Did you catch this week’s Golf Digest article regarding rumors that the USGA and R&A will be officially adopting a previously proposed rule that would allow for greater club head adjustability? If not, check it out.

The article got me thinking about the early innovators of adjustable golf club heads. There are so many degrees of club head adjustability (loft, lie, shaft length, and on, and on, and on) that I must limit this post to just one… loft.

The USPTO conveniently places all the patents directed to loft adjustability in a single class (473/245). I was surprised to find only 65 patents have been assigned to this class since 1790!

The earliest patent directed to loft adjustability is USPN 569438, which issued in 1896. Check out these drawings from this patent.

Something tells me that the weight and balance of this club are noticeably different than our modern irons.

Now, on the opposite end of the spectrum… the most recent patent in this class is USPN 7204765, which issued on April 17, 2007. Check out this figure from the patent illustrating how complex adjustability can be.

Stay tuned for more posts on golf club head adjustability patents.

Dave Dawsey - The Adjustable Patent Lawyer

PS – You can learn about Acushnet’s recent COR adjustability patent here

PPS – If you want to see all 65 patents related to loft adjustability simple click here enter ccl/473/245 in the Query field and select “1790 to present” from the Select Years pull-down… and hit the Search button