Patent ID: 8852022

Claim:
A golf club, comprising: a shaft including a butt-end, a tip-end, a length extending from the butt-end to the tip-end, and an interface at a location along the length, the length including a major-length portion extending from the butt-end to the interface and a minor-length portion extending from the interface to the tip-end, the minor-length portion being shorter and having less stiffness than the major-length portion; and a clubhead mounted to the tip-end; wherein the butt-end includes a grip; the major-length portion exhibits a substantially uniform first rate of stiffness reduction with distance from the butt-end to the interface; the minor-length portion exhibits less stiffness than the major-length portion; the interface comprises a juncture of the major-length and minor-length portions and exhibits a rate of stiffness reduction that is greater than the first rate in a direction toward the tip-end; wherein the major-length portion is made of a first material, the minor-length portion is made of a second material, and the interface comprises a junction between the first and second material; wherein at least one of the first and second materials is a metal; wherein the minor-length portion is no greater than eight inches in length.