Balanced set of golf clubs

Abstract

A set of golf clubs with a plurality of at least two combinations of different lengths of a minimum of three golf clubs in each combination having progressive lofts that are matched to provide identical swing characteristics requiring unique loft and club length progressions to provide consistent yardage spacing between irons within a combination and between combinations. Each club in a combination is further defined by the shaft having an equal length; an identical swing weight, an identical grip weight and an identical head weight.

Claims

1. A set of a golf clubs having a plurality of at least two combinations of clubs; each combination of said set having a different length than the length of other combinations of said set; the club length difference between successive combinations of clubs being no less than 0.66 inches and no more than 2.33 inches; each combination including a minimum of three golf clubs; each of the minimum of three golf clubs in a combination defined as having the same length and are matched to provide identical swing characteristics; said combinations of said set having unique loft progressions between the clubs in the individual combinations, whereby each of the combinations is characterized by a loft difference between the individual clubs in any particular combination where the loft difference between the first, lowest lofted club and the second, higher lofted club in the same combination is no more than the loft difference between the second, higher lofted club and the third, highest lofted club in the same combination; each individual combination of clubs further defined as having loft differences between individual clubs that are no less than the loft differences between the same consecutive individual clubs of another combination as the length of the clubs in combinations increase; and, each club in any combination having an identical club head weight and each club having an identical swing weight.

2. The set of golf clubs of claim 1 wherein each individual golf club includes a club head formed of a ball striking face, upper surface, bottom, toe, heel and rear surface including an integral rear weight; each individual golf club including a shaft and a grip at the upper end of said shaft.

3. The set of golf clubs of claim 1 further defined by the height of said toe and the height of said heel in individual irons is the same for each individual club within each combination.

4. The set of golf clubs of claim 1 wherein the loft difference between the highest lofted club in a combination and the lowest lofted club in an ad joining, higher lofted combination is no more than the loft difference between consecutive individual clubs in the prior less lofted combination and is no more than the loft difference between consecutive individual clubs in an adjoining, higher lofted combination.

5. The set of golf clubs of claim 4 defined as having more than two combinations wherein the loft difference between the highest lofted club in a particular combination and the lowest lofted club in an adjoining, higher lofted combination is no more than the loft difference between the highest lofted club in the same adjoining, higher lofted combination and the lowest lofted club in the next adjoining, higher lofted combination.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a set of golf clubs made in three combinations of three clubs in accordance with present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is an elevational view of three golf club heads forming a single combination of clubs of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of a single golf club head of the invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a bottom view of FIG. 3.

(5) FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the club head of FIG. 3.

(6) FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the of FIG. 3.

(7) FIG. 7 is a toe perspective view of the club head of FIG. 3.

(8) FIG. 8 is a heel perspective view of the club head of FIG. 3.

(9) FIG. 9 is a toe end view of the club head of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 discloses a set of golf clubs 100 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The set includes individual clubs 102 in three adjoining combinations 103 as represented by a first combination 103a of three clubs 102, a second combination 103b of a middle three clubs 102 and a third combination 103c of a last three clubs 102. Each golf club 102 of the set includes a club head 104, shaft 106 and grip 108.

(11) The overall length of each club 102 preferably is between 30 and 40 inches, the exact length being determined by the physical size and overall dimensions of a particular golfer who will use the clubs. In the embodiment shown, each club 102 of a first combination 103a of the set 100 is made the same length of 38.25 inches within a tolerance of 0.275 inches. The adjoining second combination 103b of three clubs 102 has a length of 37.25 inches also within a tolerance of 0.275 inches. The third combination 103c of three clubs has a length of 36.25 with a 0.275 inch tolerance.

(12) A set of golf clubs using multiple combinations will utilize a difference in length for the individual clubs in that combination than the length of clubs for adjoining combinations. In a typical set using more than a minimum of two combinations, a first combination 103a has a length of 38.25 inches plus or minus 0.275 inches. An adjoining combination 103b of higher lofted clubs uses a length of 37.25 inches plus or minus 0.275 inches.

(13) The length of the clubs 102 in a third adjoining combination 103c of still higher lofted clubs is 36.25 inches plus or minus 0.275 inches. As with the first two combinations 103a and 103b, the difference in length of the clubs of combination 103c and the clubs 102 of the previously adjoining combination 103b is one inch, however, it will be appreciated that the length difference of clubs in the various combinations may be any suitable length depending upon the size of the set of clubs. Preferably this length difference will be as little as 0.45 inches and no greater than 2.55 inches.

(14) For example, a set of golf clubs using a minimum of two combinations to make the set preferably will utilize a difference in length as great as 2.55 inches for adjoining combinations. A set having three or more combinations preferably will use a shorter length difference of clubs between combinations and may be as little as 0.45 inches.

(15) Each club 102 in a combination 103a, for example, is matched to provide identical swing characteristics and the set 100 is provided with unique loft progressions between the clubs in the combinations. The individual clubs 102 in any of the combinations are formed with a loft difference between the individual clubs 102 in any particular combination where the loft difference between the first, lowest lofted club and the second, higher lofted club in the same combination is no more than the loft difference between the second, higher lofted club and the third, highest lofted club in the same combination.

(16) The loft difference between the first and second clubs in a combination can be the same as or less than the loft difference between the second higher lofted club and the third higher lofted club in the same combination. For example, the clubs 102 in the first combination 103a all have a loft difference of 3.0 degrees between each of the clubs 102. The clubs 102 in the second combination have a loft difference of 3.5 degrees and the clubs 102 in the third combination have a loft difference of 4.0 degrees.

(17) Another feature of the set 100 of golf clubs 102 of the present invention is that each individual combination of clubs has loft differences between individual clubs in that combination that are no less than the loft differences between consecutive individual clubs of another combination 103, as the length of the clubs 102 in individual combinations increase.

(18) The loft differences between individual clubs in a single combination can be the same as or more than the loft differences between consecutive individual clubs of another combination, as the length of the clubs 102 in individual combinations increase. For example, combination 103c has individual clubs 102 that have the shortest length of 36.25 inches and have a loft difference of 4 degrees between the individual clubs 102 in that combination 103c. Likewise combination 103b that has a length of 37.25 inches for each individual club 102 has a lesser loft difference of 3.5 degrees between the individual clubs 102 in that combination. Combination 103a that has the longest length of 38.5 inches for each club 102, has the least loft difference of 3.0 degrees between the individual clubs 102 in the combination 103a.

(19) The swing weight of each club 102 in any of the individual combinations 103 of clubs is essentially the same and may vary plus or minus 1.0 swing weight points or 50 gram inches and may vary between combinations. Overall the swing weight is between 5350 gram/inches and 6350 gram/inches depending upon the physical characteristics and the individual swing of the golfer using the set of clubs 100.

(20) The club head weight is the same for each club 102 of any of the individual combinations 103 of the set 100 and overall is between 220 grams and 370 grams and may vary plus or minus 5.0 grams.

(21) FIG. 2 shows three club heads 104 of a typical combination 103 having different lofts of 29.5 degrees, 33.0 degrees and 36.5 degrees but with identical physical characteristics as described below.

(22) FIGS. 3 through 8 show a typical club head 104 of a generally conventional design used in the golf set 100 of the present invention. It will be appreciated that all club heads 104 within the set 100 vary primarily in loft angle throughout the set 100 in a conventional manner. Each club head 104 includes a ball striking face 110, heel 112, toe 114, top ridge 116, bottom sole 118, and a rear peripheral weight 120, having a rear face 122, formed at an angle between said striking face 110 and rear face 122 the angle progressively increasing in a heel 112 to toe 114 direction. The heel 112 and toe 114 heights are constant in size for each club 102 in a combination 103 within a set 100. The heel 112 and toe 114 heights are measured at a location equidistant from the centerline of the club head 104 on the ball striking face 110. The heights may be varied to achieve a desired overall weight.

(23) A rear cavity 124. is formed in the rear weight 120. The club head 104 further includes a hosel 126 for connection to a shaft 106 as shown in FIG. 1. The cavity 124 is measured by the major transverse axis, MATA, and minor transverse axis, MITA, as shown in FIG. 3. The size of the cavity 124 is varied to achieve the desired weight.

(24) Each club head 104 is made with all the club head parameters as described above precisely controlled using conventional forging, casting, CNC milling, 3D printing or other manufacturing techniques.

(25) The set includes at least two combinations 103 formed of a plurality of at least three golf clubs 102, with progressively increasing lofts, each having a club head 104, a shaft 106 and grip 108 to provide identical swing characteristics when using essentially the same golf swing.

(26) The following table discloses typical measurements of various parameters of three combinations 103 of golf clubs 102 the make up a set 100. The table quantifies the center of gravity, CG, the toe and heel heights, the club head weight, the grip weight, the shaft weight, the shaft length, the total length. the cavity parameters, the back angle and the back height of the club head.

(27) TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 20.5 23.5 26.5 29.5 33 36.5 40 44 48 CG X Axis Inches 0.05 0.05 0.04 0.04 0.04 0.03 0.05 0.05 0.05 CG Y Axis Inches 0.71 0.72 0.72 0.70 0.70 0.69 0.67 0.66 0.64 CG Z Axis Inches −0.19 −0.17 −0.17 −0.16 −0.15 −0.14 −0.13 −0.12 −0.11 Head Weight grams 252.0 252.0 252.0 268.0 268.0 268.0 285.0 285.0 285.0 Grip Weight grams 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 50.00 Shaft Weight grams 125.0 125.0 125.0 121.0 121.0 121.0 117.0 117.0 117.0 Shaft Length inches 37.07 37.07 37.07 36.07 36.07 36.07 35.07 35.07 35.07 Total Length inches 38.25 38.25 38.25 37.25 37.25 37.25 36.25 36.25 36.25 Major Tran Axis Inches 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.48 2.48 (MATA) Minor Tran Axis Inches 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 0.55 (MITA) Cavity Area Sq In 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.07 1.07 Back Angle degrees 6.25 6.25 6.25 6.25 6.25 6.25 6.25 6.25 6.25 Back Height Inches 0.61 0.61 0.60 0.56 0.55 0.54 0.50 0.49 0.48 Toe Height Inches 2.01 2.01 2.01 2.13 2.13 2.13 2.44 2.44 2.44 Heel Height Inches 1.06 1.06 1.06 1.18 1.18 1.18 1.30 1.30 1.30

(28) The present invention is not limited to the specific golf club heads disclosed and it is equally applicable to club heads of various designs and shapes. It will also be appreciated that other modifications, including but not limited to the preferred embodiment, can be made to the combinations of golf clubs disclosed above in keeping within the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.