Aerodynamic balanced wood form and/or iron form golf club

Abstract

The wood or iron golf club has a reduced shaft width transverse to the direction of motion and a greater shaft depth parallel to the direction of motion, therefore, has a reduced frontal area that creates less aerodynamic drag and a higher resistance to bending opposite the direction of motion, respectively. The low drag rigid shaft allows higher head velocity, higher momentum transfer to the ball, higher ball velocity, and longer more accurate drives then current clubs with elongated cone shaped symmetrical shafts. The wood or iron gulf club shaft-head configuration has the shaft axis intersecting the common axis of the horizontal component of the line of play and the head center of gravity. The club therefore does not create a torque about the shaft axis during the swing motion or ball impact and facilitates greater accuracy and consistency in hitting the optimum point on the ball with the optimum point on the club head.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This specification falls under United States Patent Classification Class D21 Games, Toys, and Sports Goods, Subclass 733 Golf Club. Terminology in this specification is based on the Rules of Golf, Rule 4 Clubs, Appendix II Design of Clubs, Jan. 1, 2008, published by the United States Golf Association. The wood form and iron form of golf clubs, often called drivers, are the subject of this specification; the putter form of golf club is not a consideration in this specification. Wind effects are considered negligible in this specification. Basic parts of a golf club are defined as the grip that is held by the golfer, the shaft that is a structural member between the grip and the head, and the head that is designed to strike a golf ball.

In the golfing endeavor a golfer swings a golf club and strikes a golf ball. A specific direction and distance of flight by the golf ball is desired. Based on conservation of momentum, defined as the product of mass and velocity squared, the higher the velocity that the optimum point on the head strikes the optimum point on the ball, the farther and more accurately the ball will travel toward the target.

Club motion during the swing is subject to aerodynamic drag; a resistance to motion that increases with increasing frontal area of head and shaft. Aerodynamic drag also increases with club velocity. This aerodynamic drag dissipates energy and limits club velocity.

Shafts typically have a larger diameter at the grip end and a smaller diameter at the head end. Motion of the club and impact of the head and ball create a minor bending of the shaft in the opposite direction of motion that reduces energy applied to the ball, reduces ball travel distance, and contribute to inaccuracy of ball travel.

The optimum point of head contact on the ball is in a vertical plane that bisects the ball and target. The optimum point on the ball and in the plain is opposite the axis of maximum trajectory. If the ball is struck lower than the optimum point, energy is wasted in excessive elevation and the ball falls short of the target. If the ball is struck higher than the optimum point, the ball falls short of the target and energy is wasted by rolling on the ground that may or may not have vegetation.

The optimum point of contact on the head is a point on the convex leading surface that is on the common axis of the horizontal component of the line of play and the head center of gravity. Striking the optimum point on the ball with the optimum point on the head is made difficult by the head center of gravity lateral off-set from the shaft linear axis. Motion of the club and impact of the head and ball create a torque about the axis of the shaft; this moment about the shaft axis increases with increasing club velocity. Approaches such as a tight grip and gloves attempt to minimize the inaccuracy and inconsistency of ball travel that is imposed by this torque, but these measures can only mitigate an inherent design deficiency. Current state of the art does not provide a club with the balance to consistently connect the optimum points on the club and ball.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a gulf club shaft that has a reduced width transverse to the direction of motion and a greater depth parallel to the direction of motion. This shaft cross-section differs from current elongated cone shaped shafts that are symmetrical about their axis. The club has a reduced frontal area that creates less aerodynamic drag, therefore permits higher head velocity on impact, greater momentum transfer to the ball, higher ball velocity, and longer drives of the golf ball.

The invented shaft cross-section with greater depth parallel to the direction of motion provides higher resistance to bending away from the direction of motion than current clubs with elongated cone shaped shafts. The club has greater rigidity in the direction of motion that dissipates less energy during swing and ball impact, transfers more energy to the ball, therefore permits higher ball velocity, and longer drives. The decreased shaft bending also increases directional accuracy of ball travel.

The invention is a gulf club shaft-head configuration that has the shaft axis intersecting the common axis of the horizontal component of the line of play and the head center of gravity. The club therefore does not create a torque about the shaft axis during the swing motion or ball impact and facilitates greater accuracy and consistency in hitting the optimum point on the ball with the optimum point on the club head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The following is a list of all included figures:

FIG. 1: Side Elevation of Golf Club

FIG. 2: Front Elevation of Golf Club

FIG. 3: Section View 1-1 of Golf Club Shaft

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a new cross-section for a golf club shaft and a new configuration of shaft and head. This invention does not change the method of using the current golf club. Materials of construction are the same as current golf clubs. The methods of fabrication and assembly for the grip, 1 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, shaft, 2 in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, and head, 3 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, can be achieved with conventional manufacturing processes.

This invention is a gulf club shaft of typical length that has a reduced width transverse to the direction of motion and a greater depth parallel to the direction of motion. The club shaft therefore has a reduced frontal area that creates less aerodynamic drag, permits higher head velocity on impact, greater momentum transfer to the ball, higher ball velocity, and longer drives of the golf ball then current clubs that have symmetrical cone shaped shafts. The invented shaft cross-section provides higher resistance to bending away from the direction of motion that dissipates less energy during swing and ball impact, transfers more energy to the ball, therefore permits higher ball velocity, and longer drives. The less flexible shaft also has greater directional accuracy of ball travel than current clubs with elongated cone shaped symmetrical shafts.

This invention is a gulf club shaft-head configuration that has the shaft axis intersecting the common axis of the horizontal component of the line of play and the head center of gravity. The club therefore does not create a torque about the shaft axis during the swing motion or ball impact and facilitates greater accuracy and consistency in hitting the optimum point on the ball with the optimum point on the club head.

With respect to the above description, all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawing and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. The present invention is capable of other embodiments and of being executed in various ways. An example is the shape of the shaft cross section that could have infinite shapes that provide the minimum width to depth ratio and necessary structural integrity. It is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to falling within the scope of the invention.

The following claims point out the subject matter regarded as the invention:

Claims

1. The reduced shaft width transverse to the direction of motion and a greater shaft depth parallel to the direction of motion has a reduced frontal area that creates less aerodynamic drag and higher resistance to bending away from the direction of motion, respectively.

2. The shaft-head configuration that has the shaft axis intersecting the common axis of the horizontal component of the line of play and the head center of gravity.