U.S. patent application number 14/176582 was filed with the patent office on 2014-08-14 for system and method for multi-set collection of golf clubs.
This patent application is currently assigned to COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED. The applicant listed for this patent is Cobra Golf Incorporated. Invention is credited to Ryan L. Roach, Peter L. Soracco.
Application Number | 20140228143 14/176582 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51297814 |
Filed Date | 2014-08-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140228143 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roach; Ryan L. ; et
al. |
August 14, 2014 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTI-SET COLLECTION OF GOLF CLUBS
Abstract
The invention provides methods and collections of golf clubs
that offer a variety of golf club sets from a limited number of
golf clubs. The golf clubs are designed such that a golfer can
choose one of multiple different, distinct subsets of the
collection based on matching the properties of the clubs of the
subset to that golfer's needs. In this way, the club maker can
provide several different subsets by manufacturing fewer clubs than
would be otherwise required. For example, a manufacturer can make
one collection of 16 clubs. From that collection of 16 clubs , one
golfer could choose a first set of 8 irons, a second golfer could
choose a second set of 8 irons, and a third golfer could choose a
third set of 8 irons.
Inventors: |
Roach; Ryan L.; (Carlsbad,
CA) ; Soracco; Peter L.; (Carlsbad, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cobra Golf Incorporated |
Carlsbad |
CA |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
COBRA GOLF INCORPORATED
Carlsbad
CA
|
Family ID: |
51297814 |
Appl. No.: |
14/176582 |
Filed: |
February 10, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61764300 |
Feb 13, 2013 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/291 ;
473/287 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0475 20130101;
A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 2225/20 20130101; A63B 53/005 20200801;
A63B 53/0408 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/291 ;
473/287 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. A collection of golf club heads, the collection comprising: a
first set of M consecutively-numbered club heads; a second set of N
consecutively-numbered club heads; and a third set of P
consecutively numbered club heads, wherein the collection consists
of Q clubs and Q<(M+N+P).
2. The collection of claim 1, wherein the Q club heads comprises
iron-type club heads and hybrid-type club heads.
3. The collection of claim 1, wherein the consecutive numbering is
provided by a user-affixed indicia and further wherein the second
set comprises two clubs that are manufactured with the same
number.
4. The collection of claim 3, wherein the two clubs are a 5-iron
and a 5-hybrid.
5. The collection of claim 1, wherein club heads of the first set
have a first property that varies progressively with the numbering
of the set.
6. The collection of claim 5, wherein club heads of the second set
have a second property that varies progressively with the numbering
of the set.
7. The collection of claim 6, wherein the first property is moment
of inertia of a club head about a z-axis when the club head is at
address.
8. The collection of claim 7, wherein the second property is a
ratio of maximum face width to maximum face height.
9. The collection of claim 8, wherein club heads of the third set
have a third property that varies progressively with the numbering
of the set and the third property is one selected from the list
consisting of offset, loft, lie, bounce, blade length, club height,
top line dimension, top line type, sharpness of leading edge,
radius of curvature of toe, radius of curvature of heel, sole
width, sole radius, face thickness, cavity volume, finish,
darkness, and height of center of gravity of club head in the
heel/toe direction and when club head is at address.
10. The collection of claim 5, wherein club heads of the second set
have a second property that varies cyclically with the numbering of
the set.
11. The collection of claim 10, wherein the second property is a
position of serration on a leading edge.
12. The collection of claim 1, wherein the second property is a
width of sole such that every third club has a sole wider than
adjacently-numbered clubs.
13. The collection of claim 5, wherein the collection consists of
12 irons, the first set consists of six cast irons, the second set
consists of six forged irons, and third set consists of three
forged irons and three cast irons.
14. The collection of claim 13, wherein the first property is a
cavity depth that increases with decreasing iron number.
15. The collection of claim 14, wherein club heads of the second
set have a second property that varies progressively with the
numbering of the set.
16. The collection of claim 15, wherein the second property is a
ratio of maximum face width to maximum face height.
17. The collection of claim 16, wherein club heads of the third set
have a third property that varies progressively with the numbering
of the set.
18. The collection of claim 17, wherein the third property is a
maximum sole width that increases with increasing iron number.
19. The collection of claim 5, wherein every third club of the
second set has a second property that appears on no other club
within the collection.
20. The collection of claim 19, wherein the second property is a
serration on a leading edge of the blade.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/764,300, filed Feb. 13,
2013, the contents of which are incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention generally relates to methods of matching sets
of golf clubs to golfers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A set of golf clubs is most useful to a golfer when it is
matched to that golfer's abilities. For example, a highly-skilled
golfer may be best served by a set of forged irons, while a new
golfer may need wide cavity backed irons that are very forgiving to
off-center hits. In the real world, golfers are much more diverse
than that example. Some golfers are best served by adjustable loft
club when, for example, a golfer is new and still figuring out what
works best for himself. Some golfers need their clubs to appear a
certain way because they have found that certain colors or printing
patterns are distracting and break their concentration with adverse
effects on their game. Additionally, golfers need different
properties within a set. Some golfers play best with muscle-back
long irons, but need short irons with a very low center of
gravity.
[0004] Finding the right club set is not as easy as mixing and
matching from individual clubs. Many golfers need clubs that come
in a matched set. For some golfers, this is because golf is such a
mental game and mis-matched clubs are distracting and interfere
with concentration. Numerous golfers are concerned with even more
practical consequences of mis-matched clubs. If all clubs in a set
are matched, it is easier to avoid mixing up your clubs with
someone else's or leaving the house with a mixed-up set. Also,
important information such as iron number is typically printed in a
consistent fashion within a matching set, letting the golfer
concentrate more on the game than on fishing around in the golf bag
for the right club.
SUMMARY
[0005] The invention provides methods and collections of golf clubs
that offer a variety of golf club sets from a limited number of
golf clubs. The golf clubs are designed such that a golfer can
choose one of two or more different, distinct subsets of the
collection based on matching the properties of the clubs of the
subset to that golfer's needs. In this way, the club maker can
provide several different subsets by manufacturing fewer clubs than
would be otherwise required. For example, a manufacturer can make
one collection of 16 clubs . From that collection of 16 clubs, one
golfer could choose a first set of 8 irons, a second golfer could
choose a second set of 8 irons, and a third golfer could choose a
third set of 8 irons. Each one of those sets is a matched set
within which playing properties are optimized for the golfer. The
first set could have (to illustrate) a moment of inertia about a
vertical axis (Izz) that increases progressively throughout the
set. The second set could include clubs that transition from forged
iron blades for the longest irons to cavity-backed clubs for the
shorter irons. The third set could include a face with a reinforced
sweet spot that transitions from approximately circular to
elliptical progressively throughout the set. A club manufacturer
can offer a collection that includes, say, 32 clubs, from within
which 12 or more different distinct club sets can be chosen.
Additionally, the manufacturer can ship the collection wholesale
along with information that identifies several of the certain sets
available from within the collection, giving golfers a valuable aid
in choosing a personalized set within a store or online
[0006] One functional aspect of a collection of the invention is
that it offers the golfer the ability to tailor his set of clubs
specifically to the type of game he shoots. Some golfers prefer to
hit forged short irons but cavity back long irons. The collection
allows the golfer to customize the set to his playing style without
compromising the important functional aspects of a club set's
appearance. The golfer will not have his concentration broken by
one mis-matched club and will also know at a glance, before leaving
the house or the golf course for example, that he has his complete
set and only his set in his golf bag.
[0007] In certain aspects, the invention provides a collection of
golf clubs from which can be provided a first set of M
consecutively-numbered irons, a second set of N
consecutively-numbered irons; and a third set of P consecutively
numbered irons. The collection consists of Q clubs and
Q<(M+N+P). The clubs of the first set may have a first property
(such as moment of inertia about a z-axis when the club head is at
address, cavity depth, or both) that varies progressively with the
numbering of the set. The clubs of the second set have a second
property (such as a ration of maximum face width to maximum face
height) that varies progressively with the numbering of the set. In
certain embodiments, clubs of the third set have a third property
that varies progressively with the numbering of the set. The third
property could be offset, loft, lie, bounce, blade length, club
height, top line dimension, top line type, sharpness of leading
edge, radius of curvature of toe, radius of curvature of heel, sole
width, sole radius, face thickness, cavity volume, finish,
darkness, or height of center of gravity of club head when club
head is at address. In certain embodiments, the collection consists
of twelve irons, the first set consists of six cast irons, the
second set consists of six forged irons, and third set consists of
three forged irons and three cast irons. In some embodiments, the
collection consists of sixteen irons, the first set consists of
eight cast irons, the second set consists of eight forged irons,
and third set consists of four forged irons and four cast
irons.
[0008] In certain embodiments, clubs of the second set have a
second property that varies cyclically or periodically with the
numbering of the set. A property that varies cyclically could be,
for example, a position of serration on a leading edge or a width
of a sole. For example, every third club of the second set may have
a second property that appears on no other club within the
collection.
[0009] Clubs of the invention may have a setting adjustment
mechanism. For example, each club, or certain clubs, of the second
set could be such an adjustable club. The setting adjustment
mechanism of each club head may be operable to change a loft of
that club head, a face angle, or both.
[0010] Related aspects of the invention provide methods for
providing well-fit club sets to golfers. Methods include preparing
a collection consisting of Q clubs and providing a first set of M
consecutively-numbered irons from the collection as well as a
second set of N consecutively-numbered irons from within the
collection and also a third set of P consecutively numbered irons,
such that Q<(M+N+P).
[0011] In other aspects, the invention provides a process for
designing a multi-set collection of clubs. This can include
designing M clubs such that the ith club, for i from 1 to M, has a
value Ai that varies progressively with i for a first property, and
the jth club, for i from 1 to, P has a value Bj that varies
progressively with j for a second property. The process further
include designing N clubs such that the kth club, for k from 1 to
N, has a value Ck that varies progressively with k for a third
property, and the lth club for 1 from (P+1) to N has a value Dl
that varies progressively with 1 for the second property.
[0012] The first property could be, for example, a moment of
inertia in around a z-axis (Izz), and Izz could have a value Ai
that increases through the set. The second property could be a sole
width, and the values Bj and Dl of the sole width could increase
through the set. The third property could be a darkness of a
surface, and a value Ck of the darkness could vary through the
set.
[0013] In some aspects, the invention provides a collection of golf
club heads from within which a first unique set of irons has a
first property that varies progressively with iron number; a second
unique set of irons has a second property that varies progressively
with iron number; and a third unique set of irons has a third
property that varies progressively with iron number. Preferably,
neither the second property nor the third property vary
progressively across the entirety of the first unique set; neither
the first property nor the third property vary progressively across
the entirety of the second unique set; neither the second property
nor the first property vary progressively across the entirety of
the third unique set; or some combination of the foregoing obtain.
In certain embodiments, the first property does not vary
progressively across the entirety of the second set. The second
property may not vary progressively across the entirety of the
third set. The third property may not vary progressively across the
entirety of the first set. The first property may not vary
progressively across the entirety of the third set. The second
property need not vary progressively across the entirety of the
first set.
[0014] Aspects of the invention provide sets of golf clubs that do
not resemble a traditional set. A set according to the invention
may include, for example, two clubs that are manufactured with the
same number, or any other non-traditional combination of club
numbering. The invention includes the insight that a set can
include golf clubs that are consecutively numbered from the
perspective of, and for the benefit of, a golfer while those clubs
are manufactured with numbers that are not strictly consecutive.
Thus while in some embodiments a set is consecutively numbered
according to the numbers provided by manufacturers, in other
embodiments, a set is consecutively numbered by function and
according to the benefit of the clubs to a golfer. In one
illustrative example, a consecutively numbered set includes a
5-iron and a 5-hybrid. The clubs in a set may or may not be sold
with an indicated loft (e.g., stamped on the sole).
[0015] In some embodiments, the invention provides the ability for
a golfer to "name" or "number" his own clubs. For example, a set
according to the invention may be provided along with a set of
labels (such as stickers or other indicia) that can be affixed to
club heads. The golfer may optimize the set and then apply the
naming or numbering. The golfer may be assisting in naming or
numbering by information provided with the collection (e.g., such
as a retail display, a poster, a pamphlet, or a computer aid). The
labels may include any indicia, such as numbers, words, colors,
patterns or a combination thereof. For example, labels may include
the words "driving iron", "far", "almost there", other indicators,
or a combination thereof. This may provide a benefit for a golfer
that does not know how far a shot from a certain club (e.g., a
7-iron) will fly. Some golfers will enjoy a useful benefit from
labels for club sets in which the labels include information suited
to that golfer's communication style, such as plain-English words,
descriptions in terms of golf courses (e.g., long fairway, onto
green, etc.), actual loft measurements, icons or pictures (sky,
green, fairway, sand, etc.). The labels may be part of a kit and
may be customizable (e.g., printed or printable stickers) so the
golfer could call his club maybe the "long grass", "weeds",
"white", "blue", etc.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a first club set from a collection according to
the invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows a second club set.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows a third club set.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a fourth club set.
[0020] FIG. 5 shows a fifth club set.
[0021] FIG. 6 shows a sixth club set.
[0022] FIG. 7 shows a seventh club set.
[0023] FIG. 8 shows an eight club set.
[0024] FIG. 9 shows a ninth club set.
[0025] FIG. 10A diagrams reference measurements for club heads.
[0026] FIG. 10B diagrams reference measurements for club heads.
[0027] FIG. 10C diagrams reference measurements for club heads.
[0028] FIG. 11 illustrates a collection that includes a tenth and
eleventh club set.
[0029] FIG. 12 represents a twelfth club set.
[0030] FIG. 13 shows a thirteenth club set.
[0031] FIG. 14 shows a fourteenth club set.
[0032] FIG. 15 shows a fifteenth club set.
[0033] FIG. 16 shows a large collection according to certain
embodiments.
[0034] FIG. 17 diagrams a system of the invention.
[0035] FIG. 18 shows a display of club sets.
[0036] FIG. 19 gives a diagram of methods of certain
embodiments.
[0037] FIG. 20 shows a device for selecting clubs.
[0038] FIG. 21 shows use of a device to suggest clubs.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0039] The invention provides systems and methods by which a
manufacturer can offer a collection of golf clubs from within which
different golfers can select different personalized sets. A key
insight of the invention is that the collection can include a lower
number of clubs than the sum of the numbers of clubs in all of the
unique sets while each set also has meaningful and consistent
playing properties. In particular, each set will generally be
characterized by at least one property that varies in controlled
way (e.g., progressively, periodically, or cyclically) throughout
the set. For example, a club head moment of inertia about a
vertical axis may increase with iron length (i.e., vary
progressively throughout the set). Or, a club may have a feature,
such as a serrated leading sole edge with a position that alternate
between heel-side and toe-side (i.e., varies cyclically throughout
the set).
[0040] FIG. 1 shows a first club set 100 that includes at least
eight club heads. First club set 100 includes a first four iron
104, a first five iron 105, a first six iron 106, a first seven
iron 107, a first eight iron 108, a first nine iron 109, a first
pitch wedge 121, and a first gap wedge 123. The eight club heads
have at least one property that varies progressively with number.
Each club has a progressively taller face (as measured at a tallest
point when the club is at address).
[0041] FIG. 2 shows a second club set 200 that includes at least
eight club heads. Second club set 200, as shown, includes a second
three iron 203, a second four iron 204, a second five iron 205, a
second six iron 206, a second seven iron 207, a second eight iron
208, a second nine iron 209, and a second pitch wedge 221. Each
club head in second club set 200 is a forged head, with a style
that progresses from blade to cavity back. Second three iron 203
has the most pronounced cavity. The perimeter weighting of the
pronounced cavity make the longer irons more forgiving to hit. The
blade-like shape of the short irons gives a golfer much more
precise control over distance and accuracy for the shots that those
irons are best-suited to make. Additionally, it has been found that
club sets with significant dis-continuities in club style or
appearance sometimes do not sell. Thus it is most useful to a
manufacturer to make a club set in which changes in appearance are
graded or gradual. Accordingly, the cavity depth is varied
gradually across second club set 200.
[0042] Further, the cavity back shapes of second three iron 203,
second four iron 204, second five iron 205, second six iron 206,
first seven iron 107, first eight iron 108, first nine iron 109,
and first pitch wedge 121 are designed to be substantially similar
and thus these clubs define a tenth club set 1001, discussed in
greater detail below. Of these clubs, the perimeter weighting in
the longer irons is most pronounced (e.g., by including more
significant mass in the heel or toe walls or even by including
weights such as tungsten built into the club head. The cavity backs
on the short irons provide some perimeter weighting forgiveness,
and that is balanced with some additional weight in the face to
modulate the face coefficient of restitution, giving the golf good
control.
[0043] FIG. 3 shows a third club set 300. Third club set 300
includes a third four iron 304, a third five iron 305, a third six
iron 306, a third seven iron 307, a third eight iron 308, a third
nine iron 309, a third pitch wedge 321, and a third gap wedge 323.
Within club set 300, face shape, face size, sweet spot shape, and
sweet spot size can all vary progressively along the set.
Preferably, the shorter irons have a sweet spot and face shape more
nearly approximating a circle than the long irons. In some
embodiments, if the largest possible ellipse is drawn on a
substantially planar portion of each face, the eccentricity of the
ellipses will increase with iron length.
[0044] FIG. 4 shows a fourth club set 400. Fourth club set 400
includes a fourth four iron 404, a fourth five iron 405, a fourth
six iron 406, a fourth seven iron 407, a fourth eight iron 408, a
fourth nine iron 409, a fourth pitch wedge 421, and a fourth gap
wedge 423. Fourth club set 400 provides forged blades, particularly
for the short irons, for better players.
[0045] In general, club collections of the invention are designed
and manufactured so that the clubs have a consistent appearance
throughout several sets that can be made from within the
collection. For example, fourth four iron 404, fourth five iron
405, fourth six iron 406, fourth seven iron 407, third eight iron
308, third nine iron 309, third pitch wedge 321, and third gap
wedge 323 each can have a back that is shaped substantially as
shown in FIG. 4 (even where third four iron 304, third five iron
305, third six iron 306, and third seven iron 307 each have a
cavity back such as is shown, for example, in FIG. 1). In this way,
fourth four iron 404, fourth five iron 405, fourth six iron 406,
fourth seven iron 407, third eight iron 308, third nine iron 309,
third pitch wedge 321, and third gap wedge 323 define an eleventh
club set 1101 that is beneficial to a player that plays best with
muscle back irons, and that needs some substantially additional
height on the face of the short irons. In some embodiments,
eleventh club set 1101 defines a better player set.
[0046] FIG. 5 shows a fifth club set 500. Fifth club set 500
includes a fifth three iron 503, a fifth four iron 504, a fifth
five iron 505, a fifth six iron 506, a fifth seven iron 507, a
fifth eight iron 508, a fifth nine iron 509, a fifth pitch wedge
521, and a fifth gap wedge 523. Fifth club set 500 includes
examples of a couple of different features that can vary within a
club set.
[0047] In particular, FIG. 5 shows club head properties that vary
cyclically throughout the set. The invention includes the insight
that a feature need not appear on every club to offer a golfer
great benefit. For example, some golfers find that their optimum
ranges for clubs throughout their set overlap. To give an example,
a golfer may find that the six iron is consistently good for making
145 yard to 160 yard shots, that the five iron is consistently good
for 150 yard to 170 yard shots, and that the seven iron is good for
135 yard to 150 yard shots. In this case, as the five iron and the
seven iron ranges cover all relevant possible distances, the golfer
may benefit from a feature on their six iron that offers some
playability benefit that will not always be needed, such as a wide
sole with low center of gravity or a pronounced hosel offset. This
golfer may then use their six iron for shots that need to get high
in the air and clear some obstacle. This insight is generalized and
employed in the design shown in fifth club set 500 in the form of
features that vary cyclically through the club set.
[0048] The hosel offset of the irons in fifth club set 500 varies
cyclically throughout the set. The hosel offset of fifth three iron
503, fifth six iron 506, and fifth nine iron 509 exhibits
pronounced hosel offset. The hosel offset of fifth five iron 505,
fifth eight iron 508, and fifth gap wedge 523 is modest. The hosel
offset of fifth four iron 504, fifth seven iron 507, and fifth
pitch wedge 521, is intermediate between pronounced and modest.
[0049] The sole width of the irons in fifth club set 500 varies
cyclically throughout the set. The soles of fifth three iron 503,
fifth six iron 506, and fifth nine iron 509 are wide. The soles of
fifth five iron 505, fifth eight iron 508, and fifth gap wedge 523
are narrow. The soles of fifth four iron 504, fifth seven iron 507,
and fifth pitch wedge 521, are intermediate between wide and
narrow.
[0050] Additionally, it is noted that the morphology of the back of
each club in fifth club set 500 matches the morphology of second
seven iron 207, second eight iron 208, second nine iron 209, and
second pitch wedge 221. Accordingly, fifth three iron 503, fifth
four iron 504, fifth five iron 505, fifth six iron 506, second
seven iron 207, second eight iron 208, second nine iron 209, and
second pitch wedge 221 define a set of clubs in which the short
clubs are forged irons, offering good ball control, and the long
irons collectively offer the golfer at least one instance of each
of narrow sole width, wide sole width, intermediate sole width,
pronounced hosel offset, modest hosel offset, and intermediate
hosel offset. This gives a golfer a variety of options to aid in
getting the ball to the green on the long shot and good control on
the shorter shots.
[0051] FIG. 6 shows a sixth club set 600. Sixth club set 600
includes a sixth three iron 603, a sixth four iron 604, a sixth
five iron 605, a sixth six iron 606, a sixth seven iron 607, a
sixth eight iron 608, a sixth nine iron 609, a sixth pitch wedge
621, and a sixth gap wedge 623. The club heads of sixth club set
600 include a periodically varying feature in the form of the
presence or position of serrations on a leading edge of the sole.
Sixth three iron 603, a sixth six iron 606, and sixth nine iron 609
each include serrations on a toe end of the leading edge of the
sole. Sixth four iron 604, sixth seven iron 607, and sixth pitch
wedge 621 each include no serrations on the leading edge of the
sole. Sixth five iron 605, sixth eight iron 608, and sixth gap
wedge 623 each include serrations on a heel end of the leading edge
of the sole. By including one or more of these in a club set, a
golfer may be able to benefit from the serration by cutting through
turf on difficult terrain. For example, on very grassy turf that
slopes down away in the direction a golfer is facing, heel-end
serrations may aid in cutting through the grass, allowing the shot
to successfully get the ball aloft and send it to the green. On
turf that slopes up in a direction that the golfer is facing (i.e.,
if the golfer looks straight ahead, he is looking uphill), toe-end
serrations may aid in getting the ball aloft out of the turf. For
the same reasons given above about the overlapping ranges within a
club set, a golfer may benefit most from having the location,
presence, or both of serrations vary periodically throughout the
set.
[0052] In some embodiments, club heads of the invention employ
multi-material head constructions, inserts (e.g., such as a TPU
insert within a cavity back or a top-line insert), co-molding and
other such assembly technologies to provide club heads with
optimized mass distribution and vibration dampening.
[0053] FIG. 7 shows a seventh club set 700. Seventh club set 700
includes a seventh four iron 704, a seventh five iron 705, a
seventh six iron 706, a seventh seven iron 707, a seventh eight
iron 708, a seventh nine iron 709, a seventh pitch wedge 721, and a
seventh gap wedge 723. Each club head in seventh club set 700 can
be manufactured so that the lower part of the cavity perimeter
defines a back wall (e.g., making something of a cup-shaped area at
the back sole), and the cavity can be filled at least partially
with an insert. Within seventh club set 700, the back wall gets
progressively larger and the insert gets progressively smaller in a
vertical direction throughout the set. In general, the back wall
material will be denser than the insert material. Thus, the shorter
irons (e.g., seventh nine iron 709) will have a lower center of
gravity than the longer irons (such as seventh four iron 704). This
provides the benefit that the back of the striking face of each
club head is covered by the insert over an area, and the amount of
covered area increases in a sequence from short irons to longer
irons. Accordingly, the insert (preferably, a visco-elastic
material) provides a significantly greater amount of vibration
dampening in the long irons. Some golfers will benefit
significantly from good vibration dampening. Furthermore, some
golfers may only need good vibration dampening on certain of their
irons and for other irons, some other property may be
important.
[0054] FIG. 8 shows an eighth club set 800. Eight club set 800
includes an eighth two iron 802, an eighth three iron 803, an
eighth four iron 804, an eighth five iron 805, an eighth six iron
806, and an eighth seven iron 807. Here, the club heads feature a
hybrid cavity back/muscle back design that may be said to blur the
line between the definitions. Some of the irons include a back
wall, a portion of which is spaced away from the back of the
striking face without fully defining a fully-surrounded cavity.
Some of the irons may have a small amount of dampening material
applied to the back of the face. A club designer may fine tune
these properties (e.g., using mathematical modeling software) to
truly optimize the precise location of mass and vibration dampening
material. The resulting clubs may have morphologies and assemblies
that progress gradually throughout the set. Additionally, while
some individual ones of the clubs may have metal components with
substantially unlike morphologies, inclusion of a vibration
dampening material may add a consistent look to the set, allowing a
golfer to easily recognize not only the clubs of the set, but to
intuitively see their ordering, as the pattern of visible material
can grade progressively through the set.
[0055] FIG. 9 shows a ninth club set 900. Ninth club set 900
includes a ninth four iron 904, a ninth five iron 905, a ninth six
iron 906, a ninth seven iron 907, a ninth eight iron 908, a ninth
nine iron 909, a ninth pitch wedge 921, and a ninth gap wedge 923.
Each club head in ninth club set 900 can be manufactured so that
the lower part of the cavity perimeter defines a back wall (e.g.,
making something of a cup-shaped area at the back sole), and the
cavity can be filled at least partially with an insert. Within
ninth club set 900, the back wall gets progressively larger and the
insert gets progressively smaller in a vertical direction
throughout the set. This construction offers benefits substantially
as described above with respect to seventh club set 700, but with
additional benefits first in that the described progression is more
pronounced within ninth club set 900 than within seventh club set
700, and secondly in that any novel set that starts within one of
ninth club set 900 and seventh club set 700 and ends within the
other has mass distribution and vibration dampening properties that
vary within the set. One can see that this offers a very large
number of sets from the collection defined by only the sixteen
clubs depicted in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9. Thus, a collection that
includes set 700 and set 900 can be used to obtain three or more
different complete sets of irons (and wedges) in which one or more
of the complete sets "starts" within one of set 700 and set 900 and
"ends" within the other.
[0056] It will be appreciated that a collection according to the
invention can provide a number of sets of clubs such that, within a
set, some property is purposefully consistent for the entire set or
purposefully varied so that the set is best suited to a golfer. A
property can be varied progressively, periodically, or uniquely
(e.g., one single club can include a feature that aids the golfer,
the feature not appearing on any other club within the set).
Features that can be varied within a set include offset, loft, lie,
bounce, blade length, club height, top line dimension, top line
type, sharpness of leading edge, radius of curvature of toe, radius
of curvature of heel, sole width, sole radius, face thickness,
cavity volume, finish, darkness, and height of center of gravity of
club head when club. Offset may refer to a distance that a hosel
axis is offset from a face in a fore-aft direction when a club is
at address. Loft refers to an amount that a club head face is
tilted back from a vertical. Lie angle may refer to the angle
between the shaft axis and the X-Z plane, measured in a plane
through the shaft axis parallel to the X-Y plane. Bounce may refer
to the angle between the plane that includes the club head's
leading and trailing edges and the horizontal plane when the club
is at address.
[0057] In certain embodiments, the invention provides a set of golf
clubs (e.g., from within a collection) in which a finish or
appearance varies through the set. Each club may have a slightly
different color head finish on the head. For example, the long
irons may have a chrome, bright, or silver finish and the short
irons or wedges may have a dark or black finish. The set of clubs
may have a gradient that goes from bright to dark, e.g., from
silver in appearance to black, on all or a portion of a surface of
the clubs. Such a progressive coloring provides a benefit that
enhances a golfer's performance. Some golfers find a need to
minimize glare for their shorter clubs. Additionally, some of those
golfers need visibility aids for their long clubs. By providing a
long club with a highly visible club head, a golfer has an aid in
lining up a shot and avoiding an off-center hit. While dark to
light (e.g., black to silver) is described just above, it will be
appreciated that some golfers based on the circumstances of their
play or the quality of their eyes and perception may most benefit
from some other certain color combination. Any color combination
may be included (e.g., red to blue gradation). In a related
embodiment, the variable coloring is done in groups, or
"microsets", of clubs. For example, all of the long irons (4, 5,
and 6) could be silver, while short irons (e.g., P, G, and S) are
black, with mid-irons (7, 8, and 9) are gray. Additionally or
alternatively, the color progression may be applied to one or more
other parts of a club in any combination (e.g., hosel, shaft, back
cavity, grip, etc.) to further enhance the offered benefit. One
benefit offered by the color progression is that a golfer will
familiarize herself with her set, and then always know at a glance
which club she is holding at the moment. Color can be provided by
any method known in the art. For example, a club part could be
painted, anodized, or colored by other methods. In some
embodiments, a decal is applied. In certain embodiments, a colored
finish is applied by a deposition technique such as a plasma vapor
deposition (PVD) or another vacuum deposition methods (e.g.,
electron beam physical vapor deposition, sputter deposition,
chemical vapor deposition). Thus, in certain embodiments, the
invention provides a set of club heads in which a finish on a
surface of the club heads transitions through the set. In some
embodiments, the finish transitions throughout the set. Each club
may be different from any club adjacent to it by some value of
darkness (or "grayness"). The clubs at the ends of the set may be
different from one another by a much greater value of darkness (or
"grayness"). In certain embodiments, other components of a golf
club could be colored to serve as club identifiers, such as the
grip, shaft, ferrule, etc. For example, a club of the invention may
be gray with a grip that is red, blue, translucent, etc. In some
embodiments, the colored component also varies progressively
throughout the set (e.g., stepping through the rainbow with each
club, or getting darker or more saturated).
[0058] An additional utility of a club set in which an appearance
varies throughout the set relates to recognition based on otherwise
incomplete information. To illustrate, where a manufacturer
provides a collection that includes a large number of clubs (e.g.,
24 clubs total) from which golfers can select and purchase one of a
plurality of sets (e.g., 6 or more distinct sets), circumstances
may arise in which a golfer is later not capable of otherwise
providing accurate information back to the manufacturer about a
given club. For example, if the golfer is out on a course and a
club plays really well and the golfer wants to find it online to
purchase another, the golfer may take a cell phone photo of the
club and upload it to the manufacturer's computer system. That
computer system (e.g., server 133 with reference to FIG. 17 below)
can then be used to identify the precise make and model of that
club based on its appearance. In this way, a server program, or a
consultant technician working at the manufacturer, could use the
identity of the subject club to suggest, or to "add to cart,"
another one of the clubs on behalf of the golfer.
[0059] FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C diagram reference measurements for
club heads. In FIG. 10A, score line spacing A can refer to a
distance between centers of adjacent score lines. Toe end score
height B can refer to a distance from a sole of the club to a
center of a first score line in a vertical direction at a toe end
of the score line. Toe score spacing C refers to a distance from a
toe-most point to a toe end of score lines. Score line width D
refers to a width of score lines. Heel score height F can refer to
a distances from a sole of a club to a heel end of a score line.
Body top edge face width G refers to a distance between a top edge
of a club and a face to body transition. Lie angle H refers to an
angle between a hosel axis and a horizontal when the club is at
address.
[0060] In FIG. 10B, top body thickness I can refer to a thickness
of a top portion of a body. Face thickness J refers to a thickness
of the face. Sole width K can refer to a distance from a leading
edge to a trailing edge of a sole. L can indicate a lowest point on
a sole, where to measure radius of curvature of the sole (i.e.,
sole radius). M can show loft, an angle between the striking face
plane and the vertical. N can show a distance from a leading edge
of the face to a hosel axis. O can show a horizontal distance from
a leading edge of a face to a leading edge of a hosel. P can
indicate a vertical distance from a leading edge of a face to a
lowest point on a sole. Q can refer to a vertical height of a face
to sole transition.
[0061] In FIG. 10C, R can be a height of a club head at address or
blade height. S can be a height of a geometric center of a club
face at address. T can be a width of a club head in a heel toe
direction or a face width. U can be a heel-end face height (noting,
e.g., that a large difference between R and U relates to a shape of
a face). V can be a toe-most point on a face perimeter. W can be a
sole to toe transition point on a face perimeter (e.g., where to
measure radius of curvature of toe). X can be a sole-most point on
a face perimeter. Y can be a lowest point on a leading edge of a
face. Z can indicate a transition from a sole edge of a face to
heel end of a face perimeter. AA can show a top most point of a
face perimeter. BB can indicate a midpoint of a top line of a face
perimeter. CC generally shows a transition from a top line to a
heel end of a face perimeter. DD can be a hosel diameter. EE can be
a hosel inset internal depth. FF can be a hosel length. GG can be a
hosel inset internal diameter. The dimensions referred to in FIGS.
10A-10C are not limiting and are merely useful aids when describing
club heads according to certain embodiments.
[0062] Configurations and geometries of a club head may be referred
using known terms in the art and those terms may be given their
customary meaning in golf. Lie angle may refer to the angle,
measured in degrees, of the club's shaft when the club is set in
the address position as measured from the shaft to the sole of the
club head. Iron sets typically range from 57.degree. to 64.degree.
with the long irons having a more shallow or lower angle. Up-right
lie may refer to a relatively steep or more vertical lie angle.
Taller players may prefer a more up-right lie.
[0063] Loft may refer to the angle, measured in degrees, of the
club head's face when the club is soled properly. Irons, for
example, may range from 18.degree. to 65.degree. with the long
irons having lower loft. Offset may refer to the distance from the
forward most point of the hosel to the leading edge of the blade.
Offset will help a player to align the club face with the target,
reducing a slice, and may produce higher ball flight.
[0064] Materials may be used in club heads to provide desirable
properties.
[0065] A golf club in a collection or set of the invention may
include any construction or material known in the art. In some
embodiments, a golf club is characterized by two-piece construction
A club head with two-piece construction generally includes two
pieces of cast stainless steel that are welded together to form a
head with hollow head or one with a defined groove or chamber in
the cavity.
[0066] A golf club can include any suitable material.
[0067] For example, a club head may include a metal such as
stainless steel. Stainless steel may be used head construction
(e.g., for irons, putters, or others),and may have about 20%
carbon, 15-20% chromium, and 1.25-2.5% nickel, with the remainder
being iron and a few trace elements.
[0068] In some embodiments, a golf club includes 303 Stainless
Steel, e.g., within a head of iron or wedge. The 303 stainless
steel allow contains a minimum of 17% chromium, 15% sulphur and 8%
nickel with the balance being iron. This malleable stainless steel
alloy can be used in iron and wedge heads to allow for custom
bending of the head, e.g., more easily than the standard 431
Stainless Steel. This material may also be more malleable than 304
Stainless Steel. Grade 303 may represent the optimum in
machinability among the austenitic stainless steels. It is
particularly useful for production that involves machining (e.g.,
CNC milling of grooves or cavity features).
[0069] A club of the invention may include 304 Stainless steel. The
304 stainless steel alloy may be used, for example, in iron and
wedge heads. This alloy contains a minimum of 18% Chromium, 8%
Nickel with the balance being Iron. The 304 stainless steel alloy
allows for custom bending of the head and is corrosion
resistant.
[0070] A club head may include 431 Stainless steel. This alloy
contains a minimum of 15% Chromium, 1.25% Nickel with the balance
being Iron. This heat treatable martensitic, nickel-bearing grade
has excellent corrosion resistance properties. It has excellent
tensile and torque strength, and good toughness, making it ideally
suited to iron heads. It can be hardened to approximately 40
HRC.
[0071] A club head may include 432 Stainless steel, which contains
a minimum of 16% chromium with the balance being Iron. This
Stainless Steel is very similar to 431 grade and slightly more
bendable.
[0072] Beryllium copper is an alloy that can be used in club heads.
Beryllium copper is more dense than stainless and some players get
a useful benefit from its a softer feel. Beryllium heads are also
easily identified by their copper coloration.
[0073] Other materials that may be included in a club head include
aluminum, titanium, pre-peg, composite, plastic, thermoplastic,
viscoelastic dampening materials, wood (e.g., for forming a club
head), balsa wood (e.g., as a lightweight layer in a club head),
tungsten, lead, urethane, polyurethane, rubber, leather, and other
materials.
[0074] Different types of clubs and club heads can be included in a
collection or set of the invention. A set or a collection of the
invention may include any known type of club head.
[0075] Irons may be long irons, e.g., usually iron numbers 1, 2, 3,
and 4. Long irons may have less than 25.degree. loft. Mid irons may
refer to the middle of a set, numbered 5, 6, and 7. These iron
usually range in loft from 25.degree. to 38.degree. and are
designed for distance and accuracy on your approach shot onto the
green. In general, irons may be muscle back, cavity back, an
intermediate form, or a novel form.
[0076] A set may include a wedge such as, for example, a pitching
wedge, sand wedge, lob wedge, third wedge, utility wedge. Wedge may
refer to a type of short iron with significant loft mainly for
playing shorter, more lofted shots (the amount of loft can vary
widely, from a pitching wedge that ranges somewhere between
47.degree. and 52.degree. to a lob wedge that can range from
58.degree. up to) 65.degree.. A lob wedge may have a high loft,
e.g., 59.degree., 60.degree., or more. A pitch wedge may have a
loft of 48.degree. to 50.degree.. A set may include a utility
wedge, or third wedge, that differs from a pitching wedge or a sand
wedge in the characteristics of the loft, sole, or others.
[0077] In certain embodiments, a set or collection of the invention
includes an approach wedge, such as an attack wedge, dual wedge, or
gap wedge. An approach wedge may have a loft between about
52.degree. and about 54.degree. and can be used for shots that are
in between pitch wedge and sand wedge distance.
[0078] A set may include a chipper, or chipping iron. A chipper may
refer to a club used to chip the ball onto the green. A chipper may
have loft between about 28.degree. and about 43.degree.. A chipper
may have a length similar to a putter and a non-putter grip.
[0079] A set may include a club or head known as a driving iron. A
driving iron refers to a golf club with low loft and a muscle or
hollow body similar to a wood. The driving iron may be usefully
beneficial to golfers who have difficulty hitting their long
irons.
[0080] In some embodiments, a set includes a blade-style head, or
blade. A blade may be included in the form of a muscle-back irons
due to a possible concentration of weight directly behind the
center of the club face. A blade may be most usefully beneficial
for an experienced golfer.
[0081] In certain embodiments, a set includes one or more hybrid
club or club head, sometimes referred to as a hybrid iron or hybrid
wood. A hybrid may refer to a club that combines playing
characteristics of both woods and irons. A hybrid iron may refer to
a club head with a flat face. A hybrid wood may refer to a club
head in which a face has bulge, roll, or both. Hybrids may take the
place of the long irons. Some golfers find hybrids useful as being
easy to play and give a player added control on long approach
shots. Hybrid woods may give a higher shot than hybrid irons.
Hybrid irons may give good control.
[0082] Manufacturing can include a variety of methods to provide
the most functional club head. A variety of useful and beneficial
styles of manufacturing are possible including, for example,
casting, forging, molding, co-molding, machining, or other
methods.
[0083] In certain embodiments, a club head or part is cast. Cast
refers to a process of manufacturing club heads where stainless
steel (containing varying amounts of nickel) is poured into a mold
in molten state and removed as one piece.
[0084] A club head may be die cast. Die cast involves injection of
material into a pre-formed die to form club heads. This process is
generally used on heads such as zinc alloy irons and aluminum alloy
woods. It is also commonly used on putters made from brass and
zinc.
[0085] A club head may be forged. Forging may include using a
series of forging dies for stamping the head to final shape. Forged
heads are made of softer metals than cast heads and may be hand
finished, chrome-plated, or both.
[0086] A variety of features may be included or optimized on a club
head. The invention includes the insight that any of these features
may be varied throughout a set. Additionally, a collection can
include more than one set in which one or more of the features is
included and varied so that one or any flow set made from a mixture
of the more than one set has the feature also varying throughout
the flow set.
[0087] One feature that can be included in a club head is a
bore-through. Bore through refers to a construction for shaft
insertion in which the shaft is inserted all of the way through the
club head so that the tip of the shaft is visible on the sole of
the club.
[0088] Another feature that can be varied within a set is bounced.
Bounce is usually referred to when discussing wedges or hybrids,
and can be included in any type of club. Bounce is the description
of one type of sole angle where the back edge of the sole is lower
than the front edge. A bounce angle on the sole may usefully help
prevent a club from digging too deep in the sand or getting stopped
by tall grass. Measured in degrees, typical bounce angles range
from 6 to 15. In some embodiments, a club head includes a cambered
sole. In a cambered sole, the sole has a curvature. A sole can be
cambered (rounded) from toe to heel, or from front to back, or
both.
[0089] In certain embodiments, a club head includes a cavity
undercut, or undercut cavity. A cavity undercut may refer to a back
club in which the cavity has been extended down into the sole of
the iron or in any other direction, there by moving the center of
gravity farther behind the face of the iron producing a more
forgiving club head.
[0090] A feature that can be varied is center of gravity. Center of
gravity refers to the point in a club head where all of the points
of balance intersect. For some players, a lower CG will give higher
ball flight.
[0091] Other features that may be varied within a club set include
face height (a distance from the sole to the crown at mid face,
i.e., to vary hitting area); face length (a distance from heel to
toe on the club face which comes into direct contact with the
ball); groove patterns (indentations which cause the ball to spin);
a ferrule (a trim ring which may keep detritus out of a hosel
fitting); sole Width; presence or arrangement of grooves (e.g.,
square grooves, box grooves, U grooves, V grooves, etc.).
[0092] In certain embodiments, a set includes flow weighting. In
such a set, weight positioning may shift from one club to the next.
For example, a #1 iron may have more weight concentrated on its
toe, a #2 iron slightly less, and so on. Flow weighting may be
referred to as progressive weighting where there is substantially a
progress through a set.
[0093] FIGS. 11-16 aid in seeing the relationship between sets and
collections. While depicted in those figures as having certain
numbers of clubs of certain identities, a club collection according
to the invention is a plurality of clubs within which at least one
club type is represented more than once.
[0094] FIG. 11 illustrates a collection that includes a tenth club
set 1001 and an eleventh club set 1101. Set 1101 contains fourth
four iron 404, fourth five iron 405, fourth six iron 406, fourth
seven iron 407, third eight iron 308, third nine iron 309, third
pitch wedge 321, and third gap wedge 323. It will be appreciated
that other sets can be obtained from within the clubs depicted in
FIG. 11. In fact, if a collection includes nine distinct rows
(which can be referred to as first set 100, second set 200, . . . ,
ninth set 900) and if each row includes eight clubs, there are
about 98 distinct club sets that can be obtained. In certain
embodiments, the invention provides a collection that includes at
least 16 clubs from which at least 3 clubs sets can be provided
(e.g., any number from 3 to 256). As shown in FIG. 11, a collection
may consist of 32 clubs, and may provide at least six different
sets (e.g., first set 100, second set 200, third set 300, fourth
set 400, tenth set 1001, and eleventh set 1101). Other numbers are
possible. For example, a collection may consist of 12 clubs, and
could provide four or more different unique sets each of which
includes six clubs.
[0095] The invention includes the insight that for a collection of
clubs organized into rows, in which each row represents one club
set, if the rows are represented as parallel and adjacent rows, and
if the club heads are designed with gradient (i.e., progressively
varying) or periodic (i.e., cyclically varying) properties, then a
useful club set may be provided as a set that "flows" through the
collection, cascading from one row to the next.
[0096] FIG. 12 represents a collection that includes a twelfth club
set 1201 (as well as first set 100 through ninth set 900, tenth set
1001, eleventh set 1101, and others). Here, the collection is
depicted as consisting of 72 clubs. Club set 1201 flows from first
four iron 104, first five iron 105, and first six iron 106 to
second seven iron 107. Club set 1201 then cascades from second
eight iron 208 to third nine iron 309. It will appreciated that a
large variety of club sets may flow through a collection.
Additionally, a club set need not arise out of a collection with
any particular pattern. A defining quality of a club set according
to the invention is that it includes a plurality of clubs that are
usefully beneficial to a golfer. When visualizing a collection on a
page as having (of necessity) some spatial arrangement, a set may
appear within that collection having any (or no) visually apparent
pattern.
[0097] FIG. 13 shows a thirteenth club set 1301. Here, set 1301
includes 9 clubs that have been matched to a player's abilities and
needs. Here, the short irons have a very high face height and work
with the mid and long iron such that face height increases
progressively throughout the set. Additionally, the longest irons
(from eight set 800) have a hybrid cavity back/muscle back design
that establish a pattern, which is continued by the mid irons from
the ninth set 900 such that Izz varies progressively through the
set, although in this set for better players, the variation is not
as extreme as across the entirety of ninth set 900. Thus, where
ninth set 900 may represent a good general purpose set, thirteenth
set 1301 may represent a set for slightly better players in which
the longer irons have some perimeter weighting but also have a
better coefficient of restitution than the sister longer irons from
ninth set 900. Thus, in certain embodiments, a set has a
coefficient of restitution that varies progressively within the
set.
[0098] FIG. 14 shows a fourteenth club set 1401 that may arise from
the same collection depicted in FIG. 13. By the nature of its
composition, fourteenth set 1401 has a property that varies
periodically within the set--the presence of a perimeter weighted,
cavity-backed iron within a set composed primarily of forged,
muscle-backed irons. Fourteenth set 1401 includes third six iron
306 and third nine iron 309, both of which may be cavity-backed
irons with extreme perimeter weighting. This set may be suited to a
player who has overlapping distance ranges and can exploit that by
including overlapping clubs that offer slightly different features
for different circumstances. In the case of fourteenth set 1401, a
better player may typically shoot best with a forged blade.
However, every third club is present as a cavity-backed club. The
golfer may use these in certain circumstances that are otherwise
vexatious.
[0099] FIG. 15 shows a fifteenth club set 1501. Here, a player is
best served by including eighth two iron 802 in a set that includes
a large number of clubs from fourth club set 400. Thus, fifteenth
club set 1501 provides forged blades along with a cavity-backed two
iron. This set may be particularly well suited for a gifted player
for whom the two iron may serve a role that other players would
file with a hybrid or a wood. Since the gifted player can obtain
the well-suited set from within the overall collection, that player
is well served by a collection according to the invention. The
gifted player can get a set that includes a two-iron which may
otherwise never have been produced (or, e.g., distributed to a
retail environment) due to otherwise low demand for such a set.
[0100] While discussed here so far predominantly in terms of irons,
hybrids, and wedges, a collection according to the invention can
include any style of club including woods, drivers, putters, or
others.
[0101] FIG. 16 shows a large collection according to certain
embodiments. Here, in addition to those clubs already discussed,
first club set 100 includes a first three wood 131, a first five
wood 133, a first one hybrid 135, a first two hybrid 137, a first
one iron 101, a first two iron 102, a first three iron 103, a first
sand wedge 125, and a first lob wedge 127. Second club set 200
includes a second three wood 231, a second five wood 233, a second
one hybrid 235, a second two hybrid 237, a second one iron 201, a
second two iron 202, a second gap wedge 223, a second sand wedge
225, and a second lob wedge 227. Third club set 300 includes a
third three wood 331, a third five wood 333, a third one hybrid
335, a third two hybrid 337, a third one iron 301, a third two iron
302, a third sand wedge 325, and a third lob wedge 327. Fourth club
set 400 includes a fourth three wood 431, a fourth five wood 433, a
fourth one hybrid 435, a fourth two hybrid 437, a fourth one iron
401, a fourth two iron 402, a fourth sand wedge 425, and a fourth
lob wedge 427. Fifth club set 500 includes a fifth one iron 501, a
fifth two iron 502, a fifth sand wedge 525, and a fifth lob wedge
527. Sixth club set 600 includes a sixth one iron 601, a sixth two
iron 602, a sixth sand wedge 625, and a sixth lob wedge 627.
Seventh club set 700 includes a seventh one iron 701, a seventh two
iron 702, a seventh three iron 703, a seventh sand wedge 725, and a
seventh lob wedge 727. Eighth club set 800 includes an eighth one
iron 801. Ninth club set 900 includes a ninth one iron 901, a ninth
two iron 902, and a ninth three iron 903.
[0102] If a golfer provides information about their needs and
playing style, an optimized set can be provided for that golfer
from out of the collection depicted in FIG. 16.
[0103] FIG. 17 depicts a system for suggesting an optimized set out
of a collection. A system of the invention generally includes at
least one electronic device 105 for use by a golfer. Electronic
device 105 may be a computer (such as a laptop or desktop PC), a
portable device (such as a smartphone), or another computing device
(such as a tablet). Generally, electronic device 105 will include a
processor coupled to a memory with one or more input and output
mechanisms. Additionally, device 105 may communicate with server
133 via a network. A processor may include any data processing
device such as a silicon microchip such as the one sold under the
trademark CORE I7 by Intel (Santa Clara, Calif.). A memory may
generally include a tangible, non-transitory storage medium, such
as a solid-state drive (SSD), flash drive, hard drive, USB drive,
or similar. Input and output mechanisms can include one or more of
a keyboard, pointer (e.g., mouse, trackpad), monitor, touchscreen,
network device (e.g., Wi-Fi card, network-interface card), data
connection (e.g., USB port), speaker, microphone, button, or a
combination thereof. Sever 133 may itself include one or any number
of computer device generally including a processor operably coupled
to a memory such as, for example, a rack-mounted server such as the
one sold under the trademark BLADE by Hitachi Data Systems (Santa
Clara, Calif.) or other computer devices. Server 133 may optionally
include additional storage such as dedicated data storage devices
or connections to cloud-based storage. As shown in FIG. 17, device
105 will generally include a mechanism for providing a display 125.
A golfer may interact with device 105 (e.g., through the use of
display 125) to provide information about their golfing needs or
competencies.
[0104] FIG. 18 shows a display 125 according to certain
embodiments. Display 125 can optionally show any number of clubs
such as an entire collection. As shown in FIG. 18, a collection can
be shown in row and column format (although this is not necessary
and is merely illustrative of a certain embodiment) in which
columns represent a club type and rows represent sets of clubs.
Since the invention provides sets of clubs that can "flow" from one
row to another, a collection depicted in this fashion will include
a greater number of sets than of displayed rows. Through the use of
display 125, systems of the invention can be used to perform
methods for suggesting sets of golf clubs.
[0105] FIG. 19 gives a diagram of a method of suggesting golf
clubs. A golfer provides data to a device 105. Device 105 also
obtains information about clubs in a collection of clubs (such as
physical properties of clubs that are represented in FIG. 11).
Based on data provided by the golfer, device 105 matches a first
set of clubs to the golfer. For example, if the golfer input data
showing that a very low club head center of gravity was important
to improve that golfer's playing, device 105 can review all of the
entries in each "column" within the collection and, for each
column, find the entry with the lowest club head center of gravity
(e.g., in a vertical direction when the club head is at address).
Device 105 may optionally match one or more additional sets. For
example, if the golfer also indicated that eliminating glare is
important for the playability of his wedges, but needs long irons
that appear large to properly set up shots and prevent partially
off face hits, device 105 can choose a set with an appearance that
grades from light to dark (e.g., silver to black) from long irons
to wedges and that has one of the lower club head center of
gravities for each head of all of the possible sets.
[0106] Device 105 can then suggest the set or sets that have been
identified. Server 133 can optionally be used to store information
about the golfer. For example, a golfer may give data using a
tablet computer while out on the golf course. By storing that data
on server 133, when that golfer later sits at her desktop computer,
she can review the data she gave and the sets that are suggested by
the system. Additionally, device 105 may offer to allow the golfer
to purchase one or more of the suggested sets.
[0107] FIG. 20 shows a display 125 on a device 105 by which a
golfer may give information identifying their playing needs and
competencies. This information can be solicited by, for example, a
series of questions that are shown as prompts that gather
information about a golfer's abilities and requirements. Exemplary
information that a golfer could be prompted for, and provide,
includes distance that the golfer hits any given club; tendency to
hook or slice; turf interaction; needs regarding an appearance of a
club head; accuracy or precision of hits (e.g., low precision means
hits are distributed all over striking face rather than in the form
of a tight cluster); others; or a combination thereof. With the
information that a golfer inputs, a device 105, server 133, or a
combination thereof can suggest one or more sets.
[0108] FIG. 21 depicts a device 105 being used to suggest a set of
golf clubs. Here, device 105 is suggesting three different sets.
Device 105 is suggesting a performance set (e.g., purely calculated
on making the best shots for that golfer without concern for cost);
a tech set (e.g., including certain technical features that a
golfer specified, such as an adjustable-loft hybrid or extreme
perimeter weighting via movable weights); and an affordable set
(e.g., a set that is best for the player without crossing a certain
cost threshold). Additionally, device 105 can be used by a golfer
to shop for and buy one or more of the sets or individual
clubs.
[0109] Device 105 may be operated by a golfer as his or her own
personal device. For example, a golfer may own a tablet computer
and may download an app from server 133 and install it to receive
club set suggestions. Additionally or alternatively, a golfer may
use an application such as a web browser or a purpose-built
application program to receive golf club suggestions. In some
embodiments, device 105 is provided as a kiosk or other location
for interaction at, for example, a retail store.
[0110] In some embodiments, device 105 is provided with a
collection of golf clubs. For example, a golf club manufacturer may
provide a retail store with a collection of golf clubs as well as a
kiosk that can display and use information according to methods
described herein (e.g., as depicted in FIG. 20 or 21). A kiosk can
refer to a standalone structure, such as a workstation with a
custom form-factor, or a kiosk can refer to a display in a store
such as a tablet, laptop, desktop, or other computer available at a
retail counter.
[0111] In certain embodiments, a collection is provided with
information tools for selecting a set. Exemplary information tools
include printed matter such as signs, pamphlets, posters, or other
such material. An information tool can include a fitting wheel or
fitting calculator that includes information about sets that are
available from within a collection and tools to aid a golfer in
selecting a set. Information can be provided, for example, in the
form of a display for a retail store that depicts an entire
collection of clubs and calls out certain sets from within that
collection, which may be best-suited to different individual
golfers. For example, a poster showing a collection could have a
"high performance forged blade" set circled, a "progressive cavity
back to muscle back" set circled, a "massive sweet spot, high MOT"
set for game improvement circled, and an "affordable starter set"
circled. In some embodiments, each of these four sets includes at
least seven (e.g., eight) clubs and the entire collection includes
a certain number of clubs (e.g., a number between 12 and 24).
[0112] Embodiments of the invention include labels for club sets
from a collection. An insight of the invention is that there may be
a disconnection between a manufacturer applied number or name and a
user's relationship to a club. Thus, a club set may be most
beneficial to a golfer if it includes clubs that are not strictly
consecutively-numbered according to the imprints provided by a
manufacturer (and in some embodiments, a collection is provided in
which one or more of clubs are provided with no manufacturer
provided club type indicia). It may be most beneficial to such a
golfer to have the ability to designate the clubs in his set
according to their benefit to him or their relationship to one
another. In some embodiments, a club set is provided with a set of
labels (such as stickers) that a golfer can apply to each club. The
labels can include numbers or other indicators of the clubs'
playing properties (e.g., "long fairway", "onto the green",
etc.).
[0113] In certain embodiments, the set of labels is keyed to
information provided by an information tool such as printed matter
(e.g., a pamphlet or poster) or digital matter (e.g., an app or a
program).
[0114] As used herein, the word "or" means "and or or", sometimes
seen or referred to as "and/or", unless indicated otherwise.
Incorporation by Reference
[0115] References and citations to other documents, such as
patents, patent applications, patent publications, journals, books,
papers, web contents, have been made throughout this disclosure.
All such documents are hereby incorporated herein by reference in
their entirety for all purposes.
Equivalents
[0116] Various modifications of the invention and many further
embodiments thereof, in addition to those shown and described
herein, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the
full contents of this document, including references to the
scientific and patent literature cited herein. The subject matter
herein contains important information, exemplification and guidance
that can be adapted to the practice of this invention in its
various embodiments and equivalents thereof.
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