Abstract: A method for forming a golf club head comprises placing an uncured composite material between a core and a mold that comprises a first piece and a second piece. The second piece is moved towards the first piece such that the uncured composite material is compressed between the core and at least a portion of the mold. The uncured composite material is heated. A first portion of the golf club head is removed from the mold. A second portion of the golf club head is provided. The first portion is attached to the second portion. In certain arrangements, the second portion is formed from a metallic material.

Abstract: The present invention is a putter head having a rear face, a ball striking face, a heel area, a toe area, an upper area and a lower area. An attaching device is secured to the upper area to enable a conventional shaft to be secured thereto. Extending through the rear face and between the heel area and toe area is a cavity. The upper area of the cavity is smaller in size than the lower area of the cavity. The putter includes a sole having six planes. The six planes are equally proportioned planes of the sole and will release one quarter of one inch from a centerline of the lower area. This will provide for an overspin being imparted on the ball soon after impact. This will innately result in a truer roll and less margin for error in the ball rolling on line to the hole.

Abstract: A golf club head which can be reduced in its thickness with no fear of impairing the durability and strength of the club head. A face portion of the golf club head is configured such that the vertical dimension of the face portion is smaller than the horizontal dimension thereof, and the face portion is arranged so as to satisfy any of the following conditions: 1) the longitudinal direction of crystal grains of a material of the face portion is oriented in the vertical direction of the face portion; 2) the direction in which the material exhibits a large ductile amount at the time of breaking is oriented in said vertical direction; and 3) the direction in which the material exhibits a large ratio of ductility per unit length is oriented in said vertical direction.

Abstract: A custom-fabricated golf club device comprising a golf club head with a recessed portion located at the front heel portion of the head and machined therein, the recessed portion comprising a substantially semi-spherical aperture. A hosel assembly has a lower portion, having a substantially semi-spherical aperture that aligns with the aperture of the head recessed portion, the hosel assembly further having a recessed portion at an upper portion thereof. A steel ball is located securely within the aperture of head recessed portion and the aperture of the hosel assembly lower portion, functioning to provide positive location of the club head and hosel assembly. In the preferred mode, a permanent weldment functions to securely affix the lower portion of the hosel assembly to the club head at the heel portion of the club head.

Abstract: This invention relates to an apparatus and method for determining projectile impact locations and, in a specific application, to determining a golfer's performance in using a particular club, such as a specific iorn. The apparatus has an array of a plurality of vibration sensors distributed in a predetermined pattern in a target area, each of which generates a signal indicative of the sensing of vibration, a processor connected for receiving sensor signals generated and for processing received sensor signals for determining a location of projectile impact relative to the locations of sensors in the target area and for generating an electrical location signal, and a display connected with the processor for receiving the location signal and for displaying to an observer a representation of the location of projectile impact in the target area.

Abstract: A golf club shaft of increased playability and feel is manufactured with a generally hollow and tapered cylindrical wall comprised of a plurality of layers of fibers and a resin binding the plurality of layers of fibers together into an integrated structure. The shaft includes a portion of constant outer diameter adjacent one end adapted to accept a grip and a portion of a smaller constant diameter adjacent the other adapted to be fitted to the hosel of a club head and a portion intermediate the two end portions with a uniformly tapering diameter. The golf club comprises a plurality of layers of fibers arranged and oriented within the shaft to resist torsional deflection and to provide a controlled and variable flexural resistance, permitting the player to recover energy stored in the shaft during the swing and to apply that energy to the ball for greater distance. The inner and outer layers of fibers include fibers running both perpendicular and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft.

Abstract: A golf driving range of the single-user, stall-type especially constructed for driving golf balls in adverse weather conditions. A housing including a flooring, roof, side walls, back wall, and front wall with an open area is provided forming an enclosure from which balls are driven. A heating element is positioned behind the back wall upon a legged platform and communicates with an elongated duct section extending under the raised flooring of the housing. The duct section includes a duct fan which directs warmed air into two bin-type sections forming a plenum. An open grating is positioned in a front portion of the flooring adjacent the front wall and above the plenum such that warmed air rises from the plenum through the grating thereby heating the housing and the golfer.

Abstract: A golf club is shown with a head having a selection of exchangeable face plates adapted to be secured thereon. The club head includes a face portion, a toe portion, a heel portion. a sole or bottom portion, and a hosel receiving a shaft. The face portion has a recess exending inwardly a short distance from the outer surface of the face to receive the exchangeable face plates. A bore extends inwardly a distance from the recessed surface and a pair of smaller bores are spaced laterally to each side of the larger bore. Each face plate has a flat rear surface corresponding to the recess in the club head. The face plates are provided in varied swing weights and hardnesses and the ball striking surfaces have different characteristics for loft, bulge, and or roll. A plurality of face plates are provided with striking surfaces corresponding to conventional clubs #1 through #14.

Abstract: A solid club head with a substantial vertical hosel with a horizontal portion extending between a toe portion to a heel portion with an inclined front face and a curved back face. The back face has a contour of variable radii of curvature from a very large radius at the upper reaches of the horizontal portion of the head to a very small radius of curvature at the lower reaches of the horizontal head portion. The back face has several recesses disposed along the expanse of the back face. There are one long upper recess and two lower recesses just below the upper recess coextensive with the long upper recess. Additive masses are insertable into said two lower recesses. The inclined front face has horizontal lines with triangular lands or unmachined lines amid the horizontal lines for proper orientation of the club in the hands of the player.

Abstract: An elongated generally cylindrical head is provided with an upstanding handle shaft inclined between 16.degree. and 22.degree. relative to a vertical plane normal to the longitudinal center line of the head. The shaft is connected to the head for adjustment of the incline of the shaft relative to the shaft and the lower extremities of the opposite ends of the head are disposed in a horizontal plane spaced below the lower extremity of the longitudinal mid-portion of the head. In addition, the opposite ends of the head each includes alternating large and small diameter zones spaced longitudinally of the head which function to rapidly diminish the amplitude of vibrations of the head, travelling both transversely and longitudinally thereof, resulting from impact of either side of the head with a golf ball.

Abstract: A grip for a golf club is readily replaceable without the use of tools to allow changing golf club grips without professional assistance and is reusable subsequent to replacement since it is not damaged on removal from the golf club shaft.

Abstract: A training or exercising device, in particular for the practice of golf, includes a fixed stand and an orientable platform, a support and articulation member for supporting the platform relative to the fixed stand, and two actuating jacks forming support and articulation elements. The two jacks and the support and articulation member are arranged in a substantially symmetrical manner around the center of the platform.

Abstract: A golf practice apparatus simulates the response of natural turf to the impact of a golf club head during a conventional golf club swing. The apparatus includes a platform for the golfer to stand on, a main frame connected to the platform adjacent thereto, and an inner frame carrying an upper surface mounted within the main frame and connected thereto such that the rearward end of the inner frame can translate forwardly and the forward end of the inner frame can translate initially forwardly and thence downwardly in a generally arcuate path when the upper surface is impacted by the golf club head. The platform is configured as a hinged box which can be folded together to form a closed case in which the main frame and associated components can be stored. A ball storage ramp including a golf club head actuable ball filter is removably attachable to the main frame.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for simulating a game of golf is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of cushion inserts for removable attachment to the cushion of a pool table to change the longitudinal configuration of the cushion perimeter. Methods of play include individual or team play wherein each player in turn directs his playing ball around the modified table using a conventional cue stick and cue ball into each pocket of the modified pool table in a predetermined sequence.

Abstract: A combination table top football and hockey game utilizes a rectangular board formed by two rectangular sections connected along a central line by a hinge for movement between open and closed positions. The board has front and back surfaces designated respectively as a football field game area and a hockey rink game area. By inverting the game board, either table top football or table top hockey may be played. A scoreboard is removably received in an invertible fashion in mounting brackets provided on a side wall of the board, for use with either the football game area or the hockey game area. Two pairs of spaced aligned notches are formed in interior portions on opposed side walls of the game board for removable insertion of a pair of elongated rectangular slats. The slats are disposed in a common plane upon movement of the game board to a closed position and form a retaining wall of the closed case.

Abstract: A golf club driver or "wood" head is formed by interlocking female and male units. The female unit provides the basic shape of the head while the male unit which is inserted into the female unit to complete the club head structure includes the sole plate, face plate, and central and back weight elements. The male unit has a substantially greater weight than the female unit and forms a hammer-like impact member to provide a maximum power transfer from the head to the ball. The side walls of the central weight element of the male unit has recesses formed therein which fit around ribs formed in the female unit in interlocking engagement therewith so that when the two units are joined together by means of screws and/or cementing, a unitary structure is formed which gives the head a solid feel on impact.

Abstract: Gaming apparatus for a table hockey-type game in which a puck is projected across a playing field by a squeeze apparatus which may be operated by the fingers of one hand. A plurality of goals may serve either as goals or barriers according to the requirements of different variations of the game. The playing field comprises a flat surface bounded by walls at the corners of which the goals are located. The squeeze apparatus comprises a pair of arms each connected to the other by a curved spring which biases the arms towards an acute angle to each other. The squeeze apparatus is also used for goal tending.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for golf instruction in which a flexible guide provides a visual and physical reference for the golf swing. The flexible guide can be adjustably fixed between the first and second end support structure whereby the flexible guide can be positioned between the supports at a plurality of heights and angles relative to the ground. Adjustor structure can engage the flexible guide at a plurality of different points along the length of the flexible guide and can be used to flex the flexible guide in both the vertical and horizontal planes to position the flexible guide for the instruction of a variety of golf shots. A method is provided for using the apparatus to instruct a golfer to make a variety of golf swings.

Abstract: The game utilizes free-standing game pieces to enhance a player's options when there are a less than a desirable number of participants for a traditional field game. Each of the game pieces is composed of a lightweight material for easy positioning. The game pieces are large enough to serve as both a target and an obstacle. The game pieces are also constructed with a flexible support means to both cushion contact with a human player or the game object and lessen the possibility of the game pieces breaking upon such contact. The game pieces are connected to a base that disconnects upon contact capable of breaking the support means. Rules for use of the game pieces are also disclosed.

Abstract: A golf club having a head, a shaft and a grip, the grip being provided with a shoulder which forms an abutment surface against the outer surface of the little finger of the upper hand of the user using a conventional golf grip, the abutment surface being substantially planar and being angled relative to an axis passing longitudinally through the grip and the shaft to accommodate the normal positioning of the little finger of the user.