GB2191706A - Clubs rackets and other means for hitting balls - Google Patents

Abstract

In a golf club having a shaft (1) and head (3) with a striking face (5), the face (5) is of generally arcuate concave form transversely of the striking direction. The shaft (1) is of cross-section elongate in the striking direction and suitable of generally aerofoil form with its greatest width transversely of the striking direction forwardly. In a racket having a frame-like head, groups of stringing holes (13) are offset in a striking direction away from remaining stringing holes to form a concave striking face on stringing. Two oppositely directed striking faces may be defined. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in clubs, rackets and the like means for hitting a ball This invention reiates to clu bs and the I ike means for hitting a ball.

Such means generally comprise a shaft or handle formed at one end with a head and atthe other with a handle or grip whereby the head may be wielded to hit a ball. The head has a generally flat face for striking the ball and in a clubtheface may be sloped back relative to a sole of the head,thesole being arranged generally in a ground plane when the club is being wielded and is at a lowermost part of a stroke. Conventional clubs generallyhavetubularshaftswhichtaperfrom gripto head and which serve to provide a sufficient grip diameter, striking strength and a degree of flexibility orwhippiness.

In use itis necessaryto wield or swing the club or racket ofthe like such thatthe ball is struck centrally of the striking face and in orderto getoptimumflightof the ball. If the ball is not struck centrally ofthe club face the ball will follow a hooked, sliced or cut path which generally is undesirable. lfthe swing ofthe club or racket is not timed correctly the shaft will be flexed at the time of impact oftheface with the ball and the face will not presentthe appropriate angle so that theflight path or loft of the ball will diverge from thatwhich is intended.

It is an object two improve a club, racket orthe like in these respects.

According to the invention a club, racket or the like incorporating a shaft having at one end a grip and at theotherend a head having afaceforstriking a ball is characterised inthattheface is concave in a direction away from the striking direction whereby a measure of compensation for hitting the ball offcentre against hooking, or slicing cutting is provided.

Suitably the concavity is arcuate at least at marginal portions thereof. The concavity may be arcuate throughout its lateral extent or a central portion may be flat orsubstantiallyflat. The arcuate concavity or arcuate portionsthereofsuitably have a radius of curvature which is large relative to the radius of curvature of a ball with which the club is intended to be used.

Whilst th is aspect of the invention is particularly useful in connection with wooden headed clubs, where hooking and slicing are most common, it can also be applied to irons.

The invention includes a racket according to the invention comprising a frame-like head having string ing holes orgrooves in which groups of stringing holes or grooves laterally spaced from a centre line through the handle are offset in a striking direction away from remaining stringing holes whereby zones of concavity may be formed on a striking face on stringing.

Suitably the groups are symmetrically disposed with respect to the centre line.

Preferably two groups are disposed one on each side ofthe centre line in an upper part ofthe head away from the handie.

Atthe groups means may be provided whereby strings may be offset on opposite faces ofthe racket head whereby concavities are formed on opposite faces of the head to define two striking faces.

According to a further aspect ofthe invention, in a club, racket orthe like incorporating a shaft having at one end a grip and at the other end a head having a face for striking a ball, the shaft isformed with a cross-section which is elongated in a striking direction compared with a width transverselythereof.

This has the effect of presenting a shaft which is stiffer in the striking direction than transversely thereof and the flexing orwhip in the swing orstriking direction may thereby be decreased without losing the otherwise advantages oftapered tubular metal construction. As a result the orientation of the club or racketfaceatthe pointofimpactwith a ball being struckmaythereby more readily be controlled.

The cross-section may, for example, be generally elliptical, or it may have its largestwidth, transversely of the striking direction, closerto one end than the other, in the striking direction. For example the cross-section may be of generally aerofoil form tapering rearwardly in more gradual fashion than it doesforwardlyinthesriking direction.

The invention will now be described, byway or example, with reference to the accompanying partly diagrammatic drawings, in which: Figure lisa perspective view of a golf club, Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 viewed in the direction ofthe arrows, Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction ofthe arrows, Figure4 is a view similartothat of Figure 3 of a modified club face profile, Figure 5 is a plan view of the head of a club of Figure 1, Figure 6 is a transverse cross-section of the shaft of the club taken on the line 6-6; Figure7 is a view similarto that of Figure6 ofthe modified cross-section;; Figure 8 is an elevation of a tennis racket according to the invention, Figure 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along lines 9-9 of Figure 8 and viewed in the direction ofthe arrows, Figure 10isaviewsimilarto Figure9ofa modified embodiment, and Figure 11 is a fragmentary transverse section taken along line 11-11 and viewed in the direction ofthe arrows of a yet further modified embodiment.

The club of Figure 1 comprises a shaft 1 tapering downwardly from a grip 2to a head 3 at its lower end.

The grip 2 is of generally circular cross-section. The head 3 is of conventional "wood" construction and comprises a metal sole plate4and at itsface 5 is formed with an insert 6 of impact-resistant material.

The face 5 is of arcuate concave recessed form, transversely ofthe striking direction i.e. as seen in Figure 3, the concavity having a radius of curvature which is large relative to that of a ball intended to be struck by the club in use, and is suitably centered centrally ofthe club face width at an axis spaced thereform in the striking direction. As seen in Figure 2 the club face is inclined upwardlyand rearwardlyfrom the heel or bottom oftheface at an angle according to the "loft" desired.

The insert 5 of im pact-resistant material extends widthwise ofthe face at the heel substantially fully, and tapers upwardly in generally symmetrical manner to a reduced insert width centrally disposed atthetop ofthe face.

As shown in Figure4 the concave profile ofthe club face 5 need not be arcuatethroughout but may comprise a central flat portion 8 with arcuate portions 9 on opposite sides, the flat portion 8 being located at the optimum impactzone forthe ball on theclubface.

The shaft cross-section as seen in Figure 6 is suitably oftubular metal form and elongated in the striking direction relative to a width transversely thereof to give relatively greater stiffness in the striking direction. The cross-section may be generally oval orelliptical as shown in Figure 6 orofgenerally aerofoil form having its greatest width forwardly towards the front in the striking direction and tapering more gradually rearwardly.

It is to be understood thatthe optimum im pact zone position will depend on the nature ofthe club to which the invention is applied, its weight and weight distribution at the head and other characteristics ofthe club such as shaft length and whippiness. Thus the optimum impact zone may not necessarily be central ofthe face width, but offset therefrom. Correspondinglythe axis of curvature ofthe arcuateface orface portions should be offset to be aligned in relation to the impact zone. Likewise the optimum radius of curvature will vary according to these club characteristics and also with the degree of compensation required.Thus a club may be provided with a degree of compensation sufficient for competent players to take account of mishitshots orspecial clubs may be prodived to compensate players with a characteristic tendency to mishit. Futhermore the curvature at opposite side portions of the face may differ to provide different degrees of compensation forthe different faults.

Itwill be appreciated thatthe nature ofthe shaft is relevantto the club face compensation features so that ifthefeatures ofFigures6or7orthe like are employed they should be settled prior to the club face form.

With regard to the shaft the cross-section may comprise atubular portion of generallycircular cross-section formed with a rear-facing external rib or stiffening portion to facilitate manufacture, and the rib or portion may progressively vary in heightto vary the stiffening lengthwise ofthe shaft. Also or alternatively the shaft of tubular form may comprise an internal stiffening web extending radially ordiametrally in the striking direction.

The invention finds useful application in rackets such asusedfortennisorsquash.

The tennis racket of Figure 8 comprises a shaft-like handle 11 and a strung head 12 of generally conven tional form, butthe zones A are modified to imparta degree ofconcavityto a striking face ofthe racket.

As shown in Figure 9 stringing holes 13 over iimited lengths of the frame of head 12 are offsetto one side of a vertical centre line plane 14 along which other stringing holes 15 are located in conventional manner.

The arrangement of holes 13inthezonesAissuitably syummetrical and in the embodiment shown five holes 13 are offset at a location spaced several strings belowthetop ofthe racket head 12 as seen in Figure 8.

The racket is strung in coventional manner such that as seen in Figure 9 horizontal strings 16, i.e. transverse to the handle 11 length,from offset holes 13will be drawn inwardly as they move towards a central vertical axis towards the vertical strings outside the zones A which extend generally in the central plane 14.

Vertical strings 17 extending from the offset holes 13 will be held away from the central plane by the lower displaced horizontal strings 16 as will vertical strings extending from undisplaced string holes within the zones A.

The result is that zones of concavity are formed on the racket face formed with the displaced holes 13 facing to the right as seen in Figure 9 and serving to offset or minimisethe effect of hooked or cut strokes hit off-centre of upper portions ofthe racket.

In the modification of Figure 10 the stringing holes 13 are offset from the central plane 14 by progressively lesser amounts as they are displaced furtherfrom the top ofthe racket head 12. It will be understood that stringing holes 15 between the uppermost displaced hole 13 and the top ofthe head ofthe racket may be offset by progressively increasing amounts as they approach the uppermost hole 13 to extend the concavities upwardly and centrally of the racket head.

Concavities corresponding to A may likewise be formed at lower portions of the racket head if desired.

It will be understood that the embodiments of Figures 9 and 10 present concavities on one playing face only ofthe racket head. Corresponding concavities may be formed on the opposite face by adopting a double stringing technique over portions ofthe racket, for example as shown in Figure 11 which is an examplarysection oftheframeinazoneAofa suitably modified racket. The frame in the zones A is formed at opposite sides with offset stringing holes 13 orgroovescommunicating at an outer edge of the framethrough a groove 17. In this way horizontal strings and vertical strings may extend on opposite faces ofthe racket to present concavities on opposite playing faces.

It will be understood that in at least some of the grooves 17 there will be a doubling of strings, one, 16, serving as a horizontal string, and the other as a vertical string, and that in the region between the zones A there will be double horizontal stringing, and in the regions belowthe zones Athere will be double vertical stringing.

Claims (14)

1. Aclub, racketorthelikeincorporatingashaftor handle having at one end a grip and at the other end a head facing a face for striking a ball is characterised in thattheface is concave in a direction awayfrom the striking direction whereby a measure of compensation for hitting the ball off-centre against hooking slicing orcutting is provided.

2. Aclub or racket as claimed in claim 1,in which the concavity is arcuate at least at marginal portions thereof.

3. Aclub or racket as claimed in claim 1 orclaim 2, in which the concavity isarcuate throughout its lateral extent.

4. Aclub or racket as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which a central portion is flat or substantially flat.

5. Aclub or racket as claimed in any preceding claim in which the arcuate concavity or arcuate portions thereof have a radius of curvature which is large relative to the radius of curvature of a ball with which the club or racket is intended to be used.

6. A racket as claimed in claim 1,comprisinga frame-like head having stringing holes or grooves in which groups of stringing holes orgrooves laterally spaced from a centre line th rough the handle are offset in a striking direction away from remaining stringing holes whereby zones of concavity may be formed on a striking face on stringing.

7. A racket as claimed in claim 6, in which the groups are symmetrically disposed with respect two the centre line.

8. A racket as claimed in claim 6 or7, in which two groups are disposed one on each side ofthe centre line in an upper part of the head away from the handle.

9. A racket as claimed in any of claims 6 to 8 in which atthe groups means are provided whereby strings may be offset on opposite faces of the racket head whereby concavities are formed on opposite faces ofthe head to definetwo striking faces.

10. Aclub, racketofthe like as claimed in claim 1, in which the shaft or handle is formed with a cross-section which is elongated in a strking direction compared with a width transversely thereof.

11. Aclub, racketorthe like as claimed in claim 10 in which the cross-section is generally elliptical.

12. Aclub, racketorthe like as claimed in claim 10 or 11, in which the cross-section has its largest width, transversely ofthe striking direction, closerto one end than the other, in the striking direction.

13. Aclub, racket orthe like as claimed in claim 12, in which the cross-section is of generally aerofoil form tapering rearwardly in more gradual fashion than it doesforwardly in the striking direction.

14. Aclub, racketorthe like as claimed in claim 1, and substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.