GB2463238A

GB2463238A - Golf Club

Info

Publication number: GB2463238A
Application number: GB0816030A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Angus Macinnes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-09-03
Filing date: 2008-09-03
Publication date: 2010-03-10
Also published as: GB0816030D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a golf club 100 which may be made of metal, wood or composite materials, which allows a user to improve their playing stroke and golf swing. The club comprises a club head comprising a main body 110 having a striking surface 116, wherein the main body of the club is raised above ground level by at least one supporting member 112 when the club head is place on the ground. There may be two supporting members either side which may either terminate substantially in line with, or extend beyond the striking surface. The shaft comprises aerodynamic means to reduce air friction and may comprise an elongate protrusion extending down at least part of the shaft. The shaft comprises a grip adapted to substantially fill at least one or both users hand(s) during use. The grip may be wider at the top than at the bottom.

Description

GOLF CLUB

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a golf club. More particularly, the present invention relates to a golf club which allows a user to improve their playing stroke and golf swing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many golf players, both amateur and professional, have great difficulty in producing constant and repeatable golf swings. Although many clubs exist in the market they all have their associated difficulties with many requiring a user to change their golf swing due to the type of club being provided.

There is also the problem that when a golf ball lands just off a main putting surface it is a difficult decision for a golfer as to what type of club to use as although a putter will usually provide greater accuracy it may provide an inconsistent swing as it is moved through longer grass. The longer grass therefore increases friction. This problem is even further exacerbated in wet conditions. There is also a problem on the greens where a large percentage of the putter head is in contact with the green and could snag on spike marks made by golf studs or growing matter.

It is an object of at least one aspect of the present invention to obviate or at least mitigate one or more of the aforementioned problems.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide an improved golf club.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a golf putter capable of providing improved swing capability off a main putting area such as in the fringe or a second cut in the grass.

It is a further object of at least one aspect of the present invention to provide a golf club which is capable of providing a reduction in the friction between a club head (e.g. a putter) and, for example, the putting green.

It is a yet further object of the present invention to provide a golf club with improved air speed capability.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a golf club with an improved grip.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf club comprising: a club head comprising a main body having a striking surface; a shaft attached to the club head; wherein the main body of the club head comprising the striking surface is raised above ground level when the club head is placed on the ground.

By raising the main body of the club head when the club is placed on the ground ready for use allows a golfer to have improved control over the swing of the club. For example, in the situation of using a putter when a ball is positioned off a main putting surface, standard putters are not very acceptable as they catch against the longer grass such as in the second cut or fringe of putting surfaces.

A golfer may therefore produce a more even and/or smoother putting stroke using a golf club according to the present invention as resistance is reduced against the longer grass. Also on, for example, a putting green, there may be a reduction in the friction between a club head (e.g. a putter) and, for example, the putting green. For example, there may be a reduction of at least about 50%, 60%, 80% or 90%.

In particular embodiments the club head comprises a main body section which may be raised off the ground during use as the club head rests on the ground. The main body may comprise a substantially flat striking surface intended to strike a golf ball. Alternatively, the striking surface may be of any appropriate shape and may comprise grooves and/or other markings.

Typically, the club head may comprise at least one, two or a plurality of supporting members to support and raise the main body of the club head above the ground. For example, the club head may comprise supporting members on either side of the club head to support and raise the main body of the club head above the ground. The shape of the supporting members may be of any appropriate shape but conveniently may have a rounded and/or bevelled bottomed surface to aid the golf swing. The supporting members may be substantially planar and elongate in shape. The supporting members may also be relatively thin and designed and adapted to minimize friction from any longer grass during a golfing stroke. For example, the supporting members may have a thickness of about 0.1 -1 cm, about 0.1 -0.5 or about 0.1 -0.25 cm.

The supporting members may also comprise front portions adapted and shaped to minimise friction during a golf swing. For example, the front portion of the supporting members may comprise convex sections which minimise friction against any longer grass.

The supporting members may terminate substantially in line with the striking surface(s) of the club head or alternatively may extend beyond the striking surface(s) which may provide alignment means for a golfer of right-or left-handed persuasion.

The bottom of the main body of the club head may be raised above the ground by about 0.1 -2 cm, about 0.1 -1 cm and preferably about 0.5 cm.

Typically, the bottom of the striking face of the club head may be raised above the ground so that the striking surface of the club head strikes the center or substantially the centre of a golf ball.

The golf club may also be provided with the ability that the main body may be lowered or raised by a golfer. The golf club may therefore comprise means to lower and/or raise the striking surface such as via a screw-thread mechanism.

The club head may be made from metal or composite (e.g. graphite composite) materials.

The golf club may be any type of club. For example, the golf club may be a putter, a wood or an iron.

The golf club may be of a unitary structure formed from a mould or alternatively may comprise separate parts attached to one another.

The clubs of the present invention may also be adapted for either right-or left-handed players. Faces on the clubs may also be angled as known for standard golf clubs.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reducing friction in a golf club against grass during use, said method comprising: providing a club head comprising a main body having a striking surface; providing a shaft attached to the club head; wherein the main body of the club head comprising the striking surface is raised above ground level when the club head is placed on the ground.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf club comprising: club head; a shaft attached to the club head; wherein the shaft comprises aerodynamic means to reduce air friction during use.

Typically, the shaft comprises an elongate protrusion extending down at least part of the shaft or substantially all of the shaft which reduces turbulence and air friction as a golfer swings the club. The protrusion may be substantially triangular in shape with a point extending directly away from the shaft of the club.

The aerodynamic means may be in the form of an aerodynamic foil.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of reducing air friction in a golf club during use comprising: providing club head; providing a shaft attached to the club head; wherein the shaft comprises aerodynamic means to reduce air friction during uses.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a golf club comprising: a club head; a shaft attached to the club head; a grip on the shaft; wherein the grip on the shaft is adapted to substantially fill a user's hand during use.

The grip may therefore be substantially non-tubular in form or frusto-conical so that the top of the grip is wider than the bottom.

The grip may be adapted so that as a user grips the club there is no or substantially no space between a user's hand and the grip. This minimises any looseness when a user grips the club and improves the quality of a swing.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of improving the holding of a golf club the method comprising: providing a club head; providing a shaft attached to the club head; providing a grip on the shaft; and wherein the grip on the shaft is adapted to substantially fill a user's hand during use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a representation of a perspective view of part of a putter according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the putter shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a representation of a perspective view of part of a putter according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 is a view of part of a golf club with improved aerodynamic capability according to a further embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 is a view of part of a golf club with an improved grip according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Figures 1 and 2 are views of a golf club according to the present invention, generally designated 100. The golf club 100 comprises a main body section 110 which is suspended above the ground by two elongate sections 112,114 (i.e. outriggers). The main body section 110 comprises a front face 116 which is intended to strike a golf ball. As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the main body section is suspended above the ground by a distance d'.

Figure 1 also shows that the front leading edge 118,120 of the two elongate sections 112,114 is curved and bevelled in the region where it abuts the ground.

Figure 3 is a view of a further golf club according to the present invention, generally designated 200. Although the golf club 200 is very similar to the golf club 100 there is the difference in that the elongate sections 212,214 extend out beyond the front face 216 of the main body section 210. As shown in Figure 3 the main body section 210 is also suspended above the ground. The front leading edge 218,220 of the two elongate sections 212,214 is also curved in the region where it abuts the ground.

In use the golf clubs 100,200 may be used by a player when a golf ball is positioned off the main part of the putting surface or on the putting surface. For example, the golf ball may be positioned in the second cut of the grass or in a fringe just off the main putting surface where the grass is longer. The golf clubs 100,200 have the specific advantage in that the front faces 116,216 are raised above the ground and will therefore have minimal/reduced friction/obstruction when striking a ball. Such an arrangement also helps to avoid any obstructions such as spike marks. The golf clubs 100,200 will therefore not catch on longer grass and allow a user to have a smooth swing. The front faces 116,216 of the golf clubs 100,200 may be raised about 0.5 cm above the ground.

Figure 4 is a golf club 300 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The golf club 300 comprises a club head 310 and a shaft 312.

The shaft 312 comprises an aerodynamic region 314 extending down the length of the shaft 312. The aerodynamic region 314 is of any appropriate shape and may be a ridge extending down the length of the shaft 312. The aerodynamic region 314 (e.g. an aerodynamic foil) allows a golfer to generate greater club head 310 speed as it minimises air resistance/friction.

Figure 5 is a golf club 400 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The golf club 400 comprises a shaft 410 and grip 412. The grip 412 is shaped and/or adapted to fit a golfers hand in use and to ensure that the grip 412 is fully in contact with a hand when gripping the club. In particular the grip 412 is shaped to fill the gap in the back of a top hand when gripping the club 400. The grip 412 may also be shaped to fill the gap in the back of a bottom hand when gripping the club 400 Whilst specific embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it will be appreciated that departures from the described embodiments may still fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, the present invention also includes any form of golf club which has a raised central section which reduces friction. Moreover, the present invention also includes any type of golf club comprising aerodynamic means on the shaft of the club. The present invention also includes any form of golf club with a grip adapted to fill a users hand during golf play.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A golf club comprising: a club head comprising a main body having a striking surface; a shaft attached to the club head; wherein the main body of the club head comprising the striking surface is raised above ground level when the club head is placed on the ground.
2. A golf club according to claim 1, wherein the main body comprises a substantially flat striking surface intended to strike a golf ball.
3. A golf club according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the club head comprises at least one, two or a plurality of supporting members to support and raise the main body of the club head above the ground.
4. A golf club according to any preceding claim, wherein the club head comprises supporting members on either side of the club head to support and raise the main body of the club head above the ground.
5. A golf club according to any of claims 3 or 4, wherein the supporting members have a rounded and/or bevelled bottomed surface to aid the golf swing.
6. A golf club according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the supporting members have a height of about 0.1 -3 cm, about 0.1 -2 or about 0.1 -1 cm.
7. A golf club according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the supporting members comprise front portions adapted and shaped to minimise friction during a golf swing.
8. A golf club according to any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the supporting members terminate substantially in line with the striking surface of the club head or alternatively extend beyond the striking surface.
9. A golf club according to any preceding claim, wherein a bottom of the striking face of the club head is raised above the ground by about 0.1 -2 cm, about 0.1 -1 cm or about 0.5 cm.
10. A golf club according to any preceding claim, wherein the golf club comprises means capable of raising and/or lowering the main body of the club head.
11. A golf club according to any preceding claim, wherein the golf club is made from metal, wood and/or composite materials.
12. A golf club according to any preceding claim, wherein the golf club is a putter, a wood or an iron.
13. A method of reducing friction in a golf club against grass during use, said method comprising: providing a club head comprising a main body having a striking surface; providing a shaft attached to the club head; wherein the main body of the club head comprising the striking surface is raised above ground level when the club head is placed on the ground.
14. A golf club comprising: club head; a shaft attached to the club head; wherein the shaft comprises aerodynamic means to reduce air friction during uses.
15. A golf club according to claim 14, the club further comprising an elongate protrusion extending down at least part of the shaft or substantially all of the shaft which reduces turbulence and air friction as a golfer swings the club.
16. A golf club according to any of claim 15, wherein the protrusion is substantially triangular in shape with a point extending directly away from the shaft of the club and substantially in the direction of play.
17. A method of reducing air friction in a golf club during use comprising: providing club head; providing a shaft attached to the club head; wherein the shaft comprises aerodynamic means to reduce air friction during uses.
18. A golf club comprising: a club head; a shaft attached to the club head; a grip on the shaft; and wherein the grip on the shaft is adapted to substantially fill at least one or both users hand(s) during use.
19. A golf club according to claim 18, wherein the grip is substantially non-tubular in form or frusto-conical so that the top of the grip is wider than the bottom.
20. A golf club according to any of claims 18 or 19, wherein the grip is adapted so that as a user grips the club there is no or substantially no space between a user's hand and the grip.
21. A method of improving the holding of a golf club the method comprising: providing a club head; providing a shaft attached to the club head; providing a grip on the shaft; and wherein the grip on the shaft is adapted to substantially fill a users hand during use.
22. A golf club as described hereinbefore and/or as shown in Figures 1 to 5.