Golf club fitting system and method

Abstract

A golf club fitting method and apparatus is provided. The method of the present invention improves the distance potential of a second user's golf swing. A Full Swing Radius is measured of a first user. The first user is taller than the second user. The first second uses a golf club that provides the same Full Swing Radius as that of the first user. Since the first user is taller than the second user, the second user will be fitted with a longer club of specific length, giving each of the first and second user the same distance potential for their golf swing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A measurement apparatus comprising:
 a horizontal surface that may identify one or more stand position designation markers on the horizontal surface, including a left handed stand position designation marker and/or a right handed stand position designation marker;
 which may include one or more golf ball position designation markers a left handed golf ball designation marker and/or a right handed golf ball designation marker; 
 which may include one or more club head position designation markers; 
   a vertical surface that may include one or more vertical measuring scales;   a horizontal measuring scale on the horizontal surface which may run the length of the horizontal surface and which may enable measurements between points on the surface.   
     
     
         2 . The measurement apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the vertical surface may include at least one angular measuring scale, wherein one angular measuring scale may include a right handed angular measuring scale and one angular measuring scale may include a left handed angular measuring scale. 
     
     
         3 . The measurement apparatus of  claims 1  and  2 , that may include a cord or string comprising two ends, wherein:
 the cord may include one end affixed to the horizontal surface identifying the position of the heel of a golf club and which may at the other end hang loosely from the vertical; 
 the cord may be used to measure the distances on the vertical surface including the distance from the heel of the golf club to the center of the Full Swing Radius or estimated center of the Full Swing Radius which may be the forward shoulder of the golfer 
 a line weight may be affixed at the upper end to return the slack cord to a neutral position. 
 
     
     
         4 . A method for determining a length of a second golf club for a second user to increase the second user's golf shot distance potential to that of a taller first user comprising the steps of characterizing the size of the first user's swing with a club and calculating and equipping the second user with a club that enables an equivalent size swing utilizing the steps of;
 positioning the first user to hold a first golf club in preparation for hitting a golf ball;   determining the Full Swing Radius of the first user with the first club or estimating the Full Swing Radius wherein such estimate may be for example the distance from the forward shoulder of the first user to a golf club head of the first golf club; and   positioning the second user to hold a second golf club in preparation for hitting a golf ball, such that the second golf club creates a Full Swing Radius or similarly estimated Full Swing Radius distance which may be from the shoulder of the second user to a golf club head of the second golf club that is equal to the Full Swing Radius or estimated Full Swing Radius distance from the shoulder of the first user to the golf club head of the first golf club.   calculating from the measurements of the first user and the second user, the desired club length for the second user.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein determining the length of the second golf club further comprises the steps of:
 calculating a horizontal distance on the ground from a point directly below the butt end wrist of the second user to the heel of a second golf club head as the third side in a right triangle by utilizing the other two sides as:
 the vertical height above the horizontal surface of the center of the full swing radius or the estimated center of the full swing radius which may be the forward shoulder of the second user in a stance and the surface and 
 the Full Swing Radius of the second user, being set to equal the Full Swing Radius of the first user; 
   measuring a vertical distance from the ground to the butt end wrist of the second user in a stance and the surface; and   calculating the length of the second golf club as the third side of another triangle by utilizing as the other two sides as
 the vertical distance from the butt end wrist of the second user to the surface and 
 the horizontal distance on the ground measured from a point directly below the butt end wrist of the second user to the heel a second golf club head as calculated above. 
   
     
     
         6 . Use of tape measure method in lieu of the apparatus in  claims 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  to identify the specific measurements for the Full Swing Radius or estimated Full Swing Radius and previously stated positions of first and second user. 
     
     
         7 . Use of alternative apparatus which may include electronic position sensors and equipment, in lieu of the apparatus in  claims 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  to identify measurements for the Full Swing Radius or estimated Full Swing Radius and stated positions of first user and second user. 
     
     
         8 . An alternate method of estimating the difference in the length of a Full Swing Radius of a taller or bigger first golfer and that of a shorter or smaller second golfer that may include the difference in shoulder height or the difference in arm length and using such a difference as an minimum estimate to increase the length of the shorter golfer's second club length beyond that of the first user's club length. 
     
     
         9 . Club length sequencing that is not based on standards such as one half inch increments but is based on calculated objectives of a first user to meet competitive potential for a second user and which:
 may result in increments significantly above one half inch such as 0.75 inches, 1.25 inches or other increments.   may sequence clubs individually based on the second user and first user individual club calculations.   may be equal increments, unequal increments or graduated increments depending on the needs and preferences of the second user.   
     
     
         10 . Staged club fitting by equipping the second user with clubs that meet objectives over several stages, in which:
 each stage or step may be independently fitted for the second user to make, one step at a time with interim and taller first users who may be less tall than the final objective first user,   
     
     
         11 . A club weighting plan for each increase in club length due to a fitting that is designed to enable a shorter second golfer to meet specific performance capabilities of a taller first golfer, such that for each approximate half inch of club length increase, additional grip area weighting of approximately twenty grams or more for a woman's club and approximately thirty grams or more for a man's club, is applied in order to offset the longer club weight and balance characteristics and also to offset overall swing mechanism weight and balance changes due to the shorter arms and less arm mass of the second golfer.