Method and apparatus for assembling a shaft to a golf club head

A method for assembling a shaft to a golf club head without epoxy, the golf club head having an interior hosel with a tapered bore therethrough, a crown opening and a sole opening, the shaft having a tip end and a butt end, the method comprising:

• positioning the golf club head in a club head alignment device of an assembly apparatus, the alignment device having a projection for placement in the sole opening of the interior hosel;
• placing a ferrule and a sleeve on the shaft proximate the tip end;
• positioning the butt end of the shaft into a holding device of the assembly apparatus, the holding device capable of oscillation;
• placing a portion of the shaft including the ferrule into a cavity of a press device;
• placing a portion of the tip end of the shaft and a portion of the sleeve through the crown opening and into the tapered bore of the interior hosel of the golf club head, a portion of the sleeve positioned outside of the crown opening;
• aligning a graphic of the shaft with a face of the golf club head;
• enclosing a jaw mechanism of the press device around a portion of the shaft between the sleeve and the ferrule;
• moving the press device to engage a top end of the sleeve and press the sleeve into the tapered bore of the interior hosel of the golf club head to partially attach the shalt to the golf club head;
• moving the press device away from the golf club head and disengaging the jaw mechanism;
• removing the golf club head with the partially attached shaft front the assembly apparatus;
• and
• securing the ferrule to the interior hosel to completely attach the shaft to the golf club head without epoxy.

An apparatus for assembling a shaft to a golf club head, the golf club head having a hosel with a tapered bore, the shaft having a tip end and a butt end and including a ferrule and a sleeve disposed on the shaft proximate the tip end, the apparatus comprising:

• a first section of a frame;
• a second section of the frame coupled to the first section;
• a club head alignment device for receiving the golf club head, the alignment device being disposed on the first section;
• a holding device for receiving the butt end of the shaft, the holding device being disposed on the second section and being movable with respect to the club head alignment device;
• and
• a press device disposed on the first section of the frame and including a jaw mechanism for enclosing a portion of the shaft between the sleeve and a retention nut, the press device being movable with respect to the club head alignment device to forte the sleeve further into the tapered bore of the hosel.

An apparatus for assembling a shaft to a golf club head without epoxy, the golf club head having an interior hosel with a tapered bore therethrough, a crown opening and a sole opening, the shaft having a tip end and a butt end, and a sleeve and a ferrule disposed on the shaft, the apparatus comprising:

• a frame having an upper section and a lower section;
• an alignment base disposed on the lower section of the frame, the alignment base having a projection for placement in the sole opening of the interior hosel;
• a holding device for receiving the butt end of the shaft, the holding device disposed on the upper section of the frame, the holding device capable of vertical oscillation;
• a press device disposed on the lower section of the frame, the press device capable of vertical oscillation, the press device having a cavity for receiving a portion the shaft with the ferrule;
• and
• a jaw mechanism connected to the press device, the jaw mechanism capable of enclosing the shaft above the sleeve and forcing the sleeve into the tapered bore of the interior hosel of the golf club head during oscillation of the press device.