GB2227179A

GB2227179A - Golf club

Info

Publication number: GB2227179A
Application number: GB9000651A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Yoshimichi Kamimura
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-01-24
Filing date: 1990-01-10
Publication date: 1990-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2010-01-10
Also published as: FR2641978A1; ES1020144U; JPH0298967U; GB9000651D0; AU4869090A; DE3943319A1; ES1020144Y; CA2007576A1; GB2227179B

Description

Golf Club

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improved golf clubs, and more particularly relates to golf clubs used for approach shots.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Playing golf requires using different types of clubs including different woods, different irons, a pitching wedge, a putter and others. Most of the golf clubs have shafts with lengths of 34 to 45 inches. With regard to the loft angle, most of the drivers and of the putters have lofts of 0 to 15 degrees while most of the other kinds of clubs-have lofts of 50 to 75 degrees. With regard to the ratio of the maximum height of the face to the maximum length thereof, most of the sand wedges and of the putters have ratios of 1:2 or smaller and, hence. may be safely said to have faces with generally "elongate" shapes.

As the first thing an inexperienced golf player or a beginner must become able to hit a ball correctly in a-desired direction instead of striking at the air or duffing, topping or slicing the ball. Also, for an experienced player. if he has to hit the ball from a bunker, a rough or a steep slope, the question of primary importance is whether he can hit it correctly in a desired direction. It is not easy even f or an experienced player to hit the ball correctly a desired distance in a desired direction in such a situation. The conventional golf clubs might be improved to facilitate the correct hitting of the ball in a desired direction. Such an improvement can be made especially by reducing the entire length of the conventional golf clubs if players are willing to put a higher value on the possibility of correct hitting of the ball than on the question how they can make as long a shot as possible In particular, the conventional clubs f or approach shots are not as short as they might be. Since the clubs for approach shots are not required to make as long shots as the drivers, the conventional clubs for approach shots might well be shorted considerably. Needless to say, it is easier to swing shorter clubs than longer ones. In other woeds, it is easier to control 1 shorter clubs than longer ones. Consequently, with the shorter clubs, the player may make approach shots more easily.

SMMRY OF THE INVENTION i It is an object of the invention is to.provide a golf club which may enable a player to hit -a ball correctly in a desired direction instead of striking at the air or duffing, topping or -slicing the ball.

Another object of the invention is to provide a golf club having a shorter length than the conventional golf club.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a golf club having a face with a higher ratio of its maximum height to its maximum length than in the prior art.

A further object of the invention is to provide a golf club which may enable a player to make approach shots more easily than the conventional golf club for approach shots.

-According to the invention, there is provided a golf club with a shaft projecting from a head neck by a length which is within a range of from 18 to 34 inches. The loft angle may be selected from a range of from 40 to 80 degrees. The ratio of the maximum height of the face to the maximum length thereof may be selected from a range of from 1:2 to 1:1.

According to one preferred aspect of the invention, it is possible to prepare a set of clubs each having a particular shaft length and a particular loft angle for approach shots of different distances not exceeding some 90 meters. In the prior art, however, although clubs with different shaft lengths and different loft angles have been provided for shots of different distances more than 90 meters, no such arrangement has been made for cluSs for approach shots.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a f ront view of a golf club according to the invention; and Fig. 2 is a side view of the golf club of Fig. 1.

2 C DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings,' one example of a golf club embodying the invention in a preferred form will now be described. The illustrated golf club is.one used for an approach shot.

The illustrated golf club includes a head 1 and a shaft 3. The head 1.has a face 5 with a loft angle A. The head 1 also has a neck 2 having a tapered upper portion. The upper portion of the shaft 3 is provided with a grip 4 of suitable material. The lower portion of the shaft 3 is received in the neck 2.

The portion of the shaft 3 projecting from the neck 2 has a length of 28 inches.

The loft angle A of the face 5 is 59 degrees.

The bottom of the head 1, or the sole of the club, forms an angle of 63.6 degrees with the shaft 3 when the head 1 is-viewed from the side looking at the face 5 (Fig. 1).

The ratio of the maximum height of the face 5 to the maximum length thereof is approximately 1 to 1.6.

The major characteristics of the illustrated club are as described above.

The "projecting" length of the shaft of a conventional golf club for an approach shot is within a range of from 34 to 39 inches. Thus, the projecting length of 28 inches of the shaft 3 of the club hereof is considerably smaller. Hence, the club hereof is easier to swing., Consequently, the club hereof -facilitates the correcting hitting of a ball. Therefore, not only may the club hereof enable even a beginner to strike a ball correctly instead of striking at the air or duffing, topping or slicing the ball. but also it may allow an experienced player to strike a ball more easily f rom a bunker, a rough or a steep slope in a desired direction. Also. thanks to the short projecting length of the shaft, the player may adjust the angle of the shaft to the ground more easily than when using the conventional club and. hence. may hit the ball more easily in the desired direction. it is a particular advantage for the case where the player has to hit the ball from a steep slope.

As seen from the foregoing, the ratio of the maximum height of the face 5 to the maximum length thereof is considerably greater than with a conventional club for an approach shot.

3 ' 1 Thus. with the club hereof, the player may hit more easily a ball which- stays in a rough in particular. On the other hand, with a conventional club for an approach shot, it is more difficult for the player to hit suc a ball out of the rough since the face of the conventional club has a generally "elongate" shape- The short projecting length of the shaft 3 produces an additional ef f ect that the player can move the f ace 5 to a horizontal plane more quickly than when using a conventional club. Thus. with the -club hereof.. the player can hit more 6asily a ball which has sank deep in a rough or in a sand trap.

According to the invention, the following set of three clubs each having the 1-to-1.6 ratio of the maximum height of the face to the maximum length thereof may be prepared for. approach shots:

1. a first club with a shaft projecting length of 30.5 inches. with a loft angle of 55 degrees, and with a sole forming an angle of 63.6 degrees with the shaft a second club with a shaft projecting length of 28 inches, with a loftangle of 59 degrees. and with a sole forming an angle of 63.6 degrees with the shaft 3. a third club with a shaft projecting length of 24 inches, with a loft angle of 59 degrees, and with a sole forming an angle of 64.6 degrees with the shaft The first club may be used for a shot of some 40 to some 90 meters, the second club for a shot of some 20 to some 60 meters. and the third shot for a shot of less than some 40 meters. if the required approach shot is one of some 90 meters or less, the player may select the most suitable club from among the three kinds of clubs in order to make that shot more easily and more correctly than when using a conventional club for an approach shot.

4 4

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A golf club with a shaft projecting from a-head neck by a length which is within a range'of from 18 to 34 inches.

2. A golf club of claim 1 having a face with a loft angle which is within a range of from 40 to 80 degrees.

3. A golf club of claim 1 wherein said f ace has a maximum height and a maximum length which are in a ratio within a range of from 1:2 to 1:1.

4. A golf club of claim 2 wherein said f ace has a maximum height and a maximum length which are in a ratio within a range of from 1:2 to 1:1.

5. A set of golf clubs used for an approach shot of some 90 meters or less, each having (a) a shaft projecting from a head neck by a length which is within a range of from 18 to 34 inches, and (b) a face with a loft angle which is within a range of from 40 to 80 degrees and with a maximum height and a maximum length which are in a ratio within a range of from 1:2 to 1:1.

Published 1990atThe Patent Office, State House, 86171 High Holborn, London WC1R4TP. Further copies maybe obtainedfrom The Patent Office Sales Branch, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent BM 3RD Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd. St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. P87 es israncn, 5t mary uray, urpn, Aent who inu kTintea Dy &awTapiex Teenniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Uon. Iit$'il