# US 2021/0275878 A1 · Balance point alignment for golf shafts and golf clubs > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0275878 A1 - Document ID: US20210275878A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/144,653 - Filed: 2021-01-08 - Published: 2021-09-09 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-04 - Inventors: Andrew T. Barber - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210275878A1 ## CPC - A63B 53/007: {Putters} - A63B 53/02: Joint structures between the head and the shaft - A63B 53/10: Non-metallic shafts - A63B 60/46: Measurement devices associated with golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like for measuring physical parameters relating to sporting activity, e.g. baseball bats with impact indicators or bracelets for measuring the golf swing - A63B 60/52: with slits - A63B 69/3685: {Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning (A63B69/3614 takes precedence)} - A63B 2071/0655: {Tactile feedback} - A63B 2071/0658: {Position or arrangement of display} - A63B 2071/0694: {Visual indication, e.g. Indicia} - A63B 2102/32: Golf - A63B 2209/00: Characteristics of used materials - A63B 2209/10: with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener - A63B 2220/18: Inclination, slope or curvature - A63B 2220/78: Surface covering conditions, e.g. of a road surface - A63B 2225/02: Testing, calibrating or measuring of equipment - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) ## Abstract A shaft for a golf club includes a first end, a second end, and a demarcation. The first end is adapted to attach to a club head. The second end is adapted to receive a grip distal to the first end. The demarcation is positioned at or adjacent to the balance point of the golf club between the first end and the second end. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shaft for a golf club, comprising: a first end adapted to attach to a club head; a second end distal to the first end and adapted to receive a grip; and a demarcation positioned on or formed in the shaft, wherein the demarcation is located at or adjacent to a balance point of the golf club between the first end and the second end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shaft of claim 1, wherein the demarcation comprises an indentation formed in the shaft between at least two points along the shaft with larger diameters. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The shaft of claim 2, wherein the indentation comprises an annular groove. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The shaft of claim 3, wherein the annular groove comprises an hourglass shape. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shaft of claim 1, wherein the demarcation forms a taper between adjoining portions of the shaft with different diameters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The shaft of claim 1, wherein the demarcation comprises a bend or curve in the shaft. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The shaft of claim 1, further comprising an adhesive strip, the adhesive strip comprising the demarcation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The shaft of claim 7, wherein the adhesive strip includes a central portion and shoulders positioned at opposite sides of the central portion; and wherein the shoulders project radially outward from the shaft such that an indentation is defined between the shoulders. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The shaft of claim 1, further comprising at least one clamshell attached to the shaft, wherein the at least one clamshell comprises the demarcation. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The shaft of claim 9, wherein the at least one clamshell comprises a pair of clamshells coupled about the shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The shaft of claim 1, further comprising a sleeve slid onto the shaft, wherein the sleeve comprises the demarcation. ### Claim 12 A golf club, comprising: a club head; a grip; and a shaft having a first end connected to the club head and an opposite second end engaged with the grip, the shaft comprising a demarcation at or adjacent to a balance point of the golf club, wherein the balance point is located between the club head and the grip. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The golf club of claim 12, wherein the demarcation comprises an indentation formed in the shaft between at least two points along the shaft with larger diameters. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The golf club of claim 13, wherein the indentation comprises an annular groove. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The golf club of claim 14, wherein the annular groove comprises an hourglass shape. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The golf club of claim 12, wherein the demarcation forms a taper between adjoining portions of the shaft with different diameters. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The golf club of claim 12, wherein the demarcation comprises a bend or curve in the shaft. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The golf club of claim 12, further comprising an adhesive strip, wherein adhesive strip comprises the demarcation and is wrapped around a portion of the shaft. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The golf club of claim 18, wherein the adhesive strip includes a central portion and shoulders positioned on opposite sides of the central portion that project radially outward from the shaft such that an indentation is formed between the shoulders. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The golf club of claim 12, further comprising a first clamshell attached to the shaft, wherein the first clamshell comprises at least a portion of the demarcation. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The golf club of claim 20, further comprising a second clamshell coupled with the first clamshell such that the shaft is captured between the first clamshell and the second clamshell. ### Claim 22 (depends on 12) The golf club of claim 12, further comprising a sleeve slid onto the shaft, wherein the sleeve comprises the demarcation. ### Claim 23 (depends on 12) The golf club of claim 12, wherein the shaft has at least one horizontal and level edge when balanced at the balance point. ### Claim 24 A method for creating or modifying a golf club having a shaft, the method comprising: identifying a balance point of the golf club, wherein the balance point is located on the shaft; and providing the shaft with a demarcation at or adjacent to the balance point of the golf club. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, further comprising determining whether the shaft has a uniform configuration, a tapered configuration, or a stepped configuration; wherein the demarcation is provided to the shaft at or adjacent to the balance point of the golf club based on the determining. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein providing the shaft with the demarcation comprises: cutting the shaft into a first shaft segment and a second shaft segment; positioning an insert between the first shaft segment and the second shaft segment, wherein the insert comprises the demarcation; and joining the first shaft segment and the second shaft segment to opposite ends of the insert. ### Claim 27 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein providing the shaft with the demarcation comprises applying an adhesive strip to the shaft at or adjacent to the balance point of the golf club; and wherein the adhesive strip comprises the demarcation. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method of claim 27, wherein the adhesive strip comprises a pair of shoulders having an indentation defined therebetween. ### Claim 29 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein providing the shaft with the demarcation comprises positioning at least one clamshell on the shaft at or adjacent to the balance point of the golf club; and wherein at least one clamshell comprises the demarcation. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one clamshell comprises a pair of clamshells. ### Claim 31 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein providing the shaft with the demarcation comprises positioning a sleeve at or adjacent to the balance point of the golf club; and wherein the sleeve comprises the demarcation.