Abstract: An article of footwear including an upper and a sole, which has an outsole for directly contacting a ground surface, and at least one element compression molded with the outsole. The at least one element is formed from a first material including at least 45% ethylene vinyl acetate, approximately 30% polyene elastomer, and approximately 20% synthetic rubber. A second material of the outsole is compatible for compression molding with the at least one element, and is less hard and less dense than the at least one element.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a putter head that has a plurality of deflectable beams or projections for striking a golf ball. Upon impact with the ball, the beams deflect and rebound to impart topspin on the ball, thereby resulting in forward rotation of the ball shortly after impact. In certain embodiments, the striking surface of the putter is comprised of a plurality of generally parallel, vertically spaced, deflectable beams extending horizontally across a front surface of the putter. Each beam extends downwardly from a fixed end to a free end that can contact the ball. In one specific implementation, the beams can be formed directly in the front surface of the putter head. In another implementation, the beams are formed in an insert that is mounted to the front surface of the putter head.

Abstract: A golf club head comprising an outer shell and a strike plate having a strike face. The outer shell and the strike face define a club head volume. A heel/toe axis extends through the center of gravity of the club head. The heel/toe axis is generally parallel to the strike face and generally horizontal relative to a ground plane when the club head is at an address position. The rotational moment of inertia about the heel/toe axis is related to the club head volume by the equation Ixx ?,46*HV+77, where Ixx is the rotational moment of inertia about the heel/toe axis in units of kg-mm2 and HV is the club head volume in units of cm3.

Abstract: A golf club head has a body having a top, a sole, a toe end, a heel end, and a forward wall. The forward wall defines a front opening about which a face support is disposed. The face support receives a face plate, thereby enclosing the front opening of the body. The face support includes portions proximate to the top, the toe end, and the heel end, each portion having a peripheral member extending rearward from the forward wall and a rear member extending inward from the peripheral member, with respect to the front opening. The face support can be combined with a preferred face construction and weight elements to optimize club head performance to help a golfer achieve greater distance and control.

Abstract: An golf club head is provided, having enhanced sound and feel characteristics. The club head has a hollow main body including a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, a hosel, and a side portion extending rearwardly from the face. The body further includes a heel region adjacent to the hosel and a toe region opposing the heel region, and it defines a volume of at least 100 cc. The club head further includes a stiffening member disposed within the body and attached to both the sole and the crown. The member is spaced apart from the striking face and disposed within the body in a region having a first zone extending less than half the distance from the heel region to the toe region and a second zone extending less than half the distance from a rearmost point, thereby forming a local stiffness zone in the body to influence vibration modes and acoustic properties of the club head in a prescribed manner.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for matching a test golfer with a particular golf club selected from a group of golf clubs having a plurality of styles. The method utilizes data set derived in an initial procedure in which the club style preferences for each of a large number of pre-test golfers is recorded and correlated with a set of performance parameters for the golf swings of such pre-test golfers. This data enables the pre-test golfers to be classified into subgroups, in which golfers within the same subgroup generally prefer the same club style and golfers in different subgroups generally prefer different club styles. After this data set has been established, the test golfer takes a golf swing with a golf club, while performance parameters for the swing are measured. Based on the measured performance parameters and the previously established data set, the test golfer is classified according to swing type, and the optimum golf club is then selected from the plurality of styles of golf clubs.

Abstract: A club head for a golf club comprises a strike face and an outer shell. The strike face and the outer shell define a head volume of the club head. The club head has a first axis that extends generally horizontally and parallel to the strike face, a first moment of inertia about the first axis, a second axis that lies generally vertically and perpendicular to the first horizontal axis, a second moment of inertia about the second axis, and a center of gravity lying below a horizontal centerline of the club head. The first moment of inertia in units of kg-mm2 is greater than or equal to approximately 77 plus 0.46 times the head volume in units of cm3.

Abstract: A golf ball incorporates nanocomposite material, nanofiller material, or both, in its core, cover, or intermediate layers. Also, a method includes a step of blending into a composition for a golf ball nanocomposite material, nanofiller material or both. The nanocomposite and/or nanofiller materials impart favorable properties to materials used for golf balls, and they provide for greater versatility in usage than materials previously used. Particular compositions incorporating nanocomposite material also are described as suited for use in golf ball compositions.

Abstract: A golf club head having a body that includes a striking wall, an upper wall, and an open cavity. A housing is positioned within the cavity and it is removably attached in such position to the body. The housing has an asymmetrical configuration and is located in the open cavity of the body in a predetermined selected position and is removably connected to the body in the predetermined position. At least one balancing weight is located with respect to the housing in a predetermined selected position, the weight being non-removably connected to the housing by adhesive or by being molded in place, for example. A plurality of identically shaped housings, with differently positioned weights, can be provided to enable one to select a desired one of the housings to be fitted to the body of the club head to appropriately modify the behavior of the thusly assembled club.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a golf club head that includes a peripheral shell constituted by an assembly of walls obtained by injecting a plastic material forming an inner cavity enclosing at least one inner insert kept immobilized by a partial plastic material coating of the shell. Prior to the injection step of the shell, an assembly is placed and immobilized in the mold which is comprised of a meltable core made of a second material having a melting point that is lower than the melting point of the plastic material in the space left free between the walls of the mold and the assembly, so as to coat the meltable core and all or a part of the free portion of the insert. Finally, all or a portion of the meltable core is eliminated to enable an inner volume to be freed so as to form the inner cavity.

Abstract: Tubular golf club shaft made from composite materials comprising layers of fibers impregnated with plastic resin and provided over its length with at least one are of enlargement (6) and or narrowing. The curve of generation of the internal diameter of the shaft as a function of its length beginning at the point of the smallest internal diameter and extending to at least one of the ends of the shaft incorporates at least one decreasing portion.

Abstract: A golf club head (1) whose volume is delimited by a crown (3), a sole-plate (11), a belt (4), and a hitting surface (2), junctions between the belt (4) and the hitting surface (2) delimiting a heel (9) and a toe (10). The belt (4) comprises at least one arcuate portion (8, 32, 33, 34, 35) which forms a visible layer of the belt (4), while extending along the belt (4) between the heel (9) and the tip (10), the arcuate portion (8, 32, 33, 34, 35) being a peripheral weight made of a high-density material.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a golf club of the iron type having an improved mass distribution. More particularly, the rear portion of the club head has a main cavity extending towards the striking face and a peripheral mass belt extending around the main cavity defining heel, toe, upper and lower perimeter portions. The upper perimeter portion of the peripheral mass belt includes an elongated recess which is progressively connected to the upper edge portion of the club head along an undercut, the undercut having a height that generally increases in a direction toward the toe and a thickness with respect to the striking face that increases progressively in a direction toward the upper edge portion.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a golf club of the iron type having an improved mass distribution. More particularly, the rear portion of the club head has a main cavity extending towards the striking face and a peripheral mass belt extending around the main cavity defining heel, toe, upper and lower perimeter portions. The upper perimeter portion of the peripheral mass belt includes a secondary recess which has a volume smaller than the volume of the main cavity and a volume per unit length that increases in a direction toward the toe of the club head.

Abstract: A putter having a head with golf ball-centering indicia. The ball-centering indicia include a curvilinear reference which is tangent to the edge formed between the upper surface of the head and the ball-striking surface, or to a parallel line proximate the edge. The curvilinear reference has a radius of curvature which the substantially equal to the nominal radius of a golf ball and is subtended, with reference to the center of curvature by a center angle less than 180.degree. and preferably about 90.degree.. The ball-centering indicia further include a rectilinear reference formed, for example, by a pair of parallel segments positioned symmetrically on both sides of the normal to the tangent point, extending along the direction of the aiming axis. A parallax correction reference can also be provided which enables the golfer to ensure that the head of the putter is properly horizontally positioned about the aiming axis.