Distance enhancing golf tee

Abstract

A new golf tee that increases the distance obtained on a drive is described. The tee increases driving distance by minimizing the energy absorbed by the tee when it is struck by the golf club. By absorbing less energy from the club head, the new tee minimizes the amount club head speed is reduced at impact, which translates into increased driving distance. The new tee also aids the golfer by providing a structure that allows the golfer to easily and consistently determine the amount the tee has been inserted into the ground.

1 . A golf tee providing increased driving distance compared to conventional tees and further including a method to judge the height of the top of the tee above the ground, said golf tee comprising: 
 A shaft with two ends and a first nominal diameter over at least a portion of the shaft length, where said shaft possesses a strength to resist breakage from perpendicularly applied forces,    A tip located at the first end of said shaft formed into a point for insertion into the ground,    A top located at the second end of said shaft, where said top is flared out to a second diameter or thickness larger than said first diameter or thickness, wherein said top further is preferably formed into a cupped shape to hold a golf ball in place, and    A stress concentrator located at a point along the shaft between the first and second ends of said shaft, wherein said stress concentrator reduces the strength of said shaft to perpendicularly applied forces.    
     
     
         2 . The tee of  claim 1  wherein said stress concentrator is formed by modifying said shaft to contain a local minimum in the shaft diameter or thickness, at the location of said stress concentrator feature.  
     
     
         3 . The tee of  claim 2  where said stress concentrator is accomplished by forming a notch that extends circumferentially around at least a portion of said shaft.  
     
     
         4 . The tee of  claim 3  where said notch is radiussed.  
     
     
         5 . The tee of  claim 2  where said stress concentrator is accomplished by forming a hole that at least partially penetrates said shaft.  
     
     
         6 . A golf tee providing increased driving distance compared to conventional tees and further including a method to judge the height of the top of the tee above the ground, said golf tee comprising: 
 A shaft with two ends and a first nominal diameter over at least a portion of the shaft length, where said shaft possesses a strength to resist breakage from perpendicularly applied forces,    A tip located at the first end of said shaft formed into a point for insertion into the ground,    A top located at the second end of said shaft, wherein said top is flared out to a second diameter or thickness that is larger than said first diameter or thickness, wherein said top is preferably formed into a cupped shape to hold a golf ball in place, and    Multiple stress concentrators located at various points along said shaft between the first and second ends, where said stress concentrators reduce the strength of said shaft to perpendicularly applied forces.    
     
     
         7 . The tee of  claim 6  wherein said stress concentrators are formed by modifying said shaft to contain local minima in the shaft diameter or thickness, at the locations of said stress concentrators.  
     
     
         8 . The tee of  claim 7  where the stress concentrators are accomplished by forming notches that extend circumferentially around at least a portion of said shaft.  
     
     
         9 . The tee of  claim 8  where said notches are radiussed.  
     
     
         10 . The tee of  claim 6  where said stress concentrators are accomplished by forming holes that at least partially penetrate said shaft.  
     
     
         11 . A golf tee providing increased driving distance compared to conventional tees and further including a method to judge the height of the top of the tee above the ground, said golf tee comprising: 
 A shaft with two ends, where said shaft is divided into two separate sections with the transition between the two sections located at a first fixed point, 
 the first shaft section comprising the portion of said shaft between the first end and said fixed point,  
 the second shaft section comprising the portion of said shaft between the second end and said fixed point,  
 where said first section has a first nominal diameter or thickness and said second section has a second nominal diameter or thickness less than or equal to said first section nominal diameter or thickness,  
   A tip located at the first end of said shaft formed into a point for insertion into the ground,    A top located at the second end of said shaft, wherein said top is flared out to a third diameter or thickness that is larger than said first or second diameter or thickness, wherein said top is preferably formed into a cupped shape to hold a golf ball in place, and    A stress concentrator feature located at said fixed point along said shaft between said first and second shaft sections, where said stress concentrator reduces the strength of said shaft to perpendicularly applied forces.    
     
     
         12 . The tee of  claim 11  where said stress concentrator is formed by modifying said shaft to contain a local minimum in the shaft diameter or thickness, at the location of said stress concentrator.  
     
     
         13 . The tee of  claim 12  where the stress concentrator is accomplished by forming a notch that extends circumferentially around at least a portion of said shaft.  
     
     
         14 . The tee of  claim 13  where said notch is radiussed.  
     
     
         15 . The tee of  claim 11  where said stress concentrator is accomplished by forming a hole that at least partially penetrates said shaft.