Flight Stabilizer

Abstract

A flight stabilizer is adapted to a golf club to replace a significant section of the shaft and provides a golfer with reduced radial torque, heightened flex point, improved shaft cylindrical continuity, and increased blended swing weight, all of which create a more powerful, consistent, reliable, and better performing club. The flight stabilizer creates a smooth transition from the heavy clubhead to the light shaft tip and allows the golfer to minimize shaft rotational oscillation, improve consistency of golf ball impact on the clubface, and achieve better overall control of distance and direction of a golf shot. Additionally, the flight stabilizer enables a golfer and/or a golf professional to efficiently connect an iron-type shaft with a large diameter to a wood-type clubhead with a small diameter. Further, the flight stabilizer offers a bent section that enables the golfer to adjust the shaft to achieve desired clubhead loft.

Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/721,047 filed on Aug. 22, 2018.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to golf equipment. More specifically, the present invention relates to a flight stabilizer for a golf club shaft, which replaces a significant section of the golf club shaft with the flight stabilizer and provides a user with reduced radial torque, heightened flex point, improved shaft cylindrical continuity, and increased blended swing weight. The present invention creates a smooth transition from the heavy clubhead to the light shaft tip. Additionally, the present invention allows the user to minimize shaft rotational oscillation, improve consistency of golf ball impact on the clubface, and achieve better overall control of distance and direction of a golf shot. Further, the present invention includes a bent section that enables the golfer to make desired adjustments of the clubhead loft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

According to the National Golf Foundation, the average score of all golfers has been 100 for decades. 45% of all golfers average more than 100 while only 26% shoot below 90 on regular 18-hole courses. In order to lower scores, players work hard on the golf driving ranges and courses, seek training and coaching from professional golfers/trainers, and keep upgrading their equipment, mainly golf clubs. This drives the industry to improve the design, manufacturing, and materials for golf clubs constantly. One key component for the golf clubs is the shaft, which connects the golfer's hands to the clubhead, transfers the golfer's swing power into hitting the golf ball. The club shaft can significantly affect a golfer's performance. Many factors can have impact on the shafts and the most important ones include material, weight, torque, flex point, and pureing (improving the shaft's cylindrical continuity).

As new technologies evolve, golf club shafts have gone from original wood shafts to steel, and to graphite shafts that become popular in the market, especially for titanium drivers, fairway metal woods and hybrids. Comparing with steel shafts, graphite shafts are made of carbon fiber composite materials that are designed and manufactured into lighter, hollow, thin wall, and tapered tubes. Because of the lower weight, the graphite shafts normally increase the golfer's swing speed and distance. They also have better vibration dampening quality which makes it easier on the golfer's body. Steel shafts are more rigid and can give the golfer more vibration up the shaft to the golfer's hands creating tendinitis or aggravating arthritis. Generally speaking, steel shafts are more desired by the skilled golfers and golfers with fast swings looking for more accuracy. Graphite shafts are played more by average golfers looking for distance but would love to have accuracy benefit of a steel shaft.

The weight of a shaft is important as it is the most important factor that determines the total weight of the whole golf club. The shaft weight also affects the golfer's swing tempo, impact of the ball on the center of the clubface, and thus, accuracy and consistency of the golf shots. Further, most shafts do not provide a smooth weight transition from the light tip of the graphite shaft to a heavy clubhead. The Flight Stabilizer of the present invention, however, smoothly blends the swing weight of the light graphite shaft to the heavy clubhead thus the golfer has clubhead awareness throughout the swing. This results in more consistent swing plane and square club face at impact with the golf ball.

Shaft torque affects the performance of golf shots. As the golfer swings a golf club, the torque force is created on the shaft due to the twisting of the golf club with respect to the grip. This twisting force distorts the shaft causing inconsistent, off-center impacts of the clubface on the golf ball. The faster the user swings, the higher torque force is created on the shaft. Thus, a lower shaft torque rating is more appropriate for minimizing mishit shots. Clubs with steel shafts generally have lower and more consistent torque than clubs with graphite shafts. The variation of torque in graphite shaft is mainly caused by the fibers that make up the shaft. Low torque graphite shafts are significantly difficult to make because the manufacturing of such shafts requires highly time-consuming and costly process to achieve consistently optimal fiber distribution and structure. The Flight Stabilizer of the present invention economically reduces torque substantially resulting in more accurate shots.

Another important factor is shaft flex point, also called kick point or bend point. The shaft flex point is the vertex of the bending curve of the shaft when the tip is pulled down (loaded) by the golfer. When the golfer swings the club, the shaft bends with the tip leading the shaft to store energy. The club then straightens to release the stored energy when the clubhead impacts the golf ball (unloaded). A high flex point, or high kick, means the shaft flex point is located close to the grip on the bending curve during swing, while a medium and a low flex point means the flex point is located slightly below the center of the shaft, respectively. In general, a low flex point creates a higher launch angle of the golf ball, while a high flex point generates a low launch angle. The Fight Stabilizer heightens the flex point creating energy outward rather than upward. More distance results with tighter launch angles, this is very important to better players.

Shaft alignment, also called shaft pureing, corrects the out-of-alignment problem between the shaft and the clubhead. A golf shaft most likely has variations on the material consistency (defects and voids), wall thickness, and symmetry in cross section throughout the length of the shaft. When such a shaft is inserted to the hosel of the clubhead, it inevitably causes random oscillation especially during downswing, resulting in inconsistent impact of the golf ball. However, most of golf shops do not pure graphite shafts because owning a pureing machine is not an economical option. The Flight Stabilizer creates a linear oscillation thus a major increase in accuracy by releasing all shaft energy down the intended flight plane.

In addition to the important factors that shafts have impact on the performance of golf clubs, a significant number of golf clubs break each year due to the thin wall of graphite shafts. In the majority of cases, the break point occurs within the first seven inches of the tip section from the clubhead. Many of these clubs are usually discarded as waste. The Flight Stabilizer protects against this breakage and can also easily repair a broken tip graphite shaft to a playable valued state.

The objective of the present invention is to provide solution to the existing shaft problems described above. The preferred embodiment of the present invention, a flight stabilizer, comprises a seven-inch steel shaft. The flight stabilizer includes a shaft tip connection, a steel shaft, and a clubhead connector. The flight stabilizer connects an existing shortened shaft, preferably a graphite shaft, and a clubhead the golfer desires. In such a preferred configuration, the flight stabilizer, being installed on the existing club, provides the golfer the reduced radial torque, heightened flex point, pured shaft, increased blended swing weight, all of which create a more powerful, consistent, reliable, and better performing club. Additionally, the flight stabilizer allows the golfer to significantly reduce club breakage potential and to repair broken clubs more efficiently. Further, the flight stabilizer offers a bent section that enables the golfer to make adjustments to achieve desired clubhead loft.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A flight stabilizer is adapted to a golf club between the clubhead and the shaft to stabilize the golf club. The flight stabilizer replaces a significant section of the shaft and substantially improves golf shots of a golfer. The flight stabilizer provides the golfer with reduced radial torque, heightened flex point, improved shaft cylindrical continuity, and increased blended swing weight, all of which create a more powerful, consistent, reliable, and better performing club. The flight stabilizer creates a smooth transition from the heavy clubhead to the light shaft tip and allows the golfer to minimize shaft rotational oscillation, improve consistency of golf ball impact on the clubface, and achieve better overall control of distance and direction of a golf shot. Additionally, the flight stabilizer comprises a taper that enables a golfer and/or a golf professional to efficiently attach an iron-type shaft with a large diameter to a wood-type clubhead with a small diameter, which has been an unresolved difficulty and impossibility for most golf shops and golf equipment professionals. Further, the flight stabilizer offers a bent section that can be positioned anywhere along the flight stabilizer. The bent section enables the golfer to adjust the shaft by rotating the flight stabilizer forward, backward, upward, downward, to achieve desired clubhead loft comparing with a straight shaft with no bend.

Additionally, the flight stabilizer may comprise a straight section with no taper on each distal end of the flight stabilizer to enable efficiently installation onto any existing club. With or without continuous taper on the body, the flight stabilizer allows the golfer to significantly reduce club breakage potential. Further, the flight stabilizer can fit to a variety of shaft and clubhead diameters by simply cutting the continuously tapered body of the flight stabilizer, thus making the repair of most, if not all, broken clubs more efficiently and effectively than conventional methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a back view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of one embodiment with straight connectors on each end of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view of one embodiment with a bent section of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a field test data sheet for the performance testing of the present invention versus other golf clubs.

FIG. 8 is a laboratory static test datasheet for the shaft performance testing of the present invention versus an existing golf shaft.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 to FIG. 9, the present invention comprises a flight stabilizer 20 that is adapted between a golf club shaft 30 and a golf clubhead 10 to reduce radial torque, heighten flex point, improve shaft cylindrical continuity, and increase blended swing weight. Additionally, the present invention allows a golfer to make adjustments of the shaft to achieve desired loft of the clubhead. More specifically, the present invention comprises the clubhead 10, the flight stabilizer 20, the shaft 30, and a grip 40. As can be seen in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the flight stabilizer 20 is attached between the golf clubhead 10 and the golf club shaft 30, while the grip 40 is attached to the golf club shaft 30, opposite to the flight stabilizer 20.

As can be seen in FIG. 1 to FIG. 9, the flight stabilizer 20 of the present invention comprises a body 21, a taper 22, a first end 23, and a second end 24. More specifically, both the first end 23 and the second end 24 are terminally positioned across the body 21. The taper 22 exteriorly traverses the body 22 and attenuating from the second end 24 to the first end 23. Additionally, the first end 23 is connected to the golf clubhead 10, and the second end 24 is connected to the golf club shaft 30.

As can be seen in FIG. 4 to FIG. 5, the body 21 of the flight stabilizer 20 includes, but is not limited to a cylindrical tube. Additionally, the tube thickness of the body 21 can include, but is not limited to, 0.051 inches (1.3 mm). The material of the present invention includes, but is not limited to, carbon steel, satin carbon steel, but may include other suitable steel materials such as stainless steel, titanium, etc., and/or any combination of materials thereof. The first end 23 and the second end 24 are concentrically and distally positioned on the body 21. Further, the first end 23 and the second end 24 are open-ended to be able to connect to the golf clubhead 10 and the golf club shaft 30. In the preferred embodiment as seen in FIG. 4, the flight stabilizer 20 includes, but is not limited to, a length of seven inches. Further, the body 21 comprises a connecting hole 28, and the connecting hole 28 is terminally and concentrically positioned on the body 21 adjacent the second end 24. The inner diameter of the connecting hole 28 of the body 21 includes, but is not limited to, 0.370 inches, while the outer diameter of the first end 23 of the body 21 includes, but is not limited to, 0.335 inches. In an alternative embodiment as seen in FIG. 5, the body 21 comprises a first straight connector 26 and a second straight connector 27. The first straight connector 26 is terminally positioned on the body 21 adjacent the first end 23, and the second straight connector 27 is terminally positioned on the body 21 adjacent the second end 24. Additionally, the first straight connector 26 includes, but is not limited to, 0.5 inches in length, and the second straight connector 27 includes, but is not limited to, 0.5 inches in length.

As can be seen in FIG. 6, the flight stabilizer 20 of the present invention offers the golfer an adjustable flight stabilizer so that the golfer can adjust the loft of the golf clubhead 10. More specifically, the adjustable flight stabilizer 20 comprises a bent section 25 that can be adjustably positioned anywhere along the body 21. The bent section 25 can be adjustably oriented at any angle between 0.05 to 4.5 degrees with respect to the body 21, but can include other suitable angles. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the bent section 25 of the adjustable flight stabilizer can comprise, but is not limited to, a length of 1.33 inches and can be positioned at the first end 23, as seen in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the first end 23 is the distal end of the bent section 25. Additionally, the bent section 25 can comprise a cylindrical tube that is the same as the body 21. Further, the adjustable flight stabilizer 20 allows the golfer to rotate the present invention with the bent section 25 forward, ahead of the golfer with respect to the swing direction of the golf swing to add a desired loft, for example 1.5 degrees to the golf clubhead 10. Conversely, the golfer can rotate the present invention with the bent section 25 backward, behind of the golfer with respect to the swing direction of the golf swing to decrease a desired loft, for example 1.5 degrees to the golf clubhead 10. Further, the golfer can rotate the present invention with the bent section 25 upward, more upright from the ground to add a desired upright, for example 1.5 degrees to the golf clubhead 10 comparing with the flight stabilizer 20 with no bent section 25. Additionally, the golfer can rotate the present invention with the bent section 25 downward towards the ground to decrease the upright, for example 1.5 degrees to the golf clubhead 10 comparing with the flight stabilizer 20 with no bent section 25 to make the golf clubhead 10 more flatter.

To install the present invention after acquiring one flight stabilizer 20, the golfer first chooses an existing golf club and cuts the golf club shaft 30 to a desired length. Then the golfer inserts the golf club shaft 30 into the flight stabilizer 20 at the second end 24, through the connection hole 28, and seals seam. Next, the golfer can use the existing golf clubhead 10 or choose any other desired clubhead and inserts the flight stabilizer 20 into the golf clubhead 10. By installing the flight stabilizer 20, the golfer not only repairs the existing club, but also substantially improves the performance of the club.

The preferred embodiment of the seven-inch flight stabilizer 20 provides the golfer a reduced radial torque, for instance, from 4.0 torque rating to 2.0, which will help the golfer straighten mishit shots significantly. Secondly, the flight stabilizer 20 heightens the flex point of the club, especially for a graphite shaft, which will improve the ball flight pattern after impact. This feature benefits the golfer with longer shots, better control of the ball trajectory, and maneuverability especially in windy conditions. Thirdly, the flight stabilizer 20 pures the golf club shaft 30 substantially and economically, thus improving the shaft cylindrical continuity to provide more accuracy and longer shots than before installing the present invention. Fourthly, the flight stabilizer 20 smoothly increases the blended swing weight and provides a blended transition from the tip of the light golf club shaft to the heavy golf clubhead golf club shaft, especially for a titanium driver, fairway metal wood and hybrids, etc. This added swing weight gives the golfer a better feel during the golf swing and impact, thus improves the swing consistency dramatically. Furthermore, the flight stabilizer 20 of the present invention provides the golfer a much more reliable club shaft 30 that reduces the breakage potential substantially and allows the golfer to quickly repair any broken clubs more efficiently.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, a study was conducted by an independent equipment testing company, Golf Laboratories, Inc. for the present invention in April 2019. The study used a Byron® II robotic field tester to measure the swing data, launch data, flight data, descent data, landing data and wind data. A TaylorMade® driver club with and without the flight stabilizer 20 of the present invention was tested to compare the performance. Among the measured data, as seen in FIG. 7, the driver with the flight stabilizer 20 (TaylorMade® stabilized) showed less ball spin, lower maximum height of the ball flight trajectory, and less dispersion than the driver without the flight stabilizer 20 (TaylorMade®). The less ball spin of the driver with the flight stabilizer 20 (TaylorMade® stabilized) resulted in straighter golf shots comparing with the driver without the flight stabilizer 20 (TaylorMade®). Additionally, the lower ball flight trajectory resulted in a longer distance of the shot. As can be seen in FIG. 8, Another study was performed in an independent company, Golf Works®, which includes a static comparison testing between a regular, ungripped graphite shaft without the flight stabilizer 20 and a graphite shaft with the flight stabilizer 20. Each of the shafts compared was tested on a frequency machine with a 2-lb. and a 7-lb. weight attached to the tip of the shaft, respectively. The test results showed that the graphite shaft with the flight stabilizer 20 achieved higher bend point under each weight than the graphite shaft without the flight stabilizer 20, which normally results in a lower golf ball flight trajectory, thus longer distance. Additionally, the measured torque for the graphite shaft with the flight stabilizer 20 is lower under each weight than that for the graphite shaft with the flight stabilizer 20, which normally results in less dispersion, thus straighter shot.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the study conducted by the Golf Laboratories, Inc. included a TaylorMade® driver club with the flight stabilizer 20 of the present invention (TaylorMade® Iron Shaft) and an iron shaft 30, which under normal applications is rarely implemented. Most existing iron shafts comprise a tip diameter that is larger than the tip diameter of clubheads of most existing drivers, thus posing difficulties to golfers and golf professionals to efficiently build a wood club such as a driver using a regular iron shaft and a clubhead. The flight stabilizer 20 of the present invention, however, can efficiently and effectively overcome such difficulties due to the taper 22 of the body 21, which can attach to an iron shaft through the connecting hole 28 on the second end 24 and the clubhead 10 on the first end 23, as seen in FIG. 1 to FIG. 6.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs comprising:

a body;

a first end;

a second end;

the first end and the second end being terminally positioned across the body;

the body comprising a taper;

the taper attenuating from the second end to the first end;

the first end being configured to be affixed to a golf clubhead; and

the second end being configured to be affixed to a golf shaft.

2. The flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs comprising as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body is seven inches in length.

3. The flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs comprising as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

the body being a cylindrical tube;

the first end and the second end being concentrically and distally positioned on the body; and

the first end and the second end being open-ended.

4. The flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs comprising as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tube thickness of the body is 0.051 inches (1.3 mm).

5. The flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs comprising as claimed in claim 3, wherein the outer diameter of the first end of the body is 0.335 inches.

6. The flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs comprising as claimed in claim 3 comprising:

the body comprising a connecting hole; and

the connecting hole being terminally and concentrically positioned on the body adjacent the second end.

7. The flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs comprising as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inner diameter of the connecting hole of the body is 0.370 inches.

8. The flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs comprising as claimed in claim 2 comprising:

the body comprising a first straight connector and a second straight connector;

the first straight connector being terminally positioned on the body adjacent the first end; and

the second straight connector being terminally positioned on the body adjacent the second end.

9. The flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs comprising as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the first straight connector and the second straight connector of the body is 0.5 inches in length.

10. The flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs comprising as claimed in claim 3 comprising:

the golf shaft being an iron-type shaft; and

wherein the diameter of the golf shaft distal end being connected to the connecting hole of the body is greater than that of the golf clubhead.

11. An adjustable flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs comprising:

a body;

a first end;

a second end;

a bent section;

the first end and the second end being terminally positioned across the body;

the body comprising a taper;

the taper being attenuating from the first end to the second end;

the first end being configured to be affixed to a golf clubhead;

the second end being configured to be affixed to a golf shaft; and

and the bent section being adjustably positioned anywhere along the body.

12. The adjustable flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs as claimed in claim 11, wherein the bent section can be adjustably oriented at an angle between 0.05 to 4.5 degrees with respect to the body.

13. The adjustable flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs as claimed in claim 11 comprising:

the body being a cylindrical tube;

the first end and the second end being concentrically and distally positioned on the body;

the first end and the second end being open-ended; and

the bent section being a cylindrical tube.

14. The adjustable flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs as claimed in claim 11, wherein the body is seven inches in length.

15. The adjustable flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs as claimed in claim 11, wherein the tube thickness of the body and the bent section is 0.051 inches (1.3 mm).

16. The adjustable flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs as claimed in claim 11, wherein the outer diameter of the first end of the body is 0.335 inches.

17. The adjustable flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs as claimed in claim 11 comprising:

the body comprising a connecting hole; and

the connecting hole being terminally and concentrically positioned on the body adjacent the second end.

18. The adjustable flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs as claimed in claim 17, wherein the inner diameter of the connecting hole of the body is 0.370 inches.

19. The adjustable flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs as claimed in claim 13 comprising:

the body comprising a first straight connector and a second straight connector;

the first straight connector being terminally positioned on body adjacent the first end; and

the second straight connector being terminally positioned on body adjacent the second end.

20. The adjustable flight stabilizing shaft-to-clubhead adapter for golf clubs as claimed in claim 19, wherein both the first straight connector and the second straight connector of the body is 0.5 inches in length.