Golf club

Abstract

A golf club comprising an elongate shaft having a grip at a first longitudinal end thereof; a club head coupled to a second longitudinal end of the elongate shaft, the club head comprising a sole and a ball striking face; and, an elongate marker comprising a longitudinal axis orientated such that, when the sole of the golf club lies substantially parallel to the plane of the ground, the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker extends in a plane defined by a first vector in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ground and a second vector substantially parallel to a normal of the face of the club head. In use, the marker assists the player in optimizing the orientation of the golf club and, particularly but not exclusively, assists in achieving a hands-ahead position. Methods for adapting a golf club and manufacturing a golf club are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A golf club comprising: an elongate shaft having a grip at a first longitudinal end thereof; a club head coupled to a second longitudinal end of the elongate shaft, the club head comprising a sole and a ball striking face, the sole is oriented relative to the shaft, wherein with the shaft in a vertical plane address position, the sole is positioned at an angle with respect to a horizontal line perpendicular to the vertical plane address position; and an elongate marker comprising a longitudinal axis orientated such that, when the sole of the golf club lies substantially parallel to a first plane of the ground, the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker extends in a second plane defined by a first vector in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane of the ground and a second vector substantially parallel to a normal of the face of the club head, wherein the club head is coupled to the second longitudinal end of the elongate shaft by a connection portion of the club head, wherein the elongate marker is located at least partially on the connection portion and located on an uppermost surface of the club head so that the elongate marker appears to a user as a straight line parallel to the first plane of the ground when the golf club is inclined forward from the first vector within said second plane, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker is arranged to extend in a direction substantially parallel to the first vector when the angle of the forwardly-inclined golf club shaft is within said second plane and such that the angle of the forwardly-inclined golf club shaft relative to the first vector is between approximately 3 degrees and approximately 30 degrees.

2. The golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate shaft of the golf club is at an angle that is between 3 and 30 degrees to said second plane when the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker lies in said second plane.

3. The golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate marker is orientated such that, when the sole of the golf club lies substantially parallel to the first plane of the ground, the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker is substantially parallel to a line of sight.

4. The golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker is arranged to extend in a direction substantially parallel to the first vector when the angle of the shaft within said second plane and relative to the first vector is between approximately 3 degrees and approximately 30 degrees.

5. The golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ball striking face comprises a leading edge and a trailing edge, defined in terms of a direction of swing of the golf club, the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker being directed towards a leading edge of the ball striking face.

6. The golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ball striking face is positioned with respect to the elongate shaft at an angle of between 0 degrees to 65 degrees.

7. The golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elongate marker comprises a mark that is painted, forged, milled, cast, scored, dyed or molded on the uppermost surface of the golf club.

8. The golf club as claimed in claim 1, wherein the golf head comprises a sole angle of at least 3 to 30 degrees, when measurement of the sole angle is taken whilst centerline of the elongate shaft is in said second plane.

9. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the golf club is a training club comprising a curved shaft as the elongate shaft.

10. The golf club according to claim 9, wherein the curved shaft is configured to curve outwardly away from a direction of the target when in use.

11. A method for modifying a golf club to assist in training, the method comprising: providing a golf club with a grip on a first longitudinal end of an elongate shaft comprising a club head coupled to a second longitudinal end of the elongate shaft, the club head comprising a sole and a substantially planar face, the sole is oriented relative to the elongate shaft, wherein with the elongated shaft in a vertical plane address position, the sole is positioned at an angle with respect to a horizontal line perpendicular to the vertical plane address position; aligning the sole of the golf club with a first plane; and marking the golf club with an elongate marker having a longitudinal axis in a second plane comprising a first vector in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first plane of the ground and a second vector substantially parallel to the normal of the planar face of the club head, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker is arranged to extend in a direction substantially parallel to the first vector when the angle of the forwardly-inclined golf club shaft is within said second plane and such that the angle of the forwardly-inclined golf club shaft relative to the first vector is between approximately 3 degrees and approximately 30 degrees.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein marking step comprises marking a connection portion of the club head coupling the second longitudinal end of the elongate shaft with the club head.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein: the method further comprises identifying a line of sight of a player standing on said first plane and holding the club such that the sole is aligned with the first face; and wherein the marking step comprises marking the golf club with the elongate marker having the longitudinal axis substantially parallel to the line of sight of the player to the head of the golf club when in an optimal address position.

14. A golf club comprising: an elongate shaft having a grip at a first longitudinal end of the elongate shaft; a club head coupled to a second longitudinal end of the elongate shaft via a connection portion of the club head, the club head comprising a sole and a ball striking face defining a first plane, the sole is oriented relative to the elongate shaft, wherein with the elongated shaft in a vertical plane address position, the sole is positioned at an angle with respect to a horizontal line perpendicular to the vertical plane address position; and an elongate marker comprising a longitudinal axis orientated such that, when the sole of the golf club lies substantially parallel to a ground plane, the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker extends in a second plane, wherein the second plane is defined by a first vector perpendicular to the ground plane and a second vector substantially parallel to a normal of the ball striking face of the club head, wherein the elongate marker is located at least partially on the connection portion and located on an uppermost surface of the club head so that the second plane defines a line of sight of a player when the elongate shaft of the golf club is inclined to an optimal position, and wherein the longitudinal axis of the elongate marker is arranged to extend in a direction substantially parallel to the first vector when the angle of the forwardly-inclined golf club shaft is within said second plane and such that the angle of the forwardly-inclined golf club shaft relative to the first vector is between approximately 3 degrees and approximately 30 degrees.

Description

(1) Embodiments of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a is view of a player along the direction of the target line;

(3) FIG. 1b is a diagram of a player at an optimum impact position, with hands ahead angle;

(4) FIG. 2a is a conventional wood club head shown with a loft angle and a conventional loft and lie machine;

(5) FIG. 2b is a golf club according to a first embodiment of the invention;

(6) FIG. 3a shows a golf club with an alignment marking element according to an embodiment of the invention;

(7) FIG. 3b shows an alternative golf club with an alignment marking element according to an embodiment of the invention;

(8) FIG. 3c shows an alternative golf club with an alignment marking element according to an embodiment of the invention;

(9) FIG. 4a shows a putter golf club with an alignment marking element according to an embodiment of the invention;

(10) FIG. 4b shows an alternative putter golf club with an alignment marking element according to an embodiment of the invention;

(11) FIG. 4c shows a further alternative putter golf club with an alignment marking element according to an embodiment of the invention;

(12) FIG. 5a is schematic diagram of a training club of the invention according to a second embodiment of the invention; and,

(13) FIG. 5b is a diagram of a player at an optimum impact position, with hands ahead angle, the player using a training club comprising a curved shaft.

(14) In all of FIGS. 2b to 4c, the golf club is orientated to strike the ball towards the right of the page.

(15) The golf club of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

(16) FIG. 1a shows a player as seen from along the target line for the shot. There are two orthogonal angles of the shaft of a golf club that must be optimised in order to obtain the optimal shaft orientation: (i) the lean angle of the shaft relative to the vertical axis in a direction perpendicular to the target; and (ii) the lean angle of the shaft relative to the vertical axis in a direction parallel to the target line. The first of these angles A1 is illustrated in FIG. 1a; the second of these angles A2 is illustrated in FIG. 1b.

(17) FIG. 1b shows a player at the position of impact. The player's eyeline is behind the ball, GB, the player's weight is shown over the lead foot, F. The shaft of the golf club, represented as S is shown at a second angle A2 that provides a hands ahead position. In this optimal position, the butt end of the golf club is approximately 15 cm closer to the target, for example the hole, than the club head.

(18) In FIG. 2a the loft angle of a golf club can be seen as measured in a loft and lie machine with the shaft, S, having a vertical axis and being the angle of the face to the vertical. FIG. 2b shows a golf club 1 comprising an elongated shaft 2, and a club head 4. The shaft 2, having a first end portion (not shown) and a second end portion; the first end portion having a grip; a club head 4 having: (i) a shaft connection member 6 positioned at one end portion of the club head 4 and having a distal end portion that is coupled with the second end portion of the shaft 2; (ii) a toe 8 that defines an opposite end portion of the club head 4; (iii) an edge region 10 that defines a bottom portion of the club head 4 that extends between the opposite ends of the club head 4; (iv) a top edge portion 12 that defines an upper portion of the club head 4 and extends between the opposite ends of the club head 4; (v) a face 14 having a peripheral edge defined by the opposite end portions, edge region 10 and top edge 12 of the club head 4; the face 14 of the club head 4 having a striking face that is positioned at an angle with respect to the shaft. The angle is known as the loft angle. A leading edge 15 is provided defining the bottom portion of the striking face. In FIG. 2b the shaft connection member 6 is a hosel and the angle of design loft shown is 45 degrees. The club head 4 further comprises a sole 16 having a lower face 18 oriented to extend downwardly and rearwardly from the plane of the striking face 14 and from the leading edge 15, wherein with the shaft in a vertical plane address position the sole is positioned at an angle with respect to a horizontal line perpendicular to the vertical plane address position at the leading edge in the range from 0 to 15 degrees. The shaft 2 further comprises a lean angle in the range of 5 to 10 degrees forward of the said vertical plane address position. In FIG. 2b the angle of design bounce is 5 degrees. In FIG. 2b the forward lean angle, LA, is 10 degrees.

(19) It has been found that the optimum impact position for an iron type club is with a lean angle, or hands forward angle of around 7 to 10 degrees. This has been found to be when the butt end of the shaft is around 10 to 15 cm forward of the club face 14.

(20) FIGS. 3a to 3c illustrate alignment marking elements of the invention. FIG. 3a shows a club head 4 connected to a shaft 2 at a hosel 6. The additional sole angle creates a forward lean angle which can be difficult for the player to optimise. An address marker 20 is located on the hosel 6, by milling, painting or other form of marking so that it is aligned with the player's eyeline when the clubhead sits on the ground. The player in set up and address observes the address marker line 20 and when it appears vertical and foreshortened the correct set up has been achieved. FIG. 3b illustrates a vertical address marker 20 created on a club with an offset hosel and FIG. 3c shows the address marker 20 on a metal wood type club.

(21) The address marker 20 is important due to inconsistencies with the ground surface of play and unfamiliarity of the player with the hands forward position, as described below. The exact forward hand position (lean angle) is determined by the sole of the club when the club head sits on the ground. The club head invariably sits close to square to the ground, however, certain golf clubs incorporate a bounce angle on the sole of the club to prevent the leading edge digging into the ground (if the player presents the clubface at too steep an angle in the impact zone). The lean angle is easy to locate under laboratory type conditions when the club is locked into loft and lie machine. However, because golf clubs are designed to be used on grass, where the club head doesn't necessarily orientate to a position where the club head sits in the intended manner/position, (and because the clubs differ from conventional clubs where the player aligns the shaft directly under the eye line to achieve the correct conventional address position) It is necessary to incorporate a hand position alignment marking on the club head hosel to enable the player to identify and pre-set the hands in the exact hand position required. This hand position alignment line will be at very specific angles for differing clubs (metal woods, rescue type clubs, iron type clubs and putters). The angle/s of the hand position alignment marking change minutely between iron type clubs where the ball position is relatively constant and only varies due to the length of the club. Whereas the rescue type clubs and metal wood type clubs have a different angle of marking due to the ball position being further forward in the stance and those clubs being longer than iron type clubs.

(22) The hand position alignment marking (address marker 20) enables the player to identify and locate the correct forward hand position for all of the differing clubs in relation to the conventional (and unchanged) optimum ball position for the selected club. This alignment address marker 20 will be painted, forged, cast or molded into the hosel 6 of the club head 4. The hand position alignment marking may be known as HPAM. The address marking should be located on the hosel or connecting member of the club head. This should be positioned on the connecting member in a fashion that an extension of the marking would extend and point to the leading edge of the clubface starting at the lowest point on the hosel or connection member directly above the leading edge of the clubface and heading up the connecting member in line with the player's eye line.

(23) In a preferred embodiment the address marker is located between 5 and 20 degrees from the centreline of the hosel 6 at the bottom of the club to just above the leading edge of the clubface to the player's nose when viewed on a vertical plane. The address marker alignment line markings on the metal woods, rescue and the iron type clubs will be marked on the hosel of the club head. Due to the hosel of club heads being tubular the markings will be curved around the hosel but when viewed from the player's eye line the marking will be foreshortened and viewed as a straight line when the hands are in the correct hands forward position.

(24) The angle of the address alignment marker (also known as HPAM) is to be measured backwards from the centreline of the shaft. The centre line of the shaft is chosen because the player's eye line is not always on a vertical plane above the ball position. The marking angle (the angle) is made up of two angles added together these angles are; the lean angle measured in degrees back from the centreline of the shaft to the vertical plane and then the vertical plane backwards to the players eye line when the player is using various different clubs.

(25) In a preferred embodiment of a putter illustrated in FIGS. 4a to 4c, the address marker 20 may form part of the club head. In putting the players' eyes should be located directly (vertically) above the ball, this means the marker 20 may form part of the club head which will be positioned vertically once the sole of the club sits squarely on the ground, before the hosel joins to the shaft and is leant forward at the preferred lean angle of between 6 and 8.5 degrees.

(26) An alternative embodiment provides a training club comprising a curved shaft. FIG. 5a is schematic diagram and example of the training club 11 of the invention. The club 11 comprises a curved shaft 22, a club head 24, a first end portion having a grip 21; a club head 24 having: (i) a shaft connection member 26, a hosel, positioned at one end portion of the club head 24 and having a distal end portion that is coupled with the second end portion of the shaft 22. There is provided an address marker (not shown) on the club head hosel and added sole angle on the sole of the club 11. The club 11 is of tubular construction, in stainless steel or graphite. The curvature is such so as to provide curvature for a hands ahead position, the length of the club 11 will necessarily vary according to the training requirements and size of men, women and children. An example of construction figures are provided in FIG. 5 where A is the length of a standard men's 3 iron golf club. B is the horizontal distance from the top of the shaft when the club is held on a vertical plane to the top of the shaft at address with the hands forward when the club head sits squarely on the ground. Angle X is the angle between the vertical line drawn from the leading edge of the club head to the centreline of the tangent of the hosel, this hosel lean angle will vary between 11 and 25 degrees. The club denotes the curved shaft of the delayed strike iron. With the training club as described it is not possible to revert to the vertical address position (whereas with a straight shaft you could ignore the hands forward and address marker and bounce and revert to the wrong address position). Furthermore with the curved shaft it is almost impossible to strike the ball unless the hands are ahead of the leading edge of the club head. It is not straightforward to lock and fix a curved shaft training club within a loft and lie machine so the angle and position of the address marker is set and measured as back from the centre line of the hosel or other shaft connection member of the training club. The alignment marking angle will be specific to each club and will vary with a range of angles from 10 degrees to 25 degrees when measured back from the centreline of the shaft i.e. 10 degrees to 25 degrees.

(27) FIG. 5b shows a player at the position of impact when using the training club illustrated in FIG. 5a. The player's eyeline is behind the ball, GB, the player's weight is shown over the lead foot, F. In this optimal position, similarly to a straight club, the butt end of the golf club is approximately 15 cm closer to the target, for example the hole, than the club face. An extension of the elongate axis of the shaft proximal to the grip-end of the club is illustrated in dash. As can be seen from the figure, this extension points to a position approximately 10 cm closer to the target than the club face. Various modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. The club and head may comprise any suitable material. The club may be of varying lengths and thickness, the hands forward angle may be achieved with a straight shaft, a shaft comprising a series of bends or a curved shaft. The address marker may be located on the top face of an appropriate club such as a wood or a rescue type club. The address marker may be a full solid line or may be dashed or comprise a marker at an upper and a lower extent of the line only. The putter of the invention may have any standard industry construction or method of connection between the shaft and the head, for example answer style, or toe weighted mallet style. The sole of the club may have a bounce angle. Alternative forms of construction of the club and material types for the club may be considered.