Precise fit golf club fitting system and golf shaft selection method and apparatus

• US 6,702,692 B1
• Filed: 12/03/1998
• Issued: 03/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Earl F. Smith
• Original Assignee: Earl F. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, Earl F.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US09/204,301
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 473/409, 473/407, 473/289, 73/17.5, 73/13.7, 294/071
• US Class Current: 473/289
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/12 Metallic shafts
• 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: A63B 69/3623 for driving A63B69/3608, A63B69/3658, A63B69/3661, A63B69/3667 and A63B69/3691 take precedence

Abstract

A computer software controlled method of fitting a golf shaft to a golfer having steps of electronically determining the selection of a shaft by electronically testing, recording and storing a golfers reliable club head swing speeds values and face angle/degrees at impact. Testing to determine flex choice based on face angle/degrees at impact is completed first and then testing to determine stiffness based on head speed is completed second.

Claims

1. A computer software controlled method of fitting a golf shaft to a golfer to allow said golfer to have the ability to process accuracy and consistency in his or her golf swing/shot performance comprising the steps of electronically determining the selection of said golf shaft by electronically testing, recording and storing said golfers reliable club head swings speeds values and angle/degrees, at impact, values of golf club shafts having different flex choice and stiffness values, and electronically selecting the golf shaft with particular stiffness and flex choice values on the basis of said reliable club head speeds, and said angle/degrees at impact, values to allow the said golfer the ability to perform accurate and consistent golf swings/shots, including prioritizing said testing and said selection by firstly testing on the basis of flex choice, and secondly testing on the basis of stiffness value for composite golf shafts in view of the variance of stiffness and torque values that exist in said composite shafts.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining said selection separately for woods and irons for said golfer.

3. A method as defined in claims 1 or 2, further including the steps of constructing a golf club in accordance with the electronically selected shaft having selected flex choice and stiffness values, and testing the constructed golf club to insure and verify if it tests comparatively with the test results parameters/criteria that were electronically determined and selected for the said golfer.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, further including the step of utilizing said methods for testing a golf shaft having particular stiffness and torque values identified by its manufacturer to provide its electronically generated test results and thereafter testing other golf shafts having an identical said particular stiffness and torque values as identified by the same manufacturer or another manufacturer, to obtain test results, and comparing such test results to confirm whether or not said golf shafts bear accurate identification of said particular stiffness and torque values.