Apparatus for fitting a golf club to a player

Apparatus for fitting the length of a golf club and the club head-to-shaft angle to an individual person, which comprises:

• a fitting club having the overall configuration of a standard golf club with a shaft, grip and head;
• said shaft including a first portion carrying said grip and a second portion connected to said head;
• said first and second shaft portions relatively telescoping to vary the shaft length from grip to head;
• said head mounted for pivoting about a pivot point at the connection of said said shaft and head to vary the head-to-shaft angle;
• means for determining the shaft length when said grip is held with the shaft telescoped to a selected length which comprises:
• a generally "L" shaped electrically insulating panel;
• a first leg of said panel extending into said second shaft portion and pivotable therewith;
• a first series of spaced electrical contact areas along said first leg each representing a specific shaft length;
• a first continuous electrical contact means along said first leg adjacent to said first series of spaced contacts;
• a first movable connection contact secured to said second shaft portion for movement along said first series of contacts and said first continuous contact to connect therebetween;
• electrical circuit means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the one of said first spaced contacts engaged by said first movable connection contact to indicate the overall shaft length;
• means for determining the head-to-shaft angle when said grip held is with said shaft at a selected angle to said head which comprises:
• the second leg of said generally L-shaped panel extending into a cavity in said head;
• a second series of spaced electrical contact areas arranged radially about the head pivot point;
• a second continuous electrical contact means adjacent to said second series of contact areas;
• a second connection contact secured to said head for connection between said second continuous contact and one of said second series of spaced contacts as said shaft is pivoted relative to said head;
• and
• electrical circuit means for generating an electrical signal corresponding to the one of said second spaced contacts engaged by said second movable connection contact to indicate head-to-shaft angle;
• first display means for displaying indicia indicating the shaft length when said grip is held at a selected length and angular position;
• second display means for displaying indicia indicating the head-to-shaft angle when said grip is held at said selected length and angular position;
• whereby a person may hold the grip and assume a normal golf stance and said display means will display the actual shaft length and head-to-shaft angle so that the person can select a corresponding normal club.

Apparatus for fitting the length of a golf club and the club head-to-shaft angle to an individual person, which comprises:

• a fitting club having the overall configuration of a standard golf club with a shaft, grip and head;
• said shaft including a first portion carrying said grip and a second portion connected to said head;
• said first and second shaft portions relatively telescoping to vary the shaft length from grip to head;
• said head mounted for pivoting about a pivot point at the connection of said said shaft and head to vary the head-to-shaft angle;
• means for determining the shaft length when said grip is held with the shalt telescoped to a selected length;
• means for determining the head-to-shaft angle when said grip held is with said shaft at a selected angle to said head which comprises;
• a generally "L" shaped electrically insulating panel;
• a first leg of said panel extending into said second shaft portion and pivotable therewith;
• a second leg of said panel extending into a cavity in said head;
• a series of spaced electrical contact areas arranged radially about the head pivot point;
• a continuous electrical contact means adjacent to said series of contact areas;
• a connection contact secured to said head for connection between said continuous contact and one of said series of spaced contacts as said shaft is pivoted relative to said head;
• electrical circuit means for generating a digital display corresponding to the one of said spaced contacts engaged by said connection contact to indicate head-to-shaft angle;
• shaft length display means for displaying indicia indicating the shaft length when said grip is held at a selected position;
• whereby a person may hold the grip and assume a normal golf stance and said display means will display the actual shaft length and head-to-shaft angle so that the person can select a corresponding normal club.