Abstract: A method of making a prototype golf club grip includes the steps of providing a two-piece mold having a main chamber and a pair of blind bores extending from opposed ends of the main chamber, providing a mandril having an intermediate section and opposite ends, placing the mandril in the two-piece mold with its intermediate section in the main chamber thereof and its opposite ends in the blind bores of the two-piece mold, pouring polymeric material such as epoxy into the main chamber of the two-piece mold, curing the polymeric material to form a grip blank on the intermediate section of the mandril, removing the mandril and the grip blank from the two-piece mold, and machining the grip blank to form a desired shape and features thereon to complete the prototype golf club grip.

Abstract: A golf putter, which has a shaft with an adjustable length and a hosel with an adjustable lie angle, is designed for use in custom fitting of golf putters. The golf putter includes a putter head, and the shaft has an upper shaft portion and a lower shaft portion. The hosel includes a first hosel portion extending upwardly from the putter head, and a second hosel portion extending downwardly from the lower shaft portion. The first and second hosel portions are movable relative to each other to adjust the lie angle of the hosel. An elongated rod extends upwardly from the lower shaft portion into the upper shaft portion. The elongated rod is slidably interconnected with the upper shaft portion to adjust the length of the shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for measuring the flexural characteristic of a golf club shaft. The apparatus includes a table having a clamping structure for clamping the golf club shaft thereto. A data collection system having a computer coupled to an image recording device measures the amount of deflection of the golf club shaft before and after a bending moment is applied to the golf club shaft. The stiffness of the golf club shaft is determined from the amount of deflection.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for determining a vibrational characteristic of a golf club shaft. The apparatus includes a table having a clamping structure for clamping the golf club shaft thereto. A multi-dimensional accelerometer is coupled to a tip end of the golf club shaft. The multi-dimensional accelerometer is also coupled to a computer. When the golf club shaft is vibrated, the multi-dimensional accelerometer converts the vibrational signal into an electrical signal which is transmitted to the computer. The computer conditions the electrical signal and outputs a signal indicative of the frequency of vibration of the golf club shaft. The stiffness of the golf club shaft is determined from the vibrational frequency of the golf club shaft.

Abstract: A golf bag having a unitary tubular body and a method of making the body are disclosed. The body has a generally ovoid cross sectional shape with a small radius portion of the ovoid shape forming a ridge which extends generally longitudinally of the body. A handle and an upstanding rib extend from the ridge. The rib is provided with a plurality of transverse slots arranged along its length for attachment of a pocket assembly. A protective collar is attached to the body at an open top end thereof, and an upper end of a shoulder strap is coupled to the protective collar. A lower end of the shoulder strap is connected to the body between the handle and the rib.

Abstract: A golf bag stand includes a saddle shaped member which is secured to a generally tubular body of a golf bag. A leg member extends from the saddle shaped member in a direction which is generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the golf bag body. Since the leg member is fixed relative to the saddle shaped member, no actuation of the leg member is required in order for the leg member to support the golf bag body in a propped up position when the golf bag is resting on the ground. The leg member is bifurcated so that a pair of feet are formed on an outer end thereof.

Abstract: A golf bag with a generally tubular body has a shoulder strap which allows a golfer to pick up the golf bag from the ground without bending over. The body has an open top end and an annular groove spaced from the open top end. A lower end of the shoulder strap is positioned within the annular groove, and a pair of attachment straps extend from the lower end of the shoulder strap. The attachment straps are disposed within the annular groove when they are wrapped around the body in opposite directions. A buckle connects the attachment straps to each other so that the shoulder strap is held in a standing position where it extends laterally from the body. Stiffener means may be provided at the lower end of the shoulder strap to maintain the shoulder strap in the standing position.

Abstract: A pocket assembly is removably attached to a generally tubular body of a golf bag. The pocket assembly includes a receptacle with a pair of pockets for holding golf accessories. An upstanding rib is formed on the body, and spring clips are provided on the receptacle for gripping engagement with the rib to position the pocket assembly at a selected location on the body. When the pocket assembly is attached to the body, the receptacle straddles the rib and the pockets are disposed on opposite sides of the rib. The spring clips may be disengaged from the rib so that the pocket assembly may be removed from the body and relocated to another selected location on the body. Straps attached to the spring clips are wrapped around the body, and hook and loop fasteners are used to fasten the straps together.

Abstract: A customizable golf putter head includes a face member and a back body both of which may be selected from a plurality of differently configured face members and back bodies. The face member has a cavity formed in its rear surface and the back body has a mating section that is positioned within the cavity of the face member. A face insert is formed on the mating section of the back body and extends through an opening formed between heel and toe ends of the face member. A membrane positioned between the face member and the back body also has an opening through which the face insert extends.

Abstract: A dual strap apparatus is disclosed for use with a golf bag of the type having a generally tubular body with an open top end and a closed bottom end. The dual strap apparatus includes a V-shaped shoulder strap having first and second portions that extend in opposed directions from a vertex. A first coupling strap is connected between the strap first portion and the body top end, and a second coupling strap is connected between the strap second portion and a location on the body intermediate the top and bottom ends of the body. In one embodiment of the dual strap apparatus, first and second hold-down straps are coupled to a common point on the vertex of the shoulder strap. The first hold-down strap is connected to the body top end, and the second hold-down strap is connected to the body at another location intermediate the body top and bottom ends. In another embodiment of the dual strap apparatus, a single hold-down strap is coupled to a point on the vertex of the shoulder strap.

Abstract: A golf club having suppressed vibration modes is disclosed. The club comprises a shaft, a golf club head, a grip and a plurality of discrete shaft stiffeners. The shaft stiffeners are strategically located along the shaft so as to shift the nodes of at least the second and third flexural vibration modes of the club shaft such that a node of each of the second and third flexural vibration modes occurs both at the club face and within the region underlying the golf club grip. Preferably, the stiffeners are made of a shape memory alloy that can be shrunk onto the outside surface of the shaft, then expanded to permit the position of the stiffeners to be adjusted to suit the boundary conditions imposed by the human user.

Abstract: A gauge for measuring the loft and lie angles of a golf club includes a rod attachable to the golf club with a first pointer mechanism being in alignment with the shaft axis of the golf club. A body is rotatable about the rod into parallel alignment with the sole of the golf club and a first indicator plate is movable with the body and relative to the first pointer mechanism to provide a visual indication of the lie angle of the golf club by showing the angle of rotation of the indicator plate relative to the first pointer mechanism. A face engaging member is pivotally mounted on the body for movement into engagement with the face of the golf club, and a second pointer mechanism is movable with the face engaging member relative to a second indicator plate carried on the body to provide a visual indication of the loft angle of the golf club by showing the angle of rotation of the second pointer mechanism relative to the second indicator plate.

Abstract: A golf bag is provided with a throat structure disposed in an open top end of a generally tubular body with the throat structure having an opening formed therethrough that is divided into an open portion and an offset portion which is closed at its upper end. An elongated stay is located in a longitudinal position inside the tubular body, and the stay is inserted therein by moving it downwardly through the open portion of the throat structure opening. A retainer clip is removably mounted in the throat structure opening to retain an upper end of the stay in the offset portion of the opening. Removal of the stay may be accomplished by removing the retainer clip from the throat structure opening which allows movement of the stay upper end from the offset portion into the open portion so that the stay may be removed through the throat structure opening.