SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-SET COLLECTION OF GOLF CLUBS

Abstract

The invention provides methods and collections of golf clubs that offer a variety of golf club sets from a limited number of golf clubs. The golf clubs are designed such that a golfer can choose one of multiple different, distinct subsets of the collection based on matching the properties of the clubs of the subset to that golfer's needs. In this way, the club maker can provide several different subsets by manufacturing fewer clubs than would be otherwise required. For example, a manufacturer can make one collection of 16 clubs. From that collection of 16 clubs , one golfer could choose a first set of 8 irons, a second golfer could choose a second set of 8 irons, and a third golfer could choose a third set of 8 irons.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/764,300, filed Feb. 13, 2013, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to methods of matching sets of golf clubs to golfers.

BACKGROUND

A set of golf clubs is most useful to a golfer when it is matched to that golfer's abilities. For example, a highly-skilled golfer may be best served by a set of forged irons, while a new golfer may need wide cavity backed irons that are very forgiving to off-center hits. In the real world, golfers are much more diverse than that example. Some golfers are best served by adjustable loft club when, for example, a golfer is new and still figuring out what works best for himself. Some golfers need their clubs to appear a certain way because they have found that certain colors or printing patterns are distracting and break their concentration with adverse effects on their game. Additionally, golfers need different properties within a set. Some golfers play best with muscle-back long irons, but need short irons with a very low center of gravity.

Finding the right club set is not as easy as mixing and matching from individual clubs. Many golfers need clubs that come in a matched set. For some golfers, this is because golf is such a mental game and mis-matched clubs are distracting and interfere with concentration. Numerous golfers are concerned with even more practical consequences of mis-matched clubs. If all clubs in a set are matched, it is easier to avoid mixing up your clubs with someone else's or leaving the house with a mixed-up set. Also, important information such as iron number is typically printed in a consistent fashion within a matching set, letting the golfer concentrate more on the game than on fishing around in the golf bag for the right club.

SUMMARY

The invention provides methods and collections of golf clubs that offer a variety of golf club sets from a limited number of golf clubs. The golf clubs are designed such that a golfer can choose one of two or more different, distinct subsets of the collection based on matching the properties of the clubs of the subset to that golfer's needs. In this way, the club maker can provide several different subsets by manufacturing fewer clubs than would be otherwise required. For example, a manufacturer can make one collection of 16 clubs . From that collection of 16 clubs, one golfer could choose a first set of 8 irons, a second golfer could choose a second set of 8 irons, and a third golfer could choose a third set of 8 irons. Each one of those sets is a matched set within which playing properties are optimized for the golfer. The first set could have (to illustrate) a moment of inertia about a vertical axis (Izz) that increases progressively throughout the set. The second set could include clubs that transition from forged iron blades for the longest irons to cavity-backed clubs for the shorter irons. The third set could include a face with a reinforced sweet spot that transitions from approximately circular to elliptical progressively throughout the set. A club manufacturer can offer a collection that includes, say, 32 clubs, from within which 12 or more different distinct club sets can be chosen. Additionally, the manufacturer can ship the collection wholesale along with information that identifies several of the certain sets available from within the collection, giving golfers a valuable aid in choosing a personalized set within a store or online

One functional aspect of a collection of the invention is that it offers the golfer the ability to tailor his set of clubs specifically to the type of game he shoots. Some golfers prefer to hit forged short irons but cavity back long irons. The collection allows the golfer to customize the set to his playing style without compromising the important functional aspects of a club set's appearance. The golfer will not have his concentration broken by one mis-matched club and will also know at a glance, before leaving the house or the golf course for example, that he has his complete set and only his set in his golf bag.

In certain aspects, the invention provides a collection of golf clubs from which can be provided a first set of M consecutively-numbered irons, a second set of N consecutively-numbered irons; and a third set of P consecutively numbered irons. The collection consists of Q clubs and Q<(M+N+P). The clubs of the first set may have a first property (such as moment of inertia about a z-axis when the club head is at address, cavity depth, or both) that varies progressively with the numbering of the set. The clubs of the second set have a second property (such as a ration of maximum face width to maximum face height) that varies progressively with the numbering of the set. In certain embodiments, clubs of the third set have a third property that varies progressively with the numbering of the set. The third property could be offset, loft, lie, bounce, blade length, club height, top line dimension, top line type, sharpness of leading edge, radius of curvature of toe, radius of curvature of heel, sole width, sole radius, face thickness, cavity volume, finish, darkness, or height of center of gravity of club head when club head is at address. In certain embodiments, the collection consists of twelve irons, the first set consists of six cast irons, the second set consists of six forged irons, and third set consists of three forged irons and three cast irons. In some embodiments, the collection consists of sixteen irons, the first set consists of eight cast irons, the second set consists of eight forged irons, and third set consists of four forged irons and four cast irons.

In certain embodiments, clubs of the second set have a second property that varies cyclically or periodically with the numbering of the set. A property that varies cyclically could be, for example, a position of serration on a leading edge or a width of a sole. For example, every third club of the second set may have a second property that appears on no other club within the collection.

Clubs of the invention may have a setting adjustment mechanism. For example, each club, or certain clubs, of the second set could be such an adjustable club. The setting adjustment mechanism of each club head may be operable to change a loft of that club head, a face angle, or both.

Related aspects of the invention provide methods for providing well-fit club sets to golfers. Methods include preparing a collection consisting of Q clubs and providing a first set of M consecutively-numbered irons from the collection as well as a second set of N consecutively-numbered irons from within the collection and also a third set of P consecutively numbered irons, such that Q<(M+N+P).

In other aspects, the invention provides a process for designing a multi-set collection of clubs. This can include designing M clubs such that the ith club, for i from 1 to M, has a value Ai that varies progressively with i for a first property, and the jth club, for i from 1 to, P has a value Bj that varies progressively with j for a second property. The process further include designing N clubs such that the kth club, for k from 1 to N, has a value Ck that varies progressively with k for a third property, and the lth club for 1 from (P+1) to N has a value Dl that varies progressively with 1 for the second property.

The first property could be, for example, a moment of inertia in around a z-axis (Izz), and Izz could have a value Ai that increases through the set. The second property could be a sole width, and the values Bj and Dl of the sole width could increase through the set. The third property could be a darkness of a surface, and a value Ck of the darkness could vary through the set.

In some aspects, the invention provides a collection of golf club heads from within which a first unique set of irons has a first property that varies progressively with iron number; a second unique set of irons has a second property that varies progressively with iron number; and a third unique set of irons has a third property that varies progressively with iron number. Preferably, neither the second property nor the third property vary progressively across the entirety of the first unique set; neither the first property nor the third property vary progressively across the entirety of the second unique set; neither the second property nor the first property vary progressively across the entirety of the third unique set; or some combination of the foregoing obtain. In certain embodiments, the first property does not vary progressively across the entirety of the second set. The second property may not vary progressively across the entirety of the third set. The third property may not vary progressively across the entirety of the first set. The first property may not vary progressively across the entirety of the third set. The second property need not vary progressively across the entirety of the first set.

Aspects of the invention provide sets of golf clubs that do not resemble a traditional set. A set according to the invention may include, for example, two clubs that are manufactured with the same number, or any other non-traditional combination of club numbering. The invention includes the insight that a set can include golf clubs that are consecutively numbered from the perspective of, and for the benefit of, a golfer while those clubs are manufactured with numbers that are not strictly consecutive. Thus while in some embodiments a set is consecutively numbered according to the numbers provided by manufacturers, in other embodiments, a set is consecutively numbered by function and according to the benefit of the clubs to a golfer. In one illustrative example, a consecutively numbered set includes a 5-iron and a 5-hybrid. The clubs in a set may or may not be sold with an indicated loft (e.g., stamped on the sole).

In some embodiments, the invention provides the ability for a golfer to “name” or “number” his own clubs. For example, a set according to the invention may be provided along with a set of labels (such as stickers or other indicia) that can be affixed to club heads. The golfer may optimize the set and then apply the naming or numbering. The golfer may be assisting in naming or numbering by information provided with the collection (e.g., such as a retail display, a poster, a pamphlet, or a computer aid). The labels may include any indicia, such as numbers, words, colors, patterns or a combination thereof. For example, labels may include the words “driving iron”, “far”, “almost there”, other indicators, or a combination thereof. This may provide a benefit for a golfer that does not know how far a shot from a certain club (e.g., a 7-iron) will fly. Some golfers will enjoy a useful benefit from labels for club sets in which the labels include information suited to that golfer's communication style, such as plain-English words, descriptions in terms of golf courses (e.g., long fairway, onto green, etc.), actual loft measurements, icons or pictures (sky, green, fairway, sand, etc.). The labels may be part of a kit and may be customizable (e.g., printed or printable stickers) so the golfer could call his club maybe the “long grass”, “weeds”, “white”, “blue”, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a first club set from a collection according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a second club set.

FIG. 3 shows a third club set.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth club set.

FIG. 5 shows a fifth club set.

FIG. 6 shows a sixth club set.

FIG. 7 shows a seventh club set.

FIG. 8 shows an eight club set.

FIG. 9 shows a ninth club set.

FIG. 10A diagrams reference measurements for club heads.

FIG. 10B diagrams reference measurements for club heads.

FIG. 10C diagrams reference measurements for club heads.

FIG. 11 illustrates a collection that includes a tenth and eleventh club set.

FIG. 12 represents a twelfth club set.

FIG. 13 shows a thirteenth club set.

FIG. 14 shows a fourteenth club set.

FIG. 15 shows a fifteenth club set.

FIG. 16 shows a large collection according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 17 diagrams a system of the invention.

FIG. 18 shows a display of club sets.

FIG. 19 gives a diagram of methods of certain embodiments.

FIG. 20 shows a device for selecting clubs.

FIG. 21 shows use of a device to suggest clubs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention provides systems and methods by which a manufacturer can offer a collection of golf clubs from within which different golfers can select different personalized sets. A key insight of the invention is that the collection can include a lower number of clubs than the sum of the numbers of clubs in all of the unique sets while each set also has meaningful and consistent playing properties. In particular, each set will generally be characterized by at least one property that varies in controlled way (e.g., progressively, periodically, or cyclically) throughout the set. For example, a club head moment of inertia about a vertical axis may increase with iron length (i.e., vary progressively throughout the set). Or, a club may have a feature, such as a serrated leading sole edge with a position that alternate between heel-side and toe-side (i.e., varies cyclically throughout the set).

FIG. 1 shows a first club set 100 that includes at least eight club heads. First club set 100 includes a first four iron 104, a first five iron 105, a first six iron 106, a first seven iron 107, a first eight iron 108, a first nine iron 109, a first pitch wedge 121, and a first gap wedge 123. The eight club heads have at least one property that varies progressively with number. Each club has a progressively taller face (as measured at a tallest point when the club is at address).

FIG. 2 shows a second club set 200 that includes at least eight club heads. Second club set 200, as shown, includes a second three iron 203, a second four iron 204, a second five iron 205, a second six iron 206, a second seven iron 207, a second eight iron 208, a second nine iron 209, and a second pitch wedge 221. Each club head in second club set 200 is a forged head, with a style that progresses from blade to cavity back. Second three iron 203 has the most pronounced cavity. The perimeter weighting of the pronounced cavity make the longer irons more forgiving to hit. The blade-like shape of the short irons gives a golfer much more precise control over distance and accuracy for the shots that those irons are best-suited to make. Additionally, it has been found that club sets with significant dis-continuities in club style or appearance sometimes do not sell. Thus it is most useful to a manufacturer to make a club set in which changes in appearance are graded or gradual. Accordingly, the cavity depth is varied gradually across second club set 200.

Further, the cavity back shapes of second three iron 203, second four iron 204, second five iron 205, second six iron 206, first seven iron 107, first eight iron 108, first nine iron 109, and first pitch wedge 121 are designed to be substantially similar and thus these clubs define a tenth club set 1001, discussed in greater detail below. Of these clubs, the perimeter weighting in the longer irons is most pronounced (e.g., by including more significant mass in the heel or toe walls or even by including weights such as tungsten built into the club head. The cavity backs on the short irons provide some perimeter weighting forgiveness, and that is balanced with some additional weight in the face to modulate the face coefficient of restitution, giving the golf good control.

FIG. 3 shows a third club set 300. Third club set 300 includes a third four iron 304, a third five iron 305, a third six iron 306, a third seven iron 307, a third eight iron 308, a third nine iron 309, a third pitch wedge 321, and a third gap wedge 323. Within club set 300, face shape, face size, sweet spot shape, and sweet spot size can all vary progressively along the set. Preferably, the shorter irons have a sweet spot and face shape more nearly approximating a circle than the long irons. In some embodiments, if the largest possible ellipse is drawn on a substantially planar portion of each face, the eccentricity of the ellipses will increase with iron length.

FIG. 4 shows a fourth club set 400. Fourth club set 400 includes a fourth four iron 404, a fourth five iron 405, a fourth six iron 406, a fourth seven iron 407, a fourth eight iron 408, a fourth nine iron 409, a fourth pitch wedge 421, and a fourth gap wedge 423. Fourth club set 400 provides forged blades, particularly for the short irons, for better players.

In general, club collections of the invention are designed and manufactured so that the clubs have a consistent appearance throughout several sets that can be made from within the collection. For example, fourth four iron 404, fourth five iron 405, fourth six iron 406, fourth seven iron 407, third eight iron 308, third nine iron 309, third pitch wedge 321, and third gap wedge 323 each can have a back that is shaped substantially as shown in FIG. 4 (even where third four iron 304, third five iron 305, third six iron 306, and third seven iron 307 each have a cavity back such as is shown, for example, in FIG. 1). In this way, fourth four iron 404, fourth five iron 405, fourth six iron 406, fourth seven iron 407, third eight iron 308, third nine iron 309, third pitch wedge 321, and third gap wedge 323 define an eleventh club set 1101 that is beneficial to a player that plays best with muscle back irons, and that needs some substantially additional height on the face of the short irons. In some embodiments, eleventh club set 1101 defines a better player set.

FIG. 5 shows a fifth club set 500. Fifth club set 500 includes a fifth three iron 503, a fifth four iron 504, a fifth five iron 505, a fifth six iron 506, a fifth seven iron 507, a fifth eight iron 508, a fifth nine iron 509, a fifth pitch wedge 521, and a fifth gap wedge 523. Fifth club set 500 includes examples of a couple of different features that can vary within a club set.

In particular, FIG. 5 shows club head properties that vary cyclically throughout the set. The invention includes the insight that a feature need not appear on every club to offer a golfer great benefit. For example, some golfers find that their optimum ranges for clubs throughout their set overlap. To give an example, a golfer may find that the six iron is consistently good for making 145 yard to 160 yard shots, that the five iron is consistently good for 150 yard to 170 yard shots, and that the seven iron is good for 135 yard to 150 yard shots. In this case, as the five iron and the seven iron ranges cover all relevant possible distances, the golfer may benefit from a feature on their six iron that offers some playability benefit that will not always be needed, such as a wide sole with low center of gravity or a pronounced hosel offset. This golfer may then use their six iron for shots that need to get high in the air and clear some obstacle. This insight is generalized and employed in the design shown in fifth club set 500 in the form of features that vary cyclically through the club set.

The hosel offset of the irons in fifth club set 500 varies cyclically throughout the set. The hosel offset of fifth three iron 503, fifth six iron 506, and fifth nine iron 509 exhibits pronounced hosel offset. The hosel offset of fifth five iron 505, fifth eight iron 508, and fifth gap wedge 523 is modest. The hosel offset of fifth four iron 504, fifth seven iron 507, and fifth pitch wedge 521, is intermediate between pronounced and modest.

The sole width of the irons in fifth club set 500 varies cyclically throughout the set. The soles of fifth three iron 503, fifth six iron 506, and fifth nine iron 509 are wide. The soles of fifth five iron 505, fifth eight iron 508, and fifth gap wedge 523 are narrow. The soles of fifth four iron 504, fifth seven iron 507, and fifth pitch wedge 521, are intermediate between wide and narrow.

Additionally, it is noted that the morphology of the back of each club in fifth club set 500 matches the morphology of second seven iron 207, second eight iron 208, second nine iron 209, and second pitch wedge 221. Accordingly, fifth three iron 503, fifth four iron 504, fifth five iron 505, fifth six iron 506, second seven iron 207, second eight iron 208, second nine iron 209, and second pitch wedge 221 define a set of clubs in which the short clubs are forged irons, offering good ball control, and the long irons collectively offer the golfer at least one instance of each of narrow sole width, wide sole width, intermediate sole width, pronounced hosel offset, modest hosel offset, and intermediate hosel offset. This gives a golfer a variety of options to aid in getting the ball to the green on the long shot and good control on the shorter shots.

FIG. 6 shows a sixth club set 600. Sixth club set 600 includes a sixth three iron 603, a sixth four iron 604, a sixth five iron 605, a sixth six iron 606, a sixth seven iron 607, a sixth eight iron 608, a sixth nine iron 609, a sixth pitch wedge 621, and a sixth gap wedge 623. The club heads of sixth club set 600 include a periodically varying feature in the form of the presence or position of serrations on a leading edge of the sole. Sixth three iron 603, a sixth six iron 606, and sixth nine iron 609 each include serrations on a toe end of the leading edge of the sole. Sixth four iron 604, sixth seven iron 607, and sixth pitch wedge 621 each include no serrations on the leading edge of the sole. Sixth five iron 605, sixth eight iron 608, and sixth gap wedge 623 each include serrations on a heel end of the leading edge of the sole. By including one or more of these in a club set, a golfer may be able to benefit from the serration by cutting through turf on difficult terrain. For example, on very grassy turf that slopes down away in the direction a golfer is facing, heel-end serrations may aid in cutting through the grass, allowing the shot to successfully get the ball aloft and send it to the green. On turf that slopes up in a direction that the golfer is facing (i.e., if the golfer looks straight ahead, he is looking uphill), toe-end serrations may aid in getting the ball aloft out of the turf. For the same reasons given above about the overlapping ranges within a club set, a golfer may benefit most from having the location, presence, or both of serrations vary periodically throughout the set.

In some embodiments, club heads of the invention employ multi-material head constructions, inserts (e.g., such as a TPU insert within a cavity back or a top-line insert), co-molding and other such assembly technologies to provide club heads with optimized mass distribution and vibration dampening.

FIG. 7 shows a seventh club set 700. Seventh club set 700 includes a seventh four iron 704, a seventh five iron 705, a seventh six iron 706, a seventh seven iron 707, a seventh eight iron 708, a seventh nine iron 709, a seventh pitch wedge 721, and a seventh gap wedge 723. Each club head in seventh club set 700 can be manufactured so that the lower part of the cavity perimeter defines a back wall (e.g., making something of a cup-shaped area at the back sole), and the cavity can be filled at least partially with an insert. Within seventh club set 700, the back wall gets progressively larger and the insert gets progressively smaller in a vertical direction throughout the set. In general, the back wall material will be denser than the insert material. Thus, the shorter irons (e.g., seventh nine iron 709) will have a lower center of gravity than the longer irons (such as seventh four iron 704). This provides the benefit that the back of the striking face of each club head is covered by the insert over an area, and the amount of covered area increases in a sequence from short irons to longer irons. Accordingly, the insert (preferably, a visco-elastic material) provides a significantly greater amount of vibration dampening in the long irons. Some golfers will benefit significantly from good vibration dampening. Furthermore, some golfers may only need good vibration dampening on certain of their irons and for other irons, some other property may be important.

FIG. 8 shows an eighth club set 800. Eight club set 800 includes an eighth two iron 802, an eighth three iron 803, an eighth four iron 804, an eighth five iron 805, an eighth six iron 806, and an eighth seven iron 807. Here, the club heads feature a hybrid cavity back/muscle back design that may be said to blur the line between the definitions. Some of the irons include a back wall, a portion of which is spaced away from the back of the striking face without fully defining a fully-surrounded cavity. Some of the irons may have a small amount of dampening material applied to the back of the face. A club designer may fine tune these properties (e.g., using mathematical modeling software) to truly optimize the precise location of mass and vibration dampening material. The resulting clubs may have morphologies and assemblies that progress gradually throughout the set. Additionally, while some individual ones of the clubs may have metal components with substantially unlike morphologies, inclusion of a vibration dampening material may add a consistent look to the set, allowing a golfer to easily recognize not only the clubs of the set, but to intuitively see their ordering, as the pattern of visible material can grade progressively through the set.

FIG. 9 shows a ninth club set 900. Ninth club set 900 includes a ninth four iron 904, a ninth five iron 905, a ninth six iron 906, a ninth seven iron 907, a ninth eight iron 908, a ninth nine iron 909, a ninth pitch wedge 921, and a ninth gap wedge 923. Each club head in ninth club set 900 can be manufactured so that the lower part of the cavity perimeter defines a back wall (e.g., making something of a cup-shaped area at the back sole), and the cavity can be filled at least partially with an insert. Within ninth club set 900, the back wall gets progressively larger and the insert gets progressively smaller in a vertical direction throughout the set. This construction offers benefits substantially as described above with respect to seventh club set 700, but with additional benefits first in that the described progression is more pronounced within ninth club set 900 than within seventh club set 700, and secondly in that any novel set that starts within one of ninth club set 900 and seventh club set 700 and ends within the other has mass distribution and vibration dampening properties that vary within the set. One can see that this offers a very large number of sets from the collection defined by only the sixteen clubs depicted in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9. Thus, a collection that includes set 700 and set 900 can be used to obtain three or more different complete sets of irons (and wedges) in which one or more of the complete sets “starts” within one of set 700 and set 900 and “ends” within the other.

It will be appreciated that a collection according to the invention can provide a number of sets of clubs such that, within a set, some property is purposefully consistent for the entire set or purposefully varied so that the set is best suited to a golfer. A property can be varied progressively, periodically, or uniquely (e.g., one single club can include a feature that aids the golfer, the feature not appearing on any other club within the set). Features that can be varied within a set include offset, loft, lie, bounce, blade length, club height, top line dimension, top line type, sharpness of leading edge, radius of curvature of toe, radius of curvature of heel, sole width, sole radius, face thickness, cavity volume, finish, darkness, and height of center of gravity of club head when club. Offset may refer to a distance that a hosel axis is offset from a face in a fore-aft direction when a club is at address. Loft refers to an amount that a club head face is tilted back from a vertical. Lie angle may refer to the angle between the shaft axis and the X-Z plane, measured in a plane through the shaft axis parallel to the X-Y plane. Bounce may refer to the angle between the plane that includes the club head's leading and trailing edges and the horizontal plane when the club is at address.

In certain embodiments, the invention provides a set of golf clubs (e.g., from within a collection) in which a finish or appearance varies through the set. Each club may have a slightly different color head finish on the head. For example, the long irons may have a chrome, bright, or silver finish and the short irons or wedges may have a dark or black finish. The set of clubs may have a gradient that goes from bright to dark, e.g., from silver in appearance to black, on all or a portion of a surface of the clubs. Such a progressive coloring provides a benefit that enhances a golfer's performance. Some golfers find a need to minimize glare for their shorter clubs. Additionally, some of those golfers need visibility aids for their long clubs. By providing a long club with a highly visible club head, a golfer has an aid in lining up a shot and avoiding an off-center hit. While dark to light (e.g., black to silver) is described just above, it will be appreciated that some golfers based on the circumstances of their play or the quality of their eyes and perception may most benefit from some other certain color combination. Any color combination may be included (e.g., red to blue gradation). In a related embodiment, the variable coloring is done in groups, or “microsets”, of clubs. For example, all of the long irons (4, 5, and 6) could be silver, while short irons (e.g., P, G, and S) are black, with mid-irons (7, 8, and 9) are gray. Additionally or alternatively, the color progression may be applied to one or more other parts of a club in any combination (e.g., hosel, shaft, back cavity, grip, etc.) to further enhance the offered benefit. One benefit offered by the color progression is that a golfer will familiarize herself with her set, and then always know at a glance which club she is holding at the moment. Color can be provided by any method known in the art. For example, a club part could be painted, anodized, or colored by other methods. In some embodiments, a decal is applied. In certain embodiments, a colored finish is applied by a deposition technique such as a plasma vapor deposition (PVD) or another vacuum deposition methods (e.g., electron beam physical vapor deposition, sputter deposition, chemical vapor deposition). Thus, in certain embodiments, the invention provides a set of club heads in which a finish on a surface of the club heads transitions through the set. In some embodiments, the finish transitions throughout the set. Each club may be different from any club adjacent to it by some value of darkness (or “grayness”). The clubs at the ends of the set may be different from one another by a much greater value of darkness (or “grayness”). In certain embodiments, other components of a golf club could be colored to serve as club identifiers, such as the grip, shaft, ferrule, etc. For example, a club of the invention may be gray with a grip that is red, blue, translucent, etc. In some embodiments, the colored component also varies progressively throughout the set (e.g., stepping through the rainbow with each club, or getting darker or more saturated).

An additional utility of a club set in which an appearance varies throughout the set relates to recognition based on otherwise incomplete information. To illustrate, where a manufacturer provides a collection that includes a large number of clubs (e.g., 24 clubs total) from which golfers can select and purchase one of a plurality of sets (e.g., 6 or more distinct sets), circumstances may arise in which a golfer is later not capable of otherwise providing accurate information back to the manufacturer about a given club. For example, if the golfer is out on a course and a club plays really well and the golfer wants to find it online to purchase another, the golfer may take a cell phone photo of the club and upload it to the manufacturer's computer system. That computer system (e.g., server 133 with reference to FIG. 17 below) can then be used to identify the precise make and model of that club based on its appearance. In this way, a server program, or a consultant technician working at the manufacturer, could use the identity of the subject club to suggest, or to “add to cart,” another one of the clubs on behalf of the golfer.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C diagram reference measurements for club heads. In FIG. 10A, score line spacing A can refer to a distance between centers of adjacent score lines. Toe end score height B can refer to a distance from a sole of the club to a center of a first score line in a vertical direction at a toe end of the score line. Toe score spacing C refers to a distance from a toe-most point to a toe end of score lines. Score line width D refers to a width of score lines. Heel score height F can refer to a distances from a sole of a club to a heel end of a score line. Body top edge face width G refers to a distance between a top edge of a club and a face to body transition. Lie angle H refers to an angle between a hosel axis and a horizontal when the club is at address.

In FIG. 10B, top body thickness I can refer to a thickness of a top portion of a body. Face thickness J refers to a thickness of the face. Sole width K can refer to a distance from a leading edge to a trailing edge of a sole. L can indicate a lowest point on a sole, where to measure radius of curvature of the sole (i.e., sole radius). M can show loft, an angle between the striking face plane and the vertical. N can show a distance from a leading edge of the face to a hosel axis. O can show a horizontal distance from a leading edge of a face to a leading edge of a hosel. P can indicate a vertical distance from a leading edge of a face to a lowest point on a sole. Q can refer to a vertical height of a face to sole transition.

In FIG. 10C, R can be a height of a club head at address or blade height. S can be a height of a geometric center of a club face at address. T can be a width of a club head in a heel toe direction or a face width. U can be a heel-end face height (noting, e.g., that a large difference between R and U relates to a shape of a face). V can be a toe-most point on a face perimeter. W can be a sole to toe transition point on a face perimeter (e.g., where to measure radius of curvature of toe). X can be a sole-most point on a face perimeter. Y can be a lowest point on a leading edge of a face. Z can indicate a transition from a sole edge of a face to heel end of a face perimeter. AA can show a top most point of a face perimeter. BB can indicate a midpoint of a top line of a face perimeter. CC generally shows a transition from a top line to a heel end of a face perimeter. DD can be a hosel diameter. EE can be a hosel inset internal depth. FF can be a hosel length. GG can be a hosel inset internal diameter. The dimensions referred to in FIGS. 10A-10C are not limiting and are merely useful aids when describing club heads according to certain embodiments.

Configurations and geometries of a club head may be referred using known terms in the art and those terms may be given their customary meaning in golf. Lie angle may refer to the angle, measured in degrees, of the club's shaft when the club is set in the address position as measured from the shaft to the sole of the club head. Iron sets typically range from 57° to 64° with the long irons having a more shallow or lower angle. Up-right lie may refer to a relatively steep or more vertical lie angle. Taller players may prefer a more up-right lie.

Loft may refer to the angle, measured in degrees, of the club head's face when the club is soled properly. Irons, for example, may range from 18° to 65° with the long irons having lower loft. Offset may refer to the distance from the forward most point of the hosel to the leading edge of the blade. Offset will help a player to align the club face with the target, reducing a slice, and may produce higher ball flight.

Materials may be used in club heads to provide desirable properties.

A golf club in a collection or set of the invention may include any construction or material known in the art. In some embodiments, a golf club is characterized by two-piece construction A club head with two-piece construction generally includes two pieces of cast stainless steel that are welded together to form a head with hollow head or one with a defined groove or chamber in the cavity.

A golf club can include any suitable material.

For example, a club head may include a metal such as stainless steel. Stainless steel may be used head construction (e.g., for irons, putters, or others),and may have about 20% carbon, 15-20% chromium, and 1.25-2.5% nickel, with the remainder being iron and a few trace elements.

In some embodiments, a golf club includes 303 Stainless Steel, e.g., within a head of iron or wedge. The 303 stainless steel allow contains a minimum of 17% chromium, 15% sulphur and 8% nickel with the balance being iron. This malleable stainless steel alloy can be used in iron and wedge heads to allow for custom bending of the head, e.g., more easily than the standard 431 Stainless Steel. This material may also be more malleable than 304 Stainless Steel. Grade 303 may represent the optimum in machinability among the austenitic stainless steels. It is particularly useful for production that involves machining (e.g., CNC milling of grooves or cavity features).

A club of the invention may include 304 Stainless steel. The 304 stainless steel alloy may be used, for example, in iron and wedge heads. This alloy contains a minimum of 18% Chromium, 8% Nickel with the balance being Iron. The 304 stainless steel alloy allows for custom bending of the head and is corrosion resistant.

A club head may include 431 Stainless steel. This alloy contains a minimum of 15% Chromium, 1.25% Nickel with the balance being Iron. This heat treatable martensitic, nickel-bearing grade has excellent corrosion resistance properties. It has excellent tensile and torque strength, and good toughness, making it ideally suited to iron heads. It can be hardened to approximately 40 HRC.

A club head may include 432 Stainless steel, which contains a minimum of 16% chromium with the balance being Iron. This Stainless Steel is very similar to 431 grade and slightly more bendable.

Beryllium copper is an alloy that can be used in club heads. Beryllium copper is more dense than stainless and some players get a useful benefit from its a softer feel. Beryllium heads are also easily identified by their copper coloration.

Other materials that may be included in a club head include aluminum, titanium, pre-peg, composite, plastic, thermoplastic, viscoelastic dampening materials, wood (e.g., for forming a club head), balsa wood (e.g., as a lightweight layer in a club head), tungsten, lead, urethane, polyurethane, rubber, leather, and other materials.

Different types of clubs and club heads can be included in a collection or set of the invention. A set or a collection of the invention may include any known type of club head.

Irons may be long irons, e.g., usually iron numbers 1, 2, 3, and 4. Long irons may have less than 25° loft. Mid irons may refer to the middle of a set, numbered 5, 6, and 7. These iron usually range in loft from 25° to 38° and are designed for distance and accuracy on your approach shot onto the green. In general, irons may be muscle back, cavity back, an intermediate form, or a novel form.

A set may include a wedge such as, for example, a pitching wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge, third wedge, utility wedge. Wedge may refer to a type of short iron with significant loft mainly for playing shorter, more lofted shots (the amount of loft can vary widely, from a pitching wedge that ranges somewhere between 47° and 52° to a lob wedge that can range from 58° up to) 65°. A lob wedge may have a high loft, e.g., 59°, 60°, or more. A pitch wedge may have a loft of 48° to 50°. A set may include a utility wedge, or third wedge, that differs from a pitching wedge or a sand wedge in the characteristics of the loft, sole, or others.

In certain embodiments, a set or collection of the invention includes an approach wedge, such as an attack wedge, dual wedge, or gap wedge. An approach wedge may have a loft between about 52° and about 54° and can be used for shots that are in between pitch wedge and sand wedge distance.

A set may include a chipper, or chipping iron. A chipper may refer to a club used to chip the ball onto the green. A chipper may have loft between about 28° and about 43°. A chipper may have a length similar to a putter and a non-putter grip.

A set may include a club or head known as a driving iron. A driving iron refers to a golf club with low loft and a muscle or hollow body similar to a wood. The driving iron may be usefully beneficial to golfers who have difficulty hitting their long irons.

In some embodiments, a set includes a blade-style head, or blade. A blade may be included in the form of a muscle-back irons due to a possible concentration of weight directly behind the center of the club face. A blade may be most usefully beneficial for an experienced golfer.

In certain embodiments, a set includes one or more hybrid club or club head, sometimes referred to as a hybrid iron or hybrid wood. A hybrid may refer to a club that combines playing characteristics of both woods and irons. A hybrid iron may refer to a club head with a flat face. A hybrid wood may refer to a club head in which a face has bulge, roll, or both. Hybrids may take the place of the long irons. Some golfers find hybrids useful as being easy to play and give a player added control on long approach shots. Hybrid woods may give a higher shot than hybrid irons. Hybrid irons may give good control.

Manufacturing can include a variety of methods to provide the most functional club head. A variety of useful and beneficial styles of manufacturing are possible including, for example, casting, forging, molding, co-molding, machining, or other methods.

In certain embodiments, a club head or part is cast. Cast refers to a process of manufacturing club heads where stainless steel (containing varying amounts of nickel) is poured into a mold in molten state and removed as one piece.

A club head may be die cast. Die cast involves injection of material into a pre-formed die to form club heads. This process is generally used on heads such as zinc alloy irons and aluminum alloy woods. It is also commonly used on putters made from brass and zinc.

A club head may be forged. Forging may include using a series of forging dies for stamping the head to final shape. Forged heads are made of softer metals than cast heads and may be hand finished, chrome-plated, or both.

A variety of features may be included or optimized on a club head. The invention includes the insight that any of these features may be varied throughout a set. Additionally, a collection can include more than one set in which one or more of the features is included and varied so that one or any flow set made from a mixture of the more than one set has the feature also varying throughout the flow set.

One feature that can be included in a club head is a bore-through. Bore through refers to a construction for shaft insertion in which the shaft is inserted all of the way through the club head so that the tip of the shaft is visible on the sole of the club.

Another feature that can be varied within a set is bounced. Bounce is usually referred to when discussing wedges or hybrids, and can be included in any type of club. Bounce is the description of one type of sole angle where the back edge of the sole is lower than the front edge. A bounce angle on the sole may usefully help prevent a club from digging too deep in the sand or getting stopped by tall grass. Measured in degrees, typical bounce angles range from 6 to 15. In some embodiments, a club head includes a cambered sole. In a cambered sole, the sole has a curvature. A sole can be cambered (rounded) from toe to heel, or from front to back, or both.

In certain embodiments, a club head includes a cavity undercut, or undercut cavity. A cavity undercut may refer to a back club in which the cavity has been extended down into the sole of the iron or in any other direction, there by moving the center of gravity farther behind the face of the iron producing a more forgiving club head.

A feature that can be varied is center of gravity. Center of gravity refers to the point in a club head where all of the points of balance intersect. For some players, a lower CG will give higher ball flight.

Other features that may be varied within a club set include face height (a distance from the sole to the crown at mid face, i.e., to vary hitting area); face length (a distance from heel to toe on the club face which comes into direct contact with the ball); groove patterns (indentations which cause the ball to spin); a ferrule (a trim ring which may keep detritus out of a hosel fitting); sole Width; presence or arrangement of grooves (e.g., square grooves, box grooves, U grooves, V grooves, etc.).

In certain embodiments, a set includes flow weighting. In such a set, weight positioning may shift from one club to the next. For example, a #1 iron may have more weight concentrated on its toe, a #2 iron slightly less, and so on. Flow weighting may be referred to as progressive weighting where there is substantially a progress through a set.

FIGS. 11-16 aid in seeing the relationship between sets and collections. While depicted in those figures as having certain numbers of clubs of certain identities, a club collection according to the invention is a plurality of clubs within which at least one club type is represented more than once.

FIG. 11 illustrates a collection that includes a tenth club set 1001 and an eleventh club set 1101. Set 1101 contains fourth four iron 404, fourth five iron 405, fourth six iron 406, fourth seven iron 407, third eight iron 308, third nine iron 309, third pitch wedge 321, and third gap wedge 323. It will be appreciated that other sets can be obtained from within the clubs depicted in FIG. 11. In fact, if a collection includes nine distinct rows (which can be referred to as first set 100, second set 200, . . . , ninth set 900) and if each row includes eight clubs, there are about 98 distinct club sets that can be obtained. In certain embodiments, the invention provides a collection that includes at least 16 clubs from which at least 3 clubs sets can be provided (e.g., any number from 3 to 256). As shown in FIG. 11, a collection may consist of 32 clubs, and may provide at least six different sets (e.g., first set 100, second set 200, third set 300, fourth set 400, tenth set 1001, and eleventh set 1101). Other numbers are possible. For example, a collection may consist of 12 clubs, and could provide four or more different unique sets each of which includes six clubs.

The invention includes the insight that for a collection of clubs organized into rows, in which each row represents one club set, if the rows are represented as parallel and adjacent rows, and if the club heads are designed with gradient (i.e., progressively varying) or periodic (i.e., cyclically varying) properties, then a useful club set may be provided as a set that “flows” through the collection, cascading from one row to the next.

FIG. 12 represents a collection that includes a twelfth club set 1201 (as well as first set 100 through ninth set 900, tenth set 1001, eleventh set 1101, and others). Here, the collection is depicted as consisting of 72 clubs. Club set 1201 flows from first four iron 104, first five iron 105, and first six iron 106 to second seven iron 107. Club set 1201 then cascades from second eight iron 208 to third nine iron 309. It will appreciated that a large variety of club sets may flow through a collection. Additionally, a club set need not arise out of a collection with any particular pattern. A defining quality of a club set according to the invention is that it includes a plurality of clubs that are usefully beneficial to a golfer. When visualizing a collection on a page as having (of necessity) some spatial arrangement, a set may appear within that collection having any (or no) visually apparent pattern.

FIG. 13 shows a thirteenth club set 1301. Here, set 1301 includes 9 clubs that have been matched to a player's abilities and needs. Here, the short irons have a very high face height and work with the mid and long iron such that face height increases progressively throughout the set. Additionally, the longest irons (from eight set 800) have a hybrid cavity back/muscle back design that establish a pattern, which is continued by the mid irons from the ninth set 900 such that Izz varies progressively through the set, although in this set for better players, the variation is not as extreme as across the entirety of ninth set 900. Thus, where ninth set 900 may represent a good general purpose set, thirteenth set 1301 may represent a set for slightly better players in which the longer irons have some perimeter weighting but also have a better coefficient of restitution than the sister longer irons from ninth set 900. Thus, in certain embodiments, a set has a coefficient of restitution that varies progressively within the set.

FIG. 14 shows a fourteenth club set 1401 that may arise from the same collection depicted in FIG. 13. By the nature of its composition, fourteenth set 1401 has a property that varies periodically within the set—the presence of a perimeter weighted, cavity-backed iron within a set composed primarily of forged, muscle-backed irons. Fourteenth set 1401 includes third six iron 306 and third nine iron 309, both of which may be cavity-backed irons with extreme perimeter weighting. This set may be suited to a player who has overlapping distance ranges and can exploit that by including overlapping clubs that offer slightly different features for different circumstances. In the case of fourteenth set 1401, a better player may typically shoot best with a forged blade. However, every third club is present as a cavity-backed club. The golfer may use these in certain circumstances that are otherwise vexatious.

FIG. 15 shows a fifteenth club set 1501. Here, a player is best served by including eighth two iron 802 in a set that includes a large number of clubs from fourth club set 400. Thus, fifteenth club set 1501 provides forged blades along with a cavity-backed two iron. This set may be particularly well suited for a gifted player for whom the two iron may serve a role that other players would file with a hybrid or a wood. Since the gifted player can obtain the well-suited set from within the overall collection, that player is well served by a collection according to the invention. The gifted player can get a set that includes a two-iron which may otherwise never have been produced (or, e.g., distributed to a retail environment) due to otherwise low demand for such a set.

While discussed here so far predominantly in terms of irons, hybrids, and wedges, a collection according to the invention can include any style of club including woods, drivers, putters, or others.

FIG. 16 shows a large collection according to certain embodiments. Here, in addition to those clubs already discussed, first club set 100 includes a first three wood 131, a first five wood 133, a first one hybrid 135, a first two hybrid 137, a first one iron 101, a first two iron 102, a first three iron 103, a first sand wedge 125, and a first lob wedge 127. Second club set 200 includes a second three wood 231, a second five wood 233, a second one hybrid 235, a second two hybrid 237, a second one iron 201, a second two iron 202, a second gap wedge 223, a second sand wedge 225, and a second lob wedge 227. Third club set 300 includes a third three wood 331, a third five wood 333, a third one hybrid 335, a third two hybrid 337, a third one iron 301, a third two iron 302, a third sand wedge 325, and a third lob wedge 327. Fourth club set 400 includes a fourth three wood 431, a fourth five wood 433, a fourth one hybrid 435, a fourth two hybrid 437, a fourth one iron 401, a fourth two iron 402, a fourth sand wedge 425, and a fourth lob wedge 427. Fifth club set 500 includes a fifth one iron 501, a fifth two iron 502, a fifth sand wedge 525, and a fifth lob wedge 527. Sixth club set 600 includes a sixth one iron 601, a sixth two iron 602, a sixth sand wedge 625, and a sixth lob wedge 627. Seventh club set 700 includes a seventh one iron 701, a seventh two iron 702, a seventh three iron 703, a seventh sand wedge 725, and a seventh lob wedge 727. Eighth club set 800 includes an eighth one iron 801. Ninth club set 900 includes a ninth one iron 901, a ninth two iron 902, and a ninth three iron 903.

If a golfer provides information about their needs and playing style, an optimized set can be provided for that golfer from out of the collection depicted in FIG. 16.

FIG. 17 depicts a system for suggesting an optimized set out of a collection. A system of the invention generally includes at least one electronic device 105 for use by a golfer. Electronic device 105 may be a computer (such as a laptop or desktop PC), a portable device (such as a smartphone), or another computing device (such as a tablet). Generally, electronic device 105 will include a processor coupled to a memory with one or more input and output mechanisms. Additionally, device 105 may communicate with server 133 via a network. A processor may include any data processing device such as a silicon microchip such as the one sold under the trademark CORE I7 by Intel (Santa Clara, Calif.). A memory may generally include a tangible, non-transitory storage medium, such as a solid-state drive (SSD), flash drive, hard drive, USB drive, or similar. Input and output mechanisms can include one or more of a keyboard, pointer (e.g., mouse, trackpad), monitor, touchscreen, network device (e.g., Wi-Fi card, network-interface card), data connection (e.g., USB port), speaker, microphone, button, or a combination thereof. Sever 133 may itself include one or any number of computer device generally including a processor operably coupled to a memory such as, for example, a rack-mounted server such as the one sold under the trademark BLADE by Hitachi Data Systems (Santa Clara, Calif.) or other computer devices. Server 133 may optionally include additional storage such as dedicated data storage devices or connections to cloud-based storage. As shown in FIG. 17, device 105 will generally include a mechanism for providing a display 125. A golfer may interact with device 105 (e.g., through the use of display 125) to provide information about their golfing needs or competencies.

FIG. 18 shows a display 125 according to certain embodiments. Display 125 can optionally show any number of clubs such as an entire collection. As shown in FIG. 18, a collection can be shown in row and column format (although this is not necessary and is merely illustrative of a certain embodiment) in which columns represent a club type and rows represent sets of clubs. Since the invention provides sets of clubs that can “flow” from one row to another, a collection depicted in this fashion will include a greater number of sets than of displayed rows. Through the use of display 125, systems of the invention can be used to perform methods for suggesting sets of golf clubs.

FIG. 19 gives a diagram of a method of suggesting golf clubs. A golfer provides data to a device 105. Device 105 also obtains information about clubs in a collection of clubs (such as physical properties of clubs that are represented in FIG. 11). Based on data provided by the golfer, device 105 matches a first set of clubs to the golfer. For example, if the golfer input data showing that a very low club head center of gravity was important to improve that golfer's playing, device 105 can review all of the entries in each “column” within the collection and, for each column, find the entry with the lowest club head center of gravity (e.g., in a vertical direction when the club head is at address). Device 105 may optionally match one or more additional sets. For example, if the golfer also indicated that eliminating glare is important for the playability of his wedges, but needs long irons that appear large to properly set up shots and prevent partially off face hits, device 105 can choose a set with an appearance that grades from light to dark (e.g., silver to black) from long irons to wedges and that has one of the lower club head center of gravities for each head of all of the possible sets.

Device 105 can then suggest the set or sets that have been identified. Server 133 can optionally be used to store information about the golfer. For example, a golfer may give data using a tablet computer while out on the golf course. By storing that data on server 133, when that golfer later sits at her desktop computer, she can review the data she gave and the sets that are suggested by the system. Additionally, device 105 may offer to allow the golfer to purchase one or more of the suggested sets.

FIG. 20 shows a display 125 on a device 105 by which a golfer may give information identifying their playing needs and competencies. This information can be solicited by, for example, a series of questions that are shown as prompts that gather information about a golfer's abilities and requirements. Exemplary information that a golfer could be prompted for, and provide, includes distance that the golfer hits any given club; tendency to hook or slice; turf interaction; needs regarding an appearance of a club head; accuracy or precision of hits (e.g., low precision means hits are distributed all over striking face rather than in the form of a tight cluster); others; or a combination thereof. With the information that a golfer inputs, a device 105, server 133, or a combination thereof can suggest one or more sets.

FIG. 21 depicts a device 105 being used to suggest a set of golf clubs. Here, device 105 is suggesting three different sets. Device 105 is suggesting a performance set (e.g., purely calculated on making the best shots for that golfer without concern for cost); a tech set (e.g., including certain technical features that a golfer specified, such as an adjustable-loft hybrid or extreme perimeter weighting via movable weights); and an affordable set (e.g., a set that is best for the player without crossing a certain cost threshold). Additionally, device 105 can be used by a golfer to shop for and buy one or more of the sets or individual clubs.

Device 105 may be operated by a golfer as his or her own personal device. For example, a golfer may own a tablet computer and may download an app from server 133 and install it to receive club set suggestions. Additionally or alternatively, a golfer may use an application such as a web browser or a purpose-built application program to receive golf club suggestions. In some embodiments, device 105 is provided as a kiosk or other location for interaction at, for example, a retail store.

In some embodiments, device 105 is provided with a collection of golf clubs. For example, a golf club manufacturer may provide a retail store with a collection of golf clubs as well as a kiosk that can display and use information according to methods described herein (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 20 or 21). A kiosk can refer to a standalone structure, such as a workstation with a custom form-factor, or a kiosk can refer to a display in a store such as a tablet, laptop, desktop, or other computer available at a retail counter.

In certain embodiments, a collection is provided with information tools for selecting a set. Exemplary information tools include printed matter such as signs, pamphlets, posters, or other such material. An information tool can include a fitting wheel or fitting calculator that includes information about sets that are available from within a collection and tools to aid a golfer in selecting a set. Information can be provided, for example, in the form of a display for a retail store that depicts an entire collection of clubs and calls out certain sets from within that collection, which may be best-suited to different individual golfers. For example, a poster showing a collection could have a “high performance forged blade” set circled, a “progressive cavity back to muscle back” set circled, a “massive sweet spot, high MOT” set for game improvement circled, and an “affordable starter set” circled. In some embodiments, each of these four sets includes at least seven (e.g., eight) clubs and the entire collection includes a certain number of clubs (e.g., a number between 12 and 24).

Embodiments of the invention include labels for club sets from a collection. An insight of the invention is that there may be a disconnection between a manufacturer applied number or name and a user's relationship to a club. Thus, a club set may be most beneficial to a golfer if it includes clubs that are not strictly consecutively-numbered according to the imprints provided by a manufacturer (and in some embodiments, a collection is provided in which one or more of clubs are provided with no manufacturer provided club type indicia). It may be most beneficial to such a golfer to have the ability to designate the clubs in his set according to their benefit to him or their relationship to one another. In some embodiments, a club set is provided with a set of labels (such as stickers) that a golfer can apply to each club. The labels can include numbers or other indicators of the clubs' playing properties (e.g., “long fairway”, “onto the green”, etc.).

In certain embodiments, the set of labels is keyed to information provided by an information tool such as printed matter (e.g., a pamphlet or poster) or digital matter (e.g., an app or a program).

As used herein, the word “or” means “and or or”, sometimes seen or referred to as “and/or”, unless indicated otherwise.

Incorporation by Reference

References and citations to other documents, such as patents, patent applications, patent publications, journals, books, papers, web contents, have been made throughout this disclosure. All such documents are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

Equivalents

Various modifications of the invention and many further embodiments thereof, in addition to those shown and described herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the full contents of this document, including references to the scientific and patent literature cited herein. The subject matter herein contains important information, exemplification and guidance that can be adapted to the practice of this invention in its various embodiments and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A collection of golf club heads, the collection comprising:

a first set of M consecutively-numbered club heads;

a second set of N consecutively-numbered club heads; and

a third set of P consecutively numbered club heads, wherein the collection consists of Q clubs and Q<(M+N+P).

2. The collection of claim 1, wherein the Q club heads comprises iron-type club heads and hybrid-type club heads.

3. The collection of claim 1, wherein the consecutive numbering is provided by a user-affixed indicia and further wherein the second set comprises two clubs that are manufactured with the same number.

4. The collection of claim 3, wherein the two clubs are a 5-iron and a 5-hybrid.

5. The collection of claim 1, wherein club heads of the first set have a first property that varies progressively with the numbering of the set.

6. The collection of claim 5, wherein club heads of the second set have a second property that varies progressively with the numbering of the set.

7. The collection of claim 6, wherein the first property is moment of inertia of a club head about a z-axis when the club head is at address.

8. The collection of claim 7, wherein the second property is a ratio of maximum face width to maximum face height.

9. The collection of claim 8, wherein club heads of the third set have a third property that varies progressively with the numbering of the set and the third property is one selected from the list consisting of offset, loft, lie, bounce, blade length, club height, top line dimension, top line type, sharpness of leading edge, radius of curvature of toe, radius of curvature of heel, sole width, sole radius, face thickness, cavity volume, finish, darkness, and height of center of gravity of club head in the heel/toe direction and when club head is at address.

10. The collection of claim 5, wherein club heads of the second set have a second property that varies cyclically with the numbering of the set.

11. The collection of claim 10, wherein the second property is a position of serration on a leading edge.

12. The collection of claim 1, wherein the second property is a width of sole such that every third club has a sole wider than adjacently-numbered clubs.

13. The collection of claim 5, wherein the collection consists of 12 irons, the first set consists of six cast irons, the second set consists of six forged irons, and third set consists of three forged irons and three cast irons.

14. The collection of claim 13, wherein the first property is a cavity depth that increases with decreasing iron number.

15. The collection of claim 14, wherein club heads of the second set have a second property that varies progressively with the numbering of the set.

16. The collection of claim 15, wherein the second property is a ratio of maximum face width to maximum face height.

17. The collection of claim 16, wherein club heads of the third set have a third property that varies progressively with the numbering of the set.

18. The collection of claim 17, wherein the third property is a maximum sole width that increases with increasing iron number.

19. The collection of claim 5, wherein every third club of the second set has a second property that appears on no other club within the collection.

20. The collection of claim 19, wherein the second property is a serration on a leading edge of the blade.