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Golf Inventions, Patents, and Technology via The IP Golf Guy (aka The Golf Patent Attorney)
The New Look of Callaway Drivers?
Callaway Golf was granted a design patent today on a hosel design. Could it be a glimpse into the future?.... Distinctly different. Now I want to know “the rest of the story," which must be an aerodynamics pitch....<< MORE >>
Do Golf Clubs Wear Out?
Probably, but do golf clubs wear out due to the wear and tear of an average avid golfer? I wonder. Either way, it sounds like an interesting new marketing spin to get golfers to replace their equipment more often. Kudos Nike Golf! This week they had a patent application publish as US Pub. No. 20110070963 titled “Golf Club Head Wear Indicator.”.... Interesting idea, but I am not sure it is a compelling selling point....<< MORE >>
Will This Nike Putter Make it to the Market?
My guess is no (seems a bit gimmicky for their putter line, although clearly not without merit), but you never know since they did go through the effort of obtaining a utility patent. The patent issued last week as USPN 7,905,792 titled “Adjustable Putter Alignment Aide”....<< MORE >>
Just What I Need, One More Thing to Look at as I Stand Over the Golf Ball
I am glad that Nike is getting into the golf ball IP arena because they don’t seem to be afraid to try to protect the “unusual.” Their latest golf ball related invention has to do with an alignment guide for a golf ball and it is pretty interesting. The invention is disclosed in a patent application that published this week as US Pub. No. 20110065530 titled “Alignment Guide for a Golf Ball.”..... Interesting for sure but "dazzling effects" aside, how is this going to improve my game?....<< MORE >>
Alignments Aides for the Driver!
Well, I am happy to report that some golf equipment manufacturers are looking to take alignment aides beyond the scope of the putter. Just last week Cobra Golf had a patent application publish as US Pub. No. 20110059808 titled “Golf Club with Directional Based Graphic,” which describes the invention as.... Pretty cool, but just wait for my next post regarding an alignment aid for a golf ball!....<< MORE >>
Do You Have Circumscribed Prismatoids?
The term “circumscribed prismatoids” sounds like a medical condition but it is apparently a way to “tune the aerodynamic flight characteristics” of a golf ball. An Acushnet patent application published this week as US Pub. No. 20110059813 titled “Golf Ball Dimples Having Circumscribed Prismatoids,” which describes the invention as.... PS – The gap in posting can be blamed on a 4 day golf trip to Hilton Head that included roughly 126 holes. I was my first trip to Hilton Head and I highly recommend it for any golf addicts. Below is a picture from an overcast day at Harbour Town....
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Golf Shoes with Retractable Spikes
It has been a while since I have covered an interesting golf shoe invention. Fortunately that changes this week with the publication of a patent application directed to a golf shoe with retractable spikes. The application published as US Pub. No. 20110047830 titled “Extendable Spikes for Shoes,” which describes the invention as.... Interesting concept but I am not sure anything will bring back a conventional spike construction....<< MORE >>
Just What Every Golfer Needs in Their Arsenal
I am now in my fifth year of blogging and I have seen just about every insane type of golf invention that you can imagine. Generally I just bite my tongue and only post about the crazy ones that make me smile, but this week a design patent issued that almost made me fall out of my chair. Does anyone see the need for this?....<< MORE >>
How Do You Perceive Your Face Angle?
Callaway is looking to change the way you perceive your club’s face angle. One of their recently published patent applications provides a great education on how a golfer perceives a golf club’s face angle. The application published as US Pub. No. 20110039637 titled “Golf Club With Stable Face Angle.” The application explains.... I suppose this is why you should address the ball at the correct lie angle.....<< MORE >>
Bridgestone Granted Biodegradable Golf Ball Patent
Green patents are all the rage and the golf industry is no exception. Just last year I reported on an Acushnet patent application directed to a golf ball recycling program. This week Bridgestone was granted what appears to be the first US patent granted for a biodegradable golf ball. The patent is USPN 7,892,113 simply titled “Golf Ball,” which describes the invention as.... Pretty cool, but just wait until my biodegradable golf grips hit the market!....<< MORE >>
Too Much Spin From Your Driver? This May Be the Answer
Over the years I have posted several times about how inventors have attempted to reduce the spin produced with a driver. Generally these attempts center around the application of a lubricant to the face of the golf club (see this post, or this post ). That’s not cheating! A recently published patent application discloses a new spin at reducing spin. The application published as US Pub. No. 20110014996 titled “Higher Performance Golf Club and Attachment for Golf Club, Golf Ball, Athletic Shoes, and Athletic Shin Guards Using Shear-Thickening Fluids.” Who wouldn’t want a higher performance golf club using shear-thickening fluids? The application describes the invention as.... Definitely a cooler way to deal with spin than smearing lip gloss on the face of your driver!....<< MORE >>
Stealth Grooves… Just What Golfers Have Been Looking For
Recently an interesting groove patent application published, which led to me to an even more fascinating “stealth groove” patent. The patent application belongs to Performax Golf and Composite, Inc. and is titled “Golf Club Head Having Score Line Structure” (20110028234), which describes the invention as..... The application mentions a patent that may get your attention simply by the inclusion of “stealth grooves” in the title..... Those are some pretty impressive numbers but would golfers be willing to give up 6.5% of total distance in return for a 19% increase in spin and a 44% reduction in dispersion?....<< MORE >>
When You are Teeing Off Do You Really Want to Stare Down at a Club Head Having a Diagram of the CG Location?
I would bet the answer for 99% of golfers the answer is a resounding NO. Apparently Bridgestone Golf disagrees because one of their recently published patent applications is directed to just that, a CG map on the crown of a golf club. The application published as US Pub. No. 20110034262 titled “Wood Type Golf Club Head,” which describes the invention as.... So, do you think this club will make it into the bag of Mr. Couples?....<< MORE >>
How Do You Take the Subjectivity Out of Evaluating the “Feel” of a Golf Club? Well, this Bridgestone Golf Patent Explains how They do it
If you had to guess, which of the following iron and shaft combinations produces a “superior feel”? (a) a forged soft-iron head created from soft iron (S20C), with a steel shaft; (b) a forged soft-iron head created from soft iron (S20C), with a graphite shaft; (c) a stainless steel iron body having a titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) face insert, with a steel shaft; or (d) a stainless steel iron body having a titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) face insert, with a graphite shaft..... Also, which combination produces the worst feel? The results may surprise you..... I am sure that these results will make ______ shaft manufacturers happy! Does your subjective "feel" agree with the scientific results?....<< MORE >>
The Psychological Impact of Colors in Golf Club Design
A Bridgestone patent application published this week providing us with some insight on the impact that colors have in golf club design.... Interesting stuff, do you buy it?....<< MORE >>
More Crazy Golf Ball Dimple Patterns
Acushnet rolls out another fascinating golf ball dimple pattern patent application. Check out these golf balls.... Come on, I just want one of these golf balls to make it to the market because I know that my ball's "great circles due to parting lines" have been messing up my game....
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PGA Show - The Putters
The PGA Show had some amazing putters on display. I felt the new Axis 1 Umbra putter and the Utopia putter had the most interesting technology stories, while Piretti, Bettinardi, and Carnahan produced some stunningly beautiful milled putters. Check out these flatsticks....<< MORE >>
PGA Show - Pics from a Couple Swanky Courses
During my recent trip to Florida I was fortunate to play a couple of swanky golf courses. Since I am more of a commoner, the hillbilly in me pulled out the camera and snapped some pictures to share with you. First, I was lucky enough to play the Trump International Golf Club of Palm Beach, which is a GolfWorld Top 50 private course. No worries, the Donald's low amateur round of 66 was not in danger. It is an absolutely beautiful course, check out these pictures....<< MORE >>
PGA Show - Training Aides and Misc. Products
Training aides are often hard to find because so few actually make it to the market. Stick with these photos until the end of the post, there are some gems mixed in with some rubble (including at least 2 that I would consider purchasing)....<< MORE >>
PGA Show - Grips and Gloves
Eventually I will have time to post all my putter pictures, but until then check out these interesting grips and gloves on display at the PGA Show.... Stay tuned, future posts will cover training aides and putters....
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PGA Show - Tees
OK, golf tees aren't the sexiest golf products but the PGA Show had a few on display today that are worth taking a look at. How about a teflon coated golf tee?....<< MORE >>
PGA Show - Golf Bags
Yes, all the big golf companies have their latest and greatest products at the PGA Show. However, my goal is to expose you to the cool products by the smaller companies that you might not otherwise come across. The first great idea is The Golf Tripod - Tag Banner by DRENALINE PRODUCTS. Think of all that branding space that has been ignored by the golf industry for years. Pretty amazing.... The second great idea is a cart bag from Eazy Bag, check out their website for an interesting story on how the idea came about. It is surprising that no alternative cart bags have made it to market....<< MORE >>
PGA Show - Great Artwork
It is not very often that the Golf-Patents blog gets to cover artwork, but there were some beautiful sculptures at the PGA Show that are worth highlighting. Check out these "artfully repurposed" golf club sculptures from On Tour Golf Wear and Sculptures.... Kudos to them, that is some really cool stuff; not to mention it looks like a hobby I would enjoy....<< MORE >>
Turns Out That a 42 Acre Circular Practice Range is Pretty Impressive
I am reporting from the annual PGA Show in Orlando and have to say that the largest demo day in the US, if not the world, was pretty darn impressive. Not necessarily the products, because we all knew (for the most part) what equipment would be on display, but the facility itself is pretty incredible. What does a 42 acre circular range with three practice greens look like? Check it out.... As you would expect, there was some over the top ridiculousness at the demo day. The photo below shows the inflatable Cobra Golf / Puma show room, which contained a live DJ spinning some tunes that sounded fresh from a club on the show Jersey Shore! Nothing live a mini-rave at the PGA Show. Would it surprise you that the area was crawling with collar-popped Ian Poulter wannabe's?.... << MORE >>
This Putter Invention Would Sell
A recently published patent application discloses a pretty cool putter. The application published as US Pub. No. 20110014994 titled “Golf Putter Head,” which describes the invention as.... I like it; different rotating faces for different conditions....<< MORE >>
How Does a Golf Club Designer Give a Slow Swing Speed Golfer the most “Spring-Like” Effect While Not Providing Too Much of a Benefit for a Fast Swing Speed Golfer?
Nike Golf thinks they may have the answer, a double wall system. A recently published Nike patent application (US Pub. No. 20100323812) explains the issue.... This is one of those beautifully simple concepts that just seems so logical (after you have seen someone else propose it, of course), you can’t help but wonder “hasn’t someone tried this in the past?”....<< MORE >>
Bridgestone Jumps on the Weight Adjustability Bandwagon
There is no doubt that adjustability is a big marketing push and appears to be here to stay. In fact, just last week I posted about the golfing purists at Titleist taking a stab at weight adjustability. This week let’s take a look at what is on the minds of the engineers at Bridgestone....<< MORE >>
Court Sides with Callaway in ProV1 Dispute Regarding Breach of Contract Issue
One month ago I posted about the ProV1 drama not being over just yet (click HERE for a quick refresher). Last week the court issued an Order that provides a nice quick overview and summary of the issues concerning the breach of contract claims, which is well worth reading..... OK, so HERE is the Callaway motion for summary judgment of breach of contract that was previously granted and reinstated in paragraph 2 immediately above; and HERE is the Acushnet motion for summary judgment of no breach of contract that was previously denied, the denial of which was reinstated in paragraph 2 immediately above. Interesting reading. So, where does this case go from here?....
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Is Anything More Fascinating Than the Aerodynamics of a Golf Ball?
Sure, supersonic flight is pretty impressive; but come on; most of us aren’t fighter pilots. However, golf ball aerodynamics… now that is something we can all appreciate, which is why an Acushnet patent that issued this week caught my attention. The title is “Golf Ball with Dimples having Constant Depth.” (USPN 7,867,109) Constant depth dimples, now that is interesting. The patent describes the invention as....<< MORE >>
Compressible Grooves; Say What?
Yes, Nike Golf recently had a patent application publish under the title “Golf Club with Golf Club Head Having Compressible V-Shaped Grooves,” namely US Pub. No. 20100298062. This application will make you scratch your head and wonder....<< MORE >>
4 Years in the Books, Looking Forward to a 5th and the PGA Show
Today is Golf-Patents Birthday! How time flies. Four years ago today I posted my first real blog entry. Check it out here. Hopefully the Golf-Patents blog has provided golfers with a better understanding of just how important intellectual property is to the golf industry. As always... I like to hear from readers regarding the topics and content that they enjoy most, so don't hesitate to email me your thoughts. I am looking forward to a great fifth year in 2011 (as well as attending my first PGA Show)! If you are attending the show, and just can't get enough golf IP, then shoot me an email if you are interested in my exclusive "buy a blogger a beer" program!....<< MORE >>
Would a Golf Purist’s Brand like Titleist Ever Introduce Such a Driver?
Can you imagine a Titleist driver like this making it to market?.... I like it, but would traditionalists?.... << MORE >>
Crazy Golf Club Patent of the Week
It has been a while since I have added any new material to the “crazy golf club patent” category, which is a shame because these are generally the most entertaining posts on the site. So, with a new year perhaps I will turn over a new leaf and again start highlighting these diamonds in the rough. This one shows that as early as 1904 golfers were obsessing with the spring-like effect of golf clubs (quite literally). Check out this beauty!.... I am going to go out on a limb here and guess that it didn’t work, but you never know!....<< MORE >>
Now this is a Nike Golf Invention that I Could Use
Alignment inventions have never really sparked my interest primarily because there are just so many of them. Additionally, alignment devices are generally directed to the putter. Recently Nike Golf had a patent application publish that did grab my attention because it is not directed to putters (and because it is directed to one of my many swing flaws). The application published as US Pub. No. 20100323806 titled “Visual Swing Indicator Golf Club Head,” which describes the invention as.... Pretty cool. I would buy a pack of removable alignment indicator stickers, but don’t want to see that built into the crown of my driver.....<< MORE >>
The Best New Year's Eve an Ohio Golfer Can Have
That's right; golfing in Ohio on December 31st! Ohio golfers were fortunate to have a couple of warm days to melt most of the snow and make golf on the last day of the year a reality. Check out these pictures from my round this afternoon. Northern golfers know that winter golf can bring some challenges such as snow on the green and ice in the traps.... (yes, that is my ball in a trap above... tough bunker, but nothing compared to the one seen below).... But every now and then winter golf can work to your benefit. Check out my playing partner below as he benefited from a frozen pond. Unfortunately he had to use a fairway wood to reach the ball, and was only 120 yards from the green (but it beats the non-frozen alternative).... What a great day!
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Nike Golf is Getting Their Feet Wet in Golf Ball IP
Regular readers of the Golf-Patents blog know that Nike Golf is one of the most prolific filers of golf club related patent applications, however you may have noticed that Nike Golf patent applications directed to golf ball technology are almost never mentioned. The reason is that they have very few published patent applications directed to golf ball technology, which is why one of their applications caught my attention last week. The application published as US Pub. No. 20100323817 titled “Golf Ball With Oriented Particles,” which describes the invention as.... Finally, a ball that will fly straighter and reduce spin when I need less spin, while increasing spin when I need more spin! It is a panacea; now I would be able to be on Tour if only it could prevent shanks with a wedge from the center of the fairway at 100 yards.....<< MORE >>
Lefty May Have a Fallback Career
Earlier this year I authored a post titled “A Big Day for Lefty; Golf Club Designer Phil Mickelson Granted His Second Patent.” Well, last week a utility patent application directed to the functional aspects of his club design was published as US Pub. No. 20100323811 titled “Hybrid Golf Club Head.” The application describes the invention as.... Perhaps Phil has a fallback career as a golf club designer! Would you buy this club?....<< MORE >>
Having Trouble Getting Enough Spin on Your Wedge Shots?
If so, SRI may have the solution. Wedge patents don’t come along everyday, and when they do the focus is generally an incredibly complex groove profile. Not this wedge patent; it illustrates a pretty straightforward concept and will probably make you want to give the club a try. The patent is USPN 7,846,033 titled “Iron Type Golf Club Head,” which explains (grind through the awkward translation issues from the original Japanese application).... The bottom line for me is that it looks different than all the wedges that have betrayed me in the past, so I would love to give it a try (whether I understand why it is supposed to help me or not).....
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Just in Time for Christmas; A True Game Changer!
I am surprised this hot new club hasn’t been revealed on one of the golf forums yet. Well, I guess I get the honor of being the first to bring it to the masses! A rather intriguing patent issued last week titled “Golf Club Having Two Angularly Divergent Impact Faces” (USPN 7,850,538). The patent describes the invention as.... How about that golfer’s grip! I guess it helps when you bury the heel into the green?....
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The ProV1 Drama is Not Over Yet; Implications for an Acushnet Golf Deal?
A lot has been made lately regarding a potential acquisition of Acushnet Golf, but I have yet to see anyone mention the fact that Acushnet is not yet out of the woods regarding the ProV1 dispute. Let’s not forget, the amount at risk is substantial, even if you considerably discount the risk. Therefore, by the time the consultants and attorneys factor this risk into a transaction, it would seem that Acushnet Golf would probably be going for a discount; perhaps making a management led deal more likely to garner the highest price. By now you are probably wondering why Acushnet is not out of the woods yet. Good question. Last month Callaway filed a motion explaining...<< MORE >>
I am Pretty Sure Electric Shock Therapy Would Help My Putting Stroke
How much do you love golf? Is it enough to endure a little electric shock therapy to lower your score? I suspect that the answer of most golfers is…. h##l yes! As a kid I remember loving the game called Operation. It was always such a challenge to remove the wishbone without getting a shock and having buzzers buzzing and lights flashing. Well, the golf putting stroke invention disclosed in recently published application US Pub. No. 20090111598 reminds me a lot of Operation, which makes me think it would be a heck of a fun practice device. Check this out..... I can just imagine one of these in the bar at the clubhouse so you could challenge your buddies to a little putting competition after a few cold ones; especially if you could adjust the voltage to really penalize a bad stroke.....<< MORE >>
SkyCaddie Takes on GolfBuddy
It is hard to believe it has been over two years since I reported on any patent litigation concerning golf GPS rangefinders. Well, this week the makers of SkyCaddie®, the self-proclaimed “#1 Rangefinder in Golf,” filed a patent infringement lawsuit against the makers of the GolfBuddy. The lawsuit, SkyHawke Technologies, LLC v. Deca International Corp., was filed on December 6th in the Southern District of Mississippi concerning USPN 6,456,938 titled “Personal dGPS Golf Course Cartographer, Navigator and Internet Web Site with Map Exchange and Tutor.”....<< MORE >>
My Game is On Today, I Think I Will Sit Down and Turn My Cavity Back Irons into Muscle Back Irons, or Maybe Even Blades
Can you ever imagine yourself ever saying that? Nike Golf is hoping that the ability to transform irons from cavity backs, to muscle backs, or even blades, appeals to a segment of golfers. In fact, this week they had a patent application publish as US Pub. No. 20100304886 titled “Golf Club and Golf Club Head with Interchangeable Body Component,” which describes the invention as....<< MORE >>
This Ball Looks Like It Will Go Far
Ignoring any particular real technology, this ball design just looks like it would fly (although it does remind me of the Burrows Golf “Powersphere ”). I look at every published US patent application directed to golf ball dimple designs and I will often think “that’s cool” or “pretty innovative”, but this is the first time that I actually thought “something about that dimple just looks like it will have me averaging 300 off the tee.” Yes, I know, purely BS based upon the look of a ball; but if it got a pessimist like me thinking that, I bet by the time the marketing types got done running it through the hype machine the average golfer would be clamoring for it. You be the judge....
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So Who Recently Filed a Trademark Application Directed to a White Club Head?
It was only a matter of time before someone tried to stake their claim to white club heads. Last week ________ filed a trademark application containing the following drawing and description.... It should be interesting to see what ________ has to say about this!
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How About an Option other than Cast or Forged Irons
If Cobra Golf has their way golfers may have an option other than just forged or cast irons. How fun would it be to put your playing partner in his place when he says “oh, you got a new set of cast irons, you know I play forged irons.” Someday you may be able to respond by saying “forged clubs are nice, but they are so 1960, my new irons are powdered metal sintered via laser processing.” A patent application published this week as US Pub. No. 20100298065 titled “Method of Making Golf Clubs,” which describes the invention as....
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Will Callaway Get into the Interchangeable Faced Wedge Business?
Last week Callaway Golf filed a trademark application for an interesting mark, namely __________ associated with “golf clubs.” What could they have in store?
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Interested in Adjusting the Stiffness of Your Golf Shaft? Nike Golf Thinks So
It has been over a year since my post titled “What is the Next Step in Adjustability” reported on Taylor Made’s interest in an adjustable stiffness shaft. Well, it turns out that this is a subject that also interests Nike Golf, and this week they had a patent application publish as US Pub. No. 20100292022 titled “Shaft Stiffening Device.”.... Is Taylor Made’s invention or Nike Golf's invention more likely to have market appeal?....<< MORE >>
Heavy Putter, Heavy Wedge, Heavy Iron, What’s Next?
In the past the Golf-Patents blog revealed the Heavy Putter company’s intent to use the Heavy Wedge™ trademark prior to the introduction of their line of wedges; likewise the blog revealed their intent to use a Heavy Iron™ trademark on a yet to be released club. So, what is the next logical step?....<< MORE >>
Mizuno Hit With Patent Infringement Lawsuit Concerning Their Shaft Optimizer
Patent infringement lawsuits occur everyday and in every industry. In fact, most major companies in the golf industry are sued for patent infringement at least once a year. Unfortunately for Mizuno, last week was their time. The patent infringement complaint alleges that the Mizuno Shaft Optimizer infringes USPN 6,607,450 titled “Golf Swing Frequency Analyzer”.... << MORE >>
