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Composite golf club hosels and methods of use thereof

Composite golf club hosels and methods of use thereof description/claims

The present invention relates generally to golf equipment and, in particular, to drivers, fairway woods, hybrid irons, and other golf clubs.

Over the past several years, golf club designers have attempted to improve drivers, fairway woods, hybrid irons, and other golf clubs by, for example, lowering the center of gravity and increasing the moment of inertia of such clubs (e.g., via increasing head size), while maintaining and/or reducing the weight of such clubs. As head size increases, however, less material is available for fabricating the face, crown, sole, and/or skirt of the club head, while maintaining the club head within acceptable weight limitations (e.g., around 200 grams of mass) as specified by golf ruling bodies.

Accordingly, a need exists for methods of increasing the head size of golf club heads, such as drivers, fairway woods, hybrid irons, and other golf clubs, while maintaining such clubs within acceptable weight limitations. In addition, a need exists for improved methods of lowering and/or adjusting the center of gravity of such golf clubs, while maintaining and/or reducing the total weight of such clubs. Similar needs also exist for golf clubs and golf club heads having such characteristics.

FIG. 1 is a front elevated view of an example golf club head according to an embodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front view of another example golf club head.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an exemplary stabilizing insert associated with the example golf club head of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top view of another exemplary stabilizing insert.

FIG. 7 is a front view of another example golf club head according to an embodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein.

FIG. 8 is a flow chart for a method of manufacturing a golf club head described herein.

The following will describe in detail several embodiments in which like references designate like elements. These embodiments are provided by way of explanation only, and thus, should not unduly restrict the scope of the invention. The present specification and the present drawings teach many variations and modifications, and numerous variations may be employed, used, and made without departing from the scope and spirit of the exemplary embodiments.

According to a first embodiment, a golf club is provided which comprises a golf club shaft and a golf club head, which comprises a hollow body having a heel end, a toe end, a front wall, a sole, a crown, and a hosel at the heel end for receiving the golf club shaft. The hosel is at least partially comprised of a composite material. According to another embodiment, an iron-type golf club head is provided, which comprises a golf club shaft and a golf club head, which comprises a heel end, a toe end, and a front wall. The heel end comprises a hosel for receiving the golf club shaft, and the hosel is at least partially comprised of a composite material. In these embodiments, the center of gravity of the golf club head can be lowered or otherwise adjusted, and the head size of such golf clubs may be increased, while maintaining and/or reducing the total weight thereof.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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