Method of relocating the center of percussion on an assembled golf club to either the center of the club head face or some other club head face location

• US 5,629,475 A
• Filed: 06/01/1995
• Issued: 05/13/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Herman A. Chastonay
• Original Assignee: Herman A. Chastonay
• Inventors: Chastonay, Herman A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dombroske, George M.
• Application Number:
  US08/457,411
• Time in Patent Office: 712 Days
• Field of Search: 73/65.01, 73/65.03, 473/292
• US Class Current: 73/65.03
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• 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 53/08 with special arrangements for obtaining a variable impact
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 1/122 Determining position of centre of gravity

Abstract

A method for relocating the center of percussion of an assembled golf club such that it substantially coincides with the center of the club head face, the present method taking into account the weight of the particular club shaft and grip affixed to the club head, the center of gravity of the club head both before and after the club shaft and grip are affixed thereto, and the offset relationship between the center of percussion of the assembled club and the center of the club head face. In its simplest form, the present method includes determining the center of percussion location on the club head face of the assembled club, comparing such location to the center of the club head face, and thereafter specifically weighing such club head so as to move the center of percussion of the assembled club from its previous offset position to substantially the center of the club head face. The present method is also advantageous in redesigning and manufacturing new club heads in that the resultant weight distribution pattern achieved for a particular club head establishes a new center of gravity location for such club head and this new weight distribution pattern and new center of gravity location can be replicated in a new club head design. Although the present method is centered around relocating the center of percussion of an assembled golf club to the center of the club head face, it is also ideally suited for relocating the center of percussion of an assembled golf club so as to either fall within an acceptable zone around the center of the club head face, or coincide with a location on the club head face where a golfer consistently makes contact with a golf ball.

Claims

1. A method for relocating the center of percussion of an assembled golf club to a location on the club head face where a golfer consistently makes contact with a golf ball, said assembled golf club including a club head, a club shaft and a grip, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) determining the center of percussion location on the club head face of the assembled club;

(b) determining where on the club head face a golfer consistently makes contact with a golf ball during that golfer'"'"'s swinging motion;

(c) comparing the center of percussion location determined in step (a) above with the location on the club head face determined in step (b) above;

(d) determining the swing weight scale designation for said assembled golf club;

(e) determining the center of gravity length of said assembled golf club;

(f) weighting the club head so as to move the center of percussion location of the assembled club from the location determined in step (a) above to the location on the club head face determined in step (b) above; and

(g) adding weight to the grip end of said assembled golf club so as to return said assembled club to substantially the same swing weight scale designation determined in step (d) above without changing the center of percussion location obtained in step (f) above while at the same time reducing the center of gravity length of said assembled club determined in step (e) above.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the following steps:

(h) determining an acceptable zone around the location on the club head face determined in step (b) above within which the center of percussion of the assembled club may lie when a particular club shaft and grip are attached to said club head;

(i) selecting a plurality of additional club shafts and grips to be used in conjunction with said club head, said additional plurality of club shafts and grips varying in weight as compared to the club shaft and grip associated with said assembled golf club, said plurality of additional club shafts and grips being selected on the basis that when any one of said plurality of additional club shafts and grips are attached to said club head, the center of percussion of such assembled club will lie within the acceptable zone determined in step (h) above."

3. A method of weighting a club head such that when a club shaft and grip are affixed thereto, the center of percussion of the assembled club will be located at the center of the club head face, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) selecting a particular club head having a predetermined center of gravity location and a predetermined center of the club head face;

(b) selecting a club shaft and grip to be affixed to said club head;

(c) affixing the club shaft and grip selected in step (b) above to the club head selected in step (a) above;

(d) determining the center of the percussion location of the club assembled in step (c) above;

(e) comparing the center of percussion location determined in step (d) above with the center of the club head face;

(f) determining the offset relationship between the center of percussion location determined in step (d) above and the center of the club head face;

(g) disassembling the club shaft and grip from the selected club head;

(h) determining a new center of gravity location for the selected club head based upon the offset relationship determined in step (f) above such that when the selected club shaft and grip are again affixed to the selected club head., the center of percussion of the assembled club will be located substantially at the center of the club head face; and

(i) weighting the selected club head so as to achieve the center of gravity location determined in step (h) above.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising the designing of a new club head based upon the weighting arrangement determined in step (i) above, said new club head having a weight distribution pattern which will locate the center of gravity of such club head at the location determined in step (h) above.

5. A method of weighting a club head such that when a club shaft and grip are attached thereto, the center of percussion of the assembled club will be located at the center of the club head face, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) selecting a particular club head to be weighted;

(b) determining the center of the club head face;

(c) selecting a club shaft and grip to be attached to said club head;

(d) determining the center of percussion location on the club head face of the assembled club based upon attaching the club shaft and grip selected in step (c) above to the club head selected in step (a) above;

(e) comparing the center of percussion location determined in step (d) above with the center of the club head face determined in step (b) above;

(f) determining the offset relationship between the center of percussion location determined in step (d) above and the center of the club head face;

(g) determining a new center of gravity location for the selected club head based upon the offset relationship determined in step (f) above such that when the selected club shaft and grip are affixed to the selected club head, the center of percussion of the assembled club will be located substantially at the center of the club head face; and

(h) weighting the selected club head so as to achieve the center of gravity location determined in step (g) above.

6. The method in accordance with claim 5 further comprising the following steps:

(i) determining an acceptable zone around the center of the club head face within which the center of percussion of the assembled club may lie when a particular club shaft and grip are attached to said club head;

(j) selecting a plurality of additional club shafts and grips to be used in conjunction with said club head, said additional plurality of club shafts and grips varying in weight as compared to the previously selected club shaft and grip, said plurality of additional club shafts and grips being selected on the basis that when any one of such plurality of additional club shafts and grips are attached to said club head, the center of percussion of such assembled club will lie within the acceptable zone surrounding the center of the club head face determined in step (i) above.

7. A golf club comprising a club head and any one of a plurality of club shafts and grips selected for use in conjunction with said club head, said club head being weighted so as to have its center of gravity positioned and located in spaced relationship to the center of the club head face such that when any one of said selected plurality of club shafts and grips are affixed to said club head, the center of percussion of the assembled club will lie within a predetermined defined area surrounding the center of the club head face, said predetermined defined area being established based upon the weight associated with the respective club shafts and grips forming said selected plurality and based upon an acceptable range of offset distances from the center of the club head face.

8. A method of weighting a club head such that when a club shaft and grip are affixed thereto, the center of percussion of the assembled club will lie at a location on the club head face where a golfer consistently makes contact with a golf ball during that golfer'"'"'s swinging motion, said method comprising the following steps:

(a) selecting a particular club head to be weighted;

(b) determining the center of the club head face;

(c) determining where on the club head face a golfer consistently makes contact with a golf ball during that golfer'"'"'s swinging motion;

(d) selecting a club shaft and grip to be affixed to said club head;

(e) determining the center of percussion location on the club head face of the assembled club when the selected club shaft and grip are affixed to said club head;

(f) comparing the center of percussion location determined in step (e) above with the location on the club head face determined in step (c) above;

(g) determining the offset relationship between the center of percussion location determined in step (e) above and the location determined in step (c) above;

(h) determining a new center of gravity location for the selected club head based upon the offset relationship determined in step (g) above such that when the selected club shaft and grip are affixed thereto, the center of percussion of the assembled club will be located at the location determined in step (c) above; and

(i) weighting the club head so as to achieve the center of gravity location determined in step (h) above.