Method for fitting golf clubs

• US 7,147,570 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2001
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Original Assignee: Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.
• Inventors: Gallagher, Gary, Miraflor, Jose, Bonar, A. J., Burnett, Michael Scott, Anderson, David, Vincent, Benoit, Toulon, Sean
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US09/949,212
• Publication Number:
  US 20020119828A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 473/409, 473/287, 473/288, 473/289, 473/290, 473/291, 473/345
• US Class Current: 473/290
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2053/0491 with added weights, e.g. changeable, replaceable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/00 Golf clubs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0408 characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0412 Volume
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0416 Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0462 characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• 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

Abstract

A method is disclosed for effectively guiding golfers and/or their fitting professionals toward the selection of a particular wood-type golf club that is optimally matched or fitted to each golfer'"'"'s particular swing characteristics, the selection being made from a set of golf clubs having at least three different head sizes and being made based on one or more swing characteristics for the golfer.

Claims

1. A method of fitting a wood-type golf club for a golfer, comprising:

a) providing a set of at least three golf clubs having different head styles, each head style having a head volume of at least 300 cc, the head styles including at least two different face height to head depth ratios and having a common manufacturing source;

b) determining a value for at least a first swing characteristic for the golfer; and

c) selecting an optimal golf club from the set of golf clubs, such selection being based on at least the value of the first swing characteristic.

2. A method of selecting a wood-type golf club for a golfer from a plurality of golf clubs having at least three different head styles, each having a head volume of at least 300 cc, comprising:

a) selecting a first golf club having a first head style a first loft angle, and a first shaft flex;

b) swinging the first golf club more than one time to obtain a value representing at least a first swing characteristic;

c) selecting a second golf club based upon the value representing at least the first swing characteristic, the second golf club having a second head style, a second loft angle, and a second shaft flex;

d) swinging the second golf club to bit a plurality of golf balls and obtain a value representing a second swing characteristic;

e) swinging a third golf club to hit a plurality of additional golf balls and obtain a value representing a third swing characteristic, to validate the selection of the second golf club, the third golf club having a third head style a third loft angle, and a third shaft flex; and

f) selecting an optimal golf club from the plurality of golf clubs, the optimal golf club having a first, second or third head size style, a first, second or third loft angle, and a first, second or third shaft flex;

wherein the first, second and third head styles comprise at least two different head volumes differing by at least 20 cc and at least two different ratios of face height to head depth, the first, second and third golf clubs having a common head finish to indicate a single manufacturing source.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second and third swing characteristics are the same.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the value for at least the first swing characteristic is an average swing speed of the golfer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the value of the second characteristic is a ball launch angle or a spin rate.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a relationship between the average swing speed, optimal ball launch angle, and spin rate is predetermined, such that steps c) and e) comprise referring to a chart.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein a relationship between the value representing at least the first swing characteristic and the value representing the second swing characteristic is predetermined, such that step c) comprises referring to a chart.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of golf clubs are numbered sequentially, for selection of the second and third golf clubs, the numbered clubs being referenced by the chart.

9. The method of claim 2, and further comprising swinging a fourth golf club having a fourth head style, a fourth loft angle, and a fourth shaft flex, to validate the selection of the second golf club, the optimal golf club comprising an optimal head style is corresponding to the first, second, third or fourth head style, an optimal loft angle corresponding to the first, second, third or fourth loft angle, and an optimal shaft flex corresponding to the first, second, third or fourth shaft flex.

10. The method of claim 9, and further comprising swinging a fifth golf club having a fifth head style, a fifth loft angle, and a fifth shaft flex, to validate the selection of the second golf club, the optimal golf club comprising an optimal head style corresponding to the first, second, third, fourth or fifth head style, an optimal loft angle corresponding to the first second, third, fourth or fifth loft angle, and an optimal shaft flex corresponding to the first, second, third, fourth or fifth shaft flex.

11. The method of claim 2, and further comprising applying face tape to the first golf club and using information from a dispersion pattern that is produced on the face tape after the first golf club is swung a plurality of times, to aid in selecting the optimal golf club.

12. A method of selecting a wood-type golf club for a golfer, the head of the golf club baying a volume of at least 300 cc, comprising:

a) providing a plurality of golf clubs having at least three different head styles, each having a different volume, the golf clubs having a substantially similar engravings on their heads, to indicate a common source;

b) determining a value for at least a first swing characteristic for the golfer; and

c) selecting an optimal golf club from the plurality of golf clubs based on at least the first swing characteristic;

wherein the at least three different head styles comprise head volumes differing by at least 20 cc between each and at least two different ratios of face height to head depth, the plurality of golf clubs having a common head finish to indicate a single manufacturing source.

13. The method of claim 12, and further comprising providing a cart to hold the plurality of golf clubs.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the substantially similar engravings comprise a scoreline pattern on the face of the head of each of the plurality of golf clubs.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the substantially similar engravings comprise a brand marking or logo on the head of each of the plurality of golf clubs.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the heads of the plurality of golf clubs have a substantially common construction.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the substantially common construction comprises a cast body and a face plate welded to a front opening of the cast body.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the substantially common construction comprises a common material for at least a body portion of each club head.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the different head styles comprise at least two different address planforms, the planforms including a difference in size or shape or both.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the different head styles further comprise at least two different face aspect ratios.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the different head styles further comprise at least two different weight pads, the weight pads differing in size or location or both.

22. A method of selecting a wood-type golf club for a golfer, the golf club having a coefficient of restitution value of at least 0.8, the method comprising:

a) providing a plurality of golf clubs having at least three head styles, the at least three head styles comprising at least two different weight pads providing different centers of gravity and at least two different ratios of face height to head depth, the golf clubs having heads that comprise substantially similar engravings, to indicate a common source;

b) determining a value for at least a first swing characteristic for a golfer; and

c) selecting an optimal golf club from the plurality of golf clubs based on at least the first swing characteristic.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the substantially similar engravings comprise a scoreline pattern on the face of the bead of each of the plurality of golf clubs.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the substantially similar engravings comprise a brand marking or logo on the head of each of the plurality of golf clubs.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the heads of the plurality of golf clubs have a similar finish.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the heads of the plurality of golf clubs have a substantially common construction.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the substantially common construction comprises a cast body and a face plate welded to a front opening of the cast body.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the substantially common construction comprises a recess located on the exterior of a body portion of the club head of each of the plurality of golf clubs, the recess fixedly receiving a swing weight.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the substantially common construction comprises an insert located in a hosel portion of the club head of each of the plurality of golf clubs.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein the weight pads further differing in size or location or both.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the head styles further comprise at least two different materials for the club heads of the plurality of golf clubs.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein:

at least one of the first, second and third golf clubs includes a club head that comprises a titanium alloy; and

at least one of the first, second and third golf clubs includes a club head that comprises a stainless steel alloy.

33. A method of selecting a wood-type golf club for a golfer, the golf club having a coefficient of restitution value of at least 0.8, the method comprising:

a) providing a plurality of golf clubs having at least three head styles, the at least three head styles comprising at least two different weight pads providing different centers of gravity and at least two different ratios of face height to head depth, the golf clubs having heads that comprise substantially similar engravings, to indicate a common source, a recess being formed on the exterior of a body portion of each of the heads, the recess fixedly receiving a swing weight;

b) determining a value for at least a first swing characteristic of the golfer; and

c) selecting an optimal golf club from the plurality of golf clubs based on at least the first swing characteristic.

34. A method of selecting a wood-type golf club for a golfer, the golf club having a coefficient of restitution value of at least 0.8, the method comprising:

a) providing a plurality of golf clubs having at least three head styles, the at least three head styles comprising at least two different weight pads providing different centers of gravity and at least two different ratios of face height to head depth, the golf clubs having heads that comprise substantially similar engravings, to indicate a common source, and further comprising an insert in a hosel portion of each head;

b) determining value for at least a first swing characteristic for the golfer; and

c) selecting an optimal golf club from the plurality of similar golf clubs based on at least the first swing characteristic.