Patent Grant
9114292
The invention generally relates to golf club heads to optimize performance of adjustable golf clubs.
Golfers make their best shots when provided with golf clubs that fit their playing style. A golfer may want a driver with a particular loft or face angle. For example, a closed face angle may help a golfer who consistently slices to the right. Another golfer with high speed, high accuracy drives may want a driver with a low loft for maximum distance.
Manufacturers offer adjustable clubs, such as drivers, fairways, and hybrids, with multiple settings for face angle, loft, or both. However, there can be problematic interrelationships between different settings.
For example, in some clubs, if loft is increased, then when the club is held at address resting on a surface, the club tends to exhibit a closed face angle. If the loft is decreased and the club is held at address resting on a surface, that club will then exhibit an open face angle. A golfer's shot may be influenced by how the club rests at address. Thus, adjusting a setting on an adjustable club can cause the club to launch the ball in unexpected ways, resulting in unpredictable and inaccurate shots.
The invention provides a golf club head with a contoured sole that minimizes unintended changes when held at address in different positions or when loft or face angle is adjusted. The invention mitigates the change in relationship between the club balance point and ground contact point at address, that most often manifests as a rotation to a “rest position” when adjustments are made to the club head. The invention provides a lowest region of the sole to contact the ground in any effective club setting. For a club having a contoured sole region according to the invention, the spatial relationship between contact point and balance point is substantially the same in different settings. Thus a club head of the invention does not exhibit a problematic interrelationship between different address positions or adjustable loft and face angle settings.
In certain aspects, the invention provides a golf club head with a stabilizing element protruding from the sole by a height H, having a maximum length L, a maximum width W, and a setback S from a front-most point on the club face when a golf club including the club head is held at address. In some embodiments, S is more than about 1 cm, L is more than about 1 cm, W is more than about 1 mm, and H is more than about 0.1 mm. For example, S can be between about 2.5 cm and about 3.5 cm; L between about 2.5 cm and about 12 cm; W between about 3 mm and about 20 mm; and H between about 0.3 mm and about 2 mm.
The height H can be defined as, when a golf club including the club head is held at address resting on flat ground, the average distance from the ground of the points on perimeter of the stabilizing element directly fore and aft of the contact point.
In some embodiments, the sole is configured such that, when a golf club including the club head is held at address in either of a first or second position, the club head makes contact with a surface only within the stabilizing element. In some embodiments, the sole is configured such that, when a golf club including the club head is held at address in either of a first or second configuration such that a face of the club head has a first or second loft setting, respectively, the club head makes contact with a surface only within the stabilizing element. For example, the first loft can be between about 6° and about 9.5° and the second loft can be between about 11° and about 14.5°. In either configuration, a balance point of the club causes the club to exhibit a neutral face angle.
In certain aspects, the invention provides a golf club head having a face, a crown, a skirt, and a sole, wherein a club including the club head can be held at address in two different positions and the sole is contoured such that, when the club is at address resting on a surface, it exhibits substantially the same face angle and loft in each position. In certain embodiments, the club head is adjustable and can be set to two or more loft settings and the sole is contoured such that, when the club is at address resting on a surface, it exhibits substantially the same face angle in each loft setting. Further, in each loft setting, the club head makes contact with the ground within a lowest region of the sole having a limited area. At least two of the two or more loft settings can be up to six degrees from each other, and the corresponding face angles at address will be substantially the same (e.g., open, neutral, or closed).
For example, the club can have a first loft between about 8° and about 9.5° and a second loft is between about 10° and about 12.5°. A contact point when the club is in the first loft setting and the corresponding second contact point are within about 15 mm from each other in a face-aft direction (e.g., less than about 10 mm apart). Further, the first contact point and the second contact point are on the downward-most region of the sole. The region can have a surface area between about 0.1 cm2 and about 40 cm2 (e.g., between about 0.5 cm2 and about 20 cm2).
Looking at the sole in plan view, the region of the sole bounding the contact points can be described with reference to a width W measured in the face-aft direction, a length L measured in the heel-toe direction, and a setback S from the front-most point on the club. In certain embodiments, the region including the contact points can be described in terms of a height H such that when the club is at address with any loft setting, every point on the sole outside of the region is more than a distance H above the ground. In some embodiments, W is between about 1 mm and about 20 mm, L is between about 2 cm and about 20 cm, S is between about 1 cm and about 5 cm, and H is between about 0.01 mm and about 5 mm.
The region bounding the contact points can be disposed centered on a center line of the club or biased in a heel-toe direction. In some embodiments, more than about 70% of the stabilizing element is located on a heel side of the sole.
In certain aspects, the invention provides a golf club head with a face, a sole, a crown, and a hosel, such that if the club head is coupled to a shaft to form a golf club and held at address resting on a surface, the sole makes contact with the ground between a first heel-toe line a distance S from the front of the club and a second such line a distance (S+W) from the front of the club. An idealized front plane tangent to the sole intersects the ground along the first line, defining an angle of X degrees with the ground and an idealized back plane tangent to the sole intersects the ground along the second line, defining an angle of Y degrees with the ground.
In certain embodiments, S is between about 10 mm and about 50 mm, W is between about 1 mm and about 25 mm, and X+Y is between about 0.01° and about 40°.
The club head can be adjusted to a first loft setting (e.g., between about 6° and about 9.5°) and a second loft setting (e.g., between about 11° and about 14.5°). In either loft setting, the club balances with a neutral or other pre-set face angle. Further, X+Y can be between about 1° and about 10°, or between about 2.5° and about 8°. In some embodiments S is between about 1 mm and about 5 cm (e.g., between about 1.5 mm and about 4 cm), and W is between about 6 mm and about 20 mm.
In certain aspects, the invention provides a golf club head with a face, a sole, a crown, and a hosel, in which the sole has a region protruding downward from the surrounding sole area, the region having a length L in the heel-toe direction, a width W in the face-aft direction, and a height H in the vertical direction when the club is at address. The region may be set back from the foremost point on the face by a distance S. The height H can defined as the average height from the ground to all portions of an area of the sole surrounding the region. The surrounding sole area can be defined to include a fore sole and aft sole or about 1 cm fore and aft of the region. In some embodiments, S is more than about 1 cm, L is more than about 1 cm, W is more than about 1 mm, and H is more than about 0.1 mm.
A club head of the invention can be used to provide an adjustable club with a first loft between about 5° and about 9.5° and a second loft between about 10° and about 14.5° (e.g., a first loft between about 7° and about 9.0° and a second loft between about 11° and about 13°), and in either setting, when held at address resting on flat ground, the club naturally rocks to a preset face angle that is substantially the same (e.g., open, neutral, or closed) in both loft settings.
In some embodiments, S is between about 1 mm and about 5 cm or W is between about 6 mm and about 15 mm (as used herein, “or” always means “and/or” unless otherwise specified or indicated). In certain embodiments, S can between about 2.0 cm and about 3.5 cm; L can be between about 2.5 cm and about 12 cm; W can be between about 3 mm and about 20 mm; and H can between about 0.3 mm and about 2 mm.
The invention includes any combination of measurements, ways of measuring a factor, and embodiments disclosed herein. Thus, any description of a sole of a club herein, such as a metal wood, a fairway wood, an iron, or a hybrid, can be combined with any definition of L, W, H, S, or E along with any numerical value, range, or any value within a range for L, W, H, S, or E to describe a club head provided by the invention.
In certain aspects, the invention provides methods for fitting a club to a player including determining a salutary loft setting, a salutary face angle setting, or both, and providing a club with a setting according to the determination. The providing can be repeated for a plurality of different players using an inventory in which each club head has the same shape. The club heads of the inventory include a sole with a region shaped according to the description herein.
In certain aspects, the invention provides methods for distributing golf clubs including offering a club head capable of providing clubs with a plurality of effective loft settings, face angle settings, or both. Clubs can be provided according to the methods having a shape of a club head in common. Distribution methods include assigning a stock-keeping unit (SKU) to the club head such that a single SKU corresponds to clubs with different settings. Additional SKUs can be assigned to additional club heads having a similar shape. The additional club heads can be offered in a variety of colors or trim levels.
The invention generally relates to a feature on the sole of a club head that protrudes and stabilizes the club head in two or more positions when a club is at address.
When a club is at address resting on a surface, grip point 187 and contact point 42 together define an axis around which motion of the golf club is relatively unrestrained. If balance line 161 intersects the sole behind the contact point, the club will rock open. If balance line 161 intersects the sole in front of the contact point, the club will rock closed.
Thus, the invention provides club head 101 having a sole with a contour or feature such that, if the club is held at address in a variety of orientations, then the contact point is within a controlled, limited distance from the point at which the balance line intersects the sole. Accordingly, the club can be held at address, yet in two different orientations at different times. For example, a first address position can be offset from a second address position by a slight tilt (e.g., either in a heel-toe direction, a fore-aft direction, or a combination thereof) and the contact point will be within the contour or feature in each address positions. In some embodiments, the sole is configured such that, when a golf club including the club head is held at address in either of a first or second position, the club head makes contact with a surface only within a stabilizing element as described herein.
Thus the invention allows a club to be held in different address positions (e.g., as a player learns or experiments, due to ground inconsistencies, as one club is used by players of different height) and obtain a consistent, predictable club head orientation. Due to the fact that the club head makes contact with the ground within a controlled region below the club balance point, the club will not “rock” into unintended orientations when held at address resting on a surface.
In certain embodiments, the invention provides club head 101 having a sole with a contour or feature such that, if the club head is set in a variety of loft settings, then the contact point is within a controlled, limited distance from the point at which the balance line intersects the sole. Club head 101 can have an adjustable loft capable of being set in at least a first and second position. With the loft set in either of the first or second position, the club head can rest on the feature in one of at least a first and second disposition allowing a player to grip the club with a comfortable, relaxed grip in each position and with the face angle maintained constant between each position.
The invention allows a player to adjust a loft setting, hold the club at address resting on a surface, and obtain a consistent, predictable face angle. This benefit gives a player a reliable reference point when setting up a shot in that the player can rest the club head on a surface and see the loft setting and the face angle (while the player holds the club with a comfortable, relaxed grip). The player can then grip the club and pick it up to make a shot, thereby obtaining the same relative face angle for every shot.
As shown in
As shown in
For the purposes of describing region 107 according to the discussion below, a rear sole boundary 213 is defined as a plane a distance E back from aft boundary 211 that is the same as a distance E between fore boundary 205 and face-sole boundary 203. The rear-most point of club head 101 defines a vertical plane at the back 217 of the head, parallel to the plane at the front 201 of the head, and both orthogonal to plane 251.
Generally a club head 101 may have a transition between a face and a sole having length T (e.g., a rounded region, angled region, stepped region, or sharp region). Face-sole boundary 203 marks an edge between that transition and the substantially downward-facing sole. Rear sole boundary 213 is defined as the same distance E from aft boundary 211 as the distance E between fore boundary 205 and face-sole boundary 203. Fore-aft line 255, perpendicular to front plane 201 and lying along ground plane 251 through a club contact point 42 can be used to measure these distances.
Turning now to
As shown in
A length or extent E of fore sole 302 can be defined as a setback S of region 107 minus a length T of the face-sole transition. Alternatively, an extent E of fore sole 302 can be defined as an arbitrary measurement forward from fore boundary 205. Alternatively, in some embodiments, an extent E of fore sole 302 is equal to a width W of region 107. An extent E of aft sole 502 is, by definition, equal to an extent E of fore sole 302.
When club head 101 is at address, the average distance of fore sole 302 and aft sole 502 along fore-aft line 255 from ground plane 251 is shown by average sole height line 444. The vertical distance between height line 444 and ground plane 251 can define a height H of region 107.
Region 107 can be described with reference to a length L measured in a heel-toe direction.
Thus, according to the foregoing discussion, club head 101 according to embodiments of the invention generally has a protruding region 107 on the sole having a width W, a height H, and a length L, and being spaced away from the face of the club by a setback S.
Generally, S is greater than about 0.5 cm, L is more than about 0.5 cm, W is more than about 0.5 mm, and H is more than about 0.1 mm. In certain embodiments, S is between about 2.5 cm and about 3.5 cm; L is between about 2.5 cm and about 12 cm; W is between about 3 mm and about 25 mm; and H is between about 0.3 mm and about 2 mm. For example, S can be between about 2.8 cm and about 3.3 cm; L can be greater than about 1 cm; W can be between about 9 mm and about 20 mm; and H can be between about 0.1 mm and about 3 mm. Any combination of measurements disclosed herein is within the scope of the invention. For example, in certain embodiments, S is more than about 2.5 cm; L is greater than about 1 cm; W is between about 9 mm and about 20 mm; and H is between about 0.3 mm and about 2 mm.
Golf club head 101 having region 107 according to embodiments of the invention exhibits desirable behaviors, particularly an adjustable loft that does not affect the face angle when the club is at address.
As shown in
Without being bound by any theory of operation,
As shown in
As discussed above, region 107 can be described with reference to length, width, height, and setback. Independently or additionally region 107 can be described according to other aspects of club head 101. Club head 101 will generally exhibit certain geometric properties as described herein.
Fore boundary 205 intersects ground plane 251 defining an intersection line. A front plane 403 intersects this line at a setback distance S from the front of the club, defining a fore angle 703 of X degrees with the ground. Front plane 403 is tangent to the sole.
Aft boundary 211 intersects ground plane 251 along a line. A back plane 407 intersects this line and is tangent to the sole. Back plane 407 defines a back angle 707 of Y degrees with ground plane 251.
When club head 101 is at address and resting on a plane 251, the sole makes contact with the surface within region 107 and X+Y is greater than 0°. In certain embodiments, X+Y is between about 0.01° and about 40°. Setback S and width W can each independently be any measurement. For example, setback S can be between about 5 mm and about 80 mm. Width W can be between about 1 mm and about 60 mm. Preferably, S is between about 20 mm and about 40 mm, e.g., between about 30 mm and about 35 mm, while W is between about 5 mm and about 30 mm, e.g., between about 5 mm and about 15 mm or between about 15 mm and about 25 mm. Preferably X+Y is between about 3° and about 23° (e.g., between about 5° and about 12°).
In a preferred embodiment, where club head 101 is part of a club having a loft that is adjustable from a minimum loft P to a maximum loft Q, the following will hold:
(X+Y)≧(Q−P) (1)
As shown in equation 1, fore angle 703 and back angle 707 together preferably define a range equal to or greater than the total range of adjustable loft for club head 101. Accordingly, in certain embodiments, a golf club is provided in which the loft can be set at two or more effective settings including a setting at about 8.5° loft and a setting at about 11.5° (range of adjustable loft is at least about 3°), and a sole of the club head has a region 107 with boundaries that define a front plane 403 and a back plane 407 (both tangent to the sole) creating angles with the ground that together are at least about 3°.
Region 107 of club head 101 will generally satisfy at least one of the foregoing descriptions. A variety of embodiments are provided by the invention. For example,
In some embodiments, region 107 is provided by a separate component. For example,
In another example,
In another example,
In various embodiments, region 107 is provided on drivers, hybrids, fairways, and irons. In certain embodiments, a fairway is provided in which the loft can be set at two or more effective settings including a setting at about 13° loft and a setting at about 16° (range of adjustable loft is at least about 3°), and a sole of the club head has a region 107 with boundaries that define a front plane 403 and a back plane 407 (both tangent to the sole) creating angles with the ground that together are at least about 3°. In certain embodiments, a hybrid is provided in which the loft can be set at two or more effective settings including a setting at about 16° loft and a setting at about 25° (range of adjustable loft is at least about 9°), and a sole of the club head has a region 107 with boundaries that define a front plane 403 and a back plane 407 (both tangent to the sole) creating angles with the ground that together are at least about 9°. In certain embodiments, an iron is provided in which the loft can be set at two or more effective settings and a sole of the club head has a region 107 with boundaries that define a front plane 403 and a back plane 407 (both tangent to the sole) creating angles with the ground that together are at least the difference between the two effective settings.
In certain aspects, the invention provides methods and systems for making, shipping, stocking, and selling golf clubs requiring only a single club head that satisfies consumer demand for different lofts and aesthetic features. For each of a plurality of customers, a golf club can be provided having a selected color, graphical depiction, loft, and/or face angle.
Due to the fact that a single club head of the invention can provide a club with a variety of features, such as color, graphics, and settings for loft or face angle, a store can stock fewer different club heads than would be required if only prior art club heads were available. Thus the invention allows for a configurable golf club to be provided that allows, for example, a store to sell golf clubs having a large number of configurations while only stocking a small number of club heads, shafts, and related hardware.
Accordingly, a golf club head having a sole with region 107 according to embodiments of the invention is provided for use with reconfigurable and interchangeable combinations of golf club parts (e.g., shafts, heads, ferrules, etc.). Mechanisms and methods for setting different club configurations are described in Interchangeable Shaft System, U.S. Pub. 2009/0197694; Interchangeable Shaft System, U.S. Pub. 2009/0264214; Interchangeable Shaft System, U.S. Pat. No. 7,699,717; Interchangeable Shaft System, U.S. Pub. 2011/0143854; Interchangeable Shaft and Club Head Connection System, U.S. Pat. No. 7,878,921; Interchangeable Shaft and Club Head Connection System, U.S. Pub. 2010/0261543; Interchangeable Shaft and Club head Connection System, U.S. Pub. 2009/0247316; Quick Release Connection System for Golf Clubs, U.S. Pub. 2008/0125239; Two-Part Hosel Connection System for Golf Clubs, U.S. Pub. 2008/0254909; and Interchangeable Shaft for a Golf Club, U.S. Pat. No. 7,476,160, the contents of each of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Due to the fact that a club head of the invention prevents unwanted deviations from an intended orientation when held at address in different positions, a club head having a sole with region 107 according to embodiments of the invention is provided for use with any golf club (i.e., clubs that are not interchangeable, adjustable, or reconfigurable, as well as those that are). The invention provides a club head that can be permanently affixed to a shaft as well as other non-adjustable clubs.
Due to the fact that a club head of the invention enables a supplier (e.g., a store, pro-shop, wholesaler, sales rep, manufacturer, etc.) to offer a wider variety of clubs while stocking fewer independent parts, the invention provides the ability for a supplier to carry a greater variety of parts as defined by some other property, such as color, model, or trim level. For example, because a supplier can fit a customer with a driver having any loft and face angle using a single club head, a certain driver type can be provided for a large variety of customers using only a single stock-keeping unit (SKU) in a database or inventory system of the supplier. This means, relative to a supplier not using a club head of the invention, a large number of SKUs are “freed up” and can be used for other products. Similarly, a large amount of display space and storage space in the supply chain is likewise made available. Thus, these freed up resources can be used to provide clubs having, for example, a variety of colors.
Club heads of the invention enable suppliers to provide a variety of different clubs (e.g., requiring different SKUs, for example, one for each different color), where before, suppliers were limited to using those resources (SKUs and space) to carry enough versions of a single club head to satisfy the fitting requirements of a number of different customers.
The invention results in unexpected efficiencies in the manufacturing process because a club head can be brought to market having a variety of fits with only one form factor, a single manufacturing tool (e.g., mold) is required, thus lowering the cost of bringing a product to market. The single manufacturing tool can be used to produce club heads having a variety of colors, finishes, or “trim levels.” Generally, trim level includes a brand name, decorative element, functional accessories, price, or combination thereof. For example, a driver may be sold having a single club head, but given both an SE and LE (e.g., “special edition” and “luxury edition”) trim level, including silver stripes and a rubber grip on the SE model while having gold stripes, leather grip, and electronic components on the LE model. Also, the single manufacturing tool can be used to produce club heads having a variety of colors.
Because club heads that fit a variety of golfers can be made with a single tool, resources are freed to make club heads in a variety of colors and, more specifically, color can be provided in smaller runs, e.g., changed on a batch-by-batch basis. In some embodiments, the invention provides a set of club heads having a shared form factor and in a variety of colors. Club heads can be primary and secondary colors, fluorescent colors, regular or irregular patterns (e.g., plaid, speckled, tie-dyed, marbleized). Club heads can be made in limited runs having a distinctive color (e.g., the trademark color of a partnering luxury goods manufacturer or the trademark stripes or plaid pattern of a corporate partner).
Due to the fact that a manufacturer can offer a whole line of a particular club (e.g., a particular driver) to fit a variety of customers, by providing a single head, and that the color can be varied easily among the heads, manufacturers can offer distributors great flexibility and extensibility in the colors they offer to their customers. Due to this flexibility and extensibility, in certain embodiments, a retail store can offer clubs in small lots having truly customized colors. For example, a golf team or group can be provided with a set of clubs in which all of the club heads match the official colors of the group.
The invention provides personalized or customized color heads. Since all of a club head for a particular club can be provided by a single tool, manufacturing resources are greatly freed up by the invention. Thus, a manufacturer can repurpose its available resources, for example, to provide personalized customized color. In certain embodiments, a customer may choose a color (e.g., from a book, through an HTML color picker, etc.) or provide information about a color (e.g., provide a specimen, Pantone number, etc.) and a manufacturer can produce one or more club heads having the corresponding color.
A club head can be made having region 107 by any method known in the art. Club head 101 can be molded, cast, forged, or assembled from components by adhesives, welding, snap-fit, press-fit, or any other method known, or combination of any of the foregoing. Exemplary clubs and methods of making them are discussed in Multi-Piece Golf Club head with Improved Inertia, U.S. Pub. 2010/0056297; Golf Club Head with Moveable Insert, U.S. Pub. 2010/0105499; Golf Club Head, U.S. Pat. No. 7,803,065; Metal Wood Golf Club Head, U.S. Pub. 2008/0227564; Golf Club Head With Multi-Component Construction, U.S. Pub. 2011/0152003; Golf Club Heads, U.S. Pub. 2011/0151989; Method of Making Golf Clubs, U.S. Pub. 2011/0277313; and Method of Making Golf Clubs, U.S. Pub. 2010/0298065, the contents of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Club head 101 can have any combination of one or more rib, weight, or other structural element beneficial to playability of the club.
A club head of the invention can include additional weights or moveable (e.g., rotatable or sliding) or interchangeable weight members, for example, to optimize a center of gravity or a moment of inertia of club head 101. Any method known in the art can be used to add adjustable weight or further functionalize club head 101. Rotatable members are described in Adjustable Golf Club, U.S. Pat. No. 2,593,368; Club Head with Movable Weight, U.S. Pat. No. 3,589,731; Weight Adjusting Structure of Golf Club Head, U.S. Pub. 2009/0215551; and Golf Club Head with Moveable Insert, U.S. Pub. 2010/0105499 (see, e.g.,
References and citations to other documents, such as patents, patent applications, patent publications, journals, books, papers, web contents, have been made throughout this disclosure. All such documents are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.
Various modifications of the invention and many further embodiments thereof, in addition to those shown and described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the full contents of this document, including references to the scientific and patent literature cited herein. The subject matter herein contains important information, exemplification and guidance that can be adapted to the practice of this invention in its various embodiments and equivalents thereof.
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| Number | Date | Country |
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| 2005168998 | Jun 2005 | JP |
| Entry |
|---|
| Kato, JP 2005-168998A, Apr. 22, 2014, Machine Translation, 10 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20130225317 A1 | Aug 2013 | US |
