Method for fitting golf clubs to a golfer

• US 7,226,364 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2005
• Issued: 06/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Callaway Golf Company (Topgolf Callaway Brands Corp.)
• Inventors: Helmstetter, Richard C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLAU, STEPHEN LUTHER
• Application Number:
  US11/160,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20070004527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 473309-310, 473/288, 473/307, 473298-299
• US Class Current: 473/307
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/02 Joint structures between the head and the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/022 allowing adjustable positioning of the head with respect to the shaft
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0466 wood-type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/00 Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/02 Ballast means for adjusting the centre of mass A63B60/24, A63B60/54 take precedence

Abstract

A method (500) for fitting a golf club to a golfer is disclosed herein. The method includes having a golfer hit a test golf club. If the test golf club is preferred, a final golf club is formed that matches the test golf club. Preferably, the final golf club matches the following parameters of the test golf club: volume, mass, mass location, inertial values, center of gravity location, material composition and shape. In a preferred embodiment, a test golf club with an interchangeable shaft is utilized with the method.

Claims

1. A method of fitting a golf club to a golfer, the method comprising:

fitting a test golf club to a golfer, the test golf club comprising a test golf club head, a connection and an interchangeable shaft, the connection comprising a sleeve and a mechanical fastener for removably connecting the interchangeable shaft to the test golf club head, the connection composed of a polymer material and having a mass ranging from 4 grams to 7 grams, the sleeve of the connection secured within a hosel of the test golf club head and the mechanical fastener positioned about a tip end of the interchangeable shaft, the test golf club having a preferred mass value and a preferred location of mass, wherein the sleeve and the mechanical fastener are both composed of a polymer material and combined have a mass ranging from 4 grams to 7 grams;

matching a final golf club to the test golf club, the final golf club having a final mass within five grams of the preferred mass value of the test golf club and a mass of the final golf club positioned within five percent of the equivalent position of the preferred location of mass of the test golf club.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the preferred mass value of the test golf club comprises a preferred mass value of the interchangeable shaft with the mechanical fastener of the connection and a preferred mass value of the test golf club head with the sleeve of the connection, and the final golf club comprises a final golf club head with a final golf club head mass value and a final shaft with a final shaft mass value, wherein the final shaft mass value is within five weight percent of the preferred mass value of the interchangeable shaft and the final golf club head mass value is within five percent of the preferred mass value of the test golf club head.

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the interchangeable shaft has a preferred location of mass and the test golf club head has a preferred location of mass, wherein a mass of the final shaft is positioned within five percent of the equivalent position of the preferred location of mass of the interchangeable shaft and a mass of the final golf club head is positioned within five percent of the equivalent position of the preferred location of mass of the test golf club head.

4. The method according to claim 2 wherein the test golf club further comprises a test grip placed on a butt end of the interchangeable shaft, the test grip having a preferred mass value and a preferred location of mass, and wherein the final golf club further comprises a final grip with a final grip mass value within five weight percent of the preferred mass value of the test grip and a mass of the final grip positioned within five percent of the equivalent position of the preferred location of a mass of the test grip.

5. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of the test golf head and the final golf club head is composed of a titanium alloy material.

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of the interchangeable shaft and the final shaft is composed of graphite.

7. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of the interchangeable shaft and the final shaft is composed of steel.

8. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of the test golf head and the final golf club head has a volume ranging from 300 cubic centimeters to 500 cubic centimeters.

9. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of the interchangeable shaft and the final shaft has a length ranging from 30 inches to 50 inches.

10. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of the test golf head and the final golf club head has a mass ranging from 175 grams to 250 grams.

11. The method according to claim 2 wherein each of the interchangeable shaft and the final shaft has a mass ranging from 10 grams to 50 grams.