Balanced set of golf clubs

A set of golf clubs with a plurality of at least two combinations of different lengths of a minimum of three golf clubs in each combination having progressive lofts that are matched to provide identical swing characteristics requiring unique loft and club length progressions to provide consistent yardage spacing between irons within a combination and between combinations. Each club in a combination is further defined by the shaft having an equal length; an identical swing weight, an identical grip weight and an identical head weight.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf clubs and in particular to a balanced set of golf clubs.

The game of golf is played by a wide variety of different players having different physical and golf swing characteristics. Because of these differences traditionally conventional sets of golf clubs are balanced using a number of variables in order to fit the particular physical and swing characteristics of particular golfers. Such variables include things such as length of the club, the weight of the club, the flexibility of the shaft, the shape and size of the club head and the swing weight of the club.

In the traditional method of balancing golf clubs, each golf club has its own unique length, balance point, lie angle, loft, weight and other subtleties that make each club different and require a golfer to adjust and learn as many as eight to ten different golf swings in order to make a repeatable golf swing for each club. For example, the clubs designed to hit a ball the farthest distances are longer than the clubs designed to hit the golf ball shorter distances. A shortcoming of this design is that the longer clubs are typically harder to use to make solid contact with the golf ball, primarily because the swing path or arc is longer.

Prior art golf clubs that have the same swing weight, same mass and same length are known in the art. It is a common practice to use wedges of the same length in a set of golf clubs. An attempt to create a balanced set of golf clubs is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,984,103 to Nix which is directed to a matched golf club set wherein all clubs in a class of either irons or woods have equal shaft length, equal lie angle, equal swing weight and equal total weight.

The Tommy Armour Company marketed a complete set of clubs that are the same size under the trade name Equalizers where each club in the set was the length of a conventional 6 iron. Single length irons have also been marketed under the trade name 1 Irons. Simpleton Golf is presently marketing a set of golf clubs formed of two combinations of clubs where each club in the combination is essentially the same except for the loft angle and loft progressions. While the merits of a single swing mechanic for an entire set appeared promising, the diverse specifications of 6 iron length for the high lofted irons and wedges and a six iron length for the longer and mid irons was found to be too difficult for most golfers to control and effectively use to hit consistent golf shots. Neither the Nix patent nor the prior art products considered the use of a set formed of a minimum of two combinations of identical clubs or the unique loft and club length progressions needed to produce the yardage spacing found in traditional golf club sets.

Another patent of interest is U.S. Pat. No. 5,624,329 to Schneebeli that shows matched putter and chipper golf clubs that are identical in weight, length, balance and feel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Specific shaft selection for a golf club creates variances in the loft and length relationship. The unique loft and club length progressions, that provide consistent yardage spacing for golf shots within and between the clubs and within and between combinations of golf clubs, are affected by the specific shaft selection. The flexibility of a particular shaft and the shaft kick point, where the shaft bends, can alter the trajectory of a ball struck by a golf club and can therefore alter the distance traveled by the golf ball struck by the particular golf club. This inconsistency necessitates the need for greater loft variability for clubs both within and between combinations of clubs and possible length variability between combinations. Additionally, when utilizing a minimum of combinations, the desired length between the same combinations is greater than length needed when using more than a minimum of combinations to accommodate the length range of typical golf sets.

The present invention is a set of a golf clubs having a plurality of at least two combinations of clubs. Each combination includes at least three golf clubs having different loft values. Each of the clubs in a combination has the same length that is a different length than the length of the clubs in other combinations of the set. The difference in club lengths between successive combinations of clubs may vary depending upon the size of the set and the number of combinations used to make up the set. Although the length difference can be any value preferably it is no less than 0.45 inches and no more than 2.55 inches.

Each club in a combination is matched to provide identical swing characteristics. The individual combinations of clubs in the set have unique loft progressions between the clubs whereby each of the combinations is characterized by clubs in any particular combination where the loft difference between the first, lowest lofted club and the second, higher lofted club in the same combination is no more than the loft difference between the second, higher lofted club and the third, highest lofted club in the same combination. Each individual combination of clubs also has loft differences between individual clubs that are no less than the loft differences between the same consecutive individual clubs of another combination as the length of the clubs in combinations increase. Each club is further defined by having an identical club head weight and having an identical swing weight.

Each combination has at least three or more golf clubs of the same length and varying lofts designed to hit a golf ball different distances. The higher lofted clubs are designed to hit a golf ball a shorter distance than the lower lofted clubs, requiring unique loft and club length progressions to provide consistent yardage spacing within and between the clubs within and between combinations. This approach in golf club set design is somewhat similar to the traditional progression of lengths within a set of conventional design but differs in that the clubs of the present invention are separated into combinations of similar clubs thus requiring a majority of golfers to learn no more than three swing parameters as opposed to the 8 to 10 different swings required by a traditional set of clubs each having different lengths.

Another feature of the set of golf clubs of the present invention is that the loft difference between the highest lofted club in a combination and the lowest lofted club in an adjoining higher lofted combination is no more than the loft difference between consecutive individual clubs in the prior less lofted combination and is no more than the loft difference between consecutive individual clubs in an adjoining higher lofted combination.

The present set of golf clubs has a loft difference between the highest lofted club in a combination and the lowest lofted club in an adjoining higher lofted combination that is no more than the loft difference between the highest lofted club in the same adjoining higher lofted combination and the lowest lofted club in the next adjoining higher lofted combination.

In addition, the clubs include a shaft and a grip at the upper end of said shaft and each of the clubs in a combination has the same length, swing weight and club head weight.

Each individual golf club of the combination of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention is made within the following tolerances maintaining essentially identical characteristics. The designated loft of each individual club may vary plus or minus 1.0 degrees. The designated length may vary plus or minus 0.275 inches. The designated swing weight may vary plus or minus 1.0 swing weight points or 50 gram inches. The designated club head weight may vary plus or minus 5.0 grams.

The range of parameters for multiple combinations of different lengths of three or more consecutive golf clubs within a set is preferably the following: the lofts of a club head defining the ball striking face are between 15 and 65 degrees; the length of a club is between 30 and 40 inches; the swing weight of a club is between 5350 gram/inches and 6350 gram/inches; the club head weight is between 220 grams and 370 grams.

An entire set may comprise up to a maximum of 12 consecutive clubs lofted from 15 degrees to 65 degrees. The golf club combinations within a particular set have a minimum of three consecutive clubs.

Among the objects of the present invention is the provision of a set of golf clubs having at least two or more combinations of golf clubs having the same length, same weight and same swing weight in each of the combinations of clubs in the set.

Still another object is the provision of a set of golf clubs formed of at least two combinations of individual clubs having unique loft difference between the clubs of a same combination.

A further object is the provision of a set of golf clubs formed of at least two combinations wherein the loft differences between individual clubs in a combination that are no less than the loft differences between the same consecutive individual clubs of another combination as the length of the clubs in combinations increase.

These and other objects will become apparent with reference to the drawings and specification of the present application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings,FIG. 1discloses a set of golf clubs100in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The set includes individual clubs102in three adjoining combinations103as represented by a first combination103aof three clubs102, a second combination103bof a middle three clubs102and a third combination103cof a last three clubs102. Each golf club102of the set includes a club head104, shaft106and grip108.

The overall length of each club102preferably is between 30 and 40 inches, the exact length being determined by the physical size and overall dimensions of a particular golfer who will use the clubs. In the embodiment shown, each club102of a first combination103aof the set100is made the same length of 38.25 inches within a tolerance of 0.275 inches. The adjoining second combination103bof three clubs102has a length of 37.25 inches also within a tolerance of 0.275 inches. The third combination103cof three clubs has a length of 36.25 with a 0.275 inch tolerance.

A set of golf clubs using multiple combinations will utilize a difference in length for the individual clubs in that combination than the length of clubs for adjoining combinations. In a typical set using more than a minimum of two combinations, a first combination103ahas a length of 38.25 inches plus or minus 0.275 inches. An adjoining combination103bof higher lofted clubs uses a length of 37.25 inches plus or minus 0.275 inches.

The length of the clubs102in a third adjoining combination103cof still higher lofted clubs is 36.25 inches plus or minus 0.275 inches. As with the first two combinations103aand103b, the difference in length of the clubs of combination103cand the clubs102of the previously adjoining combination103bis one inch, however, it will be appreciated that the length difference of clubs in the various combinations may be any suitable length depending upon the size of the set of clubs. Preferably this length difference will be as little as 0.45 inches and no greater than 2.55 inches.

For example, a set of golf clubs using a minimum of two combinations to make the set preferably will utilize a difference in length as great as 2.55 inches for adjoining combinations. A set having three or more combinations preferably will use a shorter length difference of clubs between combinations and may be as little as 0.45 inches.

Each club102in a combination103a, for example, is matched to provide identical swing characteristics and the set100is provided with unique loft progressions between the clubs in the combinations. The individual clubs102in any of the combinations are formed with a loft difference between the individual clubs102in any particular combination where the loft difference between the first, lowest lofted club and the second, higher lofted club in the same combination is no more than the loft difference between the second, higher lofted club and the third, highest lofted club in the same combination.

The loft difference between the first and second clubs in a combination can be the same as or less than the loft difference between the second higher lofted club and the third higher lofted club in the same combination. For example, the clubs102in the first combination103aall have a loft difference of 3.0 degrees between each of the clubs102. The clubs102in the second combination have a loft difference of 3.5 degrees and the clubs102in the third combination have a loft difference of 4.0 degrees.

Another feature of the set100of golf clubs102of the present invention is that each individual combination of clubs has loft differences between individual clubs in that combination that are no less than the loft differences between consecutive individual clubs of another combination103, as the length of the clubs102in individual combinations increase.

The loft differences between individual clubs in a single combination can be the same as or more than the loft differences between consecutive individual clubs of another combination, as the length of the clubs102in individual combinations increase. For example, combination103chas individual clubs102that have the shortest length of 36.25 inches and have a loft difference of 4 degrees between the individual clubs102in that combination103c. Likewise combination103bthat has a length of 37.25 inches for each individual club102has a lesser loft difference of 3.5 degrees between the individual clubs102in that combination. Combination103athat has the longest length of 38.5 inches for each club102, has the least loft difference of 3.0 degrees between the individual clubs102in the combination103a.

The swing weight of each club102in any of the individual combinations103of clubs is essentially the same and may vary plus or minus 1.0 swing weight points or 50 gram inches and may vary between combinations. Overall the swing weight is between 5350 gram/inches and 6350 gram/inches depending upon the physical characteristics and the individual swing of the golfer using the set of clubs100.

The club head weight is the same for each club102of any of the individual combinations103of the set100and overall is between 220 grams and 370 grams and may vary plus or minus 5.0 grams.

FIG. 2shows three club heads104of a typical combination103having different lofts of 29.5 degrees, 33.0 degrees and 36.5 degrees but with identical physical characteristics as described below.

FIGS. 3 through 8show a typical club head104of a generally conventional design used in the golf set100of the present invention. It will be appreciated that all club heads104within the set100vary primarily in loft angle throughout the set100in a conventional manner. Each club head104includes a ball striking face110, heel112, toe114, top ridge116, bottom sole118, and a rear peripheral weight120, having a rear face122, formed at an angle between said striking face110and rear face122the angle progressively increasing in a heel112to toe114direction. The heel112and toe114heights are constant in size for each club102in a combination103within a set100. The heel112and toe114heights are measured at a location equidistant from the centerline of the club head104on the ball striking face110. The heights may be varied to achieve a desired overall weight.

A rear cavity124. is formed in the rear weight120. The club head104further includes a hosel126for connection to a shaft106as shown inFIG. 1. The cavity124is measured by the major transverse axis, MATA, and minor transverse axis, MITA, as shown inFIG. 3. The size of the cavity124is varied to achieve the desired weight.

Each club head104is made with all the club head parameters as described above precisely controlled using conventional forging, casting, CNC milling, 3D printing or other manufacturing techniques.

The set includes at least two combinations103formed of a plurality of at least three golf clubs102, with progressively increasing lofts, each having a club head104, a shaft106and grip108to provide identical swing characteristics when using essentially the same golf swing.

The following table discloses typical measurements of various parameters of three combinations103of golf clubs102the make up a set100. The table quantifies the center of gravity, CG, the toe and heel heights, the club head weight, the grip weight, the shaft weight, the shaft length, the total length. the cavity parameters, the back angle and the back height of the club head.

The present invention is not limited to the specific golf club heads disclosed and it is equally applicable to club heads of various designs and shapes. It will also be appreciated that other modifications, including but not limited to the preferred embodiment, can be made to the combinations of golf clubs disclosed above in keeping within the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.