Golf club shaft with high balance point and golf club including same

Abstract

A golf club shaft having a weight distribution such that the balance point percentage is less than or equal to 44.50%. The weight distribution of the shaft allows for an increase in length and/or club head weight of a golf club while having a reduced impact on the swing weight.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A wood-type golf club, comprising:
 a club head having a weight greater than about 193.0 grams; and   a shaft comprising an elongate body extending between a tip end and a butt end, wherein the club head is coupled to the tip end of the shaft; and   a grip coupled to a butt end of the shaft, wherein the grip has a weight greater than about 43 grams,   wherein a center of gravity of the elongate body of the shaft is located a distance from the butt end that is less than or equal to 44.50% of the length of the elongate body, wherein the tip end has a diameter that is between about 0.333 inch and about 0.337 inch and a tip frequency greater than about 678 cycles per minute, and wherein the elongate body has a butt diameter greater than about 0.612 inch and a butt frequency greater than about 232 cycles per minute.   
     
     
         2 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body of the shaft has a torque between about 7.75° and about 8.25°. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate body has a mid frequency between about 302 cycles per minute and about 316 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate body has a tip frequency that is between about 678 cycles per minute and about 720 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate body has a mid frequency between about 320 cycles per minute and about 334 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club of  claim 2 , wherein the elongate body has a tip frequency that is between about 712 cycles per minute and about 758 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body of the shaft has a torque between about 5.35° and about 5.85°. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the elongate body of the shaft has a torque between about 5.85° and about 6.35°. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate body has a mid frequency between about 320 cycles per minute and about 334 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein the elongate body has a tip frequency that is between about 721 cycles per minute and about 766 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         11 . A wood-type golf club, comprising:
 a club head having a weight between about 200 grams and about 208 grams; and   a shaft comprising an elongate body extending between a tip end and a butt end, wherein the club head is coupled to the tip end of the shaft; and   a grip coupled to a butt end of the shaft, wherein the grip has a weight greater than about 43 grams,   wherein a center of gravity of the elongate body of the shaft is located a distance from the butt end that is less than or equal to 44.50% of the length of the elongate body, wherein the tip end has a diameter that is between about 0.333 inch and about 0.337 inch and a tip frequency greater than about 680 cycles per minute, and wherein the elongate body has a butt diameter greater than about 0.608 inch and a butt frequency greater than about 240 cycles per minute.   
     
     
         13 . The golf club of claim  12 , wherein the elongate body has a mid frequency between about 304 cycles per minute and about 318 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club of claim  12 , wherein the elongate body has a tip frequency that is between about 680 cycles per minute and about 724 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club of claim  12 , wherein the elongate body has a mid frequency between about 317 cycles per minute and about 331 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club of claim  12 , wherein the elongate body has a tip frequency that is between about 713 cycles per minute and about 759 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club of  claim 11 , wherein the elongate body of the shaft has a torque between about 5.35° and about 5.85°. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club of  claim 17 , wherein the elongate body has a mid frequency between about 338 cycles per minute and about 352 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club of  claim 17 , wherein the elongate body has a tip frequency that is between about 774 cycles per minute and about 822 cycles per minute. 
     
     
         20 . The golf club of  claim 17 , wherein the elongate body has a butt diameter that is between about 0.614 inch and about 0.626 inch.