A tubular metal blank for the production of golf club shafts for iron clubs, the blank being at least 44" in length, having a cylindrical tip portion, a cylindrical butt portion, and an intermediate, integral, tapering portion, remaining parameters of the blank including the material, the taper angle, the length of the intermediate portion, and the wall thickness being so chosen as to produce a blank of a stiffness characteristic such that by appropriate trimming of the butt and tip portions of the blank, the blank can be used to produce a shaft for any golf club from a 1 iron to a sand wedge in any of the recognized flex ranges Tour Stiff, S, R and A. There is also disclosed a method of producing a golf club shaft and a means of determining how much to cut from the blank to produce a shaft.
The present invention relates to methods for optimizing the flexibility of each shaft comprised in a set of golf clubs. In general, based on a golfer's estimated swing speed, skill level and/or other relevant factors, an appropriate category of golf club shafts is selected. Each category of golf club shafts employ a unique range of shaft flexibility. The range of flexibility exhibited by categories of golf club shafts optimized for golfers with relatively higher swing speeds is greater than the range of flexibility exhibited by categories of golf club shafts optimized for golfers with relatively slower swing speeds. Similarly, the range of flexibility exhibited by categories of golf club shafts optimized for golfers of relatively higher skill levels is greater than the range of flexibility exhibited by categories of golf club shafts optimized for golfers of relatively lower skill levels.
A damping element for a golf club is disclosed. The damping element is utilized to reduce an amplitude of vibrations in the golf club. The damping element may be positioned within an interior void of a shaft of the golf club and may exhibit a shape that corresponds with a shape of the void within the shaft. The damping element may exhibit an elongate configuration that extends along at least a portion of the shaft, and the damping element may have the configuration of either a fluid-filled chamber or a foam structure.
A golf club shaft, set of shafts, or golf clubs having shafts which have been produced by a process that includes a hydroforming step. By utilizing a hydroforming step, a metal or metal matrix composite golf club shaft can be formed into a variety of configurations or shapes heretofore not possible and can include hydroformed ornamental design features. The hydroformed shafts offer enhanced club feel and/or performance.
A method for altering a golf club shaft by removing less than five grams of metal from an interior wall surface in a flex zone. This is performed without penetrating through an exterior wall surface of the shaft.
Method for preparing a golf club shaft, set of shafts, or golf clubs having shafts which have been produced by a process that includes a hydroforming step. By utilizing a hydroforming prosses step, a metal or metal matrix composite golf club shaft can be formed into a variety of configurations or shapes heretofore not possible and can include hydroformed ornamental design features.
