Wood-type golf club

Abstract

A wood-type golf club for providing a golf shot substantially free from hook or slice, the wood-type golf club having an oval-shaped club head rigidly connected to an elongated shaft. The club head has a centrally located top midpoint, basically above the center of gravity of the club head, and the shaft has a longitudinal center line defining a shaft axis. The shaft axis passes through the top midpoint of the club head, and not through the center of gravity, whereby, upon swinging the golf club to strike a golf ball, the shaft tends to stay in an intended plane of movement, and upon striking a golf ball at the striking face at a point in line with the top midpoint, the club head is substantially free of twisting movement around the shaft axis.

1 . A wood-type golf club comprising: 
 (a) a club head having: (i) a flattened striking face; (ii) spaced-apart side surfaces; (iii) spaced-apart top and bottom surfaces; and (iv) a top midpoint located behind the striking face on the top surface at a point substantially equidistant between the spaced-apart side surfaces; and    (b) a single elongated shaft connected at only one point to the club head wherein the shaft has a longitudinal center line that defines a shaft axis, and wherein that shaft axis passes through the top midpoint of the club head.    
   
   
       2 . The wood-type golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the club head is at least partially formed from wood or metal.  
   
   
       3 . The wood-type golf club according to  claim 1 , further including fastening means comprising a collar positioned at the top surface of the club head into which the first end of the shaft is rigidly affixed.  
   
   
       4 . The wood-type golf club according to  claim 3 , wherein the shaft is rigidly affixed in the collar by an adhesive.  
   
   
       5 . The wood-type golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is rigidly connected to the club head at about a 45 to about 65 angle as measured between the shaft axis and a plane extending parallel along the bottom surface of the club head.  
   
   
       6 . The wood-type golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the striking face has a loft angle of about 8 to about 25.  
   
   
       7 . A wood-type golf club according to  claim 1  wherein the club head has a center of gravity, and wherein the top midpoint is positioned vertically above the center of gravity.  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A wood-type golf club according to  claim 1  wherein the club head has a center of gravity, and wherein the longitudinal center line of the shaft does not pass through the center of gravity of the club head.  
   
   
       10 . A wood-type golf club for providing a golf shot substantially free from hook or slice, comprising: 
 (a) a club head at least partially formed from the group of materials consisting of wood, metal, graphite, or plastic having: (i) a flattened striking face having a loft angle of about 8 to about 25; (ii) spaced-apart side surfaces; (iii) spaced-apart top and bottom surfaces; and (iv) a top midpoint located behind the striking face on the top surface at a point substantially equidistant between the spaced-apart side surfaces; and    (b) a single elongated shaft connected to only one point of the club head at a first end of the shaft, the shaft extending to a second, spaced-apart end equipped with gripping means, the shaft having a longitudinal center line which defines a shaft axis, and wherein that shaft axis passes through the top midpoint of the club head, and the shaft being rigidly connected to the club head at an angle between about a 45 to about 65 as measured between the shaft axis and a plane extending parallel along the bottom surface of the club head;    whereby, upon swinging the golf club to strike a golf ball, the shaft tends to stay in an intended plane of movement, and upon striking a golf ball at the striking face at a point in line with the top midpoint of the club head, the club head is substantially free of twisting movement around the shaft axis.    
   
   
       11 . An improved method of providing a golf shot substantially free from hook or slice, comprising steps of: 
 (a) selecting a wood-type golf club comprising:    (i) a head having a flattened striking face, spaced-apart side surfaces, spaced-apart top and bottom surfaces, and a top midpoint located behind the striking face on the top surface at a point substantially equidistant between the spaced-apart side surfaces; and    (ii) a single elongated shaft connected to only a single point of the club head at a first end of the shaft, the shaft extending to a second, spaced-apart end equipped with gripping means, and the shaft having a longitudinal center line which defines a shaft axis, and wherein that shaft axis passes through the top midpoint of the club head;    (b) addressing a golf ball to be played with the golf club;    (c) swinging the golf club through an arc such that the golf ball is struck at the substantially lowest point of the arc whereby, upon swinging the golf club to strike a golf ball, the shaft tends to stay in an intended plane of movement, and upon striking a golf ball at the striking face at a point in line with the top midpoint of the club head, the club head is substantially free of twisting movement around the shaft axis, resulting in a golf shot substantially free from hook or slice.