Abstract:
Golf is a massive industry as well as sport globally with golfers investing in continuous evolutions and modifications to golf clubs with sensitivity to weight of a few grams, offset in angle of a degree, “feel” etc. Prior art designs focused to the golf club head, grip, and in a few instances the shaft. However, considerations of accurate alignment between the elements during initial assembly/replacement are not addressed. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a means of assembling a golf club shaft that provides for an accurate alignment between the multiple elements such that alignment between them is established, can be maintained with replacements, and also allows for meaningful adjustments in the grip and head to be achieved as multiple other factors do not confound the desired interpretation of the impact of an adjustment. Accordingly the invention provides for such alignment between multiple elements of a golf club.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/420,819 filed Dec. 8, 2010 entitled “Golf Club Hosel” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/421,665 filed Dec. 10, 2010 entitled “Golf Club Shaft.” 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to golf clubs and more specifically to golf club hosels. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Golf is a popular game not only in the US but also many parts of the world such as Korea, Japan, India, China, Germany, UK and South Africa. Within the last 5 years, the golf industry has seen a significant growth of 5-15% annually at various regions of the world. According to a recent market study “Opportunities in the Global Golf Club Market 2004-2009” published by E-Composites, Inc., the golf club market in India and China will continue to see a growth rate of over 25% annually for the period 2010-2014. The growing popularity of the game and the general affluence of golfers ensure a substantial market, which in 2010 was estimated US $3.9 billion. 
         [0004]    The market for manufacturers of golf clubs/golf shafts is crowded with small to large corporations such as Callaway, Taylormade, Acushnet, Ping Golf and Wilson. There are more than 100 manufacturers of golf clubs around the world and about 50 of these golf clubs/shafts manufacturers are in the USA. Suppliers of golf clubs/shafts are mostly based in the US, China, Taiwan, Korea, Japan, UK, and Germany. 
         [0005]    Considering Callaway, one of the industry leaders, then in 2008 sales were divided between woods (24%), irons (27.6%), putters (9.1%), balls (20%), and other accessories (19.3%). With annual revenues of US$1,100 million in 2008 and US$950 million in 2009 woods, irons, and putters together accounted for approximately 60% of their revenue, US$1,230 million for the two years. 
         [0006]    Over the years golf club manufacturers have released hundreds of new models featuring variations in the design of many elements of the golf clubs including hosel profile, heel, top line, toe, face, back, back cavity, sole, weighting for the head alone together with introducing steel variations, titanium and carbon fiber materials for the shafts, and weight, geometry, and polymeric materials for the grip that slides onto the upper portion of the shaft. Despite the massive research and development efforts and brand profiles built upon world renowned figures over the past decades such as Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Seve Ballesteros, and Fred Couples the fundamental assembly of golf clubs has not changed for a century since the Thomas Horsburgh experimented with steel shafts in the late 1890s. 
         [0007]    Essentially a circular shaft has inserted onto one end a grip with a circular inner recess and onto the other end the head with its hosel and circular recess accepting the lower circular end of the shaft. At the same time the golf club industry has amateur and professional golfers spending hundreds of hours practicing and spending $100s on golf clubs that vary in the angle of the face by a matter of a few degrees. If the clubhead is “square,” the clubface will be directly facing the target on “address”, if it is “closed,” it will be aligned to the left of the target, and if it is “open,” it will be aligned to the right of the target, It is not unusual for game-improvement clubs (those marketed to higher handicappers and accordingly the significant majority of amateur golfers), particularly drivers, to be marketed as having face angles varying by several degrees as a way to help the golfer fight a sliced drive. 
         [0008]    Yet the golfer will then replace the grip either to a design they prefer or to replace a worn grip wherein any notion of alignment between the grip and the club head face is lost, Likewise they will perhaps damage the head and replace it, again destroying any notion of alignment between the grip, shaft and head of the club having spent perhaps hundreds of hours practicing, invested in professional coaching, and investments in the latest and supposedly greatest clubs from a particular manufacturer, typically selected from one of the leading  5  brands. Additionally with modern composites golf club manufacturers can adjust the properties of the golf club shaft parallel and perpendicular to the swing direction wherein misalignments rather than improving the player&#39;s performance may negate the performance improvement or even degrade their performance. 
         [0009]    Replacement of a golf club head or shaft typically involves the following steps: 
         [0010]    Step 1—Removing the Old Shaft: The old shaft—or whatever is left of it—must be removed from the head. To do this enough heat must be applied to the club head to break down the epoxy bond between the shaft and the head; 
         [0011]    Step 2—Cleaning Out the Hosel: Once the shaft is removed, the epoxy residue that is left in the hosel must be cleaned out which is typically through combination of solvents for the epoxy and a file; 
         [0012]    Step 3—Preparing Shaft for Installation: First, the manufacturer&#39;s recommended tip trimming must be followed, and then the depth of the hosel measured and marked on the shaft. With graphite care should be taken not to splinter it whilst cutting, and with a steel shaft the tip must be abrade to remove the plating. 
         [0013]    Step 4—Installing the Shaft: Now the epoxy is mixed, applied to the inside of the hosel and prepared shaft inserted. Then most instructions will say something along the lines of “holding the head in your hand, tap the end of the shaft on the floor until the shaft is seated at the bottom of the hosel.” Now wait for the epoxy to cure. 
         [0014]    Step 5—Trimming and Adding Grip: With replacing the shaft one decides how long the finished club is to be, cuts the shaft and installs the grip. 
         [0015]    Step 6: Installing the Grip: First double-sided grip tape is applied the length of the grip, wrapping around the shaft. Then grip solvent is poured into the grip and along the entire length of the new grip tape before the grip is slid onto the shaft. Next the user is typically told to set the club in its normal playing position and check that the new grip is on straight. If adjustments need to be made they must be done quickly to twist the grip to achieve the desired alignment before the epoxy cures too far. 
         [0016]    During any of these steps a misalignment may occur, and generally will as tooling is typically not designed to address this aspect. As is evident from the prior art, see for example  FIGS. 1 to 3 , circular geometry golf club shafts, hosels, grips etc dominate the commercial market today and research/development of the manufacturers globally. However, over the years variations have been taught. For example J. Bamber in U.S. Design Pat. Nos. 594,075 and 556,281, both entitled “Golf Club Shaft”, discloses shafts that are triangular in cross-section over the length of the shaft but transition to circular profile for the ends to adapt to the head hosel and grip. Likewise in U.S. Pat. No. 6,561,922 entitled “Golf Club Shaft” Bamber discloses a club shaft that is elliptical in cross-section along its length but that terminates again in a circular cross-section at either end for mating to circular hosel and grip elements. U.S. Pat. No. 5,540,435 by J. Kawasaki teaches to a circular cross-section shaft that contains a tapered element that engages a tapered inner surface of the shaft such that when pulled by action of a threaded element the shaft is mounted to a club with the tapered element and tapered inner surface in interference fit. 
         [0017]    J. Cornish in U.S. Pat. No. 5,354,056 teaches to a circular shaft with circular ends with a spiral outer element and C-S You in U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,032 teaches to reinforcing ribs along the length of the otherwise circular cross-section shaft. J. Farina in U.S. Pat. No. 4,537,403 teaches a single piece-part iron with a rectangular cross-section on the shaft. Farina&#39;s one piece part design being incompatible with other clubs as well as composite, titanium, and graphite based shafts that form the materials of choice today. R. Perry in U.S. Pat. No. 6,863,618 teaches a club shaft comprising a flat portion along part of its length but is silent to the construction of the hosel and grip and any means of attaching one to the other. 
         [0018]    Accordingly within the prior art design effort has focused to the golf club head, grip, and in a few instances, as outlined above, the shaft. However, considerations of accurate alignment between the elements during initial assembly/replacement are not addressed. It is, therefore, desirable to provide a means of assembling a golf club that provides for an alignment between the multiple elements such that alignment between them is established, can be maintained with replacements, and also allows for meaningful adjustments in the grip and head to be achieved as multiple other factors do not confound the desired interpretation of the impact of an adjustment. According to embodiments of the invention such an alignment is provided between the multiple elements of a golf club. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate at least one disadvantage of the prior art. 
         [0020]    In accordance with an embodiment of the invention there is provided a method comprising:
   providing a first component of a golf club comprising a first body, a strike face, and a first recess comprising at least a first wall and a second wall, the first wall having a predetermined geometry and a first predetermined orientation to the strike face;   providing a second component of the golf club comprising a shaft of length substantially larger than its lateral dimensions, of predetermined cross section, and terminating at one end with a first member, the first member comprising at least a first outer surface and a second outer surface, the first outer surface have a geometry substantially that of the predetermined geometry of the first wall;   engaging the first and second components by inserting the first member into the first recess such that the first wall and first outer surface are aligned.   
 
         [0024]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention there is provided a device comprising a first body, a first outer surface, and a first member comprising at least a first wall and a second wall, the first wall having a predetermined geometry and a predetermined orientation to a predetermined portion of the first outer surface. 
         [0025]    In accordance with another embodiment of the invention there is provided a device comprising a first body of length substantially greater than its width or thickness and having a first predetermined cross section, and a member disposed at a first distal end of the first body having a second cross section comprising at least a first wall and a second wall; wherein mating the member with a corresponding recess in another object results in a predetermined relationship between the first wall and an aspect of the other object. 
         [0026]    Other aspects and features of the present invention will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art upon review of the following description of specific embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying figures. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  depicts typical golf club heads and hosels according to the prior art; 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  depicts a typical golf club shafts according to the prior art and composite shaft according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,642; 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  depicts typical golf grips according to the prior art; 
           [0031]      FIG. 4A  depicts an embodiment of the invention wherein a golf club head and shaft are aligned through their mating interfaces; 
           [0032]      FIG. 4B  depicts an embodiment of the invention wherein a golf club shaft and grip are aligned through their mating interfaces; 
           [0033]      FIG. 5  depicts an embodiment of the invention wherein a golf club face angle is adjusted with replacement of the shaft in conjunction with a golf club head of a standard external geometry; 
           [0034]      FIG. 6  depicts an embodiment of the invention wherein a golf club face angle is adjusted with a variation in the golf club head with respect to a golf club shaft of standard external geometry; 
           [0035]      FIG. 7  depicts an embodiment of the invention wherein a golf club grip angle is adjusted with replacement of the shaft in conjunction with a grip of a standard external geometry; 
           [0036]      FIG. 8  depicts an embodiment of the invention wherein a golf club grip angle is adjusted with a variation in the golf club grip with respect to a golf club shaft of standard external geometry; 
           [0037]      FIG. 9  depicts an embodiment of the invention wherein golf club loft angle is adjusted with replacement of the golf club head with a golf club shaft of a standard external geometry; 
           [0038]      FIGS. 10A and 10B  depict variations of the geometry between the mating portions of the hosel on a golf club and the shaft according to embodiments of the invention; 
           [0039]      FIG. 11  depicts an alternative assembly method for a golf club and shaft according to an embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0040]      FIG. 12  depicts an alternative coupling method according to an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    The present invention is directed to golf clubs and more particularly to golf club hosels that in combination with aligned golf club shafts provided improved alignment of the assembled golf club. 
         [0042]    Reference may be made below to specific elements, numbered in accordance with the attached figures. The discussion below should be taken to be exemplary in nature, and not as limiting of the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention is defined in the claims, and should not be considered as limited by the implementation details described below, which as one skilled in the art will appreciate, can be modified by replacing elements with equivalent functional elements. 
         [0043]    Referring to  FIG. 1  there are depicted typical golf club heads and hosels according to the prior art. As is evident from putter array  110  there are a wide variety of designs available even for one specific club, the putter. Shown are 32 different designs that all feature a circular mating interface between the hosel and shaft. Also shown are first driver  120 , being a Callaway X-Hot Fairway, second driver  120 , being a Top Flite XL, niblick  140 , being a Cleveland Golf “The Niblick”, and first iron  150 , being a Cobra S 2  iron. As is evident all of these have hosels that accept circular golf club shafts. 
         [0044]    Amongst the technologies for golf club shafts that dominate today are stainless steel, titanium, graphite, and composites. Referring to  FIG. 2  there are depicted typical golf club shafts of graphite from one manufacturer UST Mamiya wherein 8 different shafts are presented. These include first to fourth shafts  210 A through  210 D which are targeted to putters, irons, women, and woods respectively. Graphite schematic  220  shows the construction for a Tour AD Deep Impact shaft manufactured by Graphite Design. As shown the shaft comprises four layers of graphite fibers that are wrapped around a former, having orientations relative to the axis of the shaft that are at 0°, +45°, −45°, and 90° respectively. Referring to first cross-section  230  and second cross-section  240  these are shown each comprising four layers after the prior art of J. Meyer in U.S. Pat. No. 6,805,642 entitled “Hybrid Golf Club Shaft. First cross-section  230  comprises uniform tubular cover layer  232  and tubular core layer  234  whilst second cross-section  240  comprising shaped tubular cover layer  232  and shaped tubular core layer  244 . 
         [0045]    Meyer teaches that the uniform tubular cover layer  232  and shaped tubular core layer  242  are continuous layers formed from at least one isotropic material having a Young&#39;s modulus greater than about 5 Mpsi, preferably greater than about 10 Mpsi. The isotropic material may be a metallic material such as metal matrix composites, metals, or alloys thereof including one or more combinations of metallic constituents. Among the numerous metals that are suitable are ferrous metals such as titanium, steel, stainless steel, aluminum and tungsten are particularly useful. Additionally, certain nonferrous metals including nickel, copper, zinc, brass, bronze, magnesium, tin, gold and silver may be employed generally as alloying agents. Metal matrix composites that are quasi-isotropic may also be desirable for use. The uniform tubular core layer  234  and shaped tubular core layer  244  are taught as being formed from a non-isotropic (i.e. either anisotropic or quasi-isotropic) materials that may be in the form of particles, flakes, whiskers, continuous or discontinuous fibers, filaments, ribbons, sheets, and the like or mixtures thereof. Suitable reinforcement material include carbon fibers, graphite fibers, glass fibers, quartz fibers, boron fibers, ceramic fibers or whiskers such as alumina and silica, metal-coated fibers, ceramic-coated fibers, diamond-coated fibers, carbon nanotubes, aramid fibers such as Kevlar®, poly-pphenylenebenzobisoxazole (“PEO”) fibers such as Zylon®, metal fibers, polythenes, polyacrylates, liquid crystalline polymers, and aromatic polyesters such as Vectran®. 
         [0046]    These fibers may be coated with a metal such as titanium, nickel, copper, cobalt, gold, silver, lead, etc. The reinforcement material is impregnated within thermosetting or thermoplastic resins, serving as the matrix binder and providing vibration damping effect to the shaft. Suitable resins include epoxy; polyester; polystyrene; polyurethane; polyurea; polycarbonate; polyamide; polyimide; polyethylene; polypropylene; polyvinyl halide; nylon, liquid crystal polymer, and the like or mixtures thereof. Additionally these resins may further include modifying agents such as hardeners, catalysts, fillers, crosslinkers, etc. Meyer only teaches to shafts that are circular in keeping with the dominant commercial products and majority of the prior art. However, as Applicant there is no limitation to the cross-section when the isotropic material, forming the uniform tubular cover layer  232  and shaped tubular core layer  242 , and non-isotropic material, forming the uniform tubular core layer  234  and shaped tubular core layer  244 , could be cast, moulded etc with ease to other geometries. 
         [0047]    Referring to cross-section  250  an alternate design according to Meyer is shown wherein a reinforcing layer  252 , formed from an isotropic or quasi-isotropic material is disposed on the inner surface of core layer  254 . This configuration in combination with intermediate layer  256  and outer layer  258  form classic strained layer vibration damping systems that effectively dissipate the mechanical energy in the shaft resulting from striking the golf ball. The reinforcing layer  252  may be continuous or discontinuous, porous or nonporous, similar in construction and/or material composition to cover layer  258  or intermediate layer  256 . Alternatively, reinforcing layer  252  may be one or more discrete elements placed at predetermined locations on the shaft to achieve specific objectives, such as weight adjustment, structural reinforcement, stiffness modification, or kick point adjustment, among others. 
         [0048]    Now referring to  FIG. 3  there are shown golf grips  310  in a variety of designs. Whilst golf clubs as shown from  FIG. 1  are offered in a large variety of designs by multiple manufacturers the range of grips is even larger as they include not only material and structural design variations but also cosmetic factors of colour, design, etc alongside size to account for the variations in a golfer&#39;s hands. Referring to grip  320  there is shown a golf club grip according to the prior art of F. Manual et al in U.S. Pat. No. 6,656,057 entitled “Golf Club Grip.” As such the grip  320  comprises a tubular foam body  334  that is sleeved around the golf club shaft  336  and has an anti-slip skin  332  bonded or laminated integrally to and covering the tubular foam body  334 . The grip  320  is tapered and has a substantially bulbous shape, an open end to allow it to be slipped over the golf club shaft  336  and a closed end covering the butt end of the golf club shaft  336 , typically with a vent hole. As the grip of the club is an extremely important part of the golfers&#39; ability to achieve the desired stroke designs of the grip  320  vary with differing suitability to individuals. In other instances the grip  320  is moulded to include guides for the golfers&#39; fingers, thumbs and may be moulded to their hands. In such instances the orientation of the grip  320  to the golf club shaft is extremely important as that will then define the orientation of the golfers&#39; hands to the face of the club. This is even more evident when one considers that the face angle of an offset driver such as the M80 SuperSpeed Fairway Woods is only 2°. 
         [0049]    Now referring to  FIG. 4A  there is depicted a golf club assembly in side section view  410  and front section view  420  according to an embodiment of the invention wherein a golf club hosel  450  and shaft  430  are aligned through their mating interfaces, and the golf club hosel  450  is connected to the club face  440 . As is evident the shaft  430  is comprised a body  430 A of circular geometry  430 A and taper  430 B of variable quadrilateral cross-section. As shown the taper  430 B fits within the golf club hosel  450  which having a corresponding recess of variable quadrilateral cross-section will receive the taper  430 B in only one orientation. Also shown are first and second cross-sections X-X and Y-Y through the side section view  410  showing the engagement of the taper  430 B and golf club hosel  450 . 
         [0050]    Referring to  FIG. 4B  there is depicted a golf club assembly  470  in cross-section according to an embodiment of the invention wherein a golf club shaft  430  and grip  460  are aligned through their mating interfaces. The shaft  430  is comprised a body  430 A of circular geometry  430 A and taper  430 B of variable quadrilateral cross-section wherein the shaft  430  when inserted into the recess within the grip  460  aligns in a predetermined manner the shaft  430  and grip  460 . Also shown are first and second cross-sections X-X and Y-Y through the golf club assembly  470 . 
         [0051]    It would be apparent to one skilled in the art that other combinations of structures on the golf club hosel, golf club shaft ends, and golf club grip may be employed to achieve the desired predetermined angular orientation between the golf club hosel and golf club shaft and/or golf club shaft and golf club grip. Optionally, such structures may allow only one assembly orientation or they may allow multiple orientations but these are at predetermined angles between an axis of the golf club hosel and/or golf club grip and an axis or axes of the golf club shaft. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 5  there is depicted an embodiment of the invention wherein a golf club face angle is adjusted with replacement of the shaft in conjunction with a golf club head  510  of a standard external geometry  512  with a hosel recess  514  of square cross-section. First golf club shaft  520  comprises first body  522  of octagonal cross-section (for ease of detecting rotational changes in the depiction of embodiments) and first square end  524 . Accordingly when first square end  524  is inserted into the hosel recess  514  the resulting first assembly  540  results wherein the first body  522  and standard external geometry  512  are aligned. Second golf club shaft  530  comprises second body  532  of octagonal cross-section (for ease of detecting rotational changes in the depiction of embodiments) and second square end  524 . Accordingly when second square end  524  is inserted into the hosel recess  514  the resulting second assembly  540  results wherein the second body  522  and standard external geometry  512  are now aligned with a predetermined rotational offset, θ. 
         [0053]    Now referring to  FIG. 6  there are depicted embodiments of the invention wherein a golf club face angle is adjusted with a variation in the golf club head with respect to a golf club shaft of standard external geometry. First golf club head  610  of a standard external geometry  612  has a first hosel recess  614  of square cross-section. Golf club shaft  620  comprises first body  622  of octagonal cross-section (for ease of detecting rotational changes in the depiction of embodiments) and square end  624 . Accordingly when square end  624  is inserted into the first hosel recess  614  the resulting first assembly  640  results wherein the first body  622  and standard external geometry  612  are aligned. Second golf club head of a standard external geometry  613  has second hosel recess  634  of square geometry but rotated with respect to the standard external geometry  612 . Accordingly when square end  624  is inserted into the second hosel recess  634  the resulting second assembly  650  results wherein the body  622  and standard external geometry  612  are now aligned with a predetermined rotational offset, θ. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 7  there is depicted an embodiment of the invention wherein a golf club grip orientation is adjusted with replacement of the shaft in conjunction with a golf club grip  710  of an elliptical geometry  712  with finger grip  716  and hosel recess  714  of square cross-section. First golf club shaft  720  comprises first body  722  of octagonal cross-section (for ease of detecting rotational changes in the depiction of embodiments) and first square end  724 . Accordingly when first square end  724  is inserted into the hosel recess  714  the resulting first assembly  740  results wherein the first body  722  and elliptical geometry  712  are aligned. Second golf club shaft  730  comprises second body  732  of octagonal cross-section (for ease of detecting rotational changes in the depiction of embodiments) and second square end  724 . Accordingly when second square end  724  is inserted into the hosel recess  714  the resulting second assembly  750  results wherein the second body  732  and elliptical geometry  712  are now aligned with a predetermined rotational offset, θ. 
         [0055]    As depicted in  FIG. 7  the golf club grip  710  is depicted as essentially fitting onto the end of the golf club shaft  720  wherein the interface is over the length of the square end of the golf club shaft and hosel recess  714 . However, it would be apparent that the hosel recess may be provided at a predetermined point along the length of the grip from the end closest to the club head and the second distal end of the golf club grip with another recess allowing the golf club shaft to fit within such that the grip sits over a predetermined length of the golf club shaft but is rotationally aligned by the engagement of the hosel recess and square end of the shaft. 
         [0056]    Now referring to  FIG. 8  there are depicted embodiments of the invention wherein a golf club grip orientation is adjusted with a variation in the golf club grip with respect to a golf club shaft of standard external geometry. First golf club grip  810  comprises an elliptical geometry  812  with finger grip  814  and first hosel recess  814  of square cross-section. Golf club shaft  820  comprises first body  822  of octagonal cross-section (for ease of detecting rotational changes in the depiction of embodiments) and square end  824 . Accordingly when square end  824  is inserted into the first hosel recess  814  the resulting first assembly  840  results wherein the first body  822  and standard external geometry  812  are aligned. Second golf club grip of elliptical geometry  832  has finger grip  816  and second hosel recess  834  of square geometry but rotated with respect to the elliptical geometry  832 . Accordingly when square end  824  is inserted into the second hosel recess  834  the resulting second assembly  850  results wherein the body  822  and elliptical geometry  812  are now aligned with a predetermined rotational offset, θ. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 9  there is depicted an embodiment of the invention wherein golf club loft angle is adjusted during replacement of the golf club head using a golf club shaft  913  of a standard external geometry such as described previously in respect of golf club shaft  430  in  FIG. 4A  with circular main body and taper of variable quadrilateral cross-section. In first cross-section  910  the golf club shaft  913  is inserted to a matching variable quadrilateral cross-section recess within first hosel  912  to which is attached first head  911 . As such the face of the head  911  is offset by first angle θ 1  with respect to golf club shaft  913 . In second cross-section  920  the golf club shaft  913  is inserted to a matching variable quadrilateral cross-section recess within second hosel  922  to which is attached second head  921 . As such the face of the second head  921  is offset by second angle θ 2  with respect to golf club shaft  913 . In third cross-section  930  the golf club shaft  913  is inserted to a matching variable quadrilateral cross-section recess within third hosel  922  to which is attached third head  921 . As such the face of the third head  921  is offset by third angle θ 3  with respect to golf club shaft  913 . 
         [0058]    It would be evident to one skilled in the art that the above described embodiments of adjust the loft angle of a golf club face may be implemented with a wide range of varying configurations and structures for the golf club hosel and end of the golf club shaft without departing from the scope of the invention. 
         [0059]    Now referring to  FIG. 10A  there are depicted variations of the geometry between the mating portions of the hosel on a golf club and the shaft according to embodiments of the invention. First club head  1010  has a truncated circular hosel recess that corresponds to first shaft  1020  with truncated circular element whilst second club head  1030  has a triangular hosel recess that corresponds to second shaft  1020  with triangular element. Third club head  1050  has an octagonal star hosel recess that corresponds to third shaft  1060  with octagonal star element, and fourth club head  1070  has a pentagonal hosel recess that corresponds to first shaft  1020  with pentagonal element. It would be evident to one skilled in the art that each of the combinations in  FIG. 10A  provides the registered alignment of the end of the golf club shaft to the hosel of the golf club head. It would also be evident that the same alternatives in respect of end of the golf club shaft and the recess may be applied to the golf club grip as well. 
         [0060]    Referring to  FIG. 10B  there are depicted variations of the geometry between the mating portions of the hosel on a golf club and the shaft according to embodiments of the invention. First club head  1090 A has a circular hosel recess with a rectangular notch whilst first shaft  1090 B that has circular projection with a rectangular projection such that these elements correspond in profiles such that first club head  1090 A aligns to first shaft  1090 B in predetermined angular relationship. Also depicted are second club head  1095 A has a circular hosel recess with a rectangular notch whilst first shaft  1095 B that has circular projection with a rectangular notch a well such that these elements correspond in profiles. When the first club head  1095 A has first shaft  1095 B inserted into the hosel recess then they can be fixed in predetermined angular relationship through the use of tapered pin  1095 C. It would be evident that a variety of other mating designs may be employed with or without additional means to fix the parts in alignment. 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 11  there is depicted and alternative assembly method  1100  for a golf club head and shaft according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown the golf club head comprises head  1111 , hosel  1112 , and hosel recess  1113  whilst the shaft comprises body section  1114  that terminates in end  1114 A having first face  1114 B and second face  1114 C. Also shown is insert  1115  which is tapered in cross-section along its length. Accordingly the end  1114 A of the shaft is inserted into the hosel recess  1113  whereupon insert  1115  is inserted thereby wedging the end  1114 A into hosel recess  1113 . 
         [0062]    It would be evident to one skilled in the art that insert  1115  may for example maintain the engagement of end  1114 A into hosel recess  1113  through mechanical interference or through it being formed from a material such Indalloy 165 (ASTM 1.5S) or Pb 90 Sn 10  allowing the parts to be soldered in place as an alternative to the conventional epoxy construction. It would also be apparent that the same principle may be employed in attaching the grip and shaft together as well as conventional methods based upon adhesives, tapes, epoxies, resins, etc. 
         [0063]    In the embodiments described supra the recess/member have been discussed as being of relatively simple cross sectional design. It would be apparent to one of skill in the art that alternative designs exist that have increased complexity such as the interface shown in  FIG. 12  wherein the member  1220  formed at the end of the shaft  1210  of the first element  1200  has a generally circular cross-section with ribs as evident from first cross-section A-A. Similarly, the recess  1230  formed within the hosel  1240  of the second element  1250  has corresponding circular cross section with grooves to match the locations of the ribs as evident from second cross-section B-B. 
         [0064]    It would be evident to one skilled in the art that the embodiments described supra in respect of  FIGS. 4 through 12  have been discussed in terms of the golf club shaft have projecting members that engage recesses within the golf club grip and hosel of the golf club head. It would be apparent that optionally the recess may in fact be on the golf club shaft such that the projecting member is on either the golf club hosel or golf club grip or both. It would be apparent that the depth/length of the recess/projection may be established in dependence upon whether the elements are golf club head/shaft or shaft/grip for example as well as the accuracy of alignment desired between the elements. It would also be apparent that a variety of attachment means can be employed for the golf club hosel to the golf club shaft and/or golf club shaft to golf club grip including but not limited to solder, resins, epoxies, cyanoacrylate adhesives, mechanical interference fits, bolts and threaded inserts. For example first element  1200  may have a threaded insert in the end of the member  1220  such that a bolt inserted through the base of the golf club shaft into recess  1240  of second element  1250  may be tightened to lock the golf club shaft and golf club head together whilst angular alignment is maintained through the action of the ribs/recesses. Alternatively, a solder or epoxy may be employed. 
         [0065]    The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.