Golf club shaft adapter system and golf club incorporating the same

Abstract

Golf club adapters and golf clubs incorporating such adapters are provided that allow a golf club shaft to be coupled to a golf club head at different orientations for varying the golf club lie angle and/or face angle. The adapter has a first portion coupleable to the golf club shaft along a first longitudinal axis and a second portion coupleable to the club head along a second longitudinal axis, where the first longitudinal axis is offset from the second longitudinal axis. The adapter may be integral or separate from the golf club shaft.

1 . An adjustable golf club comprising:
 a golf club head comprising a hosel; and   a shaft having an adapter portion at end coupled to the hosel, said shaft having a longitudinal axis and said adapter portion having a longitudinal axis, wherein said two axes are not parallel, wherein said adapter portion being coupleable with said hosel at a plurality of predetermined orientations for changing at least one of a lie angle and a face angle of said club head.   
   
   
       2 . The club as recited  claim 1  wherein said adapter portion is integral with said shaft. 
   
   
       3 . The club as recited  claim 1  wherein said adapter portion is separate from said shaft. 
   
   
       4 . The club as recited  claim 3  wherein said adapter portion is attached to said shaft. 
   
   
       5 . The club as recited  claim 3  wherein said adapter portion comprises a bore for receiving said shaft, wherein said bore comprises a central longitudinal axis extending at an angle relative to said adapter portion longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       6 . The club as recited in  claim 5  wherein said hosel comprises an opening for receiving said adapter portion, wherein said hosel opening comprises an inner surface, wherein said adapter portion comprises at least a section having an outer surface complementary to the inner surface of said hosel opening. 
   
   
       7 . The club as recited in  claim 6  wherein said inner surface prevents said adapter portion outer surface from rotating relative to said inner surface by engaging at least a portion of said inner surface. 
   
   
       8 . The club as recited in  claim 7  wherein both said inner and outer surfaces are polygonal when viewed in cross-section perpendicular to their corresponding longitudinal axes, whereby each surface comprises a plurality of faces, and wherein when said adapter portion is received in said hosel opening at a first orientation the first face of the inner surface is aligned with a first face of the outer surface, and wherein when said adapter portion is received in said hosel opening at a second orientation, said first face of the inner surface is aligned with a second face of the outer surface which is different from the first face of the outer surface for changing at least one of the lie angle and face angle of said club head. 
   
   
       9 . The club as recited in  claim 8  further comprising a fastener for fastening said adapter portion to a lip extending in said hosel opening. 
   
   
       10 . The club as recited in  claim 1  wherein said hosel comprises an opening for receiving said adapter portion, wherein said hosel opening comprises an inner surface, wherein said adapter portion comprises at least a section having an outer surface complementary to the inner surface of said hosel opening. 
   
   
       11 . The club as recited in  claim 10  wherein said inner surface prevents said adapter portion outer surface from rotating relative to said inner surface by being engaged by at least a portion of said outer surface. 
   
   
       12 . The club as recited in  claim 11  wherein both said inner and outer surfaces are polygonal when viewed in cross-section perpendicular to their corresponding longitudinal axes, whereby each surface comprises a plurality of faces, and wherein when said adapter portion is received in said hosel opening at a first orientation the first face of the inner surface is aligned with a first face of the outer surface, and wherein when said adapter portion is received in said hosel opening at a second orientation, said first face of the inner surface is aligned with a second face of the outer surface which is different from the first face of the outer surface for changing at least one of the lie angle and face angle of said club head. 
   
   
       13 . The club as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a fastener for fastening said adapter portion to a lip extending in said hosel opening. 
   
   
       14 . A golf club head shaft adapter system comprising:
 a golf club head comprising a hosel; and   a shaft adapter coupleable to a shaft along a first longitudinal axis and to the hosel along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the first longitudinal axis is offset from the second longitudinal axis.   
   
   
       15 . The system as recited  claim 14  wherein said adapter comprises a bore for receiving said shaft, wherein said first longitudinal aids is a central longitudinal axis of said bore. 
   
   
       16 . The system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said hosel comprises an opening for receiving said adapter, wherein said second longitudinal axis is a central longitudinal axis of said hosel opening, wherein said hosel opening comprises an inner surface, wherein said adapter comprises at least a section having an outer surface complementary to the inner surface of said hosel opening. 
   
   
       17 . The system as recited in  claim 16  wherein said inner surface prevents said adapter outer surface from rotating relative to said inner surface by engaging at least a portion of said inner surface. 
   
   
       18 . The system as recited in  claim 17  wherein both said inner and outer surfaces are polygonal when viewed in cross-section perpendicular to their corresponding longitudinal axes, whereby each surface comprises a plurality of faces, and wherein when said adapter portion is received in said hosel opening at a first orientation the first face of the inner surface is aligned with a first face of the outer surface, and wherein when said adapter portion is received in said hosel opening at a second orientation, said first face of the inner surface is aligned with a second face of the outer surface which is different from the first face of the outer surface for changing at least one of the lie angle and face angle of said club head. 
   
   
       19 . The system as recited in  claim 18  further comprising a fastener for fastening said adapter to a lip extending in said hosel opening. 
   
   
       20 . The system as recited in  claim 14  wherein said hosel comprises an opening for receiving said adapter, wherein said hosel opening comprises an inner surface, wherein said adapter comprises at least a section having an outer surface complementary to the inner surface of said hosel opening, and wherein said inner surface prevents said adapter portion outer surface from rotating relative to said inner surface about the adapter central longitudinal axis by being engaged by at least a portion of said outer surface. 
   
   
       21 . The system as recited in  claim 20  wherein both said inner and outer surfaces are polygonal when viewed in cross-section perpendicular to their corresponding longitudinal axes, whereby each surface comprises a plurality of faces, and wherein when said adapter is received in said hosel opening at a first orientation the first face of the inner surface is aligned with a first face of the outer surface, and wherein when said adapter is received in said hosel opening at a second orientation, said first face of the inner surface is aligned with a second face of the outer surface which is different from the first face of the outer surface for changing at least one of the lie angle and face angle of said club head. 
   
   
       22 . The system as recited in  claim 12  further comprising a fastener for fastening said adapter portion to a lip extending in said hosel opening. 
   
   
       23 . An adapter for coupling a golf club shaft to a golf club head comprising a first portion coupleable to a shaft along a first longitudinal axis and a second portion coupleable to a club head along a second longitudinal axis, wherein the first longitudinal axis is offset from the second longitudinal axis.