Abstract: A lightweight composite golf club shaft and method for its manufacture. The shaft preferably includes at least two biased plies extending approximately the length of the shaft and at least two longitudinal plies extending substantially less than the length of the shaft. The at least two biased plies contain fibers oriented at a substantial angle transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The at least two longitudinal plies contain fibers oriented approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. One of the at least two longitudinal plies aligns with the tip end of the shaft. One of the at least two longitudinal plies aligns with the butt end of the shaft. The at least two longitudinal plies at least partially overlap each other. The method for constructing such a shaft preferably includes rolling the plies onto a mandrel to form a rolled assembly where the plies are then fused together.

Abstract: A lightweight composite golf club shaft and method for its manufacture. The shaft preferably includes at least two biased plies extending approximately the length of the shaft and at least two longitudinal plies extending substantially less than the length of the shaft. The at least two biased plies contain fibers oriented at a substantial angle transverse to a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The at least two longitudinal plies contain fibers oriented approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. One of the at least two longitudinal plies aligns with the tip end of the shaft. One of the at least two longitudinal plies aligns with the butt end of the shaft. The at least two longitudinal plies at least partially overlap each other. The method for constructing such a shaft preferably includes rolling the plies onto a mandrel to form a rolled assembly where the plies are then fused together.

Abstract: A golf club head, and more specifically a hosel for a golf club head, and a method of angularly orienting a golf club shaft relative to a golf club head. The hosel defines a hollow interior for receiving a golf club shaft through an opening, generally along a central longitudinal axis of the hollow interior. The hollow interior is bounded by a wall adjacent the opening, preferably including a substantially planar or flat portion.

Abstract: A golf club head, and more specifically a hosel for a golf club head, and a method of angularly orienting a golf club shaft relative to a golf club head. The hosel defines a hollow interior for receiving a golf club shaft through an opening, generally along a central longitudinal axis of the hollow interior. The hollow interior is bounded by a substantially noncylindrical wall adjacent the opening, preferably including a substantially planar portion. A cross section of the wall taken approximately perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis preferably is substantially rectangular.

Abstract: An improved composite golf club shaft and method for its manufacture, and an improved club incorporating the shaft. The shaft includes a first elongate segment for mounting the golf club head and a second elongate frustoconical segment for gripping. The first segment is formed by wrapping sheet material around a substantially cylindrical mandrel, and the second elongate frustoconical segment is formed therearound to produce a smoothly tapering exterior surface of the shaft having an abrupt interior region of joinder between the segments. Such joinder preferably is approximately one-third of the way between the gripping end and the head-mounting end of the shaft. The shaft tapers such that its head-mounting end is less than approximately one-third the diameter of the gripping end. Greatly improved torque and drive distance are achievable with a club made with the shaft. The shaft is also lighter and capable of being used without the addition of a grip.

Abstract: A low-torque lightweight shaft and a laminar structural element and method for its manufacture are described. The invented shaft is fabricated by fabricating a laminar structural element in the form of a planar sheet or blank patterned and sized for spirally, rather than helically, wrapping around a mandrel. The laminar structural element preferably includes oppositely angularly biased plies interposed by a longitudinally or "zero" oriented ply of any suitable binder-containing, oriented boron or carbon fiber-filled polyacrylonitrile (PAN) sheet material. Preferably, another zero orientation ply, prior to wrapping, is placed above one of the bias plies, thereby ensuring complete separation of the opposing bias plies in the finished shaft. Typically, each ply is approximately 4-6 mils thick and the overall wall thickness of the wall of the finished shaft is approximately 30 mils, rendering the shaft approximately 30% thinner, and significantly lighter in weight, than conventional shafts.