Abstract: The present invention is direct to a set of golf clubs comprising long irons, mid-irons and short irons. The long irons have a first center of gravity positioned horizontally from the face center by a first distance. The mid-irons have a second center of gravity positioned horizontally from the face center by a second distance. The short irons have a third center of gravity positioned horizontally from the face center by a third distance. The first distance and the second distance are preferably similar and the third distance is at least about 30 percent greater than the first and second distances. Preferably, the first and second distances are between about 1 mm and 3 mm and the third distance is between about 3 mm and 4 mm.

Abstract: A method relating to an improved swing characteristic capturing system that can be used for a golf club shaft fitting system is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention utilizes specific data gathered from the golfer's golf swing itself to determine the best performing golf club shaft for this particular golf swing. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to the utilization of cameras to record the location data of a plurality of markers located on a golf club shaft throughout a swing. The current inventive fitting methodology is preferred to the archaic fitting method of using data gathered from the result orientated ball flight data together with a tedious process of having to try numerous different shafts.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball possessing an overall unique and perceptively pleasing multi-color appearance and being constructed of at least two layers wherein each layer has at least two discrete color regions which contribute substantially to the golf ball's overall color appearance, the inner and outer layers being strategically positioned and aligned in relation to each other to create the overall golf ball color appearance. A resulting unique overall golf ball multiple color appearance is achieved by the positioning and aligning one layer about another.

Abstract: A metal wood golf club with a striking face portion made from more than one material is disclosed. More specifically, due to the unique construction of the striking face portion having multiple materials, the present invention utilizes diffusion bonding, liquid interface diffusion, or even super plastic forming techniques to achieve the desirable bond between the more than one material used to form the striking face. The striking face portion is formed by adding a chip insert made from a secondary material that is different from the remainder of the striking face portion substantially near a geometric center of the striking face portion; wherein the secondary material has a higher Young's modulus than the remainder of the striking face portion.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shaft lengthening system for a golf club. The shaft lengthening system comprises three components: an upper shaft portion that is attached to a grip, a lower shaft portion or portions that are attached to a club head, and a collet clamp assembly that couples the upper and lower shaft components together. The shaft components slideably engage with each other. The collet clamp assembly may comprise a collet secured to one of the shaft components and a collet clamp that interacts with the collet. Preferably, the collet clamp is threaded over the collet to clamp a portion of the collet to the other of the shaft components thereby setting the position of the shaft components relative to each other, and thus setting the overall length of the golf club shaft.

Abstract: An iron-type golf club includes a conventional-weight section, a lightweight section and a heavyweight section. The conventional-weight section includes the hitting face and at least a portion of the hosel. The heavyweight section, made of a denser material than the conventional-weight section, includes the sole and an optional back flange. The lightweight section, made of a material less dense than either of the other sections, includes a core to which the other two sections are secured, such as by co-molding the core to the other two sections. In the co-molding context, the components need not be constrained by their respective weight and density, but could be classified more generically as having a pre-formed component and a molding component irrespective of the densities of the components.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to golf balls and more particularly to golf balls having multi-layered cores comprising a thermoset rubber center, a thermoplastic intermediate core layer, and a thermoset rubber outer core layer. A cover layer is disposed about the multi-layered core. At least one of the center, intermediate core layer, and outer core layer comprises a polyalkenamer rubber. The polyalkenamer rubber may be blended with other rubbers such as polybutadiene, polyisoprene, ethylene propylene diene, and styrene-butadiene rubbers. The polyalkenamer rubber composition helps improve resiliency of the core and provides the ball with a comfortable and soft feel.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a golf ball comprising: a single layer core and a cover layer disposed about the single layer core; the single layer core being formed from a substantially homogenous formulation and comprising a geometric center and an outer surface wherein the outer surface has a hardness greater than a hardness of the geometric center; the single layer core further comprising: an inner core region disposed about the geometric center; an outer core region disposed about the inner core region and adjacent the outer surface; and a boundary disposed between the inner core region and the outer core region at about 12 mm or less from the outer surface; wherein the boundary has a hardness that is greater than the hardness of the geometric center and greater than the hardness of the outer surface. In another embodiment, the boundary has a hardness that is greater than the hardness of the geometric center and less than the hardness of the outer surface.

Abstract: A golf club head having a replaceable striking face is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf club head where at least a portion of the frontal striking surface of the face is detachable and replaceable to improve performance. A golf club head in accordance with the present invention may generally have a thinned striking face with a thickness of less than about 3.0 mm yielding a golf club head with a larger sweet spot that's greater than 6% of the frontal striking surface; defined as an area of the frontal striking surface having at least 99% of the maximum characteristic time between about 239 microseconds to about 257 microseconds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for arranging dimples on a golf ball surface that significantly improves aerodynamic symmetry and minimizes parting line visibility by arranging the dimples in a pattern derived from at least one irregular domain generated from a regular or non-regular polyhedron. The method includes choosing control points of a polyhedron, generating an irregular domain based on those control points, packing the irregular domain with dimples, and tessellating the irregular domain to cover the surface of the golf ball. The control points include the center of a polyhedral face, a vertex of the polyhedron, a midpoint or other point on an edge of the polyhedron and others. The method ensures that the symmetry of the underlying polyhedron is preserved while eliminating great circles due to parting lines.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core consists of a center having a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater and formed from a low modulus HNP composition, and an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 Shore C or greater and formed from a high modulus HNP composition. Low modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 1,000 psi to 50,000 psi. High modulus HNP compositions of the present invention have a modulus of from 25,000 psi to 150,000 psi. The modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the low modulus HNP is at least 10% less than the modulus of the highly neutralized copolymer of the high modulus HNP composition. The cover consists of an inner cover layer formed from a thermoplastic composition and an outer cover layer formed from a polyurethane or polyurea composition.

Abstract: A method relating to an improved fitting system for a golf club shaft is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention utilizes specific data gathered from the golfer's golf swing itself to determine the best performing golf club shaft for this particular golf swing. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to the utilization of infrared motion capturing cameras to record the location data of a golf club shaft throughout a swing. Based on the location data captured, one or more dynamic behavioral characteristics can be calculated to determine one or more preferred shaft characteristics. Using the preferred shaft characteristics, a shaft can be recommended for the golfer having this particular golf swing. The current inventive fitting methodology is preferred to the archaic fitting method of using data gathered from the result orientated ball flight data together with a tedious process of having to try numerous different shafts.

Abstract: Golf equipment including compositions including castable formulations that have low material hardness and increased shear resistance. The compositions may be used in any layer of a golf ball including cores, intermediate layers, and covers and result in high spin rates.

Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a dual core and a dual cover are disclosed. The dual core consists of an inner core layer formed from a rubber composition and an outer core layer formed from a highly neutralized polymer composition.

Abstract: Golf balls consisting of a dual core and a dual cover are disclosed. The surface hardness of the outer core layer is greater than the material hardness of the inner cover layer, and is preferably 75 Shore C or greater.

Abstract: A golf club head is provided with a body that has an address position with a zero degree bounce portion on the sole and a center sole position with a multi-relief surface of the sole having a negative bounce portion. The negative bounce portion may comprise a negative 0.5 to a negative 4.0 degree surface. In one embodiment, the multi-relief surface may comprise the negative bounce portion and a cutaway portion extending to the back of the sole, which may have a depth of about 0.05 to 0.5 inch from a regular sole surface. In another embodiment, the golf club head includes a weight system to adjust the center of gravity. In one embodiment, the weight system is a tube having a weight at one end that may be inserted into the golf club head to move the center of gravity at least forward and backward within 6 mm and up and down within 6 mm. Preferably, the tube is angled downward toward the face by at least 3 degrees.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf ball possessing an overall unique and perceptibly pleasing multi-color appearance and being constructed of at least two layers wherein each layer has at least two color regions which contribute substantially to the golf ball's overall color appearance, the inner and outer layers being strategically positioned and aligned in relation to each other to create the overall golf ball color appearance. A resulting superior overall golf ball multiple color appearance is achieved by the positioning and aligning of one layer about another.

Abstract: A golf ball including a core and a cover disposed about the core. The cover includes a thermoplastic inner cover layer having a hardness between 55 and 60 Shore D; an outer cover layer having a hardness between 55 and 60 Shore D; and a stiff intermediate cover layer disposed between the inner and outer cover layers and having a hardness greater than the inner cover layer and the outer cover layer. The inner cover layer is formed from a non-ionomeric composition including a non-ionomeric stiffening polymer and at least one E/Y copolymer or E/X/Y terpolymer, where E is an olefin, Y is a carboxylic acid, and X is a softening comonomer. The intermediate cover layer is formed from a stiff thermoplastic polyurethane or polyurea composition and the cover outer cover layer is formed from a thermoset polyurethane, a polyurea, or a urethane-urea blend.

Abstract: A golf ball includes a single core formed from a substantially homogenous rubber composition, an inner cover disposed about the core, and an outer cover. The inner cover includes an ionomeric material and has a hardness of about 60 Shore D or greater. The outer cover layer is disposed about the inner cover layer, is formed from a castable polyurea or polyurethane, and has a material hardness of about 60 Shore D or less. The outer surface of the core has a trans content of about 12% or less and a hardness of about 71 to 88 Shore C, the geometric center of the core has a trans content of about 10% or less and a hardness of about 70 to 80 Shore C, and the core surface hardness is greater than the geometric center hardness by about 1 to 10 Shore C to define a shallow positive hardness gradient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to golf balls, specifically, to a golf ball with multifaceted dimples comprising two discrete geometries including a circular perimeter and a depression or protrusion based on a polyhedral prismatoid.