Abstract: In one embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole with three recessed cavities for attachment to a hosel-bending tool. In another embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole that includes one predetermined contact area proximal to the toe edge of the sole. In another embodiment, a golf club head is presented having a sole in which pads of material are incorporated that may be milled to vary the relief of the sole and to modify mass characteristics of the club head. Yet another embodiment presents a golf club head having a body with a cavity to receive a cartridge that has a constant density and weight.

Abstract: A designing method of the present invention includes the steps of: measuring a golf swing to obtain a measured result; obtaining a swing model provided with a link model and joint torque data based on the measured result, the link model having at least two links; performing simulation for swing the golf club using the swing model; and obtaining head information in a specific situation during a swing based on a result of the simulation. In the designing method, a plurality of specifications of the golf club and/or the plurality of swing models are used to obtain the plurality of head information, and stability is evaluated using a difference between the head information. In the designing method, it was found that a great lateral moment of inertia of a head and a small depth of a center of gravity of the head contribute to the stability.

Abstract: A golf club head has a face portion and a body portion. The face portion has a support frame, a matrix structure attached to and contained within the support frame, and a face material surrounding the matrix structure. In some aspects, the matrix structure may be a racquet structure that is tensioned to influence performance characteristics. The face material may be a metal, polymer, ceramic, or a combination thereof, and may be encapsulated over the matrix structure by suitable techniques such as coating, dipping, or molding processes such as injection molding or metal injection molding (MIM). In some aspects, the face material is lighter than the body portion of the club head, to concentrate mass away from the striking face, e.g., as in cup face technology.

Abstract: A hybrid golf club head for producing accurate and long distance shots, where the head includes: a body member having a hitting surface, a top surface, a toe end, a heel end, and a sole surface extending between the toe end and the heel end, and a shaft attachment portion extending from the heel end upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, wherein width of the top surface near the shaft attachment portion ranges from about ¾ inches to about 1 inch, and width of the top surface near the toe end ranges from about 1 inch to 1 & ? inches; and wherein the hitting surface is inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a shaft axis to produce the accurate and the long distance shots, further wherein the length (L) of the hitting surface 14 is about 4 inches and the breadth (B) ranges from about 1 ¾ inches to about 2 ½ inches.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a golf club head comprises a body comprising a first material, a front end, a rear end, a bottom wall portion, a top wall portion, and a first aperture into the first material and located in a wall surface of the bottom wall portion. The golf club head also comprises a first insert comprising a second material different than the first material and located in the first aperture. The golf club head comprises a club head mass; the first insert comprises an insert mass, the club head mass comprises the insert mass; the insert mass comprises more than half of the club head mass; the first insert comprises less than half of a volume of materials of the golf club head; and the materials of the golf club head comprise the first material and the second material. Other examples and related methods are described herein.

Abstract: A golf club with a plurality of rails wherein the plurality of rails is capable of improving turf interaction for various turf conditions with various turf undulations is disclosed herein. More specifically, the present invention discloses a metal wood type golf club having a plurality of rails on its sole that is capable of changing the lie angle of the metal wood type golf club head by varying the combination of the rails on the sole that comes into contact with the ground to provide improved turf interaction for various types of lies.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a body having a front face for impacting a golf ball and a hosel having a bore for receiving one end of a golf club shaft. The body including the hosel may be made of a material such as steel. A hosel weight mounted on the hosel may be made of another material such as tungsten which has a greater density than the material forming the body.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a wood type golf club head body having a ball striking face portion, a rear end portion opposite the ball striking face portion, a crown or top portion, a sole or bottom portion, a toe end portion, and a heel end portion. Further, the golf club head includes a moveable weight member, which may be contained internally within the golf club head body so that the moveable weight member is not exposed. Also, the club head may include a track system contained internally within the golf club head body so that the track system is not exposed. The track system includes a track which extends around the interior of one or more walls that comprise the golf club head body and the moveable weight member moves around the interior of the golf club head by sliding in the track.

Abstract: A golf club having a shaft, a club head and a connection region structure provides an angled connection of the shaft to the club head. The connection region structure includes a first end, a second end and a bore extending from the first end toward the second end. The first end has an opening to receive the distal end of the shaft. The second end is opposite to the first end and includes a mounting surface. The bore receives the distal end of the shaft and defines a longitudinal axis. The mounting surface is at a non-zero angle to a perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bore. Further, the mounting surface abuts the first surface of a shaft-attachment structure that projects from a main body of the club head.

Abstract: A golf club having a golf club head 20 with a keel zone that makes the actual face angle of the golf club appear differently when the golf club is at address. The golf club head 20 has a keel zone that is preferably 0.5 inch wide in the fore-aft direction and 1.0 inch wide in the heel-toe direction, which changes the appearance of the face angle while the golf club is at address.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs, golf club heads and removable golf club weights are generally described herein. According to certain embodiments, an example golf club head comprises a face for striking a golf ball, a backside portion, a sole portion, and one or more removable weights. According to such embodiments, the example golf club head may further comprise a vibration damping composition disposed between the removable weights and the golf club head.

Abstract: A body member has a face plate and a first engaging member. A sole plate has a second engaging member, the first and second engaging members being interlocked with one another. A layer of resilient material is disposed between the first engaging member and the second engaging member.

Abstract: Releasable golf club head/shaft connection systems and methods allow one to change shafts on a single club head, change club heads on a single shaft, and/or change the angular orientation features of a golf club. Such systems may include: (a) a club head body including a hosel and a locking nut stabilizer; (b) a shaft releasably engaged with the club head body, wherein an end of the shaft includes a retaining member that is inserted into the club head body; and (c) a locking nut engaged with a side surface of the club head body such that a body portion of the locking nut extends at least partially through the hosel and is supported by the locking nut stabilizer. The locking nut is movably engaged with the club head body such that it securely holds the shaft or allows the shaft to be removed therefrom.

Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an asymmetrical visual swing indicator is provided. The asymmetrical visual swing indicator may be formed to represent an apparent backswing path outward of an actual backswing path. In certain configurations the asymmetrical visual swing indicator is positioned such that a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to the hitting surface of the golf club is closer to a heel end plane of the golf club head then a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to a rear surface of the golf club head. A method of fitting a golf club head by determining an initial swing plane using a measuring device, determining a desired swing plane, and applying an asymmetrically shaped visual indicator to a golf club head based upon the determined initial swing plane and the desired swing is also provided.

Abstract: A golf club includes: a head, formed with a hosel insertion hole, including: a female screw, formed in an inner peripheral surface of the entrance portion of the hosel insertion hole; a hosel, formed with a shaft case insertion hole and mounted on a deep portion of the hosel insertion hole; a shaft case, formed with a shaft insertion hole, a leading end portion of the shaft case being mounted into the shaft case insertion hole; a ring holder, fitted with an outer surface of the shaft case; a screw member, fitted with an outer surface of the ring holder in a peripheral direction of the ring holder; and a male screw, formed on an outer peripheral surface of the screw member so that the screw member is engaged with the female screw; and a shaft, inserted into the shaft insertion hole of the head.

Abstract: A golf club head with a leading end of a shaft mountable thereon, the golf club head includes: a head main body, formed with a hosel insertion hole; a hosel, formed with a shaft case insertion hole and removably mounted in the hosel insertion hole; and a shaft case, formed with a shaft insertion hole and removably mounted in the shaft case insertion hole.

Abstract: A dual purpose putting and chipping golf club has a golf club head with a golf ball impact face vertically split into a pair of angularly divergent impact surfaces; a vertical putting surface and an obtusely angled chipping surface which face in the same horizontal direction.

Abstract: A wedge type golf club head is disclosed herein where the wedge type golf club head has enhanced performance characteristics such as improved backspin, ball speed, and launch angle. More specifically, the present invention relates to a wedge type golf club head having a lower center of gravity, where the center of gravity is located substantially behind the hitting surface and substantially along a neutral axis behind the point of impact.

Abstract: This invention provides a golf club head including a face member. The face member includes a face portion forming a face, and a crown extending portion extending backward from the upper edge of the face portion. The width of the crown extending portion in a face to back direction at the toe side is larger than that in the face to back direction at the heel side.

Abstract: A golf club head with a body and an asymmetrical visual swing indicator is provided. The asymmetrical visual swing indicator may be formed to represent an apparent backswing path outward of an actual backswing path. In certain configurations the asymmetrical visual swing indicator is positioned such that a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to the hitting surface of the golf club is closer to a heel end plane of the golf club head then a portion of the asymmetrical visual swing indicator closest to a rear surface of the golf club head. A method of fitting a golf club head by determining an initial swing plane using a measuring device, determining a desired swing plane, and applying an asymmetrically shaped visual indicator to a golf club head based upon the determined initial swing plane and the desired swing is also provided.

Abstract: A golf club head according to one or more aspects of the present invention may include a heel, a toe, a crown, a sole, a strike face, and a lower transition region between the strike face and the sole. The lower transition region may have a plurality of nadir angles progressively increasing in size from the central region of the strike face to the heel and/or toe. The club head may further include an upper transition region between the strike face and the crown. The upper transition region may have a plurality of apex angles progressively increasing in size from the central region of the strike face to the heel and/or toe.

Abstract: A golf club having a golf club shaft and a golf club head is provided. The shaft includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The golf club head, which is attached to the distal end of the golf club shaft, extends from a heel region to a toe region. The golf club head includes an angle adjustment discontinuity that is located below the distal end of the golf club shaft. The angle adjustment discontinuity includes a first elongated groove extending over both a transverse distance and a longitudinal distance. The first elongated groove does not encircle the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A ball striking device, such as a golf club, includes a head with a face having an outer surface configured for striking a ball, a body connected to the face, and an insert connected to the face and forming a portion of the outer surface. The density and/or friction properties of the insert may be different from those of adjacent portions of the face. Depending on the size, shape, and location of the insert, the moment of inertia of the head may change, the center of gravity of the face may shift, and/or the degree and direction of spin on the ball resulting from impacts may change.

Abstract: A golf club or component thereof has a surface, wherein at least one area of the surface has a level of hydrophilicity which is less than the level of hydrophilicity in at least one surrounding portion, causing moisture to be preferentially attracted to the surrounding portion. In one aspect, the surface is a striking face and the surrounding portion is one or more grooves formed in the striking face. In another aspect, the surface is a grip and the surrounding portion is one or more channels formed in the grip. In some examples, hydrophobic or superhydrophobic surfaces on golf club components repel water and, in some instances, also offer self-cleaning functionality.

Abstract: A golf club, components therefore, and a method for manufacturing the components is disclosed herein. The golf club having removable components includes a club head, a shaft, and a connection assembly. The club head includes a hosel having an upper treaded portion and a lower portion with a ribbed cross-section. The connection assembly includes a sleeve mounted on the tip end of the shaft and a screw-cap. The sleeve, which has an aperture for receiving the tip end of the shaft, includes a lower section that has a multi-faceted surface for engaging the lower portion of the hosel. The screw-cap is mounted over the sleeve and includes a body having an upper area and a threaded area, the latter of which is capable of engaging the upper threaded portion of the hosel to removably secure the shaft to the club head.

Abstract: A golf club head has structure for assisting a golfer, and a head cover has structure for supporting the golfer-assisting structure. In one aspect, the golfer-assisting structure provides a visual indicator, such as an alignment marker, a ball impact indicator, a temperature indicator, or the like. In another aspect, the golfer-assisting structure includes sensor(s) and/or other electronic components for measuring swing characteristics, course conditions, global position, or the like. The supporting structure may provide a source of energy, such as a power source, a light source, or a heat source. In some aspects, the supporting structure may include a processor for receiving data from the golfer-assisting structure, and may transmit data to a display on the head cover and/or to an external source.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a golf club head includes a body and a restrictor mechanism coupled to a first portion of the body. The restrictor mechanism can have a base coupled to the first portion of the body, and a weight coupled to the base. The restrictor mechanism can be configured to (1) present a first resistance to a first deformation of the base in response to a rotational inertia of the weight relative to a rotation of the golf club head in a first direction, and (2) present a second resistance to a second deformation of the base in response to the rotational inertia of the weight relative to a rotation of the golf club head in a second direction opposite the first direction, where the first resistance is greater than the second resistance. Other examples and related methods are disclosed herein.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a golf club head has a body with a front section, a first restrictor of a restrictor mechanism coupled to a first portion of the body, and a weight having a first end coupled to the restrictor mechanism and to the body. The first restrictor has a first stiffness and is non-integral with the weight. Responsive to impact at a first zone of the front section, the first restrictor and the first end of the weight react towards each other, and the first stiffness can resist a deformation of the first restrictor by the first end of the weight. Responsive to impact at a second zone of the front section, the first restrictor and the first end of the weight react away from each other such that the first stiffness is substantially non-involved with first end of the weight. Other examples and related methods are also described herein.

Abstract: Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a collet, a ferrule, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a golf club and golf ball combination that maximizes the distance of travel when the golf club strikes the golf ball. More specifically, a golf club and golf ball combination capable of generating a higher launch angle combined with the lower spin rate to maximize the distance. The golf club in accordance with the present invention may generally have a lower center of gravity, a higher loft angle, or may even have a coating on the club face that optimizes the coefficient of friction between the golf club and the golf ball. The golf ball in accordance with the present invention may generally have a ratio of the coefficient of lift (CL) near the beginning of flight to the coefficient of lift near the end of the flight within a range that maximizes flight distance, with similar ratios in appropriate ranges for the coefficient of drag (CD) and the lift-to-drag ratio (CL/CD).

Abstract: A golf club head of a hollow wood type, that includes: a face portion; a body portion including a crown portion; and a film provided on the face portion and at least a front part of the crown portion. A film thickness T1 of the face portion is greater than or equal to a film thickness T2 of the body portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for actively controlling the impact between a club head and a golf ball. A golf club head has a face with an actuator material or device mechanically coupled to influence face motion. The face actuation controls impact parameters, impact properties, or resulting ball parameters such as speed, direction and spin rates resulting from the impact event between the face of the club and the golf ball. Further, the apparatus has a control device for determining the actuation of the face. Several embodiments are presented for controlling parameters such as ball speed and direction. The invention can use energy derived from the ball impact, converted into electrical energy, and then reapplied in a controlled fashion to influence an aspect of the face, such as position, velocity, deformation, stiffness, vibration, motion, temperature, or other physical parameter.

Abstract: A sports article includes a portion that includes a nanostructured material. The nanostructured material includes a metal, and the nanostructured material has an average grain size that is in the range of 2 nm to 5,000 nm, a yield strength that is in the range of 200 MPa to 2,750 MPa, and a hardness that is in the range of 100 Vickers to 2,000 Vickers. The sports article can be any of a variety of sports equipment and associated components, such as a golf club, a baseball bat, a softball bat, a lacrosse stick, or a hockey stick.

Abstract: A golf club head is disclosed. The golf club head has a body member and a face insert formed of different materials. The body material is relatively soft and ductile to allow the club to be customized, and the face insert member is relatively hard and wear resistant to ensure that the face groove geometry remains substantially unaltered through use.

Abstract: The present invention describes wood-type golf club heads and methods of adjusting these wood-type golf club heads. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a wood-type golf club head having a body with a sole portion, a face portion, and a hollow interior. Furthermore, a crown portion is disposed on the body, and the crown portion has an upper crown and a lower crown. The upper crown is disposed a predetermined height above the lower crown and the lower crown makes up more than half of the crown portion.

Abstract: Embodiments of golf clubs, golf club heads and removable golf club weights are generally described herein. According to certain embodiments, an example golf club head comprises a face for striking a golf ball, a backside portion, a sole portion, and one or more removable weights. According to such embodiments, the example golf club head may further comprise a vibration damping composition disposed between the removable weights and the golf club head.

Abstract: Embodiments of movable weights, such as weight plugs and other types of movable weights, for a golf club head are disclosed herein. One embodiment for a weight plug, for example, includes a mass element with a first end that has a threaded portion and a second end. The weight plug also has a weight cap with a seal retention portion that is configured to engage a seal. The cap is also configured to engage the threaded portion of the mass element. A seal is positioned between the first end of the mass element and the seal retention portion of the cap.

Abstract: The accuracy or computation speed of analysis of a club head using the finite element method is improved. In a method of analysis of a golf club head, a model of the golf club head represented by a set of elements including tetrahedral solid elements 30 is prepared on a computer, nodes 32 are provided at the vertexes and on at least one side of the tetrahedral solid element, and the kinetic properties of the golf club head are computed by the finite element method in which the elements and nodes of the model are used and the nodes are made output points of computation. At this time, in at least some of the tetrahedral solid elements, the number of nodes provided per one element is made not fewer than ten.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method that enables an assistive energy type golf club to sense the approach of the club face toward a golf ball, and to trigger the release of the assistive energy at the optimum time to achieve the desired golf ball velocity and distance.

Abstract: A golf club head is provided with a center of gravity positioned within a partial ellipsoid defined in an impact reference frame that has its origin at the hit center of the face of the golf club head. The majority of the partial ellipsoid is located toward the golfer from the hit center and all of the partial ellipsoid is below the hit center in the impact reference frame.

Abstract: Wood-type golf club heads (e.g., drivers, fairway woods, wood-type hybrid clubs, or the like) include: (a) a ball striking face; (b) a club head body engaged or integrally formed with the ball striking face, wherein the club head body includes a removable wrapping element proximal to the ball striking face.

Abstract: A set of iron clubs where each club in the set has the same or substantially the same ground roll. The set is produced by adjusting at least two club design characteristics of the clubs based upon measured or assumed player swing data. The design characteristics of the clubs include club length, static clubhead loft, location of the center of gravity, shaft flexibility, and groove volume. Preferably, club length and static clubhead loft are adjusted for coarse adjustments, while the other characteristics are used to fine-tune the design.

Abstract: Golf clubs and golf club heads, such as putter heads, may include a putter body and an insert forming a ball striking face and engaged with the putter body. Portions of the insert may be formed of a metal material, while portions of the insert may be formed of a polymer material. The insert may include a base portion having grooves formed therein. This base may be joined with another material to form the insert. In some arrangements, the insert may be a two-sided, reversible construction and may have different performance characteristics associated with each side of the insert. Methods for making such putter devices are also described.

Abstract: A golf club head includes a club head having a plurality of components and a plurality of retaining members, with each retaining member positioned on one of the components. A tensioning assembly for releasably securing the components of the club head together includes a tension element coupled to the club head components by way of the retaining members, and a tensioning member for introducing tension into the tension element.

Abstract: A golf club system comprising a set of golf clubs, with each golf club having a face angle being between one and sixty five degrees from a plumb plane. Each golf club has a club head having an associated hosel. The hosel may have an offset configuration.

Abstract: A golf club may have an orientation marker located on the golf club that indicates at least a relative orientation between the golf club head and shaft. The orientation marker may be located, for example, on the golf club head or shaft. A key member provides additional information with respect to the relative orientation between the golf club head and the shaft. The key member may be located, for example, on the golf club head, shaft, or grip portion, or on a head cover for the golf club head.

Abstract: A golf club suitable for use in driving or putting a golf ball comprising a club head attached to a shaft includes a bottle cap removal structure in a rear surface of the club head.

Abstract: A golf club head is formed with openings respectively on top and bottom sides thereof and a circumferential recessed groove is formed in the club head along a circumference of each opening. Pegs are formed in and spaced along the circumferential grooves. A faceplate and a bottom plate are provided, each having a circumferential edge along which notches are formed in a spaced manner to correspond to the pegs. Thus, when the faceplate and the bottom plate are received in the top and bottom openings respectively to be supported by the circumferential grooves, the notches respectively snugly fit over the pegs to thereby securely and properly hold the faceplate and the bottom plate in position for subsequently welding operation. Thus, the subsequent welding operation can be carried out in a smooth manner without any underside shifting of the faceplate and bottom plate with respect to the club head.

Abstract: The present invention is a unique fairway wood type golf club. The club is a high moment of inertia fairway wood type golf club characterized by a long blade length with a long heel blade length section, while having a small club moment arm and all the benefits afforded therefrom. The fairway wood incorporates the discovery of unique relationships among key club head engineering variables that are inconsistent with merely striving to obtain a high MOIy using conventional golf club head design wisdom. The resulting fairway wood has a face closing moment of inertia (MOIfc) that provides golfers with a feel similar to that of a modern driver or hybrid golf club.

Abstract: A method of making a golf club head includes the steps of: preparing a head body formed with at least one cavity, and at least one flange protruding from the head body and proximate to the cavity; mounting a counterweight unit in the cavity; bending the flange toward the cavity and pressing the flange against the counterweight unit; joining the counterweight unit to the head body using a solder; and polishing the head body and the counterweight unit to remove excess of the flange and the solder.