Wedge golf club fitting system

Abstract

A system and methods of fitting golf clubs, and more particularly, the systems and methods related to wedge type golf clubs, having multiple sole configurations and/or bounce angles. More specifically, the present invention is directed to system and methods that enable a player to quantify the performance of the golf club's sole interaction with the ground and to determine the sole configuration and bounce angle that provides the most optimal shot performance.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A system of selecting a proper bounce angle and sole construction of a wedge type iron head by measuring sole-ground impact forces, comprising:
 a wedge type iron body being attached to a shaft, said wedge type iron body comprising a sole, wherein said sole has a first configuration selected from a plurality of configurations; and   a sensor to measure data during a golf swing, said sensor being in communication with a computing device to provide said data to said computing device, wherein said data comprises a response of said wedge type iron head during a sole-to-ground impact, and wherein said computing device is configured to determine an efficiency of said sole-to-ground impact with a ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said computing device is configured to identify a preferred wedge type iron head based on at least said data. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said preferred wedge type iron head comprises one of a F-grind, an M-grind, an S-grind, a D-grind, a K-grind, and an L-grind. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said preferred wedge type iron head comprises a bounce angle between about 8 and about 14 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said preferred wedge type iron head comprises a loft between about 46 and about 62 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . A system of selecting a wedge type iron head having a proper bounce angle and sole grind, comprising:
 a plurality of wedge type iron heads, wherein each wedge type iron head of said plurality of wedge type iron heads has a loft within about 2° of each of other ones of said plurality of wedge type iron heads, and wherein each wedge type iron head of said plurality of wedge type iron heads has a different combination of bounce angle and sole grind;   a sensor to measure a response of each of said wedge type iron heads striking a plurality of golf shots; and   a computing device to determine an efficiency of a sole-to-ground impact for each of said plurality of golf shots.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said computing device is configured to identify a preferred wedge type iron head based on at least one of said response of said wedge type iron heads and said efficiency of said sole-to-ground impact. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said preferred wedge type iron head comprises one of a F-grind, an M-grind, an S-grind, a D-grind, a K-grind, and an L-grind. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said preferred wedge type iron head comprises a bounce angle between about 8 and about 14 degrees. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said preferred wedge type iron head comprises a loft between about 46 and about 62 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . A method of selecting a proper bounce angle and sole construction of a wedge type iron head by measuring sole-ground impact forces, comprising:
 measuring data during a golf swing of said wedge type iron head with a sensor, said sensor being in communication with a computing device to provide said data to said computing device, wherein said data comprises a response of said wedge type iron head during a sole-to-ground impact; and   determining an efficiency of said sole-to-ground impact with a ground surface using said computing device.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising identifying, using said computing device, a preferred wedge type iron head based on at least one of said response of said wedge type iron head and said efficiency of said sole-to-ground impact. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said preferred wedge type iron head comprises one of a F-grind, an M-grind, an S-grind, a D-grind, a K-grind, and an L-grind. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said preferred wedge type iron head comprises a bounce angle between about 8 and about 14 degrees. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said preferred wedge type iron head comprises a loft between about 46 and about 62 degrees.