Calculator for determining frequency matched set of golf clubs

• US 4,736,093 A
• Filed: 05/09/1986
• Issued: 04/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CIT Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Braly, Joseph M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fuller, Benjamin R.
• Application Number:
  US06/861,593
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 235/88 R, 235/88 G, 235/78 G, 235/70 A, 273/77 A
• US Class Current: 235/88.00G
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/42 Devices for measuring, verifying, correcting or customising the inherent characteristics of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like, e.g. measuring the maximum torque a batting shaft can withstand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/46 Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing
• CPC Class Codes: G06C 1/00 Computing aids in which the computing members form at least part of the displayed result and are manipulated directly by hand, e.g. abacuses or pocket adding devices

Abstract

A special purpose calculator for determining the optimum degree of flexibility for a matched set of golf clubs, tailored to the driving capability of the individual golfer. The calculator first correlates the effective driving capability of the individual to an empirically determined optimum flexibility index, which index is based on a standard club length, hosel length, tip insertion depth, and swing weight of the golf club. The calculator next compensates for desired differences, in for example club length and swing weight, to determine a shaft with a compensated flexibility index which will provide the same "feel" as the standard club. The calculator can then also be used to determine the requisite head weights, both wood and iron, as a function of desired club length and swing weight so as to provide the proper flexibility for that individual. For optimum results, the flexibility index is determined by measuring the vibration frequency of the shaft.

Claims

1. A special purpose slide rule useful in the determination of an optimum degree of shaft flexibility for a set of golf clubs and for calculating the degree of shaft flexibility required to compensate for an individual'"'"'s preferences in swing weight and club length, said slide rule comprising:

3. The slide rule of claim 1, in which the flexibility index is proportional to the driving capability of the individual.

2. a base element having a scale marked with flexibility indicia of the golf shafts to be employed in the production of the golf clubs in which said flexibility indicia are a function of the vibration frequency of the shafts;

and

one or more elements moveable with respect to the base scale, said one or more elements having scales thereon, each scale being marked with indicia of a golf club variable, the variables comprising (a) golf club swing weight, (b) golf club length, (c) hosel length, and (d) tip insertion depth, the markings on each of the scales, on said moveable elements including, respectively, (i) a set point based on the reference swing weight, club length, hosel length, and tip insertion depth, utilized in determining the flexibility indicia marked on the fixed scale, and (ii) indicia for swing weights, club lengths, hosel lengths, and tip insertion depths above and below the respective set point swing weight, set point club length, set point hosel length, and set point tip insertion depth, whereby the degree of shaft flexibility compensation is determined by placing a set point for the golf club variable in question in alignment with an initial flexibility index, such that the compensated flexibility index would be in alignment with the variable desired.

4. The slide rule of claim 2, including a cursor moveable with respect to the fixed and moveable scales.

6. The slide rule of claim 4, in which the base scale marked with flexibility indicia is the outermost annular portion of the circular slide rule, and the moveable disc or discs are of smaller diameter than the base disc.

8. The slide rule of claim 6, in which the flexibility index utilized is proportional to the driving capability of the individual.

11. The slide rule of claim 6, in which such head weights are set forth on the same disc as said indicia of swing weights.

5. A special purpose circular slide rule useful in the determination of an optimum degree of shaft flexibility for a set of golf clubs and for calculating the degree of shaft flexibility required to compensate for an individual'"'"'s preferences in swing weight and club length, said slide rule consisting of a plurality of concentric discs mounted for relative rotation with respect to each other about a common axis, comprising:

a base disc marked with flexibility indicia of the golf shafts to be employed in the production of the golf clubs in which said flexibility indicia are a function of the vibration frequency of the shafts; and

one or more discs moveable with respect to the base disc, said one or more discs having scales thereon, each scale being marked with indicia of a golf club variable, the variables comprising;

(a) golf club swing weight;

(b) golf club length;

(c) hosel length; and

(d) tip insertion depth;

the markings on each of the scales, on said moveable discs, including, respectively, (i) a set point based on the reference swing weight, club length, hosel length, and tip insertion depth, utilized in determining the flexibility indicia marked on the base disc, and (ii) indicia for swing weights, club lengths, hosel lengths, and tip insertion depths above and below the respective set point swing weight, set point club length, set point hosel length, and set point tip insertion depth, whereby the degree of shaft flexibility compensation is determined by placing a set point for the golf club variable in question in radial alignment with an initial flexibility index, such that the compensated flexibility index would lie on the same radial line as the variable desired.

7. The slide rule of claim 5, having a second base scale marked with indicia correlated with the swing weights to which the golf clubs will be supplied, and correlated with each such swing weight, a series of head weights corresponding to shafts of different lengths, to be employed in the production of said set.

9. The slide rule of claim 7, including a cursor mounted for relative motion about said common axis.

10. The slide rule of claim 5, in which said moveable scales are all set forth on one disc.