Can a Golf Club Trick a Golfer into Hitting a Good Drive?

The application explains:

[0023] Less skilled or high handicap golfers (e.g. a player that has a higher number as their “handicap” according to the well known handicapping system of rating golfers based upon their play and scores) typically have swing tendencies that differ from the preferred methods and mechanics of swinging of golf club to achieve preferred and optimal performance and results. A less skilled or high handicap golfer’s swing and play may be distinguished from the play of a professional golfer or other golfers that may perform swings in a preferred manner. For example, less skilled golfers may often hit the golf ball on the toe end 130 of the hitting surface 125 of the front surface 120 of the golf club head rather than in the center or the “sweet spot” of the golf club head 100. For example, most golfers hit a golf ball a half inch further towards the toe end 130 of the golf club head than compared to where the ball was initially positioned during alignment. As such, performance may suffer as the golf ball will not travel with a desired distance of travel and/or path of travel. Less skilled golfers are sometimes unaware of this swing tendency or unable to fix this swing tendency as golfers typically begin a golf swing with the golf ball aligned between the toe end 130 and heel end 150 of the front surface 120 of the golf club head in a generally centrally located position in the “sweet spot.” (See e.g., FIG. 2) However, because of several swing traits and tendencies of the high handicap golfer, despite being centered and aligned at the beginning of the golf swing, when the less skilled golfer strikes the golf ball the ball will not be in the same position relative to the golf club head as it was at the beginning of the golf swing when the golfer was in the addressing state. Some illustrative causes of this varied orientation and position are discussed further below with respect to FIGS. 3A-4B.

[0024] Generally, most golfers start with an alignment in which the golf ball is centered on the golf club head as it is a common human tendency to line things up in the center of objects. One reason for centering such an alignment is a belief that this alignment will minimize errors and miss hits. Accordingly, golfers often align the center of the face or hitting surface 125 of the golf club with the ball in a center alignment. However, as a result of shaft droop and/or improper swing path from outside to inside, it is common for golfers to have a strike point with the golf ball that is more towards the toe that their original centered alignment. For instance, a golfer may strike a golf ball at a strike point on the golf club that is 1/4 to 1/2 inch further toward the toe end 130 than its original alignment position. While the degree of variance may change from golfer to golfer including variances of less than 1/4 inch or more than 1/2 inch, many golfers will exhibit some general tendency to hit the ball such that the ball is contacting the face or front surface 120 of the golf club head further towards the toe end 130 than where the golfer was originally intending as demonstrated by the alignment when the golfer addressed the golf ball before his swing. Accordingly, it is preferred that golfers start with an alignment in which the ball is positioned on the heel end 150 side of center and then the golf ball will then be centered on the front surface 120 of the golf club head 100 when the golfer strikes the ball during his shot. However, as described, such an alignment is unnatural based on human natural tendencies since the alignment is and appears off-center. As such, the golf club head 100 and the method described herein assist in overcoming the described human tendency.
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[0031] FIG. 3B is an illustrative top plan view of a similar golf club head and swing paths including an illustrative backswing and downswing. However, FIG. 3B is varied from FIG. 3A in that the golfer that aligned the golf club head 100 was aligned in an addressing state in a distinct manner. For example, as is apparent from FIGS. 3A-3B, the golf ball’s position relative to the golf club head 100 has varied from the initial or addressing state (201I) to the final or striking state (201F). In FIG. 3A, the golf ball is shown as having its relative positioning being varied from an initial state 201I that may be characterized as being centered relative to the hitting surface 125 and generally centered between the toe end 130 and the heel end 150 of the golf club head 100. Accordingly, based upon the swing tendencies a high handicap golfer that begins with the golf ball in the addressing state 201I being centered is likely to strike the golf ball in an off-center positioning (e.g. more toward toe end 130) relative to the golf club head (201F) as shown in FIG. 3A. Thus, especially for high handicap or less skilled golfers, it may be advantageous to have an addressing state that more closely resembles the alignment shown in FIG. 3B. As shown, the golf ball in the initial state 201I is aligned closer to the heel end 150 of the golf club head than to the toe end 130 of the golf club head. As will be discussed in more detail later, this askew alignment is somewhat unnatural and contrary to a typical golfer’s “believed” preferred alignment for preparing and aligning to perform golf shots according to a preferred manner.

[0032] It is common and well known in golf that a preferred golf shot may be performed when the golf ball is struck with the golf club such that the ball is contacted by the hitting surface 125 in a central or “sweet spot” region so as to optimize distance and control and to minimize undesirable spin and misdirection that may occur if the golf ball is struck by the hitting surface outside of the central region or “sweet spot.” Accordingly, golfers generally are taught when they first take up the game of golf that they should place the golf ball at a centered position with respect to the golf club head in an addressing state with the golf ball since it is desirable to strike the golf ball with the golf club head 100 such that the golf ball is in the center of the club head. By placing the golf ball generally centered between the toe end 130 and heel end 150 of the golf club head, the ball will be centered after the golf swing if the golfer performs a backswing and a downswing and thereby returns the golf club head 100 to the same position a
nd orientation as where the golf club head 100 started in the addressing state. However, many golfers including high handicap golfers generally do not return the club head to the same positioning as the addressing position as a result of their swing motions and paths as compared to a preferred manner or “true” swing a golf club. Typically the ball is closer to the toe end 130 than the heel end 150 when the golfer is striking the ball than the ball was when the golf club head was positioned near the golf ball and aligned in the addressing state. Stated another way, many golfers especially including high handicap golfers move the golf club from the addressing state through the backswing and then back through the downswing to return the golf club head to a position shifted further heelward or further toward the heel end plane 250 than the golf club head was originally placed in an addressing state.
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[0036] Many aspects of golf include a “feel” aspect which requires golfer touch, comfort, and confidence for that aspect to be performed according to preferred techniques and manners. For example, golfers may align a golf ball in the center of the golf club head 100 in the addressing state even if they are aware of their tendency to hit the golf ball 201 on the toe end 130 of the golf club head 100 because aligning the golf ball 201 so as to be off-center on a conventional golf club head does not “feel” good or correct. Alternatively, many golfers especially including golfers that play fairly infrequently may be helped by a reminder of a preferred alignment for their particular swing type or manner. This reminder may serve as a visual reminder and also as a visual aide for an initial alignment of the golf club head 100 relative to the golf ball 201.

[0037] FIGS. 5A-5D illustratively depict top, toe end, heel end and front views respectively of a golf club head with a top surface formed to create a visual impression of a varied golf club head to assist in alignment. As shown, the golf club head 100 may be considered as having an actual profile which is the profile formed by the entirety of the body of the golf club head when viewed from the top view as shown in FIG. 1A (as well as FIG. 3A, 5A, etc.). However, the golf club head 100 illustratively shown in FIGS. 5A-5D is configured such that the golf club head 100 creates the visible impression to a golfer using the golf club 199 and viewing the golf club head 100 in an addressing state (FIG. 2) that the golf club head 100 has a varied size and/or shape as compared to the actual size and shape of the golf club head. Depending upon where the golfer focuses his or her view, the golf club head 100 has a plurality of varied profiles.

[0038] For example, in FIGS. 5A-5D top surface 110 includes actual top surface visible profile region 510 and a varied top surface visible profile region 520. The varied top surface visible profile region 520 is a region of the top surface of the golf club head 100 that is formed so as to create the visual impression of the complete top surface of a golf club head distinct from the actual top surface 110 of the golf club head. The varied top surface visible profile region 520 here is illustratively shaded in a distinct manner from the remainder of the top surface of the golf club head to designate the distinct appearance including distinct material, texture, surface ornamentation and other manners of creating a distinct visual appearance. The varied top surface visible profile region 520 is shaped and configured to appear to be a complete top surface of a golf club head such that when the golfer is in the addressing state the golfer will “feel” as if varied top surface visible profile region 520 forms the entirety of the golf club head that is being swung. As a result of this feel, the golfer may position the golf club 199 and in particular the golf club head 100 such that the varied top surface visible profile region 520 is aligned with the golf ball 201I in the addressing state. In particular, the golfer will position the golf club such that varied top surface visible profile region 520 is aligned with the golf ball 201I with the golf ball 201I sitting centered between the toe end 523 and the heel end 525 of the varied top surface visible profile region 520. As such, the golfer will mimic a typical alignment of a golf club head with the golf ball 201I in a similar fashion as golfers are traditionally taught by focusing on the varied top surface visible profile region 520 as if it was the entirety of the golf club head 100 for alignment purposes. Accordingly, the golf ball 201I will sit centered with respect to the varied top surface visible profile region 520 but accordingly the golf ball 201I will sit slightly heelward of the center of the golf club head in alignment and positioning as has been described above. In such an arrangement the golfer will be able to properly align the golf ball closer to heel end 150 of the golf club head 100 such that when the golfer swings and strikes the ball the alignment of the golf ball with the golf club head will be centered. By configuring a golf club head with a varied top surface visible profile region 520, the desired alignment characteristics may be accomplished while still maintaining the proper “feel” to the golfer that the golf ball 201I is centered relative to the “believed” golf club head. As such a visual impression is created that assists the golfer in alignment of the golf ball in an addressing state in light of the variances that typically occur in the position and orientation of the golf club head between the initial addressing state and the final striking state of the golf club head 100.

[0039] Because the varied top surface visible profile region 520 is shown in FIGS. 5A-5D to be a portion of the top surface 110 of the golf club head less than the entirety of the top surface 110 of the golf club head, an actual top surface visible profile region 510 is also apparent in FIGS. 5A-5D. The top surface 110 also includes an actual top surface visible profile region 510 which in this configuration bounds the varied top surface visible profile region 520 on the varied toe end 523 as well as on the varied rear end 524. Additionally, varied front surface 522 forms the heelward most portion of the front surface 120. As viewed from the perspective of a golfer in the addressing state of FIG. 2, the actual top surface visible profile region 510 in this particular arrangement may be described as having a generally crescent shape. In certain configurations the actual top surface visible profile region 510 may be crescent shaped when the varied top surface visible profile region 520 is utilized with a generally rounded golf club head. This shape may be further utilized to facilitate the visual impression of the top surface being two distinct golf clubs as described. However, depending on the particular configuration of the varied top surface visible profile region 520 and the actual shape of the top surface 100 of the golf club head, the actual top surface visible profile region 510 may take on a number of varied regular and irregular shapes.

[0040] FIGS. 6A-6D illustrate several arrangements of a golf club head 100 configured to create a visual impression of a varied top surface profile when viewed by a golfer in an addressing position. The golf club head(s) 100 illustratively shown in FIGS. 6A-6D are formed to assist in preferred alignment of the golf club head relative to the golf ball in an addressing state so that a golfer with particular swing tendencies will strike the golf ball with the golf club head 100 in a preferred position and orientation relative to the golf ball, e.g. such that the ball is centered relative to the golf club head and the golf strikes the golf ball in a “sweet spot” region. In doing so the golfer is more likely to achieve preferred shot characteristics including preferred distance, direction, spin, shaping and various other characteristics as is know
n to be desirable in the game of golf.

[0041] FIGS. 6A-6D illustratively depict a square wood-type golf club head, a rounded shaped wood-type golf club head, a hybrid golf club head, and a golf club head for a putter. As may be noted, a hybrid golf club head may also generally be referred to as a type of wood-type golf club. In FIG. 6A, the square wood-type golf club head 100 (e.g. a driver or 3-wood etc.) includes a square shaped varied top surface visible profile region 520 that is substantially similar in shape to the actual profile of the top surface 110 of the golf club head 100. The actual profile and the varied top surface visible profile region 520 are complementary in shape and appearance in the arrangement of FIG. 6A. This complementary appearance may further facilitate the desired visual impression since the golfer will have a consistent “feel” in viewing the actual profile formed by top surface 110 and the profile formed by the varied top surface visible profile region 520 as the distinction between these two profiles is the size of the golf club head 100 or “believed” golf club head 520. Accordingly, the golfer’s eye will be drawn to the varied top surface visible profile region 520 and the golf ball 201 may sit aligned so as to be askew and heelward of center of the hitting surface 125 of the golf club head. However, the golfer will still feel as if the alignment is centered with respect to the varied top surface visible profile region 520. Accordingly, golf club head 100 in the depicted configuration facilitates alignment in an addressing state without causing the golfer to have the “feel” of having the ball initially positioned “off-center” as the golfer’s eye will view the varied top surface visible profile region 520 and its relative position with respect to the ball in the addressing state. This visual impression causes the golfer to feel as if the golf club is aligned such the ball is centered. Such a “feel` is accomplished because the golfer’s eyes and field of view generally sees a golf ball centered relative to a golf club head even thought the golf club head is actually an “apparent golf club head” as a result of the varied top surface visible profile region 520.

[0042] FIG. 6B illustratively demonstrates another arrangement of a golf club head including a further configuration of the varied top surface visible profile region 520. Here, the golf club head 100 is a rounded wood-type golf club head. In this configuration the actual profile of the top surface of the golf club head and the varied top surface visible profile region 520 may be described as having outer perimeter shapes that vary. Distinct from the configuration illustratively shown in FIG. 6A, the actual profile and the varied top surface visible profile region 520 have differing overall shapes. For example, a golf club head 100 with a rounded shape may house a varied top surface visible profile region 520 that may be rectangular or square in shape. Alternatively, a golf club head 100 with a square shape may house a round shaped varied top surface visible profile region 520. Numerous configurations with various combinations of shapes may be utilized consistent with the teachings described herein.

[0043] Additionally, FIG. 6B also illustrates that in certain configurations the varied top surface visible profile region 520 and the actual top surface visible profile region 510 have varying appearances as a result of varied material, finish, coloration, surface ornamentation, texture, and related techniques and manners as are known. In particular, FIG. 6B illustratively depicts the actual top surface visible profile region 510 (a portion of the actual profile not forming part of the varied top surface visible profile region 520) as having a matte or non-glossy finish while the varied top surface visible profile region 520 is illustratively shown as being a glossy finish. Likewise, the varied top surface visible profile region 520 can also be made of transparent, translucent, or reflective material to provide a varied visual appearance compared to the appearance of the actual top surface visible profile region 510.

[0044] FIG. 6C illustrates the converse regarding the appearance and configuration of the actual top surface visible profile region 510 and the appearance of the varied top surface visible profile region 520 of the top surface 110 of the golf club head. Specifically, the varied top surface visible profile region 520 of the hybrid type golf club head 100 is shown as illustratively having a matte finish while the actual top surface visible profile region 510 has a glossy or shiny finish. While contrasts in shading (stipple and line shading) is used in these two figures (i.e. FIGS. 6B and 6C) to illustratively represent a contrast in appearance, similar shading in other figures should not be assumed to represent such appearance. For example, FIGS. 6A and 6D include stipple shading similar to that as shown in FIGS. 6C and 6B. However, use of the varied shading is merely used to illustrate a contrast in appearance between the actual top surface visible profile region 510 and the varied top surface visible profile region 520 and the figures as a whole should be broadly viewed such that the contrast in appearance may be accomplished as a result of using a variety of materials, finishes, colorations, surface ornamentations, textures, and related techniques and manners to show an contrast of appearance depending on the particular configuration.

[0045] FIG. 6D illustratively depicts a golf club head with an actual top surface visible profile region 510 and a varied top surface visible profile region 520. The golf club head of FIG. 6D, like the arrangement of FIG. 6A, includes an actual profile and varied top surface visible profile region 520 complementary in shape. Here the actual profile formed by top surface 110 and the varied top surface visible profile region 520 are substantially similar in shape and vary mainly in a size aspect. Again, the complementary shape aspects of the varied top surface visible profile region 520 complementary to the actual top surface profile of the golf club head 100 as depicted further facilitates the visual impression of the varied top surface visible profile region 520 being the entirety of the golf club head 100 when viewed in a desired manner by the golfer in the addressing position such as the position of FIG. 2. As illustratively demonstrated in FIG. 6D, the golf club head 100 may also include an alignment aide 610 that facilitates the user in identifying the center of the actual golf club head. As such, the golf club head 100 in the arrangement of FIG. 6D includes an alignment aide 610 configured to assist a golfer desiring to address the ball such that the golf ball sits centered with respect to the actual golf club head. Additionally, the same golf club head includes a varied top surface visible profile region 520 positioned to assist the golfer in aligning the golf club head in the addressing state such that when the golf ball is aligned with the varied top surface visible profile region 520 the ball is positioned in a preferred location for the golfer to strike the golf ball after swinging with the golf ball being in the center of the golf club head or the “sweet spot.” Accordingly, the golf club head facilitates a plurality of alignments, a centered alignment such as a traditional addressing alignment as well as an askew alignment based upon the location of the varied top surface visible profile region 520 that facilitates proper alignment when the golf ball is struck during the golfer’s swing. As such, the golfer may vary his or her alignment between shots depending upon play in that round and other varied factors.

[0046] As is apparent, each of the configurations of the golf club heads depicted in FIGS. 6A-6D provide a visual impression in which the single hose 180 and shaft 190 appear to serve as a hosel and shaft of two distinctly appearing golf club heads, one being smaller in size compared to the other. Accordingly, depending what portion of the golf club he
ad the golfer focuses his eyes, one of the two varied golf club heads is the predominantly visible golf club head. As such, a golf club head configured with varied top surface visible profile region 520 is able to provide an alignment aide for aligning the golf club head relative to the golf ball to specifically accommodate unique characteristics and tendencies of the golfer’s swing while maintaining the golfer’s feel. Likewise, the golfer will not have to guess first as to where the center of the golf club head is and then guess as to how far off center (and closer to the end heel end 150) the golf ball needs to be when the golf club is placed in the addressing position. Instead, the golf club head is formed and constructed to take into account the golfer’s natural swing tendencies, shaft droop or other factors that cause the location of the ball relative to the club to shift from the addressing state to the final striking state and provide alignment assistance accordingly. The golfer can merely address the golf ball such that the golf ball is aligned with the varied top surface visible profile region 520 (for example with the center of this region or with a further alignment aide in this region as will be discussed later) that has been configured to take varied swing tendencies and characteristics into account. As such, the golfer may reliably align the golf ball based upon the position of the varied top surface visible profile region 520.

I could see that actually helping a newbie! Congratulations.