Abstract: Apparatus is provided for bending hosels of metal wood golf club heads to alter the characteristics of golf clubs incorporating the heads. A club head is clamped into a rigid clamping framework using a pair of clamps which engage the top and the back of the club head. A bending bar having an adjustable throat for engaging the hosel of the club head is then used to bend the hosel as required. The throat of the bending bar is defined by material which is softer than the golf club head to substantially eliminate marring of the club head. The back of the club head is engaged by an elongated pad of polymeric material formed to receive the back of the club head and the top of the club head is engaged by a pair of club head gripping areas formed to spread the top head gripping forces over two relatively large areas. The top gripping areas are formed as a single polymeric pad which is bifurcated to define the gripping areas.

Abstract: A wood golf club head formed of nonwood material comprises a bulbous body defining a face on one side for striking a golf ball. A hosel is integrally formed with and extends from the body for attaching a golf club shaft. A soleplate defines a spherical roll sole toward the toe of the head and a runner toward the heel of the head. The runner extends generally perpendicular to the ball striking face across the body to define a sole line for the head and is ground to adjust the head for fitting a golf club incorporating the head to an individual golfer. The lie of the golf club can be adjusted by uniformly grinding the runner and/or the face angle of the golf club can be adjusted by grinding the runner to slope toward or away from the ball striking face of the head.