Golf club

Abstract

A golf club of the “driver” type comprising a handle with a rounded end piece. The end piece forms a fulcrum during tee-off.

Description

The invention relates to a golf club according to the principal concept of claim 1.

The game of golf is known to make use of different clubs incorporating a variety of striking surfaces, i.e. “irons”. “Drivers”, for example, or “woods” are used exclusively to tee off the golf ball from a pin called “tee” into the fairway. “Driving” therefore means striking the golf ball so that it travels long distances, with distances of 200 m or more being attainable.

It is therefore understandable that a lot of energy is required for the strike at tee-off, this energy being generated by the downward swing of the golf club. A precise and accurately aimed swing of the golf club is necessary, on the one hand, to hit the ball and, on the other, to prevent a loss of energy.

The latter requirement presents a problem, however, for “driving” with conventional golf clubs. Golf clubs usually feature a handle designed as shown in FIG. 1. In order to achieve good drive control, the handle is clasped in both hands. It has been shown, however, that, due to the long lever arm of the handle and due to it being supported in the palm of the hand and by the fingers, especially during impact on the ball, a momentum is generated which twists the club head and with it the shaft of the golf club. With the next attempt, the player consequently clenches his/her hands in order to counteract the momentum and this, in turn, leads to a loss of energy so that no great distances can be attained.

The object of the invention, therefore, is to design a golf club of the “driver” type that allows long distances to be attained at tee-off without any significant loss of energy.

According to the invention this object is solved by the characteristics of patent claim 1.

There are, in fact, designs of handles for golf clubs known from e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 2,092,839 and from EP 0 781 576, where the end of the handle has a round or spherical shape. The examples described in these publications are, however, so-called “putters”, i.e. golf clubs used exclusively for putting-in the golf ball from a short distance. It is clear that no great energy is required for the putt but rather a short precise strike. This is why the U.S. Pat. No. 2,092,839 shows a spherical handle open on top so that the thumb can be placed in the opening for a better control of the golf club.

The above-named publication is dated 1936. Since that date no golf club of the “driver” type has been known to feature a handle with a spherical end. All such solutions known are associated with clubs of the “putter” type. Thus prejudices had to be overcome to find the present new solution.

This innovation was, in fact, developed as a result of extensive trials and tests. In test centres of golf shops it can be found that the use of golf clubs featuring a handle based on the invention allow for much longer distances to be attained than the use of conventional clubs. Since during tee-off a great centrifugal force is required, the advantage is of particular benefit to older and female players.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the sub-claims.

The invention is thus based on the general idea that due to the round end piece of the handle a fulcrum is formed in the user's palm, which prevents the user from clenching his hands and prevents energy being lost with the downward swing.

Hereafter the invention is described in more detail with reference to the drawing. In the figures

FIG. 1 shows a partial view of a golf club with a handle of the conventional kind;

FIG. 2 shows a partial view of a golf club with a handle according to the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a cross-section according to the line III-III in FIG. 4 through a handle according to the invention featuring a special design of the end piece;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the end piece according to FIG. 3.

The golf club 1 shown in FIG. 1 comprises a shaft 2, a club head 3 and a handle 4. The golf club 1 shown corresponds with the state of the art and features a so-called “driver” as club head.

With conventional golf clubs of the “driver” type, as shown in FIG. 1, both hands clasp the handle 4 during tee-off, whereby right-handed players use the left hand, as shown, to clasp the handle, while the right hand, not shown, controls the handle, using only the thumb and the index finger.

The clasping of the handle 4 is very important with clubs of the “drive” type for achieving accurate control of the golf club during swing. At the time of tee-off—also called “drive”—the golf ball sits on a pin in the ground, which is called “tee” and is made of wood or plastic. The “drive” must hit the ball with great precision and force in order to produce a long-distance tee-off. In practice, distances in excess of 200 m can be attained, depending on the power of the swing.

Practical experience has shown that “driving” with the conventional design of the handle according to FIG. 1 involves the handle being clasped too tightly, i.e. the user exerting great pressure on the handle, which may lead to clenching. In consequence the golf club is twisted during tee-off resulting in the ball being missed or being hit incorrectly by the head of the golf club. This in turn leads to a loss in distance and tiring of the player.

The same negative effect occurs when, at the point of impact of the club head on the ball, a great momentum is generated affecting the handle, with the user being unable to counteract this effect. No great distances can be attained in this case either.

Surprisingly, trials have revealed that such negative effects do not occur with a handle designed according to the invention, as shown in FIG. 2. Such handle 4′ is characterised in that it has attached to its end an end piece 5 designed to be round or comprising rounded sections 10. Such end piece 5 can be moulded directly on the handle 4′ and be made of the same material, or it can be designed as an insert 6 for insertion into a cavity 7 of the handle 4′ by means of a screw 8, as shown in FIG. 3.

The latter variation can advantageously be fitted as a type of replacement to existing handles of the conventional kind according to FIG. 1. It is therefore not essential to acquire a new golf club or a new handle, which presents an added advantage of the invention.

In order to achieve a firm fit in the cavity of the handle 4′, the end piece 5 is provided with a fastening section 9 which may be split. By inserting and tightening the screw 8, this split fastening section 9 is pressed against the inner wall of the handle 4′ resulting in a secure connection with or anchorage in the handle.

To facilitate adjustment to the user's hand, the end piece 5 can project more or less from the handle 4′.

Due to the end piece 5 being round or featuring rounded sections 10 a fulcrum “Z” is formed, situated in the region of the ball of the inner hand. This ensures that, even with a great momentum or a strong centrifugal force when striking the ball, no momentum will develop in the palm of the hand such as may occur with a handle according to FIG. 1.

The result is that all the energy of the swing can be advantageously transmitted to the club head, without the hand being clenched. As a consequence, greater distances can be attained with the teed off golf ball, as has already been demonstrated in trials.

Such a surprising effect is further enhanced by the fact that the end piece 5 features a rippled surface 10, as can be seen from FIG. 4. The rippling may also be replaced by a different type of friction enhancement for preventing the handle from slipping.

As indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 3, the end piece may be designed as a sphere; alternatively, it could be formed by rounded sections or have an oval shape. It is also possible to make the rounded sections one-sided only, although this would have an adverse effect on the manoeuvrability. Furthermore, the end piece 5 could be provided with a mass, not shown in detail, or designed as a mass itself in order to influence the weight of the golf club.

Attention is drawn to the fact that the present invention is not restricted to the embodiment described and illustrated here but should encompass any variations obvious to a person skilled in the art. For instance, instead of a screw, any other suitable fastening means may be provided.

Claims

1. A golf club of the “driver” type for use by a user comprising: a shaft having two ends; a striking surface at one end of said shaft, said striking surface comprising a striking head for long-distance drives; and a handle at the other end of said shaft for controlling the golf club, wherein the handle comprises a single-sided opening and an end piece, said end piece having a configuration selected from the group consisting of round and rounded sections, and forms a fulcrum for the user's hand during swinging of the golf club and during tee-off.

2. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the end piece comprises an insert having a fastening section, said insert being insertable in said single-sided opening of the handle and being lockable into position by a screw.

3. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the fastening section is split.

4. The golf club according to claim 2, wherein the end piece is adjustable in length in relation to the handle.

5. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the end piece is rounded only on one side.

6. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the end piece is a sphere.

7. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the end piece has a rippled outer surface.

8. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the end piece comprises a mass for influencing weight of the golf club, and for influencing the swinging mass.