GB2413501A

GB2413501A - Golf club with convex or two-part striking face

Info

Publication number: GB2413501A
Application number: GB0508376A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Mcateer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-04-28
Filing date: 2005-04-26
Publication date: 2005-11-02
Also published as: GB0508376D0

Abstract

In a first embodiment (fig. 2), a golf club head comprises a substantially convex striking face 34, preferably having a radius of around 19 millimetres. The lower surface of the club head may be substantially normal to the axis of the shaft 20, and the club head may have a rearward face 44 having a spoiling member 46 which prevents face 44 from being used as a playable striking face. A set of such clubs may be provided, each having a different convex profile. In a second embodiment (fig. 3), the club head comprises two striking faces 32, 34 having different orientations. The first face 32 may be substantially parallel to the axis of shaft 20, with the second face 34 being convex, angled (134, fig. 6) or concave (234, fig. 7). Second striking face 34 may comprise the upper surface of a protrusion 38 which protrudes from a lower part of first striking face 32, with the lower surface 40 of the protrusion being substantially normal to the axis of shaft 20. The club head of either embodiment may be formed from lightweight material.

Description

O 2413501 1 Golf Club 3 The present invention relates to golf clubs. In 4

particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to golf clubs adapted for one or both of 6 pitching and putting shots.

8 In golf, the clubs used are typically adapted for a 9 range of distances and for specific types of shots.

For a shot played on the green of a golf course, a 11 putter having a substantially planar and vertical 12 striking face is commonly used. One disadvantage of 13 this is that the ball remains in contact with the 14 ground and so the direction and travel of the ball are strongly influenced by factors such as the slope 16 and contours of the green. Some greens can be 17 relatively large such that the putting distance 18 could be 30 m or more, and this increases the 19 difficulty of the putting shot. Another disadvantage is that the vertical striking face 21 imparts little or no spin on the ball and so it is 22 more difficult to control the travel of the ball. rx

1 For a shot played off, but near, the green of the 2 golf course, a pitching club such as a wedge is 3 commonly used. This club has a substantially planar 4 and oblique striking face for lifting the ball from the ground. However, backspin is imparted to the 6 ball so that there is little travel of the ball when 7 it again contacts the ground. Also, the direction 8 of the ball is more difficult to control than when 9 using a putter. For these reasons, and also because players are reluctant to use a club which could 11 cause damage to the green, the pitching club is not 12 usually a desirable alternative to a putter for a 13 player when the ball is located on the green.

It is to be appreciated that both a putting and a 16 pitching club have a substantially planar striking 17 face. Therefore, if the club head is not 18 substantially at the lowest point of the swing as 19 the ball is struck, the striking face will be at a different orientation relative to the ball from the 21 intended orientation. Therefore, a small error when 22 playing the shot can significantly affect the 23 accuracy of the shot.

Conventional clubs do have other head portions which 26 are not planar. However, these portions are not 27 intended to provide a striking face. Indeed, for 28 ensuring that the club is a legal golf club, these 29 portions are often formed or include features so that they do not provide a practical striking face.

1 Conventional pitching clubs do not have a lower 2 surface which is substantially parallel to the 3 ground when the ball is struck. Firstly, the club 4 is typically arcuate in the longitudinal direction of the club head. Secondly, the club is typically 6 oblique in a direction between the front (striking 7 face) and rear of the club head. A poorly played 8 shot from a green is therefore more likely to damage 9 the green.

11 According to a first aspect of the present 12 invention, there is provided a golf club comprising: 13 a shaft; 14 a club head connected to one end of the shaft, the club head comprising a striking face, 16 wherein the striking face is substantially 17 convex.

19 It is to be appreciated that the term "convex" is intended to include any striking faces which are 21 generally outwardly arcuate including parabolic, 22 paraboloidal, elliptic, eliptoidal, hyperbolic, 23 bell-shaped, skewed bell-shaped and rammed surfaces.

Preferably the convex striking face has a radius of 26 between l5 and 25 millimetres. Preferably the 27 convex striking face has a radius of around 19 28 millimetres.

Preferably the lower surface of the club head is 31 substantially normal to the axis of the shaft.

1 Preferably the striking face has a length in the 2 direction of the shaft axis of between 5 and 40 3 millimetres. Preferably the striking face has a 4 length in the direction of the shaft axis of about 20 millimetres.

7 Preferably the golf club has a second face and a 8 spoiling member is provided at the second face so 9 that second face does not provide a playable striking face. Preferably the spoiling member has a 11 geometry such that substantially no surface of the 12 spoiling member is parallel to the striking face.

13 Preferably the spoiling member has a geometry such 14 that substantially no surface of the spoiling member has a constant width.

17 Preferably the shaft is connected adjacent to or at 18 an end portion of the club head.

Preferably at least the club head is formed from a 21 lightweight material, such as an aluminium, plastic 22 or composite material.

24 According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a set of golf clubs 26 according to the first aspect of the present 27 invention, wherein each of the set has a different 28 convex profile.

The term "set of golf clubs" is intended to refer to 31 a group of two or more golf clubs.

1 According to a third aspect of the present 2 invention, there is provided a golf club comprising: 3 a shaft; 4 a club head connected to one end of the shaft, the club head comprising a first striking face 6 having a first orientation, and a second striking 7 face arranged below the first striking face and 8 having a second orientation different from the first 9 orientation.

11 Preferably the first orientation is substantially 12 parallel to the axis of the shaft. Preferably the 13 second orientation is at an oblique angle relative 14 to the first orientation.

16 Preferably one or both of the first and second 17 striking faces are substantially planar. Preferably 18 the first striking face is substantially planar.

19 Preferably one or both of the first and second striking faces are convex. Preferably the second 21 striking face is convex. Preferably the convex 22 striking face has a radius of between 15 and 20 23 millimetres. Preferably the convex striking face 24 has a radius of around 19 millimetres.

Alternatively one or both of the first and second 26 striking faces are concave.

28 Preferably the second striking face is provided by 29 an upper surface of a protrusion which protrudes from a lower portion of the first striking face.

31 Preferably the lower surface of the protrusion is 32 substantially normal to the axis of the shaft. fig

2 Preferably the first striking face has a length in 3 the direction of the shaft axis of at least 75 4 millimetres. Preferably the second striking face has a length in the direction of the shaft axis of 6 between 5 and 40 millimetres. Preferably the second 7 striking face has a length in the direction of the 8 shaft axis of about 20 millimetres.

Preferably the shaft is connected to a central 11 portion of the club head.

13 Preferably at least the club head is formed from a 14 lightweight material, such as an aluminium, plastic or composite material.

17 Embodiments of the present invention will now be 18 described, by way of example only, with reference to 19 the accompanying drawings, in which: 21 Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of a golf club 22 according to a first embodiment of the invention; 24 Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the golf club of Figure 1; 27 Fig. 3 is a side view of a golf club according to a 28 second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 is a detailed perspective view of a portion 31 of the golf club of Figure 3. - '

1 Fig. 5 is a front view of the golf club of Figure 3.

3 Fig. 6 is a side view of a golf club according to a 4 third embodiment of the invention; 6 Fig. 7 is a side view of a golf club according to 7 fourth embodiment of the invention.

9 Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the invention is shown. A golf club 1 comprises a 11 shaft 20 and a club head connected to one end of the 12 shaft 1. The club head has a striking face 34 which 13 is substantially convex.

The convex striking face 34 has a radius of between 16 15 and 25 millimetres and typically around 19 17 millimetres. The striking face has a length in the 18 direction of the shaft axis of between 5 and 40 19 millimetres, and typically about 20 millimeters.

21 The lower surface 40 of the club head is 22 substantially normal to the axis of the shaft 20.

23 The shaft 20 is connected near to an end portion of 24 the club head.

26 The rear surface 44 of the club 1 includes a 27 spoiling member 46. This is to ensure that the rear 28 surface 44 is not a playable surface and so the club 29 1 is a legal club. The spoiling member has a triangular cross section and tapers down from a 31 first location 4-/ in both longitudinal directions of 32 the club head l. The first location 47 is offset 1 from the centre of the club head 1, and the spoiling 2 member 46 has an axis 48 which is non-parallel with 3 the longitudinal axis of the club head 1.

4 Therefore, due to the geometry and orientation of the spoiling member 46, substantially no surface of 6 the spoiling member 46 is parallel to the striking 7 face 34. Also, substantially no surface of the 8 spoiling member 46 has a constant width.

The club head may be formed from a lightweight 11 material, such as an aluminium, plastic or composite 12 material.

14 When the club 1 is used, the convex striking face 34 tends to provide a significant force in the forward 16 direction as well as some lift so that the ball does 17 not remain on the ground. Furthermore, the lower 18 surface 40 of the club head will tend to be 19 substantially parallel to the ground when the ball is struck. The club 1 is therefore well suited for 21 shots both on or just off the green. The direction 22 and travel of the ball can more easily be controlled 23 and damage to the green is less likely.

It has also been found that the convex striking face 26 34 does not produce the same inaccuracy of shot if 27 the striking face 34 is incorrectly orientated when 28 the ball is struck. This is because, for practical 29 variations in the orientation of the striking face 34, the angle of contact between the striking face 31 34 and bale 300 will be similar, although the point 32 of contact on the striking face 34 may change.

2 Different types of convex surfaces will result in 3 different types of shots. A player may choose to 4 carry a number of clubs according to the invention but having different types of convex surfaces to 6 suit the shot to be played.

8 Referring to Figures 3 to 5, a second embodiment of 9 the invention is shown. Like reference numerals are used for like features. A golf club 10 comprises a 11 shaft 20 having one end connected to a club head 30.

12 The club head 30 has a first striking face 32 which 13 is planar and has a first orientation. The 14 orientation of the first striking face 32 is substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft 20.

17 A protrusion 38 protrudes from a lower portion of 18 the first striking face 32. The upper surface of 19 the protrusion 38 provides a second striking face 34. The protrusion 38 is integrally informed with 21 the remainder of the club head 30. The protrusion 22 38 has a lower surface 40 which is substantially 23 normal to the axis of the shaft 20.

The upper surface of the protrusion 38 is, for this 26 embodiment of the invention, convex. The convex 27 striking face 34 has a radius 36 of about 19 28 millimetres. Therefore, at least the majority of 29 the second striking face 34 is at an oblique angle relative to the first striking face 32.

1 As shown in Figure 3, the shaft 20 is connected to a 2 central portion 42 of the club head 30. However, 3 the shaft 20 may be connected to an end portion of 4 the club head 30.

6 Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of the invention 7 which is similar to the second embodiment, other 8 than the profile of the second striking face 134.

9 In this embodiment, the second striking face 134 is substantially planar.

12 Figure 5 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention 13 which is similar to the previous embodiment, except 14 that the second striking face 234 is concave.

16 In use, the club of any of the above embodiments is 17 held such that the first striking face 32 is 18 substantially vertical (second to fourth 19 embodiments) and the striking face 34, 134, 234 is at a shallow angle. When the shot is made, the 21 striking face 34, 134, 234 contacts the ball 300 and 22 imparts a lifting force to the ball.

24 If the shot is played at a low to fairly high strength, contact with the striking face 34, 134, 26 234 is sufficient to impart lift and forward 27 propulsion to the ball. Only if the shot is played 28 at a very high strength, will the club head follow 29 through at a velocity equal to or greater than the struck ball.

1 The club 10, 110, 210 of the second to fourth 2 embodiments can be of value when the shot is played 3 at a very high strength. In such a case, 4 simultaneous to contacting the striking face 34, 134, 234, or immediately afterwards, the ball 300 6 contacts the first striking face 32 which imparts a 7 forward and substantially horizontal force to the 8 ball 300. The net effect of the shot is that the 9 ball 300 is lifted to a short height from the ground and then propelled forwards.

12 To accommodate the lifting of the ball 300, the 13 height of the first striking face 32 is 14 significantly greater than that provided by a conventional putter. The height is typically around 16 75 millimetres.

18 For all embodiments of the club, since the ball 300 19 does not remain in contact with the ground, the direction and travel are not influenced by factors 21 pertaining to the ground. Also, the club imparts a 22 degree of backspin to the ball 300 which may be used 23 to control the travel the of the ball.

Also, due to the substantially horizontal lower 26 surface 40 of the club, use of the club on a green 27 is unlikely to cause any damage to the green.

29 A particular advantage of the first and second embodiment of the invention is that the convex 31 profile of the striking face 34 gives a degree of 32 control of the lifting force applied to the ball in) 1 300. As previously stated, incorrect orientation of 2 the striking face 34 does not affect the accuracy of 3 the shot to the same extent as a planar striking 4 face. Also, control of the height of the club 10 from the ground will determine the orientation of 6 the portion of the second striking face 34 which 7 makes contact with the ball 300.

9 Various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the scope of the present 11 invention. -)

Claims

1 CLAIMS 3 1. A golf club comprising: 4 a shaft; a club head connected to

one end of the shaft, 6 the club head comprising a striking face, 7 wherein the striking face is substantially 8 convex.

2. A golf club as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the 11 convex striking face has a radius of between 15 and 12 25 millimetres.

14 3. A golf club as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the convex striking face has a radius of around 19 16 millimetres.

18 4. A golf club as claimed in any preceding claim, 19 wherein the lower surface of the club head is substantially normal to the axis of the shaft.

22 5. A golf club as claimed in any preceding claim, 23 wherein the striking face has a length in the 24 direction of the shaft axis of about 20 millimetres.

26 6. A golf club as claimed in any preceding Claire, 27 wherein the golf club has a second face and a 28 spoiling member is provided at the second face so 29 that second face does not provide a playable striking face.

1 7. A golf club as claimed in any preceding claim, 2 wherein at least the club head is formed from a 3 lightweight material.

8. A set of golf clubs according to the first 6 aspect of the present invention, wherein each of the 7 set has a different convex profile.

9 9. A golf club comprising: a shaft; 11 a club head connected to one end of the shaft, 12 the club head comprising a first striking face 13 having a first orientation, and a second striking 14 face arranged below the first striking face and having a second orientation different from the first 16 orientation.

18 10. A golf club as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the 19 first orientation is substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft.

22 11. A golf club as claimed in Claim 9 or 10, 23 wherein the second orientation is at an oblique 24 angle relative to the first orientation.

26 12. A golf club as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 27 11, wherein the first striking face is substantially 28 planar.

30]3. A golf club as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 31 12, wherein the second striking face is convex. 1)

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1 14. A golf club as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 2 11, wherein one or both of the first and second 3 striking faces are concave.

15. A golf club as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 6 14, wherein the second striking face is provided by 7 an upper surface of a protrusion which protrudes 8 from a lower portion of the first striking face.

16. A golf club as claimed in Claim 15, wherein the 11 lower surface of the protrusion is substantially 12 normal to the axis of the shaft.

14 17. A golf club as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 16, wherein the first striking face has a length in 16 the direction of the shaft axis of at least 75 17 millimetres.

19 18. A golf club as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 17, wherein the second striking face has a length in 21 the direction of the shaft axis of about 20 22 millimetres.

24 19. A golf club as claimed in any of Claims 9 to 18, wherein at least the club head is formed from a 26 lightweight material.