Composite Golf Club Hosels and Methods of Use Thereof

Abstract

Embodiments of composite golf club hosels and methods of use thereof are generally described herein. In one embodiment, a golf club includes a golf club shaft and a hollow body. The body has a heel end, a toe end, a front wall, a sole, and a crown. The heel end of the crown includes a hosel for receiving the golf club shaft, and the hosel is at least partially comprised of a composite material. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

1 . A golf club head comprising a hollow body having a heel end, a toe end, a front wall, a sole, a crown, and a hosel at the heel end, wherein the hosel is at least partially comprised of a composite material. 
   
   
       2 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the hosel is substantially comprised of a composite material. 
   
   
       3 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the hosel comprises a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion is integral with the golf club head and the top portion is substantially comprised of the composite material. 
   
   
       4 . The golf club head of  claim 3 , wherein the hosel comprises a stabilizing insert disposed near an interface between the bottom and top portions of the hosel, wherein the insert assists in securing the top portion of the hosel to the bottom portion thereof. 
   
   
       5 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material comprises a resin with one or more types of fibers embedded therein. 
   
   
       6 . The golf club head of  claim 5 , wherein the resin is a thermoset material and the fibers comprise at least one of carbon fibers, glass fibers, metal fibers, or aromatic polyamide fibers. 
   
   
       7 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the composite material comprises at least one of plastics, polymers, prepeg materials, carbon fiber composites, or metal matrix composites. 
   
   
       8 . The golf club head of  claim 7 , wherein the composite material is a metal matrix composite. 
   
   
       9 . The golf club head of  claim 8 , wherein the metal matrix composite comprises at least one base metal and at least one resin, wherein the base metal consists essentially of aluminum, nickel, zinc, magnesium, titanium, or alloys thereof, and wherein the resin consists essentially of silicon carbide, titanium diboride, titanium carbide, aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       10 . The golf club head of  claim 1 , wherein the hosel comprises an exterior surface that is provided with a metal-based nanomaterial. 
   
   
       11 . A golf club comprising:
 a golf club shaft; and   a hollow body having a heel end, a toe end, a front wall, a sole, and a crown, wherein the heel end of the crown comprises a hosel for receiving the golf club shaft, wherein the hosel is at least partially comprised of a composite material.   
   
   
       12 . The golf club of  claim 11 , wherein the hosel is substantially comprised of the composite material. 
   
   
       13 . The golf club of  claim 11 , wherein the hosel comprises a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion is integral with the golf club head and the top portion is substantially comprised of the composite material. 
   
   
       14 . The golf club of  claim 13 , wherein the hosel comprises a stabilizing insert disposed near an interface between the bottom and top portions of the hosel, wherein the insert assists in securing the top portion of the hosel to the bottom portion thereof. 
   
   
       15 . The golf club of  claim 11 , wherein the composite material comprises a resin with one or more types of fibers embedded therein. 
   
   
       16 . The golf club of  claim 11 , wherein the resin is a thermoset material and the fibers comprise at least one of carbon fibers, glass fibers, metal fibers, or aromatic polyamide fibers. 
   
   
       17 . The golf club of  claim 11 , wherein the composite material comprises at least one of plastics, polymers, prepeg materials, carbon fiber composites, or metal matrix composites. 
   
   
       18 . The golf club of  claim 17 , wherein the composite material is a metal matrix composite. 
   
   
       19 . The golf club of  claim 18 , wherein the metal matrix composite comprises at least one base metal and at least one resin, wherein the base metal consists essentially of aluminum, nickel, zinc, magnesium, titanium, or alloys thereof, and wherein the resin consists essentially of silicon carbide, titanium diboride, titanium carbide, aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       20 . The golf club of  claim 11 , wherein the hosel comprises an exterior surface that is provided with a metal-based nanomaterial. 
   
   
       21 . A hosel of a golf club head, wherein the hosel is at least partially comprised of a composite material. 
   
   
       22 . The hosel of  claim 21 , wherein the hosel is substantially comprised of the composite material. 
   
   
       23 . The hosel of  claim 21 , wherein the composite material is a metal matrix composite. 
   
   
       24 . The hosel of  claim 23 , wherein the metal matrix composite comprises at least one base metal and at least one resin, wherein the base metal consists essentially of aluminum, nickel, zinc, magnesium, titanium, or alloys thereof, and wherein the resin consists essentially of silicon carbide, titanium diboride, titanium carbide, aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       25 . The hosel of  claim 21 , wherein the hosel comprises an exterior surface that is provided with a metal-based nanomaterial. 
   
   
       26 . A method for manufacturing a golf club head having a heel end, a toe end, and a front wall, the method comprising providing the heel end of the golf club head with a hosel for receiving a golf club shaft, wherein the hosel is at least partially comprised of a composite material. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein providing the heel end of the golf club head further comprises providing the composite material to be a metal matrix composite. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein providing the heel end of the golf club head further comprises providing the metal matrix composite to comprise at least one base metal and at least one resin, wherein the base metal consists essentially of aluminum, nickel, zinc, magnesium, titanium, or alloys thereof, and wherein the resin consists essentially of silicon carbide, titanium diboride, titanium carbide, aluminum oxide, silicon nitride, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein providing the heel end of the golf club head further comprises providing the hosel to comprise an exterior surface that is provided with a metal-based nanomaterial. 
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein providing the heel end of the golf club head further comprises providing the hosel to be substantially comprised of a composite material. 
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein providing the heel end of the golf club head further comprises providing the hosel to comprise a bottom portion and a top portion, wherein the bottom portion is formed integrally with the golf club head and the top portion is substantially comprised of a composite material.