Golf club

Abstract

A golf club includes a club head and a club shaft attached to the club head. A plurality of bends which are spaced from one another are formed in the club shaft to define a straight first club shaft segment, a second club shaft segment adjoining and connected to the first club shaft segment extending upwardly from and laterally relative to the first club shaft segment, and a third club shaft segment adjoining and connected to the second club shaft segment and extending upwardly from the laterally relative to the second club shaft segment. The first club shaft segment and the third club shaft segment extend along spaced imaginary lines and the club head is closer to the golfer swinging the golf club than would be the case if the club shaft were straight along the length thereof.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELDThis invention relates to a golf club which is so constructed as to provide improved performance compared to conventional golf club constructions. In particular, the golf club of the present invention enables a golfer to hit a golf ball longer and straighter as compared to convectional golf club constructions.BACKGROUND ARTGolf clubs typically employ shafts which are straight between the club head and the club handle. A wide variety of materials have been and are employed in the construction of such shafts.Golf clubs, particularly putters, have been proposed which employ shafts which are not straight in an attempt to improve club performance. The clubs shown in the following U.S. patents are believed to be representative of the state of the art insofar as non-straight club shafts are concerned: U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,874,668, issued Apr. 1, 1975, U.S. Pat. DES. 256,824, issued Sep. 9, 1980, U.S. Pat. No. 4,227,694, issued Oct. 14, 1980, U.S. Pat. No. 4,625,965, issued Dec. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

During the swing, energy is inputted into the shaft when it flexes, however, virtually all of the energy is recovered when the shaft straightens, before it hits the ball, because the shaft is elastic and made from low energy loss (low hysteresis) material. In contrast, the golfer's hands are formed of a high energy loss (high hysteresis) material.

The golf club disclosed and claimed herein, on the other hand, is of such construction that it minimizes energy loss due to twisting. This is believed to account for the improved performance of the club disclosed and claimed herein as compared to conventional clubs. The club disclosed and claimed herein not only has been found to hit a ball consistently farther but also straighter as compared to ordinary straight shafted clubs.

Problems solved by technology

Added club weight can be undesirable under many circumstances for many golfers.

The result of this is that energy put into the hands from twist of the club is not recoverable and therefore not available to be transferred to the ball with conventional clubs.

Images