Patent Publication Number: US-6908399-B1

Title: Golf club set

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention pertains to golf clubs, and in particular to a set of golf clubs having an increased range of club lengths. 
   BACKGROUND 
   A standard prior-art set of golf clubs typically includes a set of irons, as well as woods. The irons are typically numbered starting with 1 and increasing through 9, although many sets of golf clubs do not include a 1-iron or a 2-iron as standard. Also, many sets include only the odd numbered irons. Typically included with the irons are a pitching wedge, which follows the 9-iron, at least one sand wedge, which follows the pitching wedge, and a lob wedge, which follows the sand wedge(s). Of course, not all club sets include every listed club. 
   The golf clubs in a prior art set are differentiated from one another by the club length between adjacently numbered clubs of one-half inch or less. That is, as the number of the golf club gets higher, the length of the club gets shorter. Further, as the club number gets higher, the weight of the golf club head increases, and the lie angle of the club increases. The lie angle of prior art golf clubs increases by one-half of a degree between adjacent clubs. For example, a 5-iron has a lie angle of 61 degrees, while a 6-iron has a lie angle of 61.5 degrees. However, due to the difficulty of manufacturing a one-half degree lie angle, some manufacturers will only increase the lie-angle on every other club, in which case the increase is one degree on alternating clubs. For example, a 5-iron will have a lie angle of 61 degrees, a 6-iron will also have a lie angle of 61 degrees, while a 7-iron will have a lie angle of 62 degrees. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   A set of golf clubs having a club length variance between adjacent clubs in the set of greater than about 0.6 inches (15.24 mm), and preferably about 0.75 inches (19 mm). The club length and lie angle of the 9-iron can be approximately equivalent to the club length and lie angle of a prior art 9-iron. For a first standard set of clubs, the 1-iron has an exemplary club length of approximately 41.5 inches (105.4 mm), while the 9-iron has an exemplary club length of approximately 35.5 inches (90.17 mm). Preferably, the lie angle varies between adjacent clubs in the set by greater than about 0.6 degrees, and preferably by about 0.75 degrees. The 1-iron has an exemplary lie angle of approximately 57 degrees, while the 9-iron has an exemplary lie angle of approximately 63 degrees. 
   Preferably, the golf club set of the present invention further includes a club head weight variance between adjacent clubs in the set of approximately 8 or more grams, and preferably about 9 grams or more. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a drawing of a 5-iron golf club from a set of clubs of the present invention, showing the club length and lie angle of the club. 
       FIG. 2  is a drawing of a 5-iron and a 4-iron from a set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a drawing of a 5-iron and a 6-iron from a set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
   Prior art sets of golf clubs have a standard club length variance of about 0.5 inches (12.2 mm) or less between adjacent clubs in the set, and a lie angle variance of about 0.5 degrees between adjacent clubs. Alternately, prior art golf club sets can have a lie angle variance of about 1 degree between every other club in the set, with no lie angle variance between alternating adjacent clubs, as described more fully above. Additionally, prior art golf clubs have a head weight difference of about 6 to 7 grams between adjacent clubs. By “adjacent clubs” or “adjacently sequenced golf clubs” I mean the clubs that are normally in immediate, sequential series with one another in a set of golf clubs. For example, the adjacent clubs to a 5-iron are the 4-iron and the 6-iron. A first standard full set of golf clubs typically includes sequentially adjacent numbered irons 1 through 9, continuing with a respective sequentially adjacent pitching wedge or wedges, a sand wedge, and a lob wedge. Sets of clubs less than a full set typically include alternating sequentially clubs, for example, irons 3, 5, 7 and 9, and may exclude or more of the clubs following the 9-iron, such as the lob wedge and a second pitching wedge. 
   I have found that by increasing the club length variance between adjacent clubs in a set of golf clubs, a golfer&#39;s performance can be improved. The invention thus includes a set of golf clubs having a greater range of club lengths than prior art golf club sets. The club lengths of a set of golf clubs of the present invention generally vary by greater than about 0.6 inches (15.24 mm) between adjacent clubs in the set. Preferably, the club lengths generally vary by between about 0.6 inches (15.24 mm) and 1 inch (25.4 mm) between adjacent clubs in the set. More preferably, the club lengths vary by about 0.75 inches (19.05 mm) between adjacent clubs in the set. A set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention can be further advantageously provided with a greater variance in club head weights between adjacent golf clubs over the prior art, as described more fully below. In addition, a set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention can be further advantageously provided with a greater variance in lie angles between adjacent golf clubs over the prior art, as also described more fully below. In the preferred embodiment, a set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention includes all three of these aspects, although the invention is not to be limited to such an embodiment. 
   The set of clubs in accordance with the present invention can include alternating sequential adjacent clubs as well. When the set of clubs includes alternating sequential adjacent clubs, the club lengths vary by greater than about 1.2 inches (30.4 mm) between alternating sequential adjacent clubs in the set. Preferably, the club lengths generally vary by between about 1.2 inches (30.424 mm) and 2 inches (50.8 mm) between alternating sequential adjacent clubs in the set. More preferably, the club lengths vary by about 1.5 inches (38.1 mm) between alternating sequential adjacent clubs in the set. 
   The set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention also preferably has a greater range of lie angles than prior art golf sets to account for the greater range of club lengths. The lie angle in the set of golf clubs of the present invention varies by greater than about 0.6 degrees between immediately adjacent clubs in the set. Preferably, the lie angle varies between about 0.6 degrees and 1 degree between immediately adjacent clubs in the set. More preferably, the lie angle varies by about 0.75 degrees between immediately adjacent clubs in the set. 
   When the set of clubs includes alternating sequential adjacent clubs, the lie angles vary by greater than about 1.2 degrees between alternating sequential adjacent clubs in the set. Preferably, the lie angles generally vary by between about 1.2 degrees and 2 degrees between alternating sequential adjacent clubs in the set. More preferably, the lie angles vary by about 1.5 degrees between alternating sequential adjacent clubs in the set. 
   The set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention more preferably has a greater club head weight difference between immediately adjacent clubs in the set than prior art golf club sets to account for the greater range of club lengths. The difference in club head weight of between immediately adjacent clubs in the set golf clubs of the present invention is approximately 8 or more grams, and preferably about 9 grams or more. A first set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention has a head weight variance between adjacent clubs in the set of approximately 9 grams. A second set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention has a head weight variance between adjacent clubs of approximately 10 grams, while a third set of clubs in accordance with the present invention has a head weigh variance of approximately 11 grams between adjacent clubs. Turning to  FIG. 1 , a 5-iron  10  from a set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention is shown. The club length is defined as the length L 2  from the ground to the end  17  of the shaft  12  with the club lying in its natural position, which is determined by the geometry of the club head  16  and the sole  18 . The club length does not include the end-cap  20 . The lie angle θ is defined as the angle between the centerline of the shaft  12  and a vertical line N. The difference between a golf club from a set of clubs in accordance with the present invention and a prior art golf club is also depicted in FIG.  1 . The length L 2  of the 5-iron  10  of the present invention is 38.5 inches (97.8 mm), as compared to the length L 3  of a prior art 5-iron, which is 37.5 inches (95.3 mm) for a comparable set of golf clubs. Further, the lie angle θ 1  of the 5-iron  10  is 60 degrees, compared to the lie angle θ 2  of a prior art 5-iron art, which is 61 degrees. 
   The difference between adjacent golf clubs in a set of clubs in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  FIG. 2  depicts exemplary golf clubs of the present invention comprising a 4-iron  40  and a 5-iron  50 . The 4-iron  40  has a club length L 4  of 39.25 inches (99.7 mm), while the 5-iron  50  has a club length L 5  of 38.5 inches (97.8 mm). In addition, the 4-iron has a lie-angle θ 2  of 59.25 degrees, and the 5-iron has a lie angle θ 3  of 60 degrees. By comparison, a prior art 4-iron has a club length of 38 inches (96.5 mm) and a lie angle of 60.5 degrees, while a prior art 5-iron has a club length of 37.5 inches (95.25mm) and a lie angle of 61 degrees. 
     FIG. 3  depicts exemplary golf clubs of the present invention comprising the 5-iron  50  of  FIG. 3 , and a 6-iron  60 . The dimensions of the 5-iron are given above. The 6-iron  60  has a club length L 6  of 37.75 inches (95.9 mm) and a lie-angle θ 4  of 60.75 degrees. By comparison, a prior art 6-iron has a club length of 37 inches (94.0 mm) and a lie angle of 61.5 degrees. 
   A set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention can comprise a pitching wedge which is adjacent in series to the 9-iron, as well as a first sand-wedge, such that the adjacent clubs in the set comprise an 8-iron, a 9-iron, a pitching wedge, and a first sand wedge. The set of clubs can further include a second sand wedge and a lob wedge, in sequence following the first sand wedge, as indicated in Table I. Preferably, there is no club length difference between the 9-iron, the pitching wedge and the first sand wedge, and the lie angle and head weight of the three clubs are the same. However, the pitching wedge has a greater loft to the face of the club than does the 9-iron by about 4 degrees. Likewise, the first sand wedge has a greater loft to the face of the club head than the does pitching wedge by about 4 degrees. This is indicated in Table II. 
   The second sand wedge and the lob wedge have shaft lengths shorter than the 9-iron through first sand wedge by about 0.5 inches (12.9 mm). The lie angles of the second sand wedge and the lob wedge are greater by about 0.6 degrees greater than the lie angles of the 9-iron through first sand wedge, and more preferably by about 0.75 degrees. Further, the club head weights of the second sand wedge and the lob wedge are greater than the head weights of the 9-iron through the first sand wedge by about 10 grams. Preferably, there is no club length difference between the second sand wedge and the lob, and the lie angle and head weight of the two clubs are the same. However, the second sand wedge has a greater loft to the face of the club than does the first sand wedge by about 4 degrees, and the lob wedge has a greater loft to the face of the club than does the second sand wedge also by about 4 degrees. Table II indicates these differences and similarities between the 9-iron through the lob wedge in a set of clubs of the present invention. Thus, in a complete set of clubs in accordance with the present invention, the variance in club length, lie angle and head weight are not necessarily the same from club to club, particularly at the short end of the range (i.e., from the 9-iron through the lob wedge). Accordingly, it is not necessary that all clubs in a set of clubs in accordance with the present invention have shaft length variances of about 0.75 inches (19.05 mm), or lie angle variances of about 0.75 degrees, or head weight variances of greater than about 8 grams between adjacent clubs. It is sufficient that only selected adjacent clubs in the set have one or more of these variances. 
   Certain golfers perform better with a club length that is different than a standard length. Such typically accounts for the height of the golfer—taller golfers requiring longer clubs (“over-sized” or “plus” clubs), while shorter golfers require shorter clubs (“under-sized” or “minus” clubs). However, the club-to-club variation typically remains unchanged. That is, in the prior art, a first non-standard set of golf clubs can have club lengths 1 inch longer than a standard set, yet the variation in length between the clubs in such a non-standard set remains the same. An aspect of the present invention is providing a non-standard set of clubs having club lengths different than a nominal or standard set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention, but still having a variation in club length between adjacent clubs of greater than about 0.6 inches (15.2 mm), and more preferably a variation in club length between adjacent clubs of about 0.75 inches (19.1 mm). 
   In addition to having a greater range of club lengths and lie angles than do prior art golf club sets, a set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention cari comprise a greater range of head weights than clubs of the prior art. Prior art golf club heads for irons increase by about 6 grams between adjacent clubs starting with the 1-iron through the 4-iron, and by about 7 grams between adjacent clubs starting with the 5-iron through the 9-iron. A further aspect of the present invention includes increasing the club head weight of adjacent golf clubs in a set of clubs by about 8 grams or more between adjacent clubs. Preferably, the weight is increased across a portion of the range of clubs, starting with the 1-iron through the 9 iron. More preferably, the club head weight is increased by between about 9 grams and 11 grams between adjacent clubs. For example, a prior art 1-iron has a club head weight of about 231 grams, and a prior art 2-iron has a club head weight of about 237 grams. By comparison, a 1-iron and a 2-iron in accordance with the present invention have club head weights of 206 and 217 grams, respectively. 
   It is understood that the club weights given in the above paragraph are exemplary only. For example, the 1-iron of the present invention can have a club head weight of about 200 grams, while the 2-iron will have a club head weight of about 211 grams. In either instance, the variation in club head weight between adjacent clubs in a set of clubs in accordance with the present invention varies by about 8 grams or more between selected adjacent clubs in the set. 
   EXAMPLE 
   Tables I and II below give exemplary values for three standard sets of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention. Table I is a table for a first standard set of clubs including a 1-iron through a 9-iron, and including a pitching wedge, a first and second sand wedge, and a lob wedge. Table I compares the shaft lengths, lie angles, and head weight for this first set of clubs to a prior art set of comparable golf clubs. Table II is a table for a second and third standard set of clubs including a driver similar to those shown in Table I, except that in the second set of clubs the head weigh variance between selected clubs is 10 grams, and in the third set of clubs the head weight variance between selected clubs is 11 grams. 
   It is understood that a set of golf clubs of the present invention does not need to include all of the clubs in what is generally known to be a complete set of clubs, as represented in the tables, or that the variances indicated herein must be applied to each and every adjacent club in the set. A set of golf clubs in accordance with the present invention can include as few as two golf clubs. Further, it is understood that the exact numerical values shown in the tables are exemplary only, and that the tables do not reflect over- or under-sized golf club sets, nor the range of club head weights which may be selected by a particular golfer for a particular club. The tables do however demonstrate the desirable variation in club length, lie angle, and head weight between adjacent golf clubs in the set. 
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE I 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
             
               A FIRST STANDARD SET OF GOLF CLUBS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION, 
             
             
               AS COMPARED TO A FIRST STANDARD SET OF PRIOR ART GOLF CLUBS 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                 
               Prior Art 
                 
               Prior art 
               Club head 
               Prior art 
             
             
                 
               Club length 
               Club length 
               Lie angle 
               Lie angle 
               Weight 
               Club head 
             
             
               Club No. 
               inches (mm) 
               inches (mm) 
               (degrees) 
               (degrees) 
               (grams) 
               weight (gm) 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
             
             
             
          
             
               1-iron 
                41.5 (105.4) 
               39.5 (100.3) 
               57 
               59 
               208 
               231 
             
             
               2-iron 
               40.75 (103.5) 
                 39 (99.1) 
               57.75 
               59.5 
               217 
               237 
             
             
               3-iron 
                 40 (101.6) 
               38.5 (97.8) 
               58.5 
               60 
               226 
               243 
             
             
               4-iron 
               39.25 (99.7) 
                 38 (96.5) 
               59.25 
               60.5 
               235 
               249 
             
             
               5-iron 
                38.5 (97.8) 
               37.5 (95.3) 
               60 
               61 
               244 
               256 
             
             
               6-iron 
               37.75 (95.9) 
                 37 (94.0) 
               60.75 
               61.5 
               253 
               263 
             
             
               7-iron 
                 37 (94.0) 
               36.5 (92.7) 
               61.5 
               62 
               262 
               269 
             
             
               8-iron 
               36.25 (92.1) 
                 36 (91.4) 
               62.25 
               62.5 
               271 
               276 
             
             
               9-iron 
                35.5 (90.2) 
               35.5 (90.2) 
               63 
               63 
               280 
               284 
             
             
               Pitching 
                35.5 (90.2) 
               35.5 (90.2) 
               63 
               63 
               280 
               285 
             
             
               Wedge 
             
             
               Sand 
                 35 (88.9) 
               35.5 (90.2) 
               63 
               63.5 
               280 
               296 
             
             
               wedge-1 
             
             
               Sand 
                 35 (88.9) 
                 35 (88.9) 
               63.75 
                 
               290 
             
             
               wedge-2 
             
             
               Lob wedge 
                 35 (88.9) 
                 35 (88.9) 
               63.75 
                 
               290 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   
     
       
         
             
           
             
               TABLE II 
             
           
          
             
                 
             
             
               A SECOND AND THIRD STANDARD SET OF GOLF CLUBS OF THE 
             
             
               PRESENT INVENTION 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
             
          
             
                 
                 
                 
               Club head 
               Club head 
             
             
                 
                 
                 
               Weight of 
               Weight of 
             
             
                 
               Club length 
               Lie angle 
               2 nd  set 
               3 rd  set 
             
             
               Club No. 
               inches (mm) 
               (degrees) 
               (grams) 
               (gm) 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
         
             
             
             
             
             
          
             
               1-iron 
                41.5 (105.4) 
               57 
               202 
               200 
             
             
               2-iron 
               40.75 (103.5) 
               57.75 
               215 
               211 
             
             
               3-iron 
                 40 (101.6) 
               58.5 
               225 
               222 
             
             
               4-iron 
               39.25 (99.7) 
               59.25 
               235 
               233 
             
             
               5-iron 
                38.5 (97.8) 
               60 
               245 
               244 
             
             
               6-iron 
               37.75 (95.9) 
               60.75 
               255 
               255 
             
             
               7-iron 
                 37 (94.0) 
               61.5 
               265 
               266 
             
             
               8-iron 
               36.25 (92.1) 
               62.25 
               275 
               277 
             
             
               9-iron 
                35.5 (90.2) 
               63 
               285 
               288 
             
             
               Pitching 
                35.5 (90.2) 
               63 
               285 
               288 
             
             
               Wedge 
             
             
               Sand 
                 35 (88.9) 
               63 
               285 
               288 
             
             
               wedge-1 
             
             
               Sand 
                 35 (88.9) 
               63.75 
               295 
               299 
             
             
               wedge-2 
             
             
               Lob wedge 
                 35 (88.9) 
               63.75 
               295 
               299 
             
             
                 
             
          
         
       
     
   
   While the above invention has been described with particularity to specific embodiments and examples thereof, it is understood that the invention comprises the general novel concepts disclosed by the disclosure provided herein, as well as those specific embodiments and examples.