Do Golfers Need More Driver Adjustability?

When is too much of a good thing a bad thing, and has adjustability hit this threshold? The reason I ask is because Nike had an interesting patent application publish this week directed to an “adjustable ball striking face.” The application published as US Pub. No. 20110207552 and describes the invention as…. Any chance this design will ever make it to the market? Looks like a bunch of heavy components to me…..

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Chalk One Up for the USGA

Remember all the press coverage the USGA got when they developed a simple procedure to test whether grooves conform to the new rules? OK, it wasn’t a lot of press but I do remember some. Well, someone at the USGA was smart enough to say “hey, maybe we should patent this!” They did. Last week the USGA was granted USPN 8,000,517 titled “Test Procedure for Measuring the Geometric Features of a Golf Club Face.” The patent describes the invention as…. See, contrary to most media reporting, there are some smart folks at the USGA!

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Is This the Look of Iron Faces in the Future?

Bridgestone R&D seems to be at the forefront at generating design concepts to ensure their clubs don’t lose any spin generating capacity in light of the new groove regulations. In fact, over the years I have specifically covered a few of their face texturing designs (HERE and HERE) and groove designs. Last week Bridgestone was issued a design patent unlike any of their prior face texturing work….. Now this is one clubface that could absolutely shred the cover of a golf ball…..

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Augusta National Throws the Book at Game Maker

It has been over 4 years since I wrote about the impressive trademark portfolio of Augusta National. Boy how time flies. Augusta National recently used their trademark portfolio to allege trademark infringement, trade dress infringement, promissory estoppel, statutory deceptive trade practices and unfair competition against CustomPlay Games Ltd., Red Chain Games Ltd. and Dean Baker. The Complaint was filed in the District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. Let’s examine the allegations….

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The First Look at the New PING i20 Irons?

The following drawings come from a Karsten design patent that issued today. The associated application was just filed on March 15th, at least two months after the G20 and Anser wedge design applications were filed. Sure, I suppose this could be a new women’s iron, but the amount of offset and sole width seem more inline with the i-series, and the drawings suggest a recess for a toe weight insert. Plus, it looks consistent with the grainy TV screen-shots captured over at GolfWRX. Who knows, this could the first clear look at the i20!….

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Carnival Game or Swing Trainer? You Be The Judge

Recall those great old “test your strength” carnival games that have you swing a sledge hammer as hard as possible in an effort to project a weight vertically, hopefully out of the “sissy” zone, and possibly ring a bell? If not, and you need a good laugh, watch this 15 second video (it is worth it). Well, if you like those games then you will love this golf related invention…. OK, who wants to hit their new custom fit driver with “special upgrade” shaft at this thing?….

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Sir, Is That Your Balls I Smell?

Srixon players may be faced with that question in the future. Almost four years ago I posted about “odorant golf balls” and the impressive list of possible scents included in the associated patent application. It must be an idea that SRI has been considering as well because this week they had a patent application publish as US Pub. No. 20110190077 titled “Golf Ball,” which describes the invention as…. So, do you think a scented ball would improve your scores? I doubt it but just in case…. sign me up for a few dozen in the pineapple scent!….

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Can A Golf Shirt Help You Play Better?

I don’t know if a golf shirt can help you play better, but a poor fitting golf shirt can definitely assist you in posting a big number (at least that is one of the excuses that I occasionally pull out). In the past I have covered some golf shirt technology and suggested that it may become the next Olympic swimsuit controversy. Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you an interesting Nike patent that recently issued as USPN 7,934,267 titled “Articles of Apparel Providing Enhanced Body Position Feedback.”…. I am not sure I like the sound of “enhanced stimulation of nerves, joint mechanorecptors, and/or deep tissue receptors at the selected parts of the body,” but I would pay a lot for a shirt that can prevent me from chunking a wedge at 100 yards in the middle of the fairway!….

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How Do You Sell More Golf Balls? Get Golfers to Replace Them More Often, Of Course

Have you ever had an issue with determining whether you should replace your golf ball or not? I can’t say that I have ever had this problem, but perhaps I am the exception since my golf balls are always landing softly in the middle of the fairway about 300 yards out or are landing within ten feet of the pin; never hitting trees, cart paths, or a poorly placed clubhouse. If this is an issue for you then a golf ball invention that is disclosed in a patent application that recently published as US Pub. No. 20110177883 titled “Golf Ball Wear Indicator” may be just what you need to lower your score….. A solution to a problem that I didn’t know existed. Kudos…..

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