Golf club fitting apparatus

A golf club fitting apparatus and method utilizes a number of different club heads, the club heads having hosel or shaft receiving bores at different angles and securing devices for releasably securing a hosel at the lower end of a golf club shaft in the bore, and a number of different shafts. The heads have different parameters such as peripheral weighting, center of gravity, and face area in addition to different bore angles. A player can select various different head and shaft combinations to test. To test each combination, the hosel at the end of the shaft is inserted in the bore, and releasably secured in position. The player then tries it out. The shaft is released, and a new combination is tested in the same manner, until an optimum fit for that particular player is found.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates generally to golf clubs, and is particularly 
concerned with a fitting apparatus and method for fitting golf clubs to 
individual players. 
Golf clubs are typically made in a number of different sizes and with 
variations in other parameters, such as center of gravity position, 
peripheral weighting, lie angle of the shaft, face or loft angle and face 
progression. The angle of the shaft relative to the face plate will to 
some extent determine the loft angle or vertical inclination of the face 
plate on striking the ball. Clubs are also made with heads and shafts of 
various different materials. Different players have different requirements 
as regards all the variable golf club parameters, and purchase of 
off-the-shelf, pre-made golf clubs in which all the parameters are set 
does not always provide the ideal match of club to player. Golf clubs may 
be custom made for each individual player, but this results in a very 
expensive club. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved 
fitting apparatus and method for golf clubs. 
According to one aspect of the present invention, a golf club fitting 
apparatus is provided which comprises a plurality of club heads having 
different playing parameters, each head having a front face, upper wall, 
lower wall, rear wall, a heel portion and a toe, the heel portion having a 
bore extending inwardly from the upper wall at a predetermined angle, the 
heads having bores oriented at different angles, and a plurality of 
different shafts, each shaft having a lower end portion secured in a hosel 
tube for engaging in the bore of any selected club head, and a releasable 
securing device for releasably securing the lower end portion of the hosel 
tube in the bore. 
The heel portion of the club head may have a slot extending from an outer 
surface of the head into the bore, the slot having opposing flat faces, 
and the releasable securing device may comprise at least one tightening 
screw extending through a bore extending from an outer surface of the head 
transverse to the first bore and through one of the slot faces, and into 
an aligned threaded bore extending inwardly from the other flat face of 
the slot. The outer surface of the hosel tube is preferably provided with 
grooves, knurls, or other surface roughening to provide a better gripping 
engagement with the bore. The hosel tube is inserted in the bore with the 
tightening screw loose, and the tightening screw is then tightened to draw 
the opposing flat faces of the slot together and also to reduce the cross 
sectional dimensions of the bore in which the hosel tube is engaged, 
retaining the hosel tube and attached shaft secured to the golf club head. 
With this arrangement, a player can select a golf club shaft and head 
combination to try out, releasably secure the shaft to the head, and try a 
few practice swings to see how the combination feels. The shaft can then 
be released from the head, and that shaft can be secured to a different 
head, or the head can be secured to a different shaft, so that the player 
can try out another combination. Once an ideal fit has been found for a 
player, a golf club can be made to match the selected head and shaft 
combination. 
This fitting apparatus will be less expensive than a custom made golf club, 
but at the same time will allow better fitting to individual player's 
preferences than selection from off-the-shelf clubs. The number of 
different golf clubs which must be stocked by stores, manufacturers and 
distributors is reduced with this apparatus, since a large number of 
different heads and shafts can essentially be provided for selective 
combination. The heads and shafts are easily interchangeable, providing a 
very large number of different combinations for testing. The heads and 
shafts can be mixed and matched until the player finds the best 
combination. 
Preferably, the club head has an additional bore extending from the lower 
wall in alignment with the first mentioned bore, and has an end wall with 
an opening connecting the additional bore with the first bore. The hosel 
tube preferably has a solid end portion having a threaded bore. A safety 
screw may be mounted in the additional bore with the threaded shaft of the 
screw extending through the opening between the two bores and into the 
threaded bore at the end of the hosel tube. This provides additional 
security against the golf club head accidentally becoming separated from 
the shaft while a player is trying out the combination. 
According to another aspect of the present invention, a golf club fitting 
method is provided, which comprises the steps of selecting one of a 
plurality of different golf club heads having shaft receiving bores at 
different angles, selecting one of a plurality of different golf club 
shafts, engaging the end of the shaft in the bore in the selected head, 
releasably securing the shaft in the bore, testing the head and shaft 
combination, releasing the shaft from the bore, and repeating the 
selection, securing and testing steps until a preferred golf club shaft 
and head combination is found. At this point, a golf club can be made to 
match the selected and tested shaft and head combination, at less expense 
than comparable custom-made golf clubs. 
Different golf players have different physical sizes, playing 
characteristics and skill levels, and each player would prefer to select a 
golf club matching their particular requirements. The golf club fitting 
apparatus and method of this invention allows a player to try out a large 
number of different head and shaft combinations quickly and easily without 
having to stock a large variety of finished golf clubs. The player can mix 
and match shafts and heads easily until the optimum combination is found. 
This provides far greater variation than is normally provided in the stock 
of finished, off-the-shelf golf clubs in a store, and at less expense than 
making a custom golf club from scratch.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings illustrate a golf club fitting apparatus 
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 
basically comprises a golf club head 10 of the metal wood type, and a 
hosel tube 12 releasably secured to the head 10 with a shaft 14 secured in 
the hosel tube by means of adhesive or the like. The head and hosel tube 
are preferably similar to the golf club head described in our co-pending 
application Ser. No. 08/270,920 entitled "Golf Club Head," filed Jul. 5, 
1994, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
Head 10 has a front, striking face 16, an upper wall or crown 18, heel 
portion 20, rear wall 22, toe 24 and sole plate 26. The sole plate 26 is 
preferably formed separately from the remainder of the head and secured to 
the head by any suitable means such as bonding, welding, screw fasteners 
or the like. The head 10 has an internal cavity 28, and the heel portion 
20 is relatively thick. A first, blind bore 30 extends inwardly into the 
solid material of heel portion 20 at a predetermined angle to the front 
face of the head, and terminates at inner end 32 spaced from the cavity 
28. Bore 30 is dimensioned to receive hosel tube 12 and therefore 
determines the orientation of shaft 14. The angle of the bore 30 thus 
determines the lie angle, or the angle of shaft 14 relative to the sole of 
the club head. 
Hosel 12 is a tubular member of stainless steel or the like and has an 
internal diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of shaft 14, so 
that the end of shaft 14 can be received in hosel 12 and secured by 
welding, adhesive bonding or the like. The end portion of the hosel 12 has 
surface roughening 33 on its outer surface, in the form of grooves, knurls 
or other surface projections or depressions, and the roughened portion 33 
is designed to fit in bore 30. 
Head 10 has a transverse slit 34 extending from the outer surface of the 
head adjacent the bore 30 and inwardly to intersect the bore, as best 
illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Slit 34 is cut to form opposing flat faces 
36, 38 extending into the heel portion 20 of the head. A pair of through 
bores 40 extend from the heel end transversely through flat face 36, and 
bores 40 are aligned with threaded blind bores 42 in the opposing flat 
face 38. A pair of clamping screws 44 each extend through one of the bores 
40 across slit 34 for threaded engagement with the respective aligned bore 
42. Tightening of screws 44 acts to draw the opposing flat faces 36,38 
towards one another and reduces the periphery or circumference of the 
first bore 30. Thus, a hosel 12 can be inserted in bore 30 with the screws 
loosened, and the screws can then be tightened to releasably clamp the 
hosel in the bore, as best illustrated in FIG. 3. When the clamping screws 
44 are tightened, the surfaces of bore 30 will be in close engagement with 
the roughened surface 33 of the hosel, thus resisting movement of the 
hosel out of the bore. 
The lower end of the hosel has a solid end wall or plug 45 in which a 
threaded bore 46 is provided for threaded engagement with an additional 
safety screw 48 for added security against accidental dislodging of the 
hosel from bore 30, as best illustrated in FIG. 4. A through bore 50 
extends through sole plate 26 and part of the heel portion 20 in alignment 
with bore 30, and has a reduced diameter portion 52 connecting bore 50 
with the end 32 of the bore 30. Safety screw 48 is inserted through bore 
50 with threaded shaft portion 54 extending through portion 52 into the 
threaded bore 46 in hosel 12. 
Although the additional safety screw 48 is preferably provided for 
additional security, it may be eliminated along with bore 50 and the solid 
end plug 45 of hosel 12 in alternative embodiments. In that case, the 
hosel and attached shaft are releasably secured in the bore 30 only by 
means of clamping screws 44 for tightening bore 30 around the roughened 
portion of the hosel. In another alternative, the clamping screws 44 and 
slit 34 may be eliminated and the hosel may be secured by safety screw 48 
only, or by one or more screws extending transversely into bore 30 and 
into aligned bores or holes in the walls of hosel 12 and shaft 14. 
This arrangement allows shaft 14 to be releasably secured in the bore 30 in 
head 10. Although in the preferred embodiment, the end of shaft 14 is 
releasably secured in a separate hosel tube 12 for added strength, and 
tube 12 is secured in bore 30, in alternative embodiments shaft 14 may be 
made in one piece and the end of shaft 14 itself may be secured directly 
in bore 14. The apparatus will include a plurality of heads 10 and shafts 
12 of different parameters, which can be selectively secured together for 
testing of a very large number of different head and shaft combinations. 
Preferably, the fitting apparatus will include a set of heads 10 and shafts 
14. Each head 10 will have a bore 30 and clamping screws 44 and safety 
screw 48 as described above for releasably securing a selected shaft 14 in 
bore 30. The heads will have bores at different angles corresponding to a 
range of different lie or shaft angles. Preferably, bores are provided for 
lie angles in the range from 54 to 58. FIG. 1 illustrates one alternative 
bore orientation and the resultant orientation of hosel 12 in dotted 
outline. Additionally, heads will be provided in different sizes and 
weights, and with other different parameters. Heads will be provided with 
different peripheral weighting, as described in our co-pending application 
Ser. No. 08/270,921 filed Jul. 5, 1994. Heads will be provided in 
different overall sizes, such as the shallow, standard and deep heads as 
described in our co-pending application Ser. No. 08/270,921 referred to 
above. Head sizes in the range from 194 c.c. to 300 c.c. may be provided, 
for example. Heads are also provided with different lofts, in the range 
from 7 to 12 degrees, for example. Heads will also be provided with 
different face angles, for example a typical set may include the following 
face angles: 4 closed, 3 closed, 2 closed, 1 closed, square, 1 open, 2 
open, 3 open, 4 open. Head weight will also be varied. Heads will be 
provided in the weight range of 185-190 grams, 191-195 grams, 196-200 
grams, 201-205 grams. Additionally, heads with different face 
specifications (roll and bulge as measured in inches) will preferably be 
provided. A typical set may include the following face specifications in 
different heads: 10.times.10, 10.times.14, 11.times.14, 12.times.14, 
13.times.14. Different combinations of the above parameters will be 
provided in different heads. The number of heads in a set will depend on 
the application. Typically, a smaller set of heads with less variation 
will be needed for amateur players than for professional golfers. The 
variation in loft, lie or face angle from one head to the next in a set 
may be anything from 0.01 to 1, with a finer variation being provided for 
professional players who will be more sensitive to fine differences than 
an amateur. 
A set of different shafts will also be provided in the apparatus. Shafts 
will be provided in different lengths, typically from 42" to 45", and in 
different materials, such as graphite, titanium, steel, aluminum, and 
composite material. Shafts of each material and length will also be 
provided with different kick points, either high, low, or mid-length, and 
with different flex, L, A, R, F, S, and X. 
This apparatus provides a fitting system for allowing golfers to select 
from an extremely large variety of different head and shaft combinations 
without needing the manufacturer or distributor to actually stock the 
entire range of different combinations. This system may also be used for 
golf club developmental testing purposes, to find the ideal shaft for a 
newly developed head, for example. 
The fitting method using the apparatus of FIGS. 1-5 will now be described 
in more detail. The player first selects a shaft 14 and one of the heads 
10 to try out. The selected shaft is releasably secured to the selected 
head by inserting hosel tube 12 into bore 30, and tightening screws 44 as 
well as safety screw 48 if used. The angle of bore 30 will determine the 
angle of shaft 14 relative to the head, and thus the lie and loft angles. 
Different heads will also be provided with different size face plates, 
different peripheral weighting, different center of gravity positions 
producing varying gear effects, and so 
Once a selected shaft has been secured to a selected head, the player can 
try a few practice swings to obtain a feel for the particular combination. 
The shaft 14 is then released by loosening screws 44 and removing screw 48 
via bore 50. The same shaft may then be secured to a different head, or 
the same head may be secured to a different shaft, or a completely new 
shaft and head combination may be selected to test. The procedure may be 
repeated as many times as necessary until the player finds an optimum 
combination of head and shaft. A golf club is then manufactured for the 
player to match the selected combination, except that the head in the 
manufactured club will have no slit 34, bore 50, or screws 44 and 48, and 
the hosel will be permanently secured in the hosel receiving bore. The end 
plug 45 will also not be needed in the hosel of the manufactured club. 
The heads and shafts of this invention are easily interchangeable. The 
combinations available for possible testing are numerous, and 
significantly greater than the number of different finished clubs which 
could be stocked by a distributor. This fitting apparatus and method will 
therefore greatly reduce the stocking needs of both manufacturers and 
distributors, while at the same time will enable the golfer to custom 
select a club and shaft combination by fully testing a large number of 
different possible combinations before selecting the best match to that 
particular golfer's style. This system will assist in properly fitting 
players of all levels from the touring professional to the amateur, and 
will save time over more conventional assembly and fitting methods. 
The same basic fitting apparatus and method can be used for other types of 
golf club, not only the hollow metal wood head as illustrated in the 
drawings. All that is needed is a set of different heads of the desired 
general type, each head having a hosel receiving bore, with the heads 
having different parameters and different bore angles, and a set of 
different shafts for releasably securing in the bores of selected heads. 
Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described above 
by way of example only, it will be understood by those skilled in the 
field that modifications may be made to the disclosed embodiment without 
departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the 
appended claims.