Golf club head capable of correcting a ball-hitting direction thereof
A golf club head comprises a head portion and a neck portion which has a cross section with a flexible section. The longitudinal direction of the cross section of the flexible section and the heel-toe direction of the golf club head form an angle ranging between zero and 90 degrees. In light of the short axial direction of the cross section of the flexible section having a better flexibility, when the golf club head hits a ball, the flexibility in the left front direction or the right front direction is better than other direction. The ball has a tendency to travel along the predetermined side so as to correct the golfer's habit to hit the ball to travel in other side.
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a golf club head, and more particularly to a golf club head capable of correcting the ball-hitting direction thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002] It is necessary for a golfer to posture correctly so as to hit a ball in a direction that is desired by the golfer. In order to help the golfer to hit the ball correctly, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,983 discloses a golf club head with a flat neck. The longitudinal direction of the cross section of the neck is parallel to the ball-hitting direction, thereby resulting in reduction in wind resistance, as well as increase in ball-hitting strength. The Japanese Pat. No. 6-154366 discloses a golf club head with a fiat neck. The longitudinal direction of the cross section of the neck is perpendicular to the ball-hitting direction, thereby preventing or alleviating the flexible deflection along the heel-toe direction, so as to enhance the ball controllability of the golf club head. Such prior art golf club heads as described above are incapable of solving the problem in connection with the habitual ball path deviation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION[0003] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a golf club head capable of causing a ball to tend to travel along a predetermined side, thereby correcting the habitual ball path toward another side.
[0004] The golf club head of the present invention comprises a head and a neck located at one side of the head. The neck has a cross section with a flexible section. The longitudinal direction of the cross section of the flexible section and the heel-toe direction of the golf club head form an angle which is greater than zero degree and is smaller than 90 degrees. In light of the physical property, the short axial direction of the cross section of the flexible section has a better flexibility. As a result, when the golf club head of the present invention hits a ball, the flexibility in the left front direction or the right front direction is better than other direction. The ball has a tendency to travel along the predetermined side, so as to correct the golfer's habit to hit the ball to travel in other side.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS[0005] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view taken along a line 2-2 as shown in FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view taken along a line 4-4 as shown in FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION[0009] As shown in FIGS. 1-2, a golf club head 10 of the present invention is a wooden club head and is formed of a head member 20 and a neck member 30. The head member 20 is made of metal or composite material, such as stainless steel, aluminium alloy, or titanium alloy. The neck member 30 is also made of metal superior in flexibility to the metal of which the head member is made. The neck member is fastened with the head member 20 by brazing and is provided at the top with an insertion hole 32 for fastening a golf club shaft 40, with the middle forming a smaller flexible section 34 of a long cross section, as shown in FIG. 2. In the top view, the longitudinal direction (L) of the cross section and the ball-hitting face 22 form and angle of 45 degrees. The front end of the longitudinal direction (L) is pointed at the outer end (one end of the toe 24) of the golf club head.
[0010] In light of physical property, the flexible section 34 corresponding to the cross section longitudinal direction (L) has a better rigidity. Relatively, the direction corresponding to the cross section short axial direction (S) has a better flexibility. As a result, the golf head 10 has a better flexibility along the short axial direction (S) of the flexible section 34. In this embodiment, the heel 26 of the head is superior in flexibility to the toe 24 of the head. In the process of hitting a ball, the ball has a tendency to fly leftward, thereby correcting the habitual ball path toward the right side.
[0011] As shown in FIGS. 3-4, an iron golf club head 50 of the second preferred embodiment comprises a head member 60 and a neck member 70 fastened with the head member by brazing. The neck member 70 has a flexible section 74 with an oval cross section. The relationship between the cross section longitudinal direction (L) and the ball-hitting face 62 is opposite to that of the first preferred embodiment. The front end of the longitudinal direction (L) is pointed at one end of the heel 66 of the head. As a result, when the golf club is swung, the head has a tendency to flex in the direction toward the toe 64, thereby causing the ball to fly toward the right side so as to correct the habitual ball path toward the left side. In addition, the flexible section 74 is fitted into a resilient fitting member 80 of a rubber material, a plastic material, a mixture of rubber and plastic materials, or a foam body of rubber or plastic material. The fitting member 80 is to fill the recessed portion of the neck member 70, so as to enhance the external appearance of the head. The fitting member 80 has a decorative effect and indicates the angle of the longitudinal direction of the flexible section 74. 4
[0012] The golf club head of the present invention has various flexibilities in various directions, thereby causing the ball to fly in a predetermined side for correcting the habitual ball path toward one side. The angular correction is attained by the angle formed by the longitudinal direction of the cross section of the flexible section and the heel-toe direction of the golf club head. The angle ranges between zero and 90 degrees. If the longitudinal direction of the cross section is parallel or perpendicular to the ball-hitting face, the flexibility of the head is symmetrical leftward and rightward and is incapable of correction. The neck member is fastened with the head member as various angles to enable the golf club head to have various correction effects, so as to afford the golfers various selections.
Claims
1. A golf club head comprising a head portion with a neck portion at one side thereof for fastening a golf club shaft, said neck portion having a flexible section with a long cross section, a longitudinal direction of said cross section and a heel-toe direction of the golf club head forming an angle which is greater than zero degree and is smaller than 90 degrees.
2. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein said neck portion is fastened with said head portion by brazing and is superior in flexibility to said head portion.
3. The golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein said flexible section of said neck portion is provided with a resilient fitting member fitted thereover.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 2, 2001
Publication Date: Sep 5, 2002
Inventor: Archer C.C. Chen (Taichug)
Application Number: 09796621
International Classification: A63B053/02; A63B053/06;