Golf club with two piece hosel

Abstract

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises a non-contiguous hosel for attaching a golf club shaft to a golf club head. In an exemplary embodiment, two inserts are used to form a hollow shaft receptacle, or hosel. The two inserts are placed at substantially opposite portions of the club head. The placement of the inserts may be manipulated to vary the lie or loft angle of the golf club. In other embodiments, the two inserts may be joined, or multiple inserts may be used, in order to form a non-contiguous hosel.

1 . A golf club, comprising: 
 a club head comprising a body having a face, a neck, a crown, and a sole;    a hosel comprising a hosel insert interchangeably connected to the club head, the hosel insert being selected from a plurality of hosel inserts;    an elongate shaft coupled to the hosel insert.    
   
   
       2 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the hosel comprises two hosel inserts selected from a plurality of hosel inserts.  
   
   
       3 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the hosel insert determines a club head loft angle.  
   
   
       4 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the hosel insert determines a club head lie angle.  
   
   
       5 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft is coupled to the hosel insert via a gimbaled attachment.  
   
   
       6 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft is coupled to the hosel insert using at least one of an adhesive, an interference fit, or a fastener.  
   
   
       7 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate shaft is selected from a plurality of elongate shafts.  
   
   
       8 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the hosel insert is formed from one of a polymer, a metal, an alloy, and a plastic.  
   
   
       9 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the hosel insert is formed from at least one of cellulose, glass-filled ABS, graphite, titanium, aluminum, or thermoplastics.  
   
   
       10 . A method of forming a golf club, comprising: 
 selecting a club head comprising a body having a face, a neck, a crown, and a sole;    selecting a hosel comprising a hosel insert selected from a plurality of hosel inserts, wherein the hosel insert is interchangeably connected to the club head;    coupling an elongate shaft to the hosel insert.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the selecting a hosel comprises selecting at least two hosel inserts selected from a plurality of hosel inserts.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the selecting a hosel comprises determining a club head loft angle.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the selecting a hosel comprises determining a club head lie angle.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising coupling the shaft to the hosel insert via a gimbaled attachment.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the elongate shaft is selected from a plurality of elongate shafts.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the elongate shaft is coupled to the hosel insert using at least one of an adhesive, an interference fit, or a fastener.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the hosel insert is connected to the club head before the shaft is coupled to the hosel insert.  
   
   
       18 . A golf club, comprising: 
 a club head having a body, said body including a hosel;    a hosel insert coupled to said body within said hosel;    a shaft coupled to said hosel insert;    wherein said hosel insert is selected from a plurality of hosel inserts having varying attributes, said hosel being interchangeably coupled to said body.    
   
   
       19 . The golf club of  claim 18 , wherein said shaft is fixedly coupled to said hosel insert.  
   
   
       20 . The golf club of  claim 18 , wherein said shaft is coupled to said hosel insert via a gimbaled attachment.