Method of golf club performance enhancement and articles resultant therefrom

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/383,532, entitled Multi-purpose Golf Club, filed Mar. 10, 2003, now abandoned and the same is incorporated herein by reference, which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/849,522, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,848, which is a utility conversion of Provisional Patent application No. 60/205/250, filed May 19, 2000. Each of said applications are incorporated by reference herein.

[0002] A. Area of Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a method of selectably varying the center of gravity and distribution of weighting in a void space in the head of a golf club.

[0004] B. Prior Art

[0005] Golfing enthusiasts appreciate the dynamic characteristics of golf irons and woods and the manner in which performance of the same will vary as a consequence of physiologic characteristics of a particular golfer. Such physiologic factors will affect a variety of ball strike parameters including, without limitation, loft trajectory, inertial spin, range hook and slice.

[0006] My issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,530,848 (2003) sets forth the use of weighting options for the center of gravity (“CG”) of a club resultant from a substantial hollowing out of or void space in a top or predominant portion of the club head, as a manufacturing step. Said void space teaches the significance of placement of the position of a weight within such hollowed-out portion to effect a variety of ball strike and flight characteristics including increase or decrease of clockwise spin, counterclockwise spin and back spin of the ball so propelled by the golf club. Said patent further sets forth the variability of a weight element to adjust the weight of the golf club to induce a more desirable ball spin to thereby accomplish an improved trajectory of ball flight.

[0007] Use of a cavity within the upper surface of a putter type golf club in to vary the weight or balance of the heel, toe and bottom portions of a putter club head, and certain uses of weights therein, is recognized in U.S. Pat. No. 5,683,307 (1997) to Rife, entitled Putter Type Golf Club Head with Balance Weight Configuration and Complementary Ball Striking Face. U.S. Pat. No. 3,841,640 (1974) to Gaulocher, entitled Golf Putter, reflects a rudimentary recognition of the importance of proper weighting within the head of a golf putter to compensate for physiologic needs and preferences of a golfer. Such approaches in the prior art have attempted to address one or another problem associated with the golf strike characteristics or, in some cases, the characteristics of the golf range surface. As is well known, golfing greens are replete with imperfections which affect ball speed, spin and roll. Accordingly, a wide range of both ball flight and ground surface performance factors can be attributed to weight distribution and position of the CG within the club head.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,029 (1990) to Sinclair employs an upper void space to modify the aerodynamics of the head of the golf ball.

[0009] The present inventive method reflects my discovery that many more options for positioning of the CG and distribution of weight or weights within the head of a golf club, whether that club comprises an iron, a wood, or a hybrid thereof, in positioning, behind the club face, selectable high density weighting elements at coordinates of an orthonormal matrix up to 27 potential locations in a void space, to thus compensate for physiologic imperfections in one or more characteristic of the swing of a golfer. The angulation and curvature of the club face relative to said matrix provides a yet further performance enhancing parameter that co-acts with weight elements within said matrix.

[0010] Published U.S. Specification US 2003/0199331A1 teaches use of a re-positionable weight chip in a golf club to modify club performance.

[0011] The performance of golf club heads made of wood, plastic, metal, and composites thereof may be enhanced through the provision of a void space behind a face plate and above the sole portion, to decrease club weight and provide single or combinations of selectable weighting elements within volumetric coordinates of an orthonormal matrix within said void space. Said coordinates are provided as a function of ball strike, flight analysis and physiologic or computerized observation of the golf strike swing. In a basic embodiment, ball flight may be affected by varying the mass of a selectable sole portion which may be uniformly or variably weighted from the club hosel to toe end. Weight of uniform or non-uniform distribution may also selectably be provided within the void space behind the face plate and above the fixed sole portion. The angle and curvature of the face plate may also be varied.

[0012] The inventive method more particularly comprises a method of golf club performance enhancement, the method comprising the steps of (a) provision of a void space behind a face plate of said club and above a sole portion thereof; and (b) in a virtual X, Y, Z orthonormal coordinate system in which said sole portion is partially congruent with a bottom-most xy plane thereof, in which said face plate intersects a forward-most XZ plane thereof, and in which a heel and hosel side of said club intersects a YZ plane thereof substantially at an origin of said coordinate system, and further in which an increase in X-axis value corresponds to a direction of a toe of said club, an increase in Y-axis value corresponds in direction to a rear of said club, and an increase in Z-axis value corresponds to increase in height above said sole portion, the steps of selectably employing at least two of the following club weighting strategies: (i) to modify backspin, providing within said void space, weighting means at a low Y, low Z coordinate to increase backspin or at a high Y, high Z coordinate to decrease backspin; (ii) to modify ball penetration, providing within said void space weighting means at a high Y, high Z coordinate to maximize penetration or at a low Y, low Z coordinate to minimize penetration; (iii) to modify ball trajectory, modifying weighting means within said void space at a low Z-coordinate to increase trajectory or at a high z-coordinate to decrease trajectory; and (iv) to compensate for bait hook or slice, providing weighting means within said void space at a low X-coordinate to compensate for hook or a high X-coordinate to compensate for slice.

[0013] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a golf club having a weight modifiable club head, inclusive of interchangeable sole plates and/or weighting elements, which express a universal method of golf club head modification to account for ball backspin, penetration, trajectory, and hook or slice.

[0014] It is another object to provide a wooden, plastic or metal golf club having a head with a hollowed out portion behind the face plate and above a uniform or non-uniform sole plate.

[0015] It is a further object of the invention to provide a golf club head with a hollowed-out void space, made during production, to a golfer's preference, and further providing a modifiable sole plate, with or without addition integral or added weights selectable positioned in volumetric coordinates of a virtual matrix about said void space.

[0016] It is a further object to provide a club head, modified with a hollow interior and having selectable point, axis, vector distributed linear or non-linear weights which may be inserted or removed to suit particular preferences, needs and physiologic requirements of a golfer.

[0017] It is a yet further object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thru a method of providing an inexpensive, durable and effective means of compensating for ball spin, ball flight trajectory, ball spin and golf course surface variables.

[0018] The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description of the Invention, and Claims appended herewith.

[0039] With reference to the perspective view of FIG. 1, there is shown a golf club head 100 modified from the shape of more conventional golf club heads through the provision of a void space 102 behind a face plate 104 above a sole plate portion 106 of the club head 100. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a golf club hosel 108 which enters the club head at a heel 110 of the club. Located oppositely to heel 110 is club toe 112.

[0040] In FIG. 2 is shown an orthonormal matrix 114 which surrounds the club 100, and is defined by an X, Y and Z coordinate system corresponding to the three essential axes of the club, shown to the upper left of FIG. 2. Said X, Y and Z axes of said orthonormal matrix 114 provide far a 3×3×3 system of 27 volumetric coordinates. Therein, the position (X₀, Y₀, and Z3) defines the location it which hosel 108 enters dub head 100. The (X2, Y2, Z2) position, shown in shading In FIG. 2, represent the center of gravity of the club and is consistent with a normal or standard flight of the golf ball. In other words, a golfer having a perfect golf swing would, in accordance with the present system, apply a weighting element to a club head, of the type of club head 100, at position (X2, Y2, Z2) of the matrix shown therein. For ease of reference in the figures which follow, applicable coordinate nomenclature for various positions

[0041] In the charts of FIGS. 3–5 are shown the XY, XZ and YZ coordinate relationships which affect particular parameters of ball strike, path, trajectory and rotation which are of interest to golfers. More particularly, shown in FIG. 3 is the effect of different types of weighting within the XY plane of orthonormal matrix 112, that is, the horizontal plane thereof. Therein, weighting in the +X or toe direction will increase the loft or ballooning of flight path of the golf ball, so that +X weighting direction of the club will provide for slice (right curvature) compensation of the golf ball. Conversely, weighting toward the heel or in the −X direction will provide for hook (left curvature) compensation. FIG. 3 also indicates that maximum backspin of the ball may be achieved by weighting at a low y position, that is, at the plane of the face plate, while minimum back spin may be accomplished through weighting toward the rear of the club, this corresponding to the Y3 position.

[0042] With reference to FIG. 4, one may note that hook or slice compensation, as in FIG. 3, remains a function of the weighting along the X-axis. In the XZ plane which is a vertical plane co-parallel with club hosel 108, trajectory may be controlled as a function of position of weighting upon the z-axis, that is, the lowest z-axis position (Z1) will afford the highest trajectory, whereas the highest z-axis position (Z3) will produce the lowest trajectory of ball flight.

[0043] Backspin of the ball is also a function weighting along the Z-axis. As may be noted by the line at the middle of FIG. 4, the Z1 position will produce a maximum spin of the ball, while weighting at Z3 will produce a minimum backspin. Accordingly, viewing FIGS. 3 and 4 in combination, it may be appreciated that a minimum backspin may be achieved by weighting at the (X2, Y3, Z3) coordinate, while maximum backspin may be achieved by weighting at the (X2, Y1, Z1) coordinate, as will also be illustrated in the figures which follow.

[0044] With reference to FIG. 5, this chart corresponds to the YZ plane which is a vertical plane substantially parallel with toe face 110 of the club (see FIGS. 2 and 6).

[0045] From FIG. 5, it may be noted that minimum penetration, that is, maximum apex of ball flight, is achieved at the (Y1, Z1) position, while maximum penetration is achieved at the (Y3, Z3) position. Further, the highest trajectory may be seen to exist at the (Y2, Z1) position, while the lowest trajectory is achieved at the (Y2, Z3) position. Minimum backspin is achieved at (Y3, Z3) and maximum backspin at (Y1, Z1).

[0046] With the above in mind, the weighting coordinate (X2, Y2, Z3), which is shown in FIG. 6, should be appreciated as one that does not provide for either hook or slice compensation but which provides for reduced trajectory (flatter path of ball flight) and some decrease in backspin due to the Z3 part of the coordinate shown.

[0047] In FIG. 7 are shown two different weighting coordinates, both within the Y1 axis which includes the plane of face plate 104 of the club head. More particularly, a weighting element A shown to the left of FIG. 7 is the (X3, Y1, Z2) position and affords neutral ballooning, slice compensation, and some additional backspin. In distinction, weighting element B of coordinate (X2, Y1, Z1) provides for high trajectory, maximum backspin and minimum penetration.

[0048] With reference to FIG. 8, weighting element C (coordinate X2, Y3, Z3) provides for low trajectory, minimum backspin and maximum penetration, while element D of FIG. 8 provides for neutral ballooning of ball flight, slice (right curvature) compensation and medium trajectory.

[0049] With reference to the weighing element at (X1, Y1, Z2) shown in FIG. 9, such an arrangement will provide for neutral ballooning, hook compensation, slightly additional backspin and medium trajectory.

[0050] The weighting element (X2, Y3, Z1) shown in FIG. 10 affords high trajectory, high backspin and high penetration, although not as high penetration as would exist were the weighting at the (X2, Y3, Z3) position.

[0051] Shown in FIG. 11 is a weighting element at the (X2, Y3, Z2) position. Thereby, there is achieved hook compensation, high penetration and, no change in the ball's natural trajectory.

[0052] In the weighting scheme shown in FIG. 12, that is, weighting at the (X3, Y3, Z3) coordinate position, one achieves slice compensation, decreased backspin, low trajectory and maximum penetration.

[0053] Three-dimensional relationships of the above-described parameters of backspin, penetration, trajectory and ballooning are illustrated in FIG. 13. It may be appreciated that ballooning control occurs primarily as a function of the X-axis, as does hook and slice compensation, while maximum backspin occurs as a function of weighting at the (Y1, Z1) position with minimum backspin occurring with weighting at the (Y3, Z3) position. Penetration is also a function of the combined effect of two axes, that is, maximum penetration occurring with weighting at the (Y3, Z3) position and minimum penetration occurring with weighting at the (Y1, Z1) coordinate.

[0054] In FIG. 14 is shown the use of weights E and F in two different areas of the golf club 100 of FIG. 1. Therein, a good player would move weight E to the back of the club to achieve as penetrating a shot as he could, and would also position weight F to reduce the spin, putting an additional weight in the X-axis center (X2) of the club. This makes the sweet spot smaller, that is, the player must strike the ball right in the center (X2). That is, an ideal strike which would result in a best transference of energy. However, it causes a largest margin of error. Such a golfer therefore would have to be a rather good player to move to the center of the face where he wants to hit the ball. Said weight E also maximizes penetration.

[0055] In FIG. 15 is shown the effect of a horse shoe-like structure G, symmetric about the YZ plane at the X2 position. This helps the basic or average player. Such a player moves the weight toward the heel and the toe 112 to make his sweet spot as wide as possible. Structure G also moves the weight down toward the back to get some height on the ball, and also to get more penetration to pick-up some distance. This would be a club for a basic, standard player who simply needs some help that is not interested in slice hook combination. It's just addressing trajectory and spin rate.

[0056] With reference to FIG. 16, there is shown the use of a propeller type weight H, having its center at (X2, Y2, Z2), which would be used if one were hitting the ball a bit to the left and low. To compensate for that, the weight is moved to the left, so that the ball will move to the right. To counteract the moving the weight to the left, one may place a projection of the weight H down toward the right hand corner to get the ball up into the air again, and to also move another projection to the rear for penetration and movement up in the air.

[0057] With reference to FIG. 17, there is shown the use of a saddle-like weighting element I inserted along the sides and behind the face plate. The benefits of such a weighting geometry are that the weight is set to hit the ball a little higher because the weight is low. It also tends to give it a bit more of penetration, because the weight is moved back. By also moving it to the left, one pushes the ball out to the right, tending to give a shot slightly to the right and is penetrating, but yet will have some spin on it. So it starts out low, goes right and then slows down.

[0058] The following charts relate to weighting coordinates to figures, by planes of the orthonormal matrix.

[0059]

CHART 1
(xy plane)
	X1 (heel)	X2	X3(toe)
Y1	FIG. 9	FIG. 7(B), 14(F)	FIG. 7(A), 8(D)
Y2		FIG. 2, 6, 16
Y3	FIG. 11, 14(E)	FIGS. 8(C), 10, 14(E)	FIGS. 10, 14(E)

[0060]

CHART 2
(xz plane)
	X1 (heel)	X2	X3 (toe)
Z1 (heel)		FIGS. 7(B), 10, 16
Z2	FIG. 9, 11	FIG. 2, 14(F)	FIGS. 7(A), 8(D)
Z3		FIGS. 6, 8(C)	FIG. 10

[0061]

CHART 3
(yz plane)
	Y1 (toe)	Y2	Y3
	Z1	FIG. 7(B)	FIG. 16	FIG. 10, 14(E)
	Z2	FIGS. 7(A), 8(D), 9	FIG. 5	FIG. 11
	Z3		FIG. 6	FIG. 8(C), 12

[0062] In FIGS. 18–20 are shown the use of clip-on type weighting elements. More particularly, a weighting element J of FIG. 18 moves weight to the rear of the club, thus increasing penetration, while lowering the enter of gravity of the club and increasing spin.

[0063] In a weighting element K of FIG. 19, weight is not moved back as far, and is raised-up slightly higher than that of element J. This reduces penetration with slightly reduced backspin, the result being a more controllable ball strike.

[0064] In FIG. 20, weighting element L provides an elevation of weight, thereby lowering trajectory which also widens the sweet spot, as in element G of FIG. 15. Also, if element L is asymmetric to the right of a YZ plane of symmetry thru location X2, slice compensation is also provided.

[0065] It is noted that many of the above functions of the weighting elements may be achieved thru variation in weight and dimension of sole plate 106 (see FIG. 1). For example, if a change in weight is indicated at a (X, Y, Z1) coordinate, a change in weight or weight-distribution in the sole plate will affect the parameters shown in the chart of FIG. 3. Also, as may be noted in FIG. 4, addition or reduction of weight at Z1 will affect trajectory and backspin.

[0066] While there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the instant invention it is to be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than is herein specifically shown and described and that, within said embodiment, certain changes may be made in the form and arrangement of the parts without departing from the underlying ideas or principles of this invention as set forth in the Claims appended herewith.