WO2005118080A1 - Golf club - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of this invention comprise golf clubs having shafts (116) and means for exchanging club heads (104). Other embodiments provide means for adjusting the head angle of a golf club, thereby permitting a golfer to drive a golf ball in a desired direction relative to the direction of swing. Certain head angles can be used by golfers to correct slices or hooks, or alternatively to produce slices or hooks if desired. Embodiments of golf clubs of this invention include connectors having male components (120) with detents or resilient members (124) that can reversibly engage female components (108) to provide several rotational relationships of a golf club shaft and golf club head. Other embodiments include weight redistribution between a hozel and club head, whereby mass (605) removed from a hosel (608) can be added to the golf club head body (604).

Description

GOLF CLUB

PRIORITY CLA This application claims priority to United States Provisional Application Serial No: 60/576,669, filed June 3, 2004, incorporated herein fully by reference.

BACKGROUND Field of the Invention: This invention relates to golf clubs. More specifically, this invention relates to ways of providing detachable club heads and shafts, weight distribution of a club head, and ways to correct slices and hooks.

Description of Related Art: Golf clubs having a variety of configurations and materials have been designed and build to serve several purposes. Different conditions of lie, the golfer's position and the speed of the fairway or green each can affect the performance of a particular golf shot. There are also limits to the number of clubs a golfer can conveniently use under different circumstances. For example, if a golf ball lies in deep rough with obstacles, such as brush, trees and the like, it may be desirable to use a club having a short shaft, thereby permitting a golfer to adapt the stroke to effectively hit the ball in a desired direction, elevation, spin and velocity. In contrast, for lies that are open and a long drive is desired, a longer shaft may be desirable. For most clubs used for driving or chipping, the club face is not vertical with respect to the ball. Rather, the bottom of a club face is typically in front of the top of the face, so that upon striking a ball, the ball is directed forward and upward. The angle of the club face can affect the elevation of a golf shot. Another relevant angle of the club face refers to whether the club face meets the ball perpendicularly to the desired forward direction of the shot. For example, a golfer may have a tendency to slice a shot, by which is meant, for a right handed golfer, the club head meets that ball at an angle with the shaft preceding the club head, so that there upon meeting the ball, the club directs the ball to the right of the desired direction and imparts a spin to the ball in a clock-wise direction when viewed from the top. A ball struck in such a fashion will tend to be directed to the right as well as curve to the right. Conversely, a hook is a shot in which the club face precedes the shaft, so that the club directs the ball toward the golfer relative to the desired direction and imparts a counterclockwise spin to the ball. The ball subj ect to such a stroke tends to curve to the left. Usually, a golfer will try to stroke a ball in such a way as to avoid any clockwise or counterclockwise spin at all. Such shots typically are more predictable. Even under ideal circumstances, it may be difficult to adjust a stroke to meet the variety of different conditions encountered. Golf clubs currently available come have a variety of different configurations and made with different materials. Woods or irons may have different weights, weight distribution, angle, grips or other features. Golf club shafts may be made of graphite, steel, titanium, carbon fibers or other materials. Club heads may be made of steel, titanium, composites or other materials. Additionally, golf clubs may have a variety of different grips. Thus, even from the above alternative components, a golfer will have to select from among a relatively large number of differently configured clubs to find one club or a set that suits a particular need. However, even upon selecting one set of clubs, a golfer may desire to have a different set for different circumstances, including not only lie, but also time of day. Typically a golfer may have a more erect posture and is a bit taller in the morning, whereas in the afternoon, the golfer may be more fatigued, may have a more stooped posture, and/or may be up to Vz inch shorter in stature than in the morning. Furthermore, even though manufacturers try to keep tolerances to a low level, there are rarely if ever, two shafts that are exactly the same. Differences can be in weight, degree of flexure, weight, weight distribution, style or other feature. It therefore can be difficult to Thus, there is a need in the art to provide a variety of golf clubs that are capable of being used under different conditions to meet different needs of a particular golfer or a particular situation that a golfer faces.

SUMMARY In certain aspects of this invention, golf clubs are provided that permit adjustment of an angle of the club head relative to the grip to allow a golfer to better control the direction of a golf shot. Other aspects of the invention provide club heads with weights distributed differently from conventional heads. Still further aspects provide sleeves, optionally with ferrules, to permit rapid adjustment of a golf club to meet different conditions. Yet other aspects of this invention provide for manufacture of clubs that permit a golfer to independently select grip, shaft and head, thereby providing a larger number of options than are currently available.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES This invention is described with respect to specific embodiments thereof. Other features of this invention can be appreciated from the Figures, in which: Figure 1 depicts a portion of an embodiment of a golf club of this invention having a hozel with windows, a sleeve and a shaft, where the sleeve is removable from the hozel. Figure 2 depicts a parallel sleeve and hozel of a golf club of this invention. Figures 3a - 3e depict alternative sleeves of this invention. Figure 3a depicts a perspective view of an octagonal sleeve. Figure 3b depicts a cross-section of a pentagonal sleeve and hozel. Figure 3c depicts a cross-section of a hexagonal sleeve and hozel. Figure 3d depicts a cross-section of a "spline" type sleeve and hozel. Figure 3e depicts a cross-section of an octagonal sleeve and hozel as shown in Figure 3 a. Figure 4 depicts a portion of an embodiment of a golf club of this invention similar to that depicted in Figure 1 but also having a ferrule attached to the shaft. Figure 5 depicts a club head of this invention with a tapered hozel and a tapered sleeve. Figures 6a to 6c depict embodiments of this invention in which weight is redistributed from the hozel to the head. Figure 6a depicts a head of this invention having a hozel with windows and weight distributed from the hozel to an area of the head typically behind the portion of the club face that strikes the ball. Figure 6b depicts an embodiment in which the weight is redistributed in an arcuate fashion from the hozel to a portion of the head away from the shaft. Figure 6c depicts an embodiment in which the weight is redistributed from the hozel in a semiannular fashion around a portion of the head. Figures 7a - 7d depict embodiments of this invention suitable for adjusting for hooks or slices. Figure 7a depicts a cross-section view of a portion of an embodiment of this invention having a grip that is not radially symmetrical attached to a shaft. Figure 7b depicts a side view of an embodiment as shown in Figure 7a. Figure 7b depicts a spline type of adjustment between the portion of the shaft having the grip and the remainder of the shaft. Figure 7c depicts a top view of a portion of an embodiment of this invention as in Figure 7b, showing a hand grip having a reference mark thereon and a portion of a shaft having a series of reference marks thereon suitable for indicating the head angle (as defined below). Figure 7d depicts a top view of an alternative embodiment of this invention wherein an adjustment of the head angle can be carried out more near the club head instead of near the grip of the club.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The golf clubs of this invention include embodiments designed to avoid problems of prior art clubs. In some embodiments, clubs are provided that permit a golfer to select a particular type, style and construction of a club shaft to provide desired weight, flexibility, length, and grip. Once a golfer has selected a shaft or set of shafts, embodiments of this invention provide sleeves and ferrules adapted to fit a shaft. It can be appreciated that a variety of suitable shafts can be used. For example, steel, graphite, titanium, or other material known in the art can be used. Similarly, the exact configuration of a shaft tip need not be narrowly defined. A shaft may have a parallel or a tapered tip, by which is meant that the end of the shaft (that fits into the club head) has a smaller cross-sectional diameter than a portion of the shaft more proximal (that is, toward the hand grip). As will be described in more detail below, a shaft can be fit with a sleeve and/or ferrule, which can fit into the club head. Sleeves of this invention are adapted to be fixed to a shaft, optionally also including a ferrule for distributing the flex stress more evenly to the shaft and minimizing the likelihood that the shaft (e.g, such as a graphite shaft) will become damaged and/or weakened by repeated stress applied during a stroke. In some prior art clubs, stresses on the portion of a shaft inserted into the hozel can result in cracking and breakage of the shaft. Use of a ferrule and/or sleeve of this invention can decrease breakage of a shaft, thereby prolonging its useful life. In certain embodiments of this invention, a shaft can be fixed in place in a sleeve, with, for example, epoxy adhesives. In other embodiments, a hozel can have "windows," "slits" or other "openings" therein. Openings typically will be completely through the wall of the hozel, permitting a locking member of a sleeve to engage securely with the hozel. In some embodiments, a hozel can have a single opening adapted to receive a single sleeve lock, hi other embodiments, a plurality of openings can be used, and can be adapted to receive one or more sleeve locks. It can be appreciated that by removing material from the hozel, the club head loses mass. This mass can be redistributed to a desired location in the club head as described more fully below. In some embodiments of this invention, golf clubs can have a grip that is not be radially symmetrical, but rather, may have a "grip axis" oriented across the longitudinal axis of the shaft as a whole (the "shaft axis"). A grip axis can be used as a reference for positioning a head. A club head also has its own longitudinal axis ("head axis"), typically oriented across the shaft axis. Thus, depending on the way in which the club head is attached to the shaft, in these embodiments, there will be an angle between the grip axis and the head axis. When gripped by a golfer, the grip axis maybe consistently oriented with respect to the golfer's hands and arms, thereby providing a consistent grip position relative to the golfer' s body. In embodiments of this invention, a golfer can select a variably positioned angle between the head axis and the grip axis (herein termed "head angle"). A head angle can be adjusted by a golfer by removing the head from the shaft and rotating the hozel with respect to the shaft and then reinserting the shaft into the hozel. h some of these embodiments, a golfer may adjust the head angle of a club head before a stroke, thereby correcting for a tendency to either slice or hook a shot, hi some of these embodiments, the hozel of the club head can accept a sleeve that can be inserted at one or more different rotational positions in the hozel. A shaft can then be attached to a sleeve. In certain embodiments, a grip is adapted to fit the hands of a golfer in a fashion permitting the club shaft to remain in a particular rotational orientation within the golfer's grip. Embodiments of this aspect of the invention include asymmetrical grip elements that are securely mounted on the shaft. Thus, when gripped by the golfer, axial rotation of the shaft within the golfer's hands can be controlled and, if desired, minimized. In other embodiments, a grip and shaft as described in this paragraph can be inserted into a sleeve and fixed thereto. The sleeve can then be inserted into the hozel, thereby completing the golf club. In other aspects of this invention, a grip and shaft as described in the above paragraph can be inserted into a sleeve at one of a variety of positions relative to the axis of the sleeve and hozel. By removing the sleeve from the hozel and rotating it to a desired location and then reinserting the shaft into the sleeve/hozel, a new head angle can be obtained. Such an ability to provide different orientations of the club face and the grip can permit a golfer to avoid undesired slices or hooks. Alternatively, in situation in which a hook or slice is desired (e.g., to pass a dogleg in a fairway, to avoid a sand trap or water hazard), a golfer can select a head angle that can provide the desired degree of hook or slice. Many different ways of providing such adjustments can be made. For example, a simple geometric shaped sleeve that functionally matches a hozel can be envisioned. Squares, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons, etc. can be used. In general, with more sides of the geometrically shaped sleeve/hozel, more different head angles can be provided, h certain of these embodiments a "spline" can be used instead of a regular geometric form. As used herein, a "spline refers to a cylindrical male member that has ridges or grooves arrayed around the circumference of the member. There is a corresponding female member adapted to engageably receive the male member so as to fix an angle between the two. When engaged, the male member and the female member are not able to rotate with respect to each other. In other embodiments of this invention, sleeves adapted to accept a club shafts are provided that have resilient members or detents suitable for insertion and removable locking of the sleeve into the hozel of the club head. A locking device, such as a detent can be of any resilient material, including plastics, spring metal, or metal or other materials with springs to provide a force to tend to extend the detent radially away from the central axis of the sleeve. It can be appreciated that for these embodiments, one detent may be sufficient to lock the male member with the female member. However, in some cases, a plurality of detents can provide increased security of a locking mechanism. hi some embodiments, the grooves or ridges may be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the male member. Upon insertion of the male member into the female member, a detent is engaged with a window in the hozel, thereby preventing unwanted disengagement of the male member from the female member. To alter the head angle, one depresses the detent so that it releases from the window in the hozel, and then the male member can be removed from the female member. By rotating the male member and then reinserting the male member into the female member, and then engaging the detent with a window in the hozel, a new head angle can be provided. In other embodiments, grooves or ridges can be offset at an angle to the long axis of the sleeve and hozel. Such screw-like grooves can be either left-handed or right-handed. In certain embodiments, it can be desirable for a right-handed golfer to use screw-like head adjustment mechanism that, when viewed from the shaft end of the club, is counterclockwise in direction, like a reverse screw, used for example for wood or metal fastening. Counterclockwise grooves can help keep the head and shaft together, because when the head strikes a ball, an angular moment is produced that would tend to rotate the head in a clockwise fashion around the shaft. By providing a counterclockwise groove, production of such an angular moment would tend to keep the head and shaft together, as opposed to the situation in which a clockwise groove would, upon production of a clockwise angular moment, tend to unscrew the shaft from the head. It can be appreciated that for left-handed golfers, the situation would be reversed, with a clockwise groove tending to keep the shaft and head together. In certain embodiments, the sleeve is screwed into to hozel, and upon reaching the fullest insertion, a detent is engaged with a window in the hozel. Alternatively, for left-handed golfers, it may be desirable to provide a right-handed head angle adjustment mechanism. In some of these embodiments, a single detent or resilient member may be sufficient to lock the male member with the female member, i the screw-like embodiments, at least some of the centripetal force produced during a swing can be countered by the engagement of the ridges on the male member with grooves in the female member. As long as the male and female members are not rotated with respect to each other (e.g., by a detent or resilient member) thereby preventing the male member from disengaging from the female member. Sleeves may be manufactured to be adapted to commercially available shafts and hozels. Therefore, even if a golfer desires a club head having a hozel that has too large a bore for a particular shaft, the golfer can select a particular sleeve that can permit the club head to become firmly attached to the shaft. Ferrules can also be provided to be adaptable to a variety of hozels, sleeves and/or shafts to permit another level of choice to a golfer for producing individualized clubs and for providing alternative configurations for a single club. In still further embodiments of this invention, the weight of a club head can be distributed in one of a variety of fashions to place center of mass of the club head at a desired location. In certain of these embodiments, it can be desirable to place more weight behind the club face, hi certain of these embodiments, the location can be immediately behind the portion of the face that makes contact with the ball. In other embodiments, it may be desirable to distribute the weight asymmetrically about the contact portion, (e.g., below, above, to the side, etc). In still further embodiments, a golf club can be provided having an annular weight distribution, surrounding the club head. Thus, certain aspects include connectors for use in the assembly of a golf club, said connector comprising: a male member having: a first end adapted to engage a golf club shaft having a longitudinal axis with a coaxial bore therethrough, and a second end having at least one detent; and a female member comprising: at least one end adapted to reversibly engage the second end of the male member, where said end of the female member interchangeably engages the at least one detent of said male member. Other aspects include connectors, wherein the engagement of the male member and the female member enables exchanging of at least one of said golf club components. Further aspects include connectors, where the engagement of the at least one detent of the male member with a female member enables rotational alignment of at least two of said golf club components relative to each other. Additional aspects include connectors, where the first end of the male member is a cylindrical shank that inserts into the bore of the cylindrical golf club component. Yet further aspects include connectors, where the first end of the male member is adapted to insert into the bore of the golf club shaft, and the second end is adapted to insert into a hozel of a golf club head. Still further aspects include connectors, where the first end of the male member includes a ferrule that abuts the exterior of the hozel, thereby limiting flexure between said shaft and said hozel. Additional aspects include connectors, said member having a plurality of faces at least one of said faces having a detent. Still further aspects include connectors, where the number of separate faces is from about 2 to about 8. Additional aspects include connectors, wherein said second end of said male member has a splined cylindrical cross-sectional shape. Further aspects include a golf club, comprising: a golf club head having a female member; a golf club shaft; a golf club grip; and a connector, having a male member comprising: a first end adapted to engage said shaft; and a second end having at least one detent adapted to reversibly engage said female member. Additional aspects include golf clubs, wherein: said female member comprises a hozel of said golf club head; and said male member has at least one detent that is adapted to engage said hozel. Still further aspects include golf clubs, wherein said female member comprises a hozel, and said male member of said connector extends from the tip of the shaft to enable the exchange one of a plurality of golf club heads with said golf club shaft. Other aspects include golf clubs, wherein said connector conjoins a proximal portion of said shaft with a distal portion of said shaft. Yet further aspects include golf clubs, wherein said proximal and distal portions of said shaft have marks thereon that indicate relative rotational relationship between said two portions of said shaft. Additional aspects include golf clubs, wherein said grip is asymmetrical and at least one mark on said proximal portion of said shaft indicates alignment of said proximal and distal portions of said shaft. Other aspects include golf clubs, wherein said distal portion of said shaft has a plurality of marks indicative of relative rotational positions of said proximal and distal portions of said shaft. Moreover, other aspects include golf clubs, comprising: an asymmetrical grip attached to a proximal portion of a golf club shaft; at least one mark on said proximal portion of said shaft; a distal portion of said golf club shaft attached to a golf club head; said distal portion of said shaft having aplurality of marks thereon indicative of rotational relationship between said proximal and distal portions of said shaft; and a connector attached to one portion of said shaft, said connector having at least one detent adapted to reversibly engage a receiving element of said other portion of said shaft, said connector being adapted to engage said receiving element with a plurality of rotational relationships. Other aspects include golf clubs, wherein said rotational relationship is maintained by a male member having a cross-section of a regular polygon and a female member adapted to receive said male member. Further aspects include golf clubs, wherein said regular polygon has from about 6 to about 20 sides. Other aspects include golf clubs, where said rotational relationship is maintained by a male member having a longitudinal axis and having ridges on the surface of said member parallel to said longitudinal axis, and said receiving element being a female member having a central bore having a longitudinal axis and grooves adapted to reversibly receive said ridges on said male member. Still further aspects include golf clubs, wherein said ridges are spaced apart from one another equally, and wherein said grooves are spaced apart from one another equally, thereby permitting a plurality of rotational positions between said male and female members. Other aspects include golf clubs, wherein said male member is attached to the distal end of said golf club shaft, and said receiving member is a hozel. Additional aspects include golf club head, comprising: a club head body; and a hozel; wherein said hozel has at least one window therethrough, a portion of mass of said hozel being removed thereby; and wherein said club head body has a mass attached thereto equivalent to that removed from said hozel. Further aspects include golf clubs, wherein said club head body has a face adapted to strike a golf ball, said mass attached thereto is located on said body behind said club face. Yet further aspects include golf clubs, wherein said club head body has a face having center, said mass attached thereto being distributed in an arcuate fashion over at least a portion of said face peripheral to said center.

EXAMPLES The examples that follow represent specific embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope. Rather, they are illustrative of features of clubs of this invention. Persons of skill in the art can adapt the disclosures and teachings of this invention to create embodiments that are within the scope of this invention.

Example 1 : Golf Club having Detachable Shaft Figure 1 depicts an embodiment 100 of this invention having a club head body 104, hozel 108 having windows 112, shaft 116, sleeve 120 having resilient locking members 124. In this embodiment, resilient members 124 are capable of being depressed by a golfer's hand, finger, or other tool, so that when force is released, the resilient members 124 return to positions shown. Sleeve 120 is designed to slip into the bore of hozel 108. hi general, it is desirable for the sleeve to fit snugly into hozel 120 to minimize adverse motion between shaft 116 and club head 104. Upon inserting sleeve 120 into hozel 108, with further insertion force, an inner aspect of the bore of hozel 108 provides a compressive force on resilient members 124, tending to force them towards the axis of sleeve 120. As sleeve 120 is fully inserted into hozel 108, and upon alignment of resilient members 112 with windows 112, the resilient members 124 can return to their extended position. Proximal ends of resilient members 124, when in extended position can prevent sleeve 120 from being inadvertently withdrawn from hozel 108 by being adjacent to proximal end 114 of windows 112. Figure 1 also illustrates how by forming windows 112 material is removed from hozel 108. This removal reduces the weight of the club head 104. The weight so removed can be added to other portions of club head 104 to effect a re-distribution of weight of club head 104.

Example 2: Sleeve and Hozel Figure 2 (left) depicts an embodiment 200 of this invention, with sleeve 120 having a proximal portion 123 having annular ribs 121 and annular grooves 122. Proximal portion 123 is adapted to fit into the bore of a hollow golf club shaft (not shown). Annular ribs 121 are designed to fit snugly within the bore of a shaft. However, in certain embodiments, ribs 121 may be more loosely fit into the bore of a shaft, and held in place with glue, such as epoxy. Annular grooves 122 provide space for glue to bond the shaft to the proximal portion 123 of sleeve 120. As described above in Example 1, resilient members 124 are configured to be depressable into the distal portion of sleeve 120. As shown in Figure 2, resilient members 124 also have a distal portion 130 adapted to fit into a corresponding window 112a of hozel 108. When a depressing force on resilient members 124 is relaxed, resilient members 124 return to their extended position shown. Figure 2 also depicts a proximal portion of hozel 108, having windows 112 therein. Additionally, another window 112a is depicted that are adapted to receive distal portions 130 of resilient members 124. When sleeve 120 is inserted into the bore of hozel 108, a depressing force is exerted on resilient members 124, which then are forced into a retracted position (not shown). When sleeve 120 is fully inserted into hozel 108, and upon proper alignment of resilient members 124 with windows 112, resilient members 124 can return to their extended positions shown. As with Example 1 above, once resilient members 124 extend and lock with windows 112, the proximal ends 128 of resilient members 124 abut the distal ends 114 of windows 112, thereby preventing inadvertent disengagement of sleeve 120 from hozel 108. h some embodiments, a ferrule (not shown) can be placed over the proximal portion 123 of sleeve 120 to reduce a tendency for a shaft (not shown) to be damaged by contact with hozel 108. Such damage can result from flexure of the shaft resulting in localized pressure by the inner edge of the bore of hozel 108 with an unprotected shaft. Example 3: Octagonally Shaped Sleeve and Hozel Figure 3a depicts aperspective view of an embodiment 300 having an octagonally shaped portion 320 of sleeve 120 (as depicted in Figure 2 (left side)). In this embodiment, a plurality of resilient members 324 are shown. A corresponding hozel (not shown) also has an octagonally shaped bore adapted to receive portion 320. As with other embodiments described in Examples 1 and 2, when octagonally shaped portion 320 is inserted into a hozel having an octagonally shaped bore, resilient members 324 return to their extended positions, thereby locking sleeve 320 into the hozel. One can appreciate that the orientation of a shaft attached to sleeve 320 canbe varied with respect to a hozel by rotating the sleeve prior to its insertion into a hozel. In this embodiment, there are therefore eight (8) different positions, resulting in 8 different head angles. Figures 3b to 3e depict alternative embodiments of sleeve and hozel combinations. Figure 3b depicts an embodiment 301 having pentagonally shaped hozel 308b adapted to receive pentagonally shaped sleeve 320b. Figure 3c depicts an embodiment 302 having a hexagonally shaped hozel 308c adapted to receive hexagonally shaped sleeve 320c. Figure 3d depicts an embodiment 303 having a spline-shaped hozel 308d adapted to receive spline-shaped sleeve 320d. Figure 3e depicts a cross-sectional view of an octagonally shaped hozel 308e adapted to receive octagonally shaped sleeve 320e. One can appreciate that numerous variations of the above embodiments are within the scope of this invention. In general to provide a finer degree of control over head angle, one can desirably use hozel/sleeve combinations having more facets. Thus, one can design hozel/sleeve combinations having more than 8 facets, for example, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 20 or more discreet facets can be provided using known techniques. For even finer control over head angle, one can use spline-shaped hozel/sleeve combinations, and the number of splines can be selected. In some embodiments, one can have 20, 30 , 40 or even more different splines, which means that there can be as many different head angles selected.

Example 4: Golf Club Having Adjustable Head Angle With Ferrule Figure 4 depicts an embodiment 400 of this invention having club head 104, hozel 108 having windows 112 as shown above. Also, shaft 116 and sleeve 120 are as depicted above. In this Example, ferrule 117 is provided proximally to sleeve 120. It can be desirable to position the distal end 117a so that after insertion of sleeve 120 into hozel 108, distal end 117a abuts the proximal end 108a of hozel 108. hi this Example, a close abutment of distal face 117a against proximal end 108a of hozel 108 can decrease lateral stresses between shaft 116 and hozel 108, thereby prolonging the life of the club.

Example 5: Golf Club Having Tapered Sleeve and Hozel Figure 5 depicts an embodiment 500 of this invention having tapered hozel 108a and tapered sleeve 120a. As with Example 1 above, hozel 108a has windows 124 therein. Also, sleeve 120a has resilient members 124, which upon depressing, can be retracted into sleeve 120a. Insertion of sleeve 120a into hozel 108a produces a depressing force on resilient members 124, and upon proper alignment of resilient members 124 with windows 112, and upon complete insertion of sleeve 120a into hozel 108a, resilient members 124 can return to their extended positions as shown. Such embodiments can be desired to adapt tapered club shafts to tapered club heads.

Variations of this type of embodiment can be made to adapt a tapered shaft to be inserted into a "parallel" or "straight bore" hozel, in which the inside diameter of the bore of hozel 108 is constant and not tapered. Similarly, variations of this Example can be made to adapt a tapered hozel 108a with a non-tapered sleeve 120.

Example 6: Weight Distribution in Club Head hi certain aspects of this invention, upon making windows in a hozel, material is removed from the club head. The mass of material so removed can be re-distributed to different locations in the club head. Figure 6a depicts an embodiment 600 of this invention in which club head 604a has hozel

608 having windows 612 therein. To keep the total mass of club head 604a the same as if there were no windows in the hozel, the equivalent mass so removed can be added to other portions of the club head, hi Figure 6a, the mass is redistributed to an area 605a, depicted here as behind the portion of the club face that strikes the golf ball (not shown). Figure 6b depicts an alternative embodiment 601 wherein the mass removed from windows 612 is redistributed in an arcuate fashion 605b near the end of club head 604b away from hozel 608.

Figure 6c depicts a still further embodiment 602 wherein the mass removed from windows 612 is redistrubuted in a semi-annular fashion 605c around the end of club head 604c away from hozel 608.

Example 7: Adjustment of Head Angle Figures 7a to 7d depict some alternative embodiments for adjusting head angle of a club of this invention. Figure 7a depicts a cross-sectional view of a portion of golf club shaft 716 having grip 704. Grip 704 is not radially symmetrical, but rather has a raised portion 704a adapted to provide a consistent relationship between a golfer's hands and the club shaft. Once a grip is established, the orientation of the club shaft 716 is more consistent than in prior art clubs having a symmetrical grip. A golfer's fingers (not shown) can wrap around the grip in such a fashion as to provide a comfortable, firm grip. Figure 7b depicts a side view of a portion of a club as depicted in Figure 7a. Grip 704 has raised areas 704a that are shown with alternating recesses 704b, adapted to accommodate a golfer's fingers. Grip 704 is depicted as attached to shaft 716, which has a spline-shaped portion 718. Spline-shaped portion 718 is adapted to fit into spline-shaped bore of a distal portion 716a of the shaft. A locking mechanism (not shown) holds the proximal portion of shaft 716 to the distal portion 716a. A golfer can remove portion 718 from distal portion 716a and then rotate portion 718 with respect to portion 716a, and then upon re-inserting portion 718 into portion 716a, the grip can be re-oriented with respect to the club head (not shown). Figure 7c depicts a top view of an embodiment 701 of this invention. Grip 704 is shown with grip reference line 705 thereon. Shaft 716a has head angle indicator lines 706a to 706e thereon. Head angle adjustment means (not shown) can be used to provide rotational selection of head angle, and the indication of head angle is provided by the relationship between reference line 705 and indicator lines 706a to 706e. Note that grip 704 may be asymmetrical so that when a golfer grips the handle, reference line is on the top of the handle. Figure 7d depicts a top view of an embodiment 702 of this invention in which the head angle adjustment means (not shown) is hear hozel 708. Indicator line 705a is inscribed on the top side of shaft 716, which is held in relative position to an asymmetrical grip 704. Head angle adjustment means (not shown) can be used to provide rotational selection of head angle, and the indication of head angle is provided by the relationship between reference line 705a and indicator lines 707a to 707e. hi Figures 7c and 7d, if the reference lines 705 and 705a are aligned opposite indicator lines 705a and 707a, respectively, then the head angle would tend to provide a slicing type of interaction between the club face and the ball (not shown). Such a configuration would assist a golfer having a tendency to hook a shot. Likewise, if the reference lines 705 and 705a are aligned opposite indicator lines 706e and 707e, respectively, then the head angle would tend to provide a hooking type of interaction between the club face and the ball (not shown). Such a configuration would assist a golfer having a tendency to slice a shot. It is apparent that the intermediate indicator lines (e.g., 705b, 705d, 707a and 707d would provide intermediate levels of compensation for hooks and slices, respectively. It can also be appreciated that if reference lines 705 and 705a are aligned with indicator lines 706c and 707c, respectively, then the head angle would be neutral, and not provide a tendency to either a slice or a hook. The descriptions and Figures herein are intended to illustrate aspects of the invention and are not intended to limit the scope. It can be appreciated that one of skill in the art can provide other combinations of grips, shafts, sleeves, hozels and weight distributions based on the teachings and disclosures contained herein. All of those other embodiments are considered to be part of this invention. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY Aspects of this invention are useful in industries that manufacture golf club components and golf clubs. Clubs of this invention are useful for industries involving advertising, sales and use of golf clubs for recreational or professional golfers.

Claims

I Claim:

1. A connector for use in the assembly of a golf club, said connector comprising: a male member having: a first end adapted to engage a golf club shaft having a longitudinal axis with a coaxial bore therethrough, and a second end having at least one detent; and a female member comprising: at least one end adapted to reversibly engage the second end of the male member, where said end of the female member interchangeably engages the at least one detent of said male member.

2. The connector of Claim 1 , wherein the engagement of the male member and the female member enables exchanging of at least one of said golf club components.

3. The connector of any of Claims 1 -2, where the engagement of the at least one detent of the male member with a female member enables rotational alignment of at least two of said golf club components relative to each other.

4. The connector of any of Claims 1-3, where the first end of the male member is a cylindrical shank that inserts into the bore of the cylindrical golf club component.

5. The connector of any of Claims 1- 4, where the first end of the male member is adapted to insert into the bore of the golf club shaft, and the second end is adapted to insert into a hozel of a golf club head.

6. The connector of any of Claims 1 -5 , where the first end of the male member includes a ferrule that abuts the exterior of the hozel, thereby limiting flexure between said shaft and said hozel.

7. The connector of any of Claims 1-6, said member having a plurality of faces at least one of said faces having a detent.

8. The connector of Claim 7, where the number of separate faces is from about 2 to about 8.

9. The connector of any of claims 1 -7, wherein said second end of said male member has a splined cylindrical cross-sectional shape.

10. A golf club, comprising: a golf club head having a female member; a golf club shaft; a golf club grip; and a connector, having a male member comprising: a first end adapted to engage said shaft; and a second end having at least one detent adapted to reversibly engage said female member.

11. The golf club of Claim 10, wherein: said female member comprises a hozel of said golf club head; and said male member has at least one detent that is adapted to engage said hozel.

12. The golf club of any of Claims 10-11, wherein said female member comprises a hozel, and said male member of said connector extends from the tip of the shaft to enable the exchange one of a plurality of golf club heads with said golf club shaft.

13. The golf club of any of Claims 10-12, wherein said connector conj oins a proximal portion of said shaft with a distal portion of said shaft.

14. The golf club of any of Claims 10-13, wherein said proximal and distal portions of said shaft have marks thereon that indicate relative rotational relationship between said two portions of said shaft.

15. The golf club of any of Claims 10-14, wherein said grip is asymmetrical and at least one mark on said proximal portion of said shaft indicates alignment of said proximal and distal portions of said shaft.

16. The golf club of any of Claims 10-15, wherein said distal portion of said shaft has a plurality of marks indicative of relative rotational positions of said proximal and distal portions of said shaft.

17. A golf club, comprising: an asymmetrical grip attached to a proximal portion of a golf club shaft; at least one mark on said proximal portion of said shaft; a distal portion of said golf club shaft attached to a golf club head; said distal portion of said shaft having a plurality of marks thereon indicative of rotational relationship between said proximal and distal portions of said shaft; and a connector attached to one portion of said shaft, said connector having at least one detent adapted to reversibly engage a receiving element of said other portion of said shaft, said connector being adapted to engage said receiving element with a plurality of rotational relationships.

18. The golf club of Claim 17, wherein said rotational relationship is maintained by a male member having a cross-section of a regular polygon and a female member adapted to receive said male member.

19. The golf club of Claim 18, wherein said regular polygon has from about 6 to about 20 sides.

20. The golf club of Claim 17, where said rotational relationship is maintained by a male member having a longitudinal axis and having ridges on the surface of said member parallel to said longitudinal axis, and said receiving element being a female member having a central bore having a longitudinal axis and grooves adapted to reversibly receive said ridges on said male member.

21. The golf club of Claim 20, wherein said ridges are spaced apart from one another equally, and wherein said grooves are spaced apart from one another equally, thereby permitting a plurality of rotational positions between said male and female members.

22. The golf club of any of Claims 17-21, wherein said male member is attached to the distal end of said golf club shaft, and said receiving member is a hozel.

23. A golf club head, comprising: a club head body; and a hozel; wherein said hozel has at least one window therethrough, aportion of mass of said hozel being removed thereby; and wherein said club head body has a mass attached thereto equivalent to that removed from said hozel.

24. The golf club head of Claim 23 , wherein said club head body has a face adapted to strike a golf ball, said mass attached thereto is located on said body behind said club face.

25. The golf club head of Claim 23 or 24, wherein said club head body has a face having center, said mass attached thereto being distributed in an arcuate fashion over at least a portion of said face peripheral to said center.