Golf clubs and methods

Abstract

Novel golf clubs (10, 50) and associated methodology optimally minimize air resistance during swinging motion of the golf club (10). A first golf club (10) comprises a head (12) a handle (18) and a shaft (22) connecting the head (12) with the handle (18). A rib (24) protrudes outwardly from the shaft (22) and runs longitudinally along the shaft (22) in a spiral configuration. The spiral configuration has a pitch which decreases from the head (12) to the handle (18). The spiraling configuration of the rib (24) minimizes vortices and drag generated when the golf club (10) is in motion to thereby decrease air resistance to the golf club (10). Furthermore, the golf club (10) is provided with a novel head (12) having a body with a face (14) angled inwardly, a rear end (38) angled inwardly, right and left sides decreasing in curvature from the rear end (38) to the face (14), a substantially flat bottom (46), and a top (48) which is circular as viewed from the face (14) and is parabolic as viewed from the right and left sides (42, 44). A second golf club (50) has a series of X-like elements (58a) running linearly and longitudinally along the face of the shaft (22) facing club motion for breaking up air vortices during club motion. The series of X-like elements (58a) are preferably formed by first and second ribs (54a, 54b), which spiral in opposite senses about the shaft (22).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.