Patent Grant
8651973
The present invention relates generally to golf clubs and golf club heads. Particular example aspects of this invention relate to a golf club having a shaft shaped to reduce wind resistance during a golf swing and a golf club head configured to reduce wind resistance during a golf swing.
Golf is enjoyed by a wide variety of players—players of different genders and dramatically different ages and/or skill levels. Golf is somewhat unique in the sporting world in that such diverse collections of players can play together in golf events, even in direct competition with one another (e.g., using handicapped scoring, different tee boxes, in team formats, etc.), and still enjoy the golf outing or competition. These factors, together with the increased availability of golf programming on television (e.g., golf tournaments, golf news, golf history, and/or other golf programming) and the rise of well known golf superstars, at least in part, have increased golf's popularity in recent years, both in the United States and across the world.
Golfers at all skill levels seek to improve their performance, lower their golf scores, and reach that next performance “level.” Manufacturers of all types of golf equipment have responded to these demands, and in recent years, the industry has witnessed dramatic changes and improvements in golf equipment. For example, a wide range of different golf ball models now are available, with balls designed to complement specific swing speeds and/or other player characteristics or preferences, e.g., with some balls designed to fly farther and/or straighter; some designed to provide higher or flatter trajectories; some designed to provide more spin, control, and/or feel (particularly around the greens); some designed for faster or slower swing speeds; etc. A host of swing and/or teaching aids also are available on the market that promise to help lower one's golf scores.
One aspect of the game that impacts performance is a player's swing and, in particular, swing speed. Swing speed is the speed at which a player moves his club through a swing and can often affect the distance a ball is hit. For instance, as a golfer swings the club from the end of the backswing through contact with the ball, the speed of the swing may have an impact on the flight of the ball, distance the ball will travel, etc. Increasing the swing speed may, in some arrangements, increase the distance a golf ball will travel. However, swing speed is impacted by the geometry of the golf club. As air flows over the golf club during the swing, various portions of the golf club, including the shaft and golf club head, create drag through the air which reduces swing speed. Accordingly, it would be advantageous to reduce the drag associated with the shaft and golf club head during a golf swing in order to increase swing speed.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the description below
Aspects of this invention relate to golf club, golf club shaft, and golf club head structures that may reduce drag associated with a golf club during a golf swing. Aspects of this invention may be used with various types of golf clubs, including wood-type golf clubs, hybrid golf clubs, iron-type golf clubs, and the like. The golf club may include a shaft having a core and an airfoil shaped skin substantially surrounding the core. The airfoil shaped skin may aid in reducing draft associated with the shaft during a golf swing. In some examples, the airfoil shaped skin may include a textured exterior surface to further aid in reducing drag. In some examples, the skin may be removable from the core and interchangeable with skins having different characteristics.
The golf club may also include a golf club head having various drag reducing characteristics. For instance, the golf club head may include a plurality of apertures formed in a front face of the golf club head. In some examples, the apertures may be formed around a portion of a periphery of the front face of the golf club head. In some arrangements, a portion of a ball striking surface of the front face may be void of apertures. The apertures may extend from the front face of the golf club head through an interior of the golf club head to a rear of the golf club head. In some examples, portion of the apertures within the interior of the golf club head may have a constant size, shape, cross section, etc. Additionally or alternatively, one or more apertures may have a non-constant size, shape, cross section, etc. as it extends from the front face to the rear portion of the golf club head.
The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limited in the accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals indicate similar elements throughout, and in which:
The reader is advised that the various parts shown in these drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.
The following description and the accompanying figures disclose features of golf clubs, golf club shafts, and golf club head structures in accordance with examples of the present invention.
Aspects of this invention relate to golf clubs having a golf club head. The golf club head may be any known type of golf club head. The golf club may further include a shaft having a first end connected to the golf club head. In at least some examples, the shaft may further include a core formed of a first material and an airfoil shaped skin formed of a second material. In at least some arrangements, the airfoil shaped skin may extend around the core and be in contact with the core. In some examples, the airfoil shaped skin may be removable from the core and may include a textured exterior surface. The golf club may further include a grip removably connected to a second end of the shaft and configured to allow removal of the skin from the core. In at least some examples, the grip may include a fastener configured to mate with a corresponding fastener arranged on the core of the shaft. In some examples, the fastener of the grip and the corresponding fastener of the core may be a threaded fastener arrangement.
In some arrangements, the first material of the core and the second material of the skin may be the same or substantially the same material. In other examples, the first material and the second material may be different materials. In at least some arrangements, the grip may be formed of a third material different from the first and second materials. In some examples, the textured exterior surface of the airfoil shaped skin may be formed using at least one of spray on metal texturing, shot peening and sand blasting. In one or more arrangements, the airfoil shaped skin may be in contact with the core but not connected to the core.
Still additional aspects of the invention relate to a golf club having a golf club head and a shaft having a first end connected to the golf club head. The golf club shaft may further include a core and airfoil shaped skin. In at least some examples, the airfoil shaped skin may extend around the core and may be in contact with the core. In some arrangements, the airfoil shaped skin may be removable from the shaft. The golf club may further include a grip removably connected to a second end of the shaft. In at least some examples, the grip may include a fastener configured to mate with a corresponding fastener arranged on the core of the shaft. In some arrangements, the fastener may be a threaded fastener.
Still other aspects of the invention relate to a golf club having a golf club head and a shaft having a first end connected to the golf club head at a hosel. The shaft may further include a core having a substantially circular cross section and a skin arranged substantially around the core and having an airfoil shaped geometry. In at least some examples, the skin may be in contact with the core and may be configured to flex with the core of the shaft. In some arrangements, a widest portion of the skin may be aligned with a diameter of the core. In at least some examples, the skin may include a texture formed on an exterior surface of the skin.
Aspects of the invention relate to golf clubs having a shaft including a core and an airfoil shaped skin in contact with the core. The golf club may further include a golf club head having a golf club head body including at least a front face, a rear, a toe, and a heel. The golf club head body may further include a first plurality of apertures formed in the front face of the golf club head body. In at least some examples, the apertures may extend through an interior of the golf club head body to the rear of the golf club head body. In some arrangements, the apertures may be formed at a periphery of the front face of the golf club head body. In some examples, the golf club may further include a second plurality of apertures formed in the rear of the golf club head body, the second plurality of apertures may be substantially aligned with the first plurality of apertures formed on the front face of the golf club head. In at least some arrangements, a size of the apertures of the second plurality of apertures may be different from a size of the apertures of the first plurality of apertures. Additionally or alternatively, a shape of the apertures of the second plurality of apertures may be different from a shape of the apertures of the first plurality of apertures.
In at least some examples, a portion of the first plurality of apertures extending through the interior of the golf club head may have a constant size from the front face of the golf club head body to the rear portion of the golf club head body. In other examples, the portion of the first plurality of apertures extending through the interior of the golf club head may taper from the front face of the golf club head body to the rear portion of the golf club head body. In still other arrangements, the portion of the first plurality of apertures extending through the interior of the golf club head may taper as the portion extends from the front face to the rear portion to a narrowest point within the interior of the golf club head and may widen as the portion extends from the narrowest point to the rear portion of the golf club head body.
In at least some examples, the front face may include a central region substantially void of apertures. In some arrangements, the central region may be a ball striking surface or a portion thereof.
Still other aspects of the invention relate to golf club heads. The golf club head may include a golf club head body having a front face, a rear, a toe, a heel, a top or crown and a bottom or sole defining an interior of the golf club head body. The golf club head may further include a first plurality of apertures formed in the front face of the golf club head body. The golf club head may further include a second plurality of apertures formed in the rear portion of the golf club head body. In at least some examples, the second plurality of apertures may be substantially aligned with the first plurality of apertures. In some arrangements, the first plurality of apertures may include a portion that extends through the interior of the golf club head body to join with the second plurality of apertures formed in the rear of the golf club head body, the portion of the first plurality of apertures extending through the interior of the golf club head body having a non-constant cross section
Given the general description of various example aspects of the invention provided above, more detailed descriptions of various specific examples of golf clubs, golf club shaft and golf club head structures according to the invention are provided below.
The following discussion and accompanying figures describe various example golf clubs, golf club shafts and golf club heads in accordance with the present invention. When the same reference number appears in more than one drawing, that reference number is used consistently in this specification and the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts throughout.
Various golf club shafts and golf club head features in accordance with aspects described herein may be used with various types of golf clubs. For instance, the golf club shafts and golf club head features described herein may be used with wood-type golf clubs and golf club heads, e.g., clubs and club heads typically used for drivers and fairway woods, as well as for “wood-type” utility or hybrid clubs, or the like. Such club head structures may have little or no actual “wood” material and still may be referred to conventionally in the art as “woods” (e.g., “metal woods,” “fairway woods,” etc.). The golf club shafts and club head features may also be used with iron-type golf clubs and golf club head structures.
Golf club heads may generally includes a plurality of different regions, segments, portions, ends, etc. In an example embodiment, a golf club head may generally include a front face, a rear, a toe, a heel, a crown and a sole that may, generally, define an interior of the golf club head. The golf club heads may include a multiple piece construction and structure, e.g., including one or more of a sole, a front face (optionally including a ball striking surface that may be integrally formed therein or attached thereto), a top or crown, a bottom or sole, a rear, etc. Of course, if desired, various portions of the club head structure may be integrally formed with one another, as a unitary, one piece construction, without departing from the invention (e.g., the front face and/or rear may be integrally formed with the sole and/or crown, etc.). Optionally, if desired, the various portions of the club head structure (such as the sole, the crown, the face member, the rear, etc.) individually may be formed from multiple pieces of material without departing from this invention (e.g., a multi-piece crown, a multi-piece sole, etc.). Also, as other alternatives, if desired, the entire club head may be made as a single, one piece, unitary construction, or a front face may be attached to a one piece club head aft body (optionally, a hollow body, etc.). More specific examples and features of golf club heads and golf club structures according to this invention will be described in detail below in conjunction with the example golf club structures illustrated in
In addition to the golf club head 102, the overall golf club structure 100 of this example includes a hosel 104, a shaft 106 received in and/or inserted into and/or through the hosel 104, and a grip or handle 108 attached to the shaft 106. Optionally, if desired, the external hosel 104 may be eliminated and the shaft 106 may be directly inserted into and/or otherwise attached to the head 102 (e.g., through an opening provided in the top of the club head 102, through an internal hosel member (e.g., provided within an interior chamber defined by the club head 102), etc.).
The shaft 106 may be received in, engaged with, and/or attached to the club head 102 in any suitable or desired manner, including in conventional manners known and used in the art, without departing from the invention. As more specific examples, the shaft 106 may be engaged with the club head 102 via a hosel 104 and/or directly to the club head structure 102, e.g., via adhesives, cements, welding, soldering, mechanical connectors (such as threads, retaining elements, or the like), etc.; through a shaft-receiving sleeve or element extending into the club head body 102, etc. If desired, the shaft 106 may be connected to the head 102 in a releasable manner using mechanical connectors to allow easy interchange of one shaft for another on the head.
In some examples, the club head/shaft connection may include an “off-axis” or angled bore hole or interior chamber in which the shaft 106 (optionally a straight shaft) is received. More specifically, an outer cylindrical surface of the connection member may extend in a first axial direction, and an interior cylindrical surface of the bore hole may extend in a second axial direction that differs from the first axial direction. In this manner, while the shaft connection member exterior maintains a constant axial direction corresponding to that of the interior of the club head hosel and its opening, the shaft 106 extends away from the club head 102 at a different and, in some examples, adjustable angle with respect to the club head 102 and its ball striking face. Additional aspects of this off-axis arrangement are described in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/846,370 filed Aug. 28, 2007 and entitled “Releasable and Interchangeable Connections for Golf Club Heads and Shafts,” which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The shaft 106 also may be made from any suitable or desired materials, including conventional materials known and used in the art, such as graphite based materials, composite or other non-metal materials, steel materials (including stainless steel), aluminum materials, other metal alloy materials, polymeric materials, combinations of various materials, and the like. Also, the grip or handle 108 may be attached to, engaged with, and/or extend from the shaft 106 in any suitable or desired manner, including in conventional manners known and used in the art, e.g., using adhesives or cements; via welding, soldering, adhesives, or the like; via mechanical connectors (such as threads, retaining elements, etc.); etc. As another example, if desired, the grip or handle 108 may be integrally formed as a unitary, one-piece construction with the shaft 106. Additionally, any desired grip or handle 108 materials may be used without departing from this invention, including, for example: rubber materials, leather materials, rubber or other materials including cord or other fabric material embedded therein, polymeric materials, and the like.
The club head 102 itself also may be any of various types of golf club heads and may be constructed in any suitable or desired manner and/or from any suitable or desired materials without departing from this invention, including from conventional materials and/or in conventional manners known and used in the art. For example, in the exemplary structure 102 shown in
As additional examples or alternatives, in order to reduce the weight of the club head 102, if desired, one or more portions of the club head structure 102 advantageously may be made from a composite material, such as from carbon fiber composite materials that are conventionally known and used in the art. Other suitable composite or other non-metal materials that may be used for one or more portions of the club head structure 102 include, for example: fiberglass composite materials, basalt fiber composite materials, polymer materials, etc. The composite or other non-metal material(s) may be incorporated as part of the club head structure 102 in any desired manner, including in conventional manners that are known and used in the art.
The various individual parts that make up a club head structure 102, if made from multiple pieces, may be engaged with one another and/or held together in any suitable or desired manner, including in conventional manners known and used in the art. For example, the various parts of the club head structure 102, such as the front face 102a, the ball striking surface 102b, the crown 102c, the sole 102d, the rear 102e, etc. may be joined and/or fixed together (directly or indirectly through intermediate members) by adhesives, cements, welding, soldering, or other bonding or finishing techniques; by mechanical connectors (such as threads, screws, nuts, bolts, or other connectors); and the like. If desired, the mating edges of various parts of the club head structure 102 (e.g., the edges where members 102a, 102b, 102c, 102d, 102e, 102f, 102g, etc. contact and join to one another) may include one or more raised ribs, tabs, ledges, or other engagement elements that fit into or onto corresponding grooves, slots, surfaces, ledges, openings, or other structures provided in or on the facing side edge to which it is joined. Cements, adhesives, mechanical connectors, finishing material, or the like may be used in combination with the raised rib/groove/ledge/edge or other connecting structures described above to further help secure the various parts of the club head structure 102 together.
The dimensions and/or other characteristics of a golf club head structure according to examples of this invention may vary significantly without departing from the invention.
The skin 214 may be formed of conventional shaft materials, such as steel, aluminum, composite, and the like. Further, the skin 214 may be in contact with the core 212 so as to allow movement of the skin with or relative to the core 212. For instance, as the golf club impacts a golf ball, the skin 214 and core 212 may bend or flex. The skin 214 may permit this movement in order to provide improved performance. In some examples, stiffer materials, such as steel, etc., may be used for the skin 214 in order to minimize this bending of the shaft 210. In other examples, more flexible materials may be used for the skin 214 in order to maximize this bending and provide a more forgiving golf shot. In still other examples, although the skin 214 may bend or flex relative to the core 212, the skin 214 and core 212 arrangement may, in some arrangements, prevent rotation of the skin 214 relative to the core 212.
In some examples, the skin 214 and core 212 may be formed of the same or substantially similar materials. In other examples, the skin 214 and core 212 of the shaft 210 may be formed of different materials to adjust the performance characteristics of the golf club.
As shown in
In some examples, such as the golf club shown in
In some examples, the skin 214 may be removable from the core 212 to permit the skin 214 to be interchanged with other skins having various size, shape, performance, etc. characteristics. For instance, the grip 208 may be removed and the skin 214 may be removed from the core 212, such as by sliding the skin 214 upward, away from the head of the golf club. Another skin may then be slid downward, toward the golf club head, onto the core 212 to provide wind resistance during a golf swing. In some examples, skins of varying lengths (e.g., skins that may extend to the hosel region, skins that may extend approximately half way down the shaft, etc.) may be used. In other examples, one or more skins may be interchanged with a skin having a longer tail end (e.g., a tail extending a greater distance D1 behind the core 212 of the shaft 210) to provide additional wind resistance. In still other examples, skins having various texture arrangements, as will be described more fully below, may be interchanged to alter the air flow over the skin 214.
In some examples, the skin 214 of the shaft 210 may include a textured exterior surface to provide additional wind resistance. The textured surface may create turbulence as air passes over the shaft during a golf swing and may further aid in reducing drag associated with the shaft during the swing.
The golf club and golf club shaft arrangements shown in
In one example, the apertures 505 may be formed at least around a substantial portion of a periphery of the front face 503 of the golf club head 502, as shown in
As shown in
Similar to the arrangements discussed above, the aperture arrangements shown in
The present invention is described above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of example structures, features, elements, and combinations of structures, features, and elements. The purpose served by the disclosure, however, is to provide examples of the various features and concepts related to the invention, not to limit the scope of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that numerous variations and modifications may be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims. For example, the various features and concepts described above in conjunction with
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