Golf club

Abstract

A golf club is described, in which the weight of the head is increased compared with conventional clubs, and in which the upper part of the shaft is also increased in weight, whereby the centre of gravity is disposed in the central zone of the shaft. Preferably, the weight distribution within the head of the club is such that, with the club balanced about its centre of gravity, the shaft will rotate until the face of the club faces upwardly and preferably essentially parallel with the ground whereby, in striking the ball, the inertia of the head is such as to resist any tendency for the club to rotate or twist about the longitudinal axis of the shaft in the hands of the player.

1 . A golf club comprising:
 a head and a shaft in which the weight of the head is increased compared with conventional clubs, and in which an upper part of the shaft is also increased in weight, whereby the centre of gravity is disposed in the central zone of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . A golf club according to  claim 1 , in which the centre of gravity of the club is in that part of the shaft between about 40% and 80% of the overall length between a heel of the head and an upper end of the shaft, measured from the heel. 
     
     
         3 . A golf club according to  claim 1 , in which the weight distribution in the head is arranged so that the preponderant mass of the head is disposed at or adjacent a heel of the head. 
     
     
         4 . A golf club according to  claim 1 , in which the upper part of the shaft includes weighting means beneath a conventional outer grip covering material. 
     
     
         5 . A golf club according to  claim 4 , in which the weighting means provides a weight differential from the rear to the front of a handle portion whereby the heavier part is to the rear. 
     
     
         6 . A golf club according to  claim 5 , in which the handle portion comprises a sleeving member around the shaft and carrying an outer covering of a grip material, part of the sleeving member being formed from a relatively dense material such as brass or steel and the remaining part of the sleeving member being formed from a relatively light material such as an aluminum-containing alloy or a plastics material. 
     
     
         7 . A golf club according to  claim 1 , in which the club head comprises a support member attached to the lower end of the shaft, the support member supporting a face member on the front-facing side and weights on the rear-facing side, the weights being disposed relatively towards the heel of the head at its attachment point to the shaft. 
     
     
         8 . A golf club according to  claim 7 , in which the weights are removable. 
     
     
         9 . A golf club according to  claim 7 , in which the support plate comprises attachment means for the weights, a range of different weights being provided with location means which correspond with the attachment means on the support plate, whereby a required weight can be selected and attached to the support plate before a removable cover member is attached. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A golf club, comprising:
 a shaft having a lower end and an upper end; and   a head attached at the lower end of the shaft, the head having a weight member wherein the weight of the head is increased compared with conventional clubs, and an upper portion of the shaft is also increased in weight, whereby the center of gravity is disposed in the central zone of the shaft.   
     
     
         12 . The golf club of  claim 11 , in which the center of gravity of the golf club is in that part of the shaft between about 40% and 80% of the overall length between a heel of the head and the upper end of the shaft, measured from the heel. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club of  claim 11  in which the weight distribution in the head is arranged so that the preponderant mass of the head is disposed at or adjacent a heel of the head. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club of  claim 11 , in which the upper portion of the shaft includes weighting means beneath a conventional outer grip covering material. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club of  claim 14 , in which the weighting means provides a weight differential from the rear to the front of a handle portion of the shaft whereby the heavier part is to the rear of the handle portion of the shaft. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club of  claim 15 , in which the handle portion comprises a sleeving member around the shaft and carrying an outer covering of a grip material, part of the sleeving member being formed from a relatively dense material such as brass or steel and the remaining part of the sleeving member being formed from a relatively light material such as an aluminum-containing alloy or a plastics material. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club of  claim 11 , in which the club head comprises a support member attached to the lower end of the shaft, the support member supporting a face member on the front-facing side and the weight member on the rear-facing side, the weights being disposed relatively towards the heel of the head at its attachment point to the shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club of  claim 17 , in which weights are removably positioned about the weight member. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club of  claim 17  wherein the weight member includes attachment means for the weights, a range of different weights being provided with location means which correspond with the attachment means on the weight member, whereby a required weight can be selected and attached to the weight member before a removable cover member is attached. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club of  claim 19  wherein the cover member is shaped to the head.