CLUB HEADS FOR ADJUSTING VERTICAL SPIN OF A GOLF BALL AND METHODS OF PROVIDING THE SAME

• US 20140113739A1
• Filed: 07/31/2013
• Published: 04/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Original Assignee: Karsten Manufacturing Corporation
• Inventors: Jertson, Marty R., Morales, Eric Joel, Serrano, Anthony D., Schweigert, Bradley D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,162,120 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 473/291
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/04 Heads
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/047 iron-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/06 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/04 Movable ballast means A63B15/005 takes precedence

Abstract

Some embodiments include a club head for adjusting vertical spin of a golf ball. Other embodiments of related systems and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A golf club head comprising:

a club head body; and

a weighting mechanism;

wherein;

the weighting mechanism comprises a first configuration and a second configuration;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the first configuration and a user hits a golf ball with the golf club head in a predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the golf club head (i) with a first vertical spin rate, (ii) with a first horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with a first horizontal spin direction;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the second configuration and the user hits the golf ball with the golf club head in the predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the golf club head (i) with a second vertical spin rate, (ii) with approximately the first horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with approximately the first horizontal spin direction; and

the second vertical spin rate is different than the first vertical spin rate.

2. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the golf club head comprises a wood-type golf club head.

3. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the first vertical spin rate is greater than or equal to approximately 350 rotations per minute and less than or equal to approximately 400 rotations per minute.

4. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the first configuration comprises a first vertical spin direction; and

the second configuration comprises a second vertical spin direction different than the first vertical spin direction.

5. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the club head body comprises a sole; and

a part of the weighting mechanism is one of (a) coupled with the sole or (b) integral with the sole.

6. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the weighting mechanism comprises multiple weight ports and at least one weight; and

each of the multiple weight ports is configured to receive the at least one weight.

7. The golf club head of claim 6 wherein:

the multiple weight ports comprise at least three weight ports; and

the at least three weight ports are arranged in a curved arrangement.

8. The golf club head of claim 6 wherein:

the at least one weight comprises multiple weights; and

each weight port of the multiple weight ports is configured to receive one weight of the multiple weights.

9. The golf club head of claim 8 wherein:

each weight of the multiple weights comprises a volume, a shape, and a mass;

the volume of each weight of the multiple weights is approximately equal;

the shape of each weight of the multiple weights is approximately equal; and

the mass of each weight of the multiple weights is different for each weight of the multiple weights.

10. The golf club head of claim 8 wherein:

the multiple weight ports comprise a first weight port and a second weight port;

the multiple weights comprise a first weight and a second weight;

when the first weight port receives the first weight and the second weight port receives the second weight, the weighting mechanism is configured in the first configuration; and

when the first weight port receives the second weight and the second weight port receives the first weight, the weighting mechanism is configured in the second configuration.

11. The golf club head of claim 6 wherein:

the weighting mechanism comprises a third configuration;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the third configuration and the user hits the golf ball with the golf club head in the predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the golf club head (i) with a third vertical spin rate, (ii) with approximately the first horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with approximately the first horizontal spin direction; and

the third vertical spin rate is different than the first vertical spin rate and the second vertical spin rate.

12. The golf club head of claim 6 wherein:

each weight of the at least one weight comprises a lateral cross-sectional dimension and a height; and

the lateral cross-sectional dimension is approximately three times larger than the height.

13. The golf club head of claim 6 wherein:

each weight of the at least one weight comprises a mass that is greater than or equal to 12 grams and less than or equal to 15 grams.

14. The golf club head of claim 6 wherein:

each weight of the at least one weight is configured to be mounted in the multiple weight ports via at least one of threading about an exterior wall of the weight or a screw.

15. The golf club head of claim 6 wherein:

each weight of the at least one weight comprises at least one of (a) one or more ridges at a top surface of the each weight, (b) one or more grooves at the top surface of the each weight, (c) a dampening washer, or (d) a rubberized paint coating.

16. The golf club head of claim 1 wherein:

the weighting mechanism comprises multiple weight ports and at least one weight;

each of the multiple weight ports is configured to receive the at least one weight;

the club head body comprises;

a front end and a rear end opposite the front end; and

a toe end and a heel end opposite the toe end;

the multiple weight ports comprise a first weight port and a second weight port; and

the weighting mechanism is arranged at a reference angle with respect to a face plane of the golf club head such that the first weight port is closer to the front end and the heel end than is the second weight port, and such that the second weight port is closer to the rear end and the toe end than is the first weight port.

17. A set of golf club heads comprising:

a first golf club head comprising;

a first club head body; and

a first weighting mechanism arranged in a first arrangement;

wherein;

the first weighting mechanism comprises a first configuration and a second configuration;

when the first weighting mechanism is configured in the first configuration and a user hits a golf ball with the first golf club head in a predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the first golf club head (i) with a first vertical spin rate, (ii) with a first horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with a first horizontal spin direction;

when the first weighting mechanism is configured in the second configuration and the user hits the golf ball with the first golf club head in the predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the first golf club head (i) with a second vertical spin rate, (ii) with approximately the first horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with approximately the first horizontal spin direction; and

the second vertical spin rate is different than the first vertical spin rate; and

a second golf club head comprising;

a second club head body; and

a second weighting mechanism arranged in a second arrangement;

wherein;

the second weighting mechanism comprises a third configuration and a fourth configuration;

when the second weighting mechanism is configured in the third configuration and the user hits the golf ball with the second golf club head in the predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the second golf club head (i) with a third vertical spin rate, (ii) with a second horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with a second horizontal spin direction;

when the second weighting mechanism is configured in the fourth configuration and the user hits the golf ball with the second golf club head in the predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the second golf club head (i) with a fourth vertical spin rate, (ii) with approximately the second horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with approximately the second horizontal spin direction; and

the fourth vertical spin rate is different than the third vertical spin rate.

18. The set of golf club heads of claim 17 wherein:

the first arrangement comprises the second arrangement.

19. The set of golf club heads of claim 17 wherein:

the first golf club head and the second golf club head each comprise wood-type golf club heads.

20. A method of providing a golf club head, the method comprising:

providing a club head body; and

providing a weighting mechanism;

wherein;

the weighting mechanism comprises a first configuration and a second configuration;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the first configuration and a user hits a golf ball with the golf club head in a predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the golf club head (i) with a first vertical spin rate, (ii) with a first horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with a first horizontal spin direction;

when the weighting mechanism is configured in the second configuration and the user hits the golf ball with the golf club head in the predetermined manner, the golf ball breaks contact with the golf club head (i) with a second vertical spin rate, (ii) with approximately the first horizontal spin rate, and (iii) with approximately the first horizontal spin direction; and

the second vertical spin rate is different than the first vertical spin rate.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein:

the golf club head comprises a wood-type golf club head.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein:

providing the club head body comprises providing a sole of the club head body; and

one of (a) providing the sole of the club head body comprises providing a part of the weighting mechanism or (b) coupling the part of the weighting mechanism to the sole.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein:

providing the weighting mechanism comprises;

providing multiple weight ports; and

providing at least one weight, each of the multiple weight ports being configured to receive the at least one weight.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein:

providing the club head body comprises;

providing a front end of the club head body and a rear end of the club head body opposite the front end; and

a toe end of the club head body and a heel end of the club head body opposite the toe end;

providing the multiple weight ports comprises providing a first weight port and a second weight port;

and

providing the weighting mechanism further comprises arranging the weighting mechanism at a reference angle with respect to a face plane of the golf club head such that the first weight port is closer to the front end and the heel end than is the second weight port, and such that the second weight port is closer to the rear end and the toe end than is the first weight port.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein:

providing the multiple weight ports comprises providing at least three weight ports; and

providing the weighing mechanism further comprises arranging the at least three weight ports in a curved arrangement.