 ensure that the centerline marker 101 is centered on the golf club shaft 203 and is properly aligned. In some embodiments, the centerline marker 101 is trimmed before it is placed onto the golf club shaft 203.
In some embodiments, after the centerline marker 101 is placed onto the golf club shaft 203, the reference strips can be removed. Additionally, it is contemplated that the centerline marker 101 can be adjusted to ensure that it is properly straight as it is placed on the golf club shaft 203. Additionally, although three alignment reference strips 103, 105, and 107 are shown within
As described above, the alignment aid 100 can comprise one or more pieces as appropriately desired. For example, in some embodiments, the centerline marker 101, the golf club alignment angle marker 110, and the angle indicator 120 each comprise discrete decals which can be attached to the golf club 200. Each of the discrete decals may be provided on a single backing strip, however, as part of a kit for use in installing the alignment aid 100 on the golf club 200. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the centerline marker 101 and the alignment angle marker 110 are a single decal which is attached to the golf club and the angle indicator 120 is a discrete decal which is placed on the alignment angle marker 110, such as described above and shown in
With the alignment aid 100, such as described above, a user addresses the golf ball before hitting a golf shot. The user can then tilt the golf club 200 toward a target to change the loft angle of the club face. The user tilts the golf club 200 until the alignment line 122 of the angle indicator 120 is orthogonal to the ground. When the golf club 200 is properly tilted, the user can look down a length of the alignment line 122, and straight down toward the ground. In this position, the golf club comprises a preselected loft angle and/or club angle (410,
As shown within
The alignment angle marker 310 comprises one or more alignment angle lines 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, and 316 that indicate a preselected club angle 410, 410′ when the alignment angle marker 310 is placed on or otherwise disposed on a golf club 200′. For example, as shown within
As further shown within
In some embodiments, such as shown within
Example embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms, and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail. Equivalent changes, modifications and variations of some embodiments, materials, compositions and methods can be made within the scope of the present technology, with substantially similar results.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/205,623, filed on Dec. 30, 2020. The entire disclosure of the above application is incorporated herein by reference.
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| Entry |
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| Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority dated May 2, 2022. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220203185 A1 | Jun 2022 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
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| 63205623 | Dec 2020 | US |
