U.S. patent application number 15/963715 was filed with the patent office on 2018-11-01 for chunk shot reduction golf club and method of use therefor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Golf Tailor, LLC. Invention is credited to Jeffrey Timothy Halstead, Tim Oyler.
Application Number | 20180311544 15/963715 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 63916421 |
Filed Date | 2018-11-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180311544 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oyler; Tim ; et al. |
November 1, 2018 |
Chunk Shot Reduction Golf Club and Method of Use Therefor
Abstract
A golf club contains a handle, a shaft attached to the handle,
and a head attached to the shaft opposite to the handle. The head
contains a front face, a top, and a bottom. The bottom has a bottom
surface and a plurality of rails thereupon. The rails on the bottom
surface thereof may allow the golf club to glide across, rather
than digging into the ground. This may in turn reduce the incidence
and/or frequency of chunk shots. A method of reducing chance shots
is also provided.
Inventors: |
Oyler; Tim; (Edmond, OK)
; Halstead; Jeffrey Timothy; (Wylie, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Golf Tailor, LLC |
Edmond |
OK |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
63916421 |
Appl. No.: |
15/963715 |
Filed: |
April 26, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62491396 |
Apr 28, 2017 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 53/0475 20130101;
A63B 53/0466 20130101; A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 2102/32
20151001; A63B 2053/0479 20130101; A63B 53/00 20130101; A63B
53/0408 20200801; A63B 53/047 20130101; A63B 53/0433 20200801 |
International
Class: |
A63B 53/04 20060101
A63B053/04 |
Claims
1. A golf club comprising: A. a handle; B. a shaft connected to the
handle; C. a head connected to the shaft opposite to the handle,
the head comprising: i. a front face for contacting a golf ball;
ii. a top adjacent to the front face; and iii. a bottom adjacent to
the front face, the bottom opposite the top, the bottom further
comprising: a. a bottom surface; and b. a plurality of rails
protruding from the bottom surface.
2. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the golf club is
selected from the group consisting of a driver, an iron, a wedge,
and a combination thereof.
3. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of
rails comprises from about 2 to about 15 rails.
4. The gold club according to claim 1, wherein the bottom surface
has a bottom surface area, wherein each rail has a rail foot
surface area, and wherein the total of all the rails' rail foot
surface areas is from about 3% to about 75% of the bottom surface
area.
5. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein each rail has a
height, and wherein the height is from about 1 mm to about 20
mm.
6. The golf club according to claim 1, comprising a curved
rail.
7. The golf club according to claim 1, comprising a straight
rail.
8. The golf club according to claim 5, wherein the height of the
rail varies within the same rail.
9. The golf club according to claim 8, wherein the height of each
rail varies within the same rail.
10. The golf club according to claim 10, wherein each rail has a
maximum height and wherein each maximum height is different.
11. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the head further
comprises a back side opposite the front face, and wherein the
plurality of rails runs between the front face and the back
side.
12. The golf club according to claim 1, wherein the front face is
angled from about 0.degree. to about 75.degree. as measured from
the shaft.
13. A golf club comprising: A. a handle; B. a shaft connected to
the handle; C. a head connected to the shaft opposite to the
handle, the head comprising: i. a front face for contacting a golf
ball; ii. a top adjacent to the front face; and iii. a bottom
adjacent to the front face, the bottom opposite the top, the bottom
further comprising: a. a bottom surface having a bottom surface
area; and b. from about 4 to about 8 rails protruding from the
bottom surface, wherein each rail has a lower surface area, and
wherein the total of all the rails' lower surface areas is from
about 3% to about 75% of the bottom surface area.
14. A method of reducing chunk shots comprising the step of
swinging a golf club claim 1.
15. A method of reducing chunk shots comprising the step of
swinging a golf club claim 13.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional application claims the benefit under 35
U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) of Application Ser. No. 62/491,396 filed on
Apr. 28, 2017 entitled CHUNK SHOT REDUCTION GOLF CLUB AND METHOD OF
USE THEREFOR, and whose entire disclosure is incorporated by
reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of golf clubs,
and specifically to the field of golf irons and drivers.
BACKGROUND
[0003] In golf, a player holds the golf club in their hands and
swings, typically very quickly, at a stationary golf ball. As a
desirable golf swing is quite fast so as to impart significant
kinetic energy to the golf ball, the player may not always hit the
golf ball in an optimum position and with an optimum launch
angle.
[0004] A golf shot that prematurely hits the ground (or turf,
green, sand, etc.) behind the ball (when looking forward towards
where the ball is intended to go) oftentimes unintentionally digs
out a chunk of dirt/turf, and is commonly-referred to as a "chunk
shot" or a "fat shot" in golf Such a chunk shot is undesirable
because it reduces the speed of the club when it hits the ball
thereby reducing the kinetic energy transmitted to the ball. This
results in the ball traveling significantly less distance than
otherwise possible with a clean shot.
[0005] Also, the launch angle of the ball is often adversely
affected by the dirt/turf carried forward with the club. In some
cases the golf club may twist in the player's hands and thereby
also adversely-affect the launch angle. Such a sub-optimum launch
angle could lead to the golf ball traveling a shorter distance than
desired, and/or in an undesirable direction.
[0006] Such a chunk shot often also leads to undesirable vibrations
traveling up the golf club shaft and to the player's hands and
forearms which may range from annoying to painful. The face may
also twist during such an impact, and lead to the ball being hit in
an undesirable direction. Furthermore, such a chunk shot may be
quite embarrassing to the player as well.
[0007] Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a golf club which
may reduce the incidence and/or severity of chunk shots during golf
games and/or practice. Furthermore, it would be desirable to
provide a method of playing or practicing golf which reduces the
incidence and/or severity of chunk shots.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to a gold club having a
handle, a shaft connected to the handle, and a head connected to
the shaft opposite the handle. The head contains a front face for
hitting a golf ball, a top adjacent to the front face, and a bottom
adjacent to the front face and opposite the top. The bottom
contains a bottom surface and a plurality of rails protruding from
the bottom surface.
[0009] Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed
that the present invention may reduce chunk shots when used by a
player such as a golf player. By "reduce chunk shots" the inventors
mean that the proper use of the golf club may reduce either the
incidence, frequency, and/or severity of chunk shots.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a golf
club of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a partial front view of an embodiment of the
head of an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 shows a partial bottom view of the head in FIG.
2;
[0013] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment
of a rail of the present invention; and
[0014] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of the head of the
present invention as seen from the far end.
[0015] The figures herein are for illustrative purposes only and
are not necessarily drawn to scale.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] All percentages, ratios, etc. herein are by weight, unless
specifically indicated otherwise.
[0017] As used herein, the term "speed" actually indicates the golf
club head's tangential speed at various points in time. While the
inventors recognize that actually this motion is occurring in an
arc, for ease of discussion, this is simplified to be a linear
speed in 1 direction and axis.
[0018] While there are many different reasons for chunk shots, such
as improper balance, twisting during swinging, a low stance, steep
delivery of the club to the ball at impact. etc., the result of all
these underlying reasons is that the golf club hits the ground
prematurely, behind the ball. The inventors believe that the
present invention may reduce the incidence and/or the severity of
chunk shots for some of these underlying reasons; or many of these
underlying reasons; or even regardless of the underlying
reason.
[0019] The present invention relates to an improved golf club
having a handle, a shaft connected to the handle and a head
connected to the shaft opposite the handle. The head contains a
front face for contacting a golf ball, a top adjacent to the front
face, and a bottom adjacent to the front face and opposite the top.
The bottom also contains a bottom surface and a plurality of rails
protruding from the bottom surface. Without intending to be limited
by theory it is believed that such a golf club may help to avoid
and/or reduce the incidence and/or severity of chunk shots as the
rails prevent the full surface of the bottom of the club from
touching the surface. This in turn reduces the friction allowing
the golf club and head to lose less momentum when hitting what
would otherwise be a chunk shot and/or a worse chunk shot. In some
instances, it is believed that the improved golf club herein glides
on the rails over the grass much as an ice skate blade allows an
ice skater to glide over the ice.
[0020] Turning to the figures, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of
an embodiment of a golf club, 10, of the present invention. While
the drawings herein focus on a driver, one skilled in the art
understands that the golf club herein may be a putter, a driver, an
iron, a wedge, and a combination thereof; a driver, an iron, a
wedge, and a combination thereof; or a driver, an iron, or a wedge;
or a driver or an iron. Without intending to be limited by theory,
it is believed that the invention herein is particularly suited to
application of a driver and/or an iron, as these types of golf
clubs are typically swung the fastest and therefore these clubs
benefit the most from the technical aspects of the present
invention.
[0021] The golf club, 10, has a handle, 20, and a shaft, 22, is
connected to the handle, 20. A head, 24, is connected to the shaft,
22, at a location that is opposite to the handle, 20. The head, 24,
contains a front face, 26. The golf player typically holds the golf
club, 10, by the handle, 20, and swings the gold club, 10, so that
the front face, 26, impacts a golf ball (not shown). The front
face, 26, is intended to hit the golf ball so as to impart kinetic
energy thereto and launch the golf ball into the air.
[0022] The head, 24, also contains a top, 28, which is adjacent to
the front face, 26. A bottom, 30, is also adjacent to the front
face, 26, and is opposite to the top, 28. When a player is holding
the club by the handle, 20, in a ready-to-use position, the player
will typically be able to view the top, 28, and maybe the front
face, 26, but not the bottom, 30.
[0023] The handle, shaft, and head of the golf club are made of
typical materials known in the golf club manufacturing art. For
example, the handle may be made of a substance which provides both
vibration protection as well as gripability, such as, for example,
rubber, foam rubber, neoprene, and a combination thereof. The shaft
may be made of, for example, a metal, a polymer, carbon fiber and a
combination thereof or stainless steel, titanium, fiberglass,
plastic, carbon fiber and a combination thereof; or steel,
titanium, carbon fiber and a combination thereof. The head may be
made of, for example, wood, a metal, a polymer, carbon fiber and a
combination thereof; or stainless steel, titanium, fiberglass,
plastic, carbon fiber and a combination thereof; or wood, steel,
titanium, carbon fiber and a combination thereof. Such handle,
shaft, and head materials are standard in the art and are typically
available from multiple manufacturers and suppliers around the
world. Furthermore, the head may be solid, or hollow as desired.
The golf club and the individual parts thereof may be manufactured
by standard methods known in the art.
[0024] FIG. 2 shows a partial front view of an embodiment of the
head, 24, of the present invention. The head, 24, has a front face,
26, and a top, 28, adjacent to the front face, 26. The head, 24,
has a bottom, 30, which is also adjacent to the front face, 26, but
is opposite from the top, 28. The bottom has a bottom surface, 32,
which is typically a flat or curved surface defining the bottom,
30, of the head, 24. In a typical, prior art golf club, such as a
driver, the bottom surface, is typically a convex shape; or a
slightly convex shape, when viewed from below the bottom. In an
embodiment herein, the bottom surface has a convex shape when
viewed from below the bottom.
[0025] The head, 24, also contains a plurality of rails, 34, on the
bottom, 30. Specifically, in FIG. 2, the bottom, 30, contains five
rails, 34, 34', 34'', 34''', and 34''', each having a different
height, h, as measured from the bottom surface, 32. As can be seen,
rail 34, has a height, h, which is smaller than the height, h''',
of rail 34'''. Thus, in an embodiment herein a rail in the
plurality of rails has a different height than another rail in the
plurality of rails; or each rail in the plurality of rails has a
different height than the other rails in the plurality of rails.
The height, h, is measured in the Y direction perpendicular from
the bottom surface to the farthest corresponding point of the rail
(see, for example, the apex at FIG. 4 at 50).
[0026] The plurality of rails may be made of the same material as
the head, or may be made of another material. In an embodiment
herein the rails are made of, or covered by, a low friction
material such as, for example, polytetraflouroethylene (e.g.,
Teflon.TM.), paint, etc. In an embodiment herein, the rail is
integral to the head.
[0027] In an embodiment of the invention, the height, h, is from
about 0.1 mm to about 20 mm; or from about 0.2 mm to about 15 mm;
or from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm as measured from the bottom
surface. In an embodiment herein, the rail is defined to begin at
the point where the convex bottom surface changes to a concave
surface (see FIG. 5 at 52) to begin to form the rail (see FIG. 5).
In an embodiment herein the height of a rail is the maximum height
of that rail.
[0028] In an embodiment herein, the head is hollow; or the head is
hollow, the rail is only on the outside of the head, and the rail
does not penetrate into the hollow area of the head.
[0029] It can also be seen in FIG. 2 that the rail, 34' has a
width, w', as measured in the X direction. Furthermore, rail, 34'',
has a width, w''', which is different from the width, w', of rail
34'. Accordingly, in an embodiment herein, a rail in the plurality
of rails has a different width than another rail in the plurality
of rails; or each rail in the plurality of rails has a different
width than the other rails in the plurality of rails. In FIG. 2,
the width, w, is measured in the X direction from one side of the
rail to the other side of the rail, or perpendicular to the longest
direction of the rail if the rail is not straight in the Z
direction. In an embodiment herein the width is the maximum width
of that rail.
[0030] Without intending to be limited by theory it is believed
that in a perfect shot, the head either barely hits the ground, or
does not hit the ground at all, before the front face of the head
hits the ball. In a perfect shot, the front face then lifts the
ball up and propels it forward at a certain launch angle. However,
in a chunk shot, the head is typically either swung at the wrong
angle, or is swung too low. In either case this results in the head
impacting the ground before contacting the golf ball. The impact
upon the ground then increases the friction and reduces the speed
of the head, which in turn imparts less kinetic energy to the ball
upon impact.
[0031] The inventors sought to reduce or avoid chunk shots, and in
doing so realized that, while there may be different underlying
reasons for a chunk shot, one method to reduce the drop in speed
would be to reduce the friction between the head and the ground.
The inventors therefore added rails to the bottom of the head so as
to reduce the amount of surface area which would contact the
ground. Thus, in swinging the golf club during what would otherwise
be a chunk shot, the plurality of rails will contact the ground
first, and then instead of digging into the ground, the head will
instead glide along the ground on the rails. By raising the bottom
of the head above the ground in this way, the friction will be
reduced, and therefore the speed reduction due to prematurely
hitting the ground will be correspondingly reduced. Without
intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that the
plurality of rails significantly reduce the contact area between
the bottom of the head and the ground, thereby reducing the
friction, and therefore the speed reduction of the golf club
head.
[0032] Accordingly, in an embodiment of the present invention the
plurality of rails contains from about 2 rails to about 15 rails;
or from about 3 rails to about 12 rails; or from about 3 rails to
about 10 rails; or from about 4 rails to about 10 rails. In an
embodiment herein, the rails are evenly spaced across the bottom.
Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed that if
the number of rails is too few, then the rail may simply dig into
the ground like a knife or a blade. However, if the number of rails
is too many, then the rails may have too large a surface area and
the friction will not be sufficiently reduced to maintain the golf
club's speed.
[0033] FIG. 3 shows a partial bottom view of the head, 24, in FIG.
2. The head, 24, is connected to a shaft, 22 and has a front face,
26. The head, 24, has a bottom, 30, and a bottom surface, 32, from
which the rails, 34, protrude. The bottom surface, 32, is either
flat; or more often convex; or slightly convex. The head, further
contains a shaft end, 36, where the shaft, 22, is attached to the
head, and a far end, 38, which is opposite from the shaft end, 36,
and the shaft, 22.
[0034] The rails, 34, herein may have a variety of shapes, either
individually, or as a group. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, it can be
seen that the rail, 34, is a straight rail, while rails 34', 34'',
34''', and 34'''' are all slightly curved. In an embodiment herein
the plurality of rails are selected from the group consisting of a
straight rail, a curved rail, and a combination thereof; or the
plurality of rails comprises a straight rail and a curved rail. In
an embodiment herein, from about 5% to about 100%; or from about
15% to about 90% of the rails are straight rails. In an embodiment
herein, from about 5% to about 100%; or from about 15% to about 90%
of the rails are curved rails. In an embodiment herein, the
curvature of the rails increases (i.e., the radius of the curvature
becomes smaller) towards the far end, as compared to the shaft
end.
[0035] Without intending to be limited by theory, it is believed
that in addition to allowing the head to glide on the surface of
the ground, the rails may also act as a "rudder", guiding an
otherwise errant shot towards the ball. The rails may therefore
help to center the club to where the player intends to swing the
club.
[0036] Therefore, it is believed that a straight rail, especially
at and/or towards the shaft end may improve the trajectory of the
golf club towards the golf ball. However, it is also believed that
if the golf club is swung such that the far end touches the ground,
then a greater golf club trajectory correction may be needed, and
thus it is believed that the rail may be curved, so as to better
adjust the trajectory towards the golf ball. In an embodiment of
the present invention, the plurality of rails contains a curved
rail; or a plurality of curved rails; or from about 2 curved rails
to about 15 curved rails; or from about 3 curved rails to about 12
curved rails; or from about 3 curved rails to about 10 curved
rails; or from about 4 curved rails to about 10 curved rails.
[0037] In FIG. 3 it can also be seen that the head, 24, contains a
back side, 40, opposite the front face, 26. Typically the plurality
of rails will be aligned in the X-Z plane to run between the front
face towards the back side; or in a roughly perpendicular direction
from the front face towards the back side. In an embodiment herein,
each of the plurality of rails is generally parallel to the other
rails.
[0038] The bottom surface has a bottom surface area which is
defined as the entire surface area of the bottom surface, and is
calculated as including the area of the bottom surface that the
rails cover; i.e., meaning that the area where the rails are
attached to the bottom surface is not subtracted from the entire
surface area. Such a surface area may easily be calculated
according to a CAD (computer-aided design) program, even for the
curved surface.
[0039] In an embodiment herein, each of the rails has a rail foot,
42, and each rail foot, 42, has a rail foot surface area. The rail
foot is defined as the portion of the rail which is expected to
touch the ground in a normal chunk shot. Often this rail foot, 42,
will be clearly-defined on each rail, 34 as seen in FIG. 3 where it
is indicated by an abrupt transition from the rail side, 44, to the
rail foot (see also the corresponding portions of FIG. 2). In the
case of a rail having a rounded or other cross-sectional shape (see
FIG. 4), which does not have a sharp transition from the rail side,
44, to the rail foot, 42, then the rail foot surface area is
calculated from 1 mm below the apex (see FIG. 5 at 50) of a first
rail side (see FIG. 5 at 46) of the rail, 34, to 1 mm above the
apex (see FIG. 5 at 50) of the second rail side (see FIG. 5 at 48)
of the rail, 34, and any other rail sides, 44. One skilled in the
art understands that the rail foot surface area may be accurately
determined by using, for example, a CAD program.
[0040] In an embodiment herein, the total of all the rails' rail
foot surface area is from about 3% to about 75% of the bottom
surface area; or from about 5% to about 60% of the bottom surface
area; or from about 10% to about 50%; or from about 15% to about
40% of the bottom surface area. Without intending to be limited by
theory, it is believed that if the total of the rails' rail foot
surface area is too low, then the rails may not sufficiently
perform their function to glide the golf club over the ground, and
the rails will instead cut into the ground like knife blades.
However, if the total of the rails' rail foot surface area is too
high, then the golf club velocity will slow down too much when it
hits the ground.
[0041] FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-sectional view of an embodiment
of a rail, 34. The rail, 34, is protruding from the bottom surface,
32, which in this embodiment is convex. In this figure, the rail,
34, is viewed from the front face (see FIG. 2 at 26), and can be
seen to contain two rail sides, 44. The rail, 34, thus contains a
first rail side, 46, and a second rail side, 48, opposite the first
rail side, 46. The rail, 34, further contains an apex, 50, which is
the point of the rail farthest from the bottom surface, 32. The
rail, 34, contains point A, and point B, which are located on the
first rail side, 46, and the second rail side, 48, respectively.
The points A and B are defined as being a distance, d, above the
apex, 50, as measured in the Y-direction. As defined herein, the
distance, d, is 1 mm, as it is believed that when the invention
works as intended, the rail will only enter the ground up to about
1 mm, and will afterwards cause the club to glide over the ground.
Therefore, in FIG. 4, only the rail foot surface area corresponding
to the distance between points A and B would be relevant to causing
friction and therefore the potential speed reduction of the golf
club.
[0042] In FIG. 4, the rail foot surface area (see above with
respect to FIG. 3) is therefore calculated taking into account the
distance from point A to point B. Furthermore, one skilled in the
art understands that point A and point B are only points as
indicated in FIG. 5. In reality with a 3D shape, these points,
actually each define a line, which may be either a curved or
straight line, depending on the shape of the rail, 34, and the
respective location of the apex, 50, with respect to any given
point on the rail, 34. Again, while such calculations may be
relatively difficult, they may be easily calculated using a CAD
program.
[0043] Furthermore, FIG. 4 shows that the rail, 34, may not have a
sharp transition from the bottom surface, 32. Instead, in this
embodiment, the rail, 34, is smoothly molded into the bottom
surface, 32. Therefore, the rail, 34, begins at the point where the
convex bottom surface, 32, changes to a concave surface, 52, to
form the rail, 34. In the case where the rail does not have a flat
rail foot, and where the height, h, is less than 1 mm (i.e., where
d is greater than h) and therefore points A and B in FIG. 4 would
be inside of the bottom surface, then then the rail foot surface
area is calculated according to the distance from each of the
concave surfaces.
[0044] FIG. 5 shows a side view of an embodiment of the head, 24,
as seen from the far end, 38. The shaft end, 36, is opposite the
far end, 38. It can be seen that the front face, 26, is connected
to the top, 28, and that the front face, 26, is angled with respect
to the shaft, 22, with an angle, .alpha.. The angle, .alpha., is
measured above the head, 24, from the long axis, LA, of the shaft,
22, to the face plane, FP, formed by the front face, 26. In an
embodiment herein, the angle, .alpha., is from about 0.degree. to
about 75.degree., or from about 5.degree. to about 65.degree., or
from about 10.degree. to about 50.degree.. As one skilled in the
art understands, typically a driver would contain a smaller angle;
or an angle of from about 15.degree. to about 35.degree.; or about
20.degree., about 24.degree., about 26.degree., about 28.degree.,
about 30.degree., or about 32.degree.. An iron useful herein would
typically contain an angle of from about 10.degree. to about
60.degree., and a wedge useful herein would typically contain an
angle of from about 35.degree. to about 75.degree..
[0045] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the rail, 34 is an arch-shaped
rail. Accordingly, one skilled in the art understands that the
height of the rail varies across different parts of the rail.
Accordingly, when discussing the "height" herein with respect to
the rail, for the ease of understanding the inventors typically
mean the maximum height, which is, for any particular rail, the
maximum perpendicular distance that the apex, and/or rail foot is
from the bottom surface.
[0046] In an embodiment herein the height of a rail varies within
the same rail.
[0047] In an embodiment herein the height of each rail varies
within the same rail.
[0048] In an embodiment herein, each rail has a maximum height.
[0049] In an embodiment herein, the maximum height of each rail is
different; or each maximum height is different.
[0050] Accordingly, in an embodiment herein, the maximum height is
from about 0.1 mm to about 20 mm; or from about 0.2 mm to about 15
mm; or from about 0.3 mm to about 10 mm, as measured in the Y
direction, from the bottom surface.
[0051] Also as can be seen in FIG. 5, the maximum heights of the
rails may vary from rail to rail. Without intending to be limited
by theory, it is believed that such a feature improves the
flexibility and usefulness of the club in that it allows a single
golf club design to be used by multiple players, each of whom may
possess a different underlying reason for their chunk shots.
[0052] The golf club herein is used in the same manner as a regular
golf club. When doing so, it is believed that a golf player may
reduce the incidence of chunk shots and/or the severity of a chunk
shot by swinging; or using; or playing with; or practicing with; a
golf club as described herein.
[0053] Some embodiments of the present invention include:
[0054] The embodiment according to FIG. 2, having a rail foot
surface area of about 27% of the bottom surface area, having 5
rails, and a rail height ranging from about 1 mm to about 3 mm.
[0055] 1. A golf club having: [0056] A. a handle; [0057] B. a shaft
connected to the handle; [0058] C. a head connected to the shaft
opposite to the handle, the head having: [0059] i. a front face for
contacting a golf ball; [0060] ii. a top adjacent to the front
face; and [0061] iii. a bottom adjacent to the front face, the
bottom opposite the top, the bottom further having: [0062] a. a
bottom surface; and [0063] b. a plurality of rails protruding from
the bottom surface. [0064] 2. The golf club according to embodiment
1, wherein the golf club is selected from the group of a driver, an
iron, a wedge, and a combination thereof. [0065] 3. The golf club
according to any one of the above embodiments, wherein the
plurality of rails has from about 2 to about 15 rails; or from
about 3 to about 10 rails; or from about 4 to about 8 rails. [0066]
4. The gold club according to any one of the above embodiments,
wherein the bottom surface has a bottom surface area, wherein each
rail has a rail foot surface area, and wherein the total of all the
rails' rail foot surface areas is from about 3% to about 75% of the
bottom surface area; or from about 5% to about 50% of the bottom
surface area; or from about 10% to about 45% of the bottom surface
area. [0067] 5. The golf club according to any one of the above
embodiments, wherein each rail has a height, and wherein the height
is from about 1 mm to about 20 mm; or from about 2 mm to about 15
mm; or from about 3 mm to about 10 mm. [0068] 6. The golf club
according to any one of the above embodiments, having a curved
rail. [0069] 7. The golf club according to any one of the above
embodiments, having a straight rail. [0070] 8. The golf club
according to Embodiment 5, wherein the height of the rail varies
within the same rail. [0071] 9. The golf club according to
Embodiment 8, wherein the height of each rail varies within the
same rail. [0072] 10. The golf club according to Embodiment 10,
wherein each rail has a maximum height and wherein each maximum
height is different. [0073] 11. The golf club according to any one
of the above embodiments, wherein the head further has a back side
opposite the front face, and wherein the plurality of rails runs
between the front face and the back side. [0074] 12. The golf club
according to any one of the above embodiments wherein the front
face is angled from about 0.degree. to about 75.degree. as measured
from the shaft. [0075] 13. A golf club having: [0076] A. a handle;
[0077] B. a shaft connected to the handle; [0078] C. a head
connected to the shaft opposite to the handle, the head having:
[0079] i. a front face for contacting a golf ball; [0080] ii. a top
adjacent to the front face; and [0081] iii. a bottom adjacent to
the front face, the bottom opposite the top, the bottom further
having: [0082] a. a bottom surface having a bottom surface area;
and [0083] b. from about 4 to about 8 rails protruding from the
bottom surface, wherein each rail has a lower surface area, and
[0084] wherein the total of all the rails' lower surface areas is
from about 3% to about 75% of the bottom surface area. [0085] 14. A
method of reducing chunk shots by swinging a golf club according to
any one of the above embodiments.
[0086] It should be understood that the above only illustrates and
describes examples whereby the present invention may be carried
out, and that modifications and/or alterations may be made thereto
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0087] It should also be understood that certain features of the
invention, which are, for clarity, described in the context of
separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a
single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the invention
which are, for brevity, described in the context of a single
embodiment, may also be provided separately, or in any suitable
subcombination.
[0088] All references specifically cited herein are hereby
incorporated by reference in their entireties. However, the
citation or incorporation of such a reference is not necessarily an
admission as to its appropriateness, citability, and/or
availability as prior art to/against the present invention.
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