GB2360462A - Golf clubhead and hosel construction - Google Patents

Abstract

The head 11 of a golf club, especially a driver, is provided with a front striking face 12 which is substantially ovoid and which has a continuous curve extending from toe to heel along its leading (lower) edge 13. The clubhead has a solid periphery behind the striking face and the hosel 14 is preferably attached to an interface region so that this point of attachment is behind the striking face and cannot interfere with the direction imparted to the ball, the hosel being curved round to the rear face from the bottom of shaft 10. Preferably, the curve at the leading edge of the head is elliptical and symmetrical about its mid point, and the club is thicker at the sole than the top edge for improved weight distribution.

Description

2360462 IMPROVED GOLF CLUBS

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to golf clubs, especially to those known as drivers.

The invention relates more particularly to the shape of the clubhead and the hosel which connects the clubhead to the shaft of the golf club.

Background to the Invention

The game of golf has increased dramatically in popularity in recent years. As the popularity of the game has increased so too has the market for equipment such as clubs for use either in training or competitive which can assist the golfer by 0 correcting for deficiencies in technique.

Referring now particularly to the class of clubs usually referred to as drivers, and especially to clubs known as irons, it is known from the prior art to incorporate a number of features into a conventional clubhead in order to assist the golfer. For example, the strike face of the clubhead may be curved outwardly either horizontally or vertically or in both directions. Such curvature across the strike face is incorporated in order to counteract the gear effect, occurring when the golfer does not strike the ball with the centre of the strike face. The curvature enables the golfer to drive stralighter more often. Similarly, a curvature from the top edge to the leading edge can additionally or alternatively be incorporated in order to assist the golfer when the ball is not struck using the correct height on the strike face.

In addition to the above features, the advent of lighter materials from which possible. Larger strike faces together with altering the weight distribution in the clubhead assist the player by improving control over the direction in which the ball is propelled and by improving average driving distance.

.> C? 1 A further known design improvement to a clubhead is to incorporate what is Z7 known as a positive or negative bounce, whereby the trailing edge of the clubhead 1 z W is respectively lower or higher than the leading edge. This helps the golfer whose 0 0 swing action is such that the golf clubhead approaches the ball at too steep or too Z_ shallow an anale.

C> Furthermore in the majority of prior art golf clubs, the clubhead has a prominent toe and/or heel in the plane of the strike face. A clubhead having such a toe and/or heel can be disadvantageous. For example, when playing from the rough it can catch on the terrain causina the club to ar or turn thus leadinc, to a less accurate j shot.

It is an objective of the present invention to seek to alleviate the disadvantages associated with prior art golf clubs (particularly drivers) and to provide a golf club which assists a golfer to achieve an improved strike reliability and decrease the instances of his playing "bad shots". A golf club is thus provided which assists the golfer when the shaft is brought down at the wrone, angle during the down 0 ZD swing. A second object of the invention is to provide a golf club which can assist a player playing out of the rough.

Summary of the Invention

In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a golf club comprising a shaft and a clubhead coupled to the shaft by a hosel, the clubhead havina a front strike face definina along its leading edge a continuous curve extending from a heel portion adjacent the hosel to a toe portion at the other extremity of the front strike face, wherein the clubhead includes a rear region extending around the clubhead opposite the strike face from the heel portion to the toe portion and includes an interface region to the hosel is attached said region retained the hosel at a spaced distance from the front strike face so that when a golf ball is struck the hose] cannot interfere with the direction imparted to the ball.

Preferably, the hosel is curved.

Preferably, the strike face of the clubhead is substantially oval. Advantageously, Z> the curve described by the leading edge is substantially elliptical. Also advantageously, the curve described by the leading edge is substantially W symmetric about its mid point.

The clubhead also comprises a sole and a top edge wherein the sole of the 1 clubhead is preferably thicker than the top edge to improve the weight distribution of the golf clubhead.

Accordina to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a golf clubhead 0 havina a strike face and a rear region, extending around the clubhead opposite the c =P strike face, the strike face havin., a bisector in the plane of said face which C intersects with a leadinor edae of the strike face, wherein the leading edge is W 0 curved symmetrically about the intersection of the bisector and the leading edge.

Advantageously, the strike face of the clubhead is substantially ovoid.

Preferably, the curve described by the leading edge is substantially elliptical.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only one embodiment of golf clubs according to the invention. The drawings show a "riaht W 0 0 handed golf club", for use by a right-handed player, by which it is to be understood that the invention also includes golf clubs for left-handed players. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a perspective front view of a golf clubhead; 1 0 Figure 2 is a front elevation of the clubhead; Fiaure 3 is a rear elevation of the clubhead illustratina the interface of the hosel.

W -4with the rear face of the clubhead. and Figure 4 is a front view of a golf clubhead, Detailed Description of the Invention

Referrin- to the drawin-s, and initially to Figure 1, the golf club of a type usually D referred to as an iron comprises a shaft 10 and a clubhead 11. The clubhead further comprises a strike face 12, which in use strikes the ball and the leadin edge 1 The strike face 12 and the clubhead 11 is substantially oval in shape.

For the avoidance of doubt in this specification, the term oval should be taken to include an generally ovoid shape having a continuous curve at least extending y alonQ the leading edge of the clubhead.

c Z:1 The shaft 10 points in the direction of the front/mid sole of the clubhead 11. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the shaft 10 is joined to the clubhead 11 by a hosel or shank 14. The hosel 14 is attached to the rear face of the clubhead 11.

The hosel 14 is further adapted to receive the shaft 10.

In the embodiment illustrated the shaft 10 is inserted into the hosel to a depth of about 3.2cm. Although the internal walls of the cavity will grip the shaft 10, the shaft is further secured in position by the use of a suitable adhesive. The trailing 11 ed.e 15 is hieher than the leadiner edge 13, to give the club a positive bounce.

Z c Furthermore, in the above embodiment the strike face 12 is substantially oval in shape and this shape is carried over generally into the whole of the rest of the clubhead.

Where the clubhead has a more curved leading. edge in the toe region of the club face this leads to it having the following characteristics. Firstly, playing from the 0 C rough is far less problematic for the same reason where the clubhead has as a 0 curved heel. Secondly, having a curved toe region allows the club face to be 0 "closed" when the player wishes to produce a hook shot. Thirdly, should the club be broueht down durina the swine, such that the anale subtended between the shaft and the vertical plane is too acute. the chance of the toe of the clubhead hitting the ground is reduced- A further advantaue brou-ht about by the curvature of the clubhead is that the surface area of the strike face is reduced and thus the power from the swing is concentrated into a smaller area. In this manner more power is transmitted to the ball resulting in a corresponding increase in tile distance which the ball is driven.

Figure 2 illustrates the golf club from a further perspective and shows the grooves 1 on the strike face 12 of the clubhead 11. Upon striking the ball the grooves 20 0 impart back spin to the golf ball, the quantum of back spin being a function of the number, spacing between and depth of the grooves 20.

Reference is now made to Figure 3 which illustrates a further aspect of the present invention. In order to reduce interference from the hosel 31 when strikina the ball with the strike face 12, the hosel 31 in Figure 31 can be seen to bend round and is attached to the rear face of the clubhead. In conventional clubs, the hosel joining the clubhead to the shaft joins the heel end of the clubhead, for-ward, or even in line with the leading edge.

1 Usin. a curved hosel which does not interfere with the strike face reduces the risk of interference of the hosel when striking the ball. Where the hosel is joined to the rear face of the clubhead, this results in power from the swing being concentrated behind the ball. This latter feature, when combined with a smaller clubhead means that more of the power from the swincling golf club will be W concentrated into a much smaller area than is the case with normal aolf clubs.

0 Typical dimensions for a clubhead can be as follows referring to Figure 4. The width of the clubhead, as measured from point 41 to the lower point 42 of the hosel 43 as it sweeps round to the rear of the clubhead is 90mm.

Referring to point 41 as the origin of imaginary axis 44. then the height of the golf w 'D 0 c club with regard to that axis is as follows..

Distance alon- Height (mm) (mm) axis 44 C 45 50 48 73 30 The top edge of the clubhead is generally thinner than the bottom edae. Apart W 0 from aesthetic considerations, this gives a lighter club overall, which will be of particular benefit to players who wish to minimise the weight of the clubs they W carry with them around thegolf course.

Typically, the thickness of the top edge is between 2 to 5min, and in preferred 1:1 embodiments 3 to 4mm. The bottom edge is typically between 17 to 23mm thick, and preferably 19 to 2 1 mm.

A number of materials may be used to form the clubhead. For example, in the golf clubs known as woods then wood itself may be used along. with graphite titanium plastics and even ceramics. In the case of irons, the most usual material is steel such as stainless steel or mild steel although other materials such as graphite or die castable metal alloys may also be used.

The strike face of the golf clubhead is either integral with the golf clubhead, or provide as an insert, perhaps into a suitably shaped recess. Again such inserts are formed from durable materials such as titanium, graphite or steel.

Weic,hts are also incorporated into the golf clubhead, particularly around the W periphery. Two purposes served by the weights are firstly, to improve the overall balance of the club and secondly, to increase the effective hitting area of the strike face.

A properly weighted clubhead compensates for some inaccuracies in the golfers swing, with the result that a reasonably competent golfer will more consistently 1 produce Ion. and accurate shots. Peripheral weighting is particularly important 1 Z-1) when the strike face comprises a lightweight titanium insert, in order for the ---7 Z-1) clubhead to impart sufficient momentum to the ball.

In order to improve the weight distribution of the clubhead, golf clubheads often comprise a hollow or scooped out section in the back of the clubhead positioned approximately behind the centre of the strike face. Such a section can be incorporated in the clubs according to the present invention.

c The clubs according to the invention include those which have a club strike face 0 1 which is not flat but has a convex surface.

The shaft of the golf club may be formed from conventional materials such as steel, graphite or wood. Its shape is such as to be well balanced and transmits maximum energy from the swin. to the clubhead at the point of impact of the ball.

Z_ Normally the shaft points towards the leading edge, or just forward of the leading 0 Z> edge.

An amateur player often has difficulty using irons which are normally used for longer drives, so called "lonc,-irons". Furthermore strokes are often saved by using a suitable club for the shorter shots close to the green. The set of irons having a reduced number of Ion.Arons and increased number of short-irons compared with a standard set would be useful. An example of such a reduced set having 8 irons, yet which retains the spread of clubs necessary around the course has the following clubs: a 21/2, 4, 5V5, 61/4, 8, 9, 10 and 11 irons. These irons have a corresponding loft of 20, 251/2, 31, 361/2,411/2,46,501/2and 551/2.

Z The set comprises clubs havina, a loft intermediate to those used in a standard set.

0 A reduced number of clubs allows the player to take speciality clubs such as a number 11 wood without the wei-ht of a bag carrying the clubs becoming excessive.

Clubs and clubheads accordina to the present invention can also assist the golfer 0 in the same way where they provide clubs having a lower weiaht then comparable conventional clubs.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

1. A golf club comprising a shaft and a clubhead coupled to the shaft by a hosel, the clubhead having a front strike face definin. along its leadim, edge a continuous curve extending from a heel portion adjacent the hosel to a toe portion at the other extremity of the front strike face, the clubhead including a rear region extending around the clubhead opposite the strike face from the heel portion to the toe portion, and wherein the front strike face is substantially ovoidal.

2. A olf club according to Claim 1 wherein the clubhead includes an g Z:1 interface region to which the hosel is attached, said region retaining the cl hosel at a spaced distance from the front strike face so that when a golf ball is struck the hosel cannot interfere with the direction imparted to the ball.

3. A golf club according to Claim 2, wherein the hosel is curved.

4. A golf club according to Claim 3, wherein the curve described by the leading edge of the clubhead is substantially elliptical.

5. A golf club according to Claim 4, wherein the curve described by the leading edge is substantially symmetrical about its mid point.

6. A golf club according to any preceding claim, wherein the clubhead comprises a sole and a top edge, the sole of the clubhead being thicker than the top edge to improve the weight distribution of the golf clubhead.

7. A golf clubhead having a strike face and a rear region extendincr around the clubhead opposite the strike face, the strike face having a bisector in 0 the plane of said face which intersects with a leading edge of the strike 0 Z face, wherein the leading edge is curved symmetrically about the intersection of the bisector and theleading edge.

8. A golf clubhead according to Claim 7, wherein the strike face of the clubhead is substantially ovoid.

9. A golf clubhead according to Claim 8, wherein the curve described by the leading edge is substantially elliptical.

10. A golf club substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

11. A golf clubhead substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

0