Lightweight, durable golf club shafts

Abstract

An ultra lightweight golf club shaft which includes a butt section, a tip section, and a tapered section interconnecting the same. The tapered section can be a constant taper, or include a plurality of step portions interconnected by frustoconical transition areas. The shafts are extremely durable and allow a faster club head speed and a better feel than with the previous prior art shafts.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A lightweight golf club shaft, said shaft comprising: 
 a tip section    a tapered section connected to said tip section; and    a butt section connected to said tapered section, wherein said shaft is formed from a metal or metal alloy, wherein said tapered section has either a substantially constant taper rate or a plurality of constant diameter step portions connected by transition areas having a taper angle, wherein said shaft has a weight of less than 95 grams when measured at 40 inches or 41 inches, and wherein said tip section has a hosel end with an outer diameter greater than 0.310 inch.    
     
     
         2 . The shaft according to  claim 1 , wherein said tip section has a length of about 2 to about 14 inches, and wherein said butt section has a length of about 4 to about 16 inches.  
     
     
         3 . The shaft according to  claim 2 , wherein said butt section has an outer diameter of about 0.550 to about 0.625 inch, and wherein said tip section outer diameter is about 0.320 to about 0.370 inch.  
     
     
         4 . The shaft according to  claim 1 , wherein said tapered section has said substantially constant taper rate, and wherein said taper rate is about 0.0070 to about 0.0200 inch per linear inch of tapered section length.  
     
     
         5 . The shaft according to  claim 4 , wherein said shaft is about 92 grams to about 94.5 grams at 40 or 41 inches in length.  
     
     
         6 . The shaft according to  claim 1 , wherein said shaft has said tapered section with said plurality of constant diameter step portions connected by transition areas having a taper angle, and wherein said transition areas have an angle of about 0.50 to about 5 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         7 . The shaft according to  claim 6 , wherein said transition areas have an angle of about 0.75 to about 3 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         8 . The shaft according to  claim 7 , wherein about 10 to about 22 step portions are present and about 11 to about 23 transition areas are present.  
     
     
         9 . The shaft according to  claim 8 , wherein said shaft is about 92 grams to about 94.5 grams at 40 or 41 inches in length.  
     
     
         10 . The shaft according to  claim 9 , wherein said transition areas have an angle of about 1 to about 2 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         11 . The shaft according to  claim 6 , wherein said shaft is about 92 grams to about 94.5 grams at 40 or 41 inches in length.  
     
     
         12 . The shaft according to  claim 8 , wherein said shaft is about 92 grams to about 94.5 grams at 40 or 41 inches in length.  
     
     
         13 . A set of shafts according to  claim 11 .  
     
     
         14 . A lightweight golf club shaft, said shaft comprising: 
 a tip section    a tapered section connected to said tip section; and    a butt section connected to said tapered section, wherein said shaft is formed from a metal or metal alloy, wherein said tapered section has either a substantially constant taper rate or a plurality of constant diameter step portions connected by transition areas having a taper angle, wherein said shaft has a weight to length ratio of less than 2.38 grams per inch, and wherein said tip section has a hosel end with an outer diameter greater than 0.310 inch.    
     
     
         15 . The shaft according to  claim 14 , wherein said tip section has a length of about 2 to about 14 inches, and wherein said butt section has a length of about 4 to about 16 inches.  
     
     
         16 . The shaft according to  claim 15 , wherein said butt section has an outer diameter of about 0.550 to about 0.625 inch, and wherein said tip section outer diameter is about 0.320 to about 0.370 inch.  
     
     
         17 . The shaft according to  claim 14 , wherein said tapered section has said substantially constant taper rate, and wherein said taper rate is about 0.0070 to about 0.0200 inch per linear inch of tapered section length.  
     
     
         18 . The shaft according to  claim 17 , wherein said shaft has said tapered section with said plurality of constant diameter step portions connected by transition areas having a taper angle, and wherein said weight to length ratio is 2.10 to about 2.35 grams per inch.  
     
     
         19 . The shaft according to  claim 18 , wherein said weight to length ratio is 2.20 to about 2.25 grams per inch.  
     
     
         20 . The shaft according to  claim 14 , wherein said transition areas have an angle of about 0.50 to about 5 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         21 . The shaft according to  claim 20 , wherein said transition areas have an angle of about 0.75 to about 3 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.  
     
     
         22 . The shaft according to  claim 16 , wherein about 11 to about 22 step portions are present and about 12 to about 23 transition areas are present.  
     
     
         23 . The shaft according to  claim 20 , wherein said transition areas have an angle of about 0.75 to about 3 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein said weight to length ratio is 2.10 to about 2.35 grams per inch.  
     
     
         24 . The shaft according to  claim 23 , wherein said transition areas have an angle of about 1 to about 2 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft, wherein said weight to length ratio is 2.20 to about 2.25 grams per inch.  
     
     
         25 . A set of shafts according to  claim 22 .  
     
     
         26 . A lightweight golf club shaft, said shaft comprising: 
 a tip section    a tapered section connected to said tip section; and    a butt section connected to said tapered section, wherein said shaft is formed from a metal or metal alloy, wherein said tapered section includes a plurality of constant diameter step portions connected by transition areas having a taper angle from about 0.50 to about 5 degrees with respect to a central longitudinal axis of said shaft, and wherein said shaft has a weight to length ratio of less than 2.38 grams per inch.    
     
     
         27 . The shaft according to  claim 26 , wherein said transition areas have an angle of about 0.75 to about 3 degrees, and wherein said weight to length ratio is 2.10 to about 2.35 grams per inch.  
     
     
         28 . The shaft according to  claim 27 , wherein said weight to length ratio is 2.20 to about 2.25 grams per inch.  
     
     
         29 . The shaft according to  claim 28 , wherein about 10 to about 22 step portions are present and about 11 to about 23 transition areas are present.  
     
     
         30 . The shaft according to  claim 29 , wherein said transition areas have an angle of about 1 to about 2 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis of the shaft.