Golf club fitting apparatus

• US 5,976,031 A
• Filed: 10/09/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barry Michael Blanton, Jeffrey B. Johnson
• Original Assignee: Barry Michael Blanton, Jeffrey B. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Jeffrey B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kien T.
• Application Number:
  US08/947,889
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 473/300, 473/303, 473/305, 473/307, 473/308, 473/549, 473/568, 473/316, 473/322, 473/298, 473/299
• US Class Current: 473/300
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/005 Club sets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• 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 53/10 Non-metallic shafts
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/14 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/52 with slits

Abstract

Apparatus for fitting a golf club to an individual player comprises a plurality of shaft extension plugs that fit into the upper end of a club shaft so as to provide various effective shaft lengths. A removable elastomeric grip, configured as a tube having a closed end and a slit extending from the open end to a point near the closed end, is slid over the shaft and whatever extension plug is inserted into it. The inner diameter of grip is matched to the outer diameter of the shaft, and the inner surface of the grip is smooth. This arrangement provides a maximum contact area between the grip and the shaft in order to keep the shaft fro sliding out the grip when the player swings the try-club. One of the advantages of this arrangement is that it reduces the number of individual items of equipment that a fitting dealer needs to stock in order to cover a full range of performance parameters.

Claims

1. Apparatus for fitting a golf club to a golfer, the apparatus comprising:

a first plurality of tubular golf club shafts, each of the shafts comprising means adjacent a lower end thereof to releasably attach one of a second plurality of golf club heads thereto;

a third plurality of removably insertable cylindrical extension plugs, each plug respectively comprising a smaller diameter portion and a larger diameter portion, the smaller diameter portion of a predetermined one of the plugs snugly fitting into the upper end of a predetermined one of the shafts, the larger diameter portion of the predetermined one of the plugs having the same outer shaft diameter as that tubular shaft into which it fits, whereby the effective length of the predetermined one of the shafts is extended by the insertion thereinto of the predetermined one of the plugs; and

a fourth plurality of grips each grip comprising a respective elastomeric tube having one open end one closed end, and a longitudinal slit extending from the respective open end to a point adjacent the respective closed end a predetermined one of the grips having an inner diameter equal to the outer shaft diameter of the predetermined one of the shafts, whereby the predetermined one of the grips is adapted to be removably disposed about the predetermined shaft.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slit is skewed with respect to a radius of the shaft.