Golf club fitting apparatus and method of golf club fitting

Abstract

A golf club fitting apparatus and a method for fitting using the apparatus are provided. The golf club fitting apparatus may be attached to a golf club and provide fitting information including effective lie angle, effective loft angle, stroke plane, and aiming verification information. That golf club fitting apparatus includes a first opening for receiving a shaft, second openings for receiving a collimated light source, third openings for receiving angle indicators, and a recess for securing the collimated light source in an alternate configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fitting apparatus for a golf club, comprising:
 an apparatus body;   a first opening defined in said apparatus body for receiving a shaft of said golf club;   a second opening defined in said apparatus body;   a third opening defined in said apparatus body; and   a stroke-plane indicator coupled to said apparatus body through one of said second opening and said third opening,   wherein said stroke-plane indicator is configured generally parallel to said shaft of said golf club when said shaft is received within said first opening.   
     
     
         2 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 1 , wherein said second opening and said third opening have the same dimensions. 
     
     
         3 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 1 , wherein said stroke-plane indicator comprises a collimated light source. 
     
     
         4 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 3 , wherein when said apparatus body is coupled to a shaft of a right-handed golf club and said stroke-plane indicator is coupled to said apparatus body through said second opening, said collimated light source is positioned to emit collimated light in front of a striking face of said right-handed golf club. 
     
     
         5 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 3 , wherein when said apparatus body is coupled to a shaft of a left-handed golf club and said stroke-plane indicator is coupled to said apparatus body through said third opening, said collimated light source is positioned to emit collimated light in front of a striking face of said left-handed golf club. 
     
     
         6 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 1 , wherein said first opening is defined in said apparatus body at a first predetermined angle relative to a normal of a lower surface of said apparatus body, and
 wherein said first predetermined angle is between about 0° and about 30° relative to said normal of said lower surface of said apparatus body.   
     
     
         7 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 6 , wherein said first predetermined angle is between about 15° and about 25° relative to said normal of said lower surface of said apparatus body. 
     
     
         8 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 1 , wherein said first opening is defined in said apparatus body at a first predetermined angle relative to a normal of a lower surface of said apparatus body, and
 wherein said first predetermined angle corresponds to a prescribed lie angle of said golf club.   
     
     
         9 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first angle indicator coupled to said apparatus body and exposed on an upper surface of said apparatus body,   wherein said first angle indicator is configured to measure changes corresponding to an effective lie angle of said golf club.   
     
     
         10 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a second angle indicator coupled to said apparatus body and exposed on said upper surface of said apparatus body,   wherein said second angle indicator is configured to measure changes corresponding to an effective loft angle of said golf club.   
     
     
         11 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener that is configured to apply a force to said shaft within said first opening. 
     
     
         12 . A fitting apparatus for a golf club, comprising:
 an apparatus body;   a first opening defined in said apparatus body for receiving a shaft of said golf club;   a first angle indicator coupled to said apparatus body and exposed on an upper surface of said apparatus body, wherein said first angle indicator is configured generally parallel to a leading edge of said golf club when said shaft is received within said first opening;   a second angle indicator coupled to said apparatus body and exposed on said upper surface of said apparatus body, wherein said second angle indicator is configured generally orthogonal to said leading edge of said golf club when said shaft is received within said first opening;   a second opening defined in said apparatus body;   a third opening defined in said apparatus body; and   a stroke-plane indicator coupled to said apparatus body through one of said second opening and said third opening,   wherein said stroke-plane indicator is configured generally parallel to said shaft of said golf club when said shaft is received within said first opening.   
     
     
         13 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 12 , wherein said first opening is defined in said apparatus body at a first predetermined angle relative to a normal of a lower surface of said apparatus body, and
 wherein said first predetermined angle is between about 0° and about 30° relative to said normal of said lower surface of said apparatus body.   
     
     
         14 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 13 , wherein said first predetermined angle is between about 15° and about 25° relative to said normal of said lower surface of said apparatus body. 
     
     
         15 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 12 , wherein said first opening is defined in said apparatus body at a first predetermined angle relative to a normal of a lower surface of said apparatus body, and
 wherein said first predetermined angle corresponds to a prescribed lie angle of said golf club.   
     
     
         16 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 12 , wherein said second opening and said third opening have the same dimensions. 
     
     
         17 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 12 , wherein said stroke-plane indicator comprises a collimated light source. 
     
     
         18 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 17 , wherein when said apparatus body is coupled to a shaft of a right-handed golf club and said stroke-plane indicator is coupled to said apparatus body through said second opening, said collimated light source is positioned to emit collimated light in front of a striking face of said right-handed golf club. 
     
     
         19 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 17 , wherein when said apparatus body is coupled to a shaft of a left-handed golf club and said stroke-plane indicator is coupled to said apparatus body through said third opening, said collimated light source is positioned to emit collimated light in front of a striking face of said left-handed golf club. 
     
     
         20 . The fitting apparatus for a golf club of  claim 12 , further comprising a fastener that is configured to apply a force to said shaft within said first opening.