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[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/367,088, filed on Mar. 22, 2002.
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to an improved golf club head, method of golf club head treatment, and kit for reducing golf ball side spin. More specifically, the present invention relates to an improved golf club head that reduces the side spin on a golf ball after a golf club impacts the golf ball at an angle that normally would create side-spin and a resulting slice. The present invention also relates to the method of treating an existing golf club head to become an improved golf club head. Finally, the present invention provides a kit for treatment of the golf club head.
[0004] 2. Background
[0005] Both avid and amateur golfers crave the distance and enjoyment that comes from a golf ball being hit straight down a fairway. These golfers share the common fear of a seemingly straight golf shot slicing or hooking away from the fairway.
[0006] A slice or hook is caused by a side spin being inadvertently place upon a ball. Ideally, a golfer swinging a club will strike a golf ball with the club face perpendicular to the intended direction of the golf ball. In practice hitting the golf ball perpendicular to the intended direction is very difficult and even a slight angle to perpendicular results in side spin. When the club face hits the golf ball at an angle, the club face grips the surface of the golf ball causing it to spin sideways.
[0007] The amount of friction or gripping between the club face and the golf ball is determined by the coefficient of friction. Friction is the resistance to relative motion of contacting surfaces. The degree of friction that is occurring is given by the coefficient of friction. Callister, W. D. Material Science and Engineering.John Wiley and Sons, Inc. New York,1994. A lower coefficient of friction between a golf ball and the face of a club will result in less spin being imparted to the golf ball. A golf ball with less side spin will slice or hook less.
[0008] The side spin initially does not influence the trajectory of the ball but as the velocity of the ball slows the side spin begins to influence the trajectory into a slice or hook.
[0009] An avid golfer may spend hours attempting to perfect his golf swing to eliminate a slice or hook; however, because even a slight angle may create a slice or hook, he or she may not consistently eliminate a slice or hook. An amateur golfer unaware of any swing imperfection may simply become frustrated with his or her golf game. A solution to decreasing side spin is therefore desirable to assist golfers in this problems.
[0010] Other golf club head treatment methods have been designed to attempt to fulfill this need. U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,171 issued to Sharpe is one of these methods. Sharpe's method provides a system for changing the trajectory of the golf ball when struck by the face of the golf ball by including a friction altering material to the club face. However, this method does not provide the user with a method of preloading lubricant onto the club head with the lubricant becoming integral to the club face. Therefore, there is a need for an improved method that provides the user with a longer lasting coefficient of friction reduction on the club face.
[0011] Composition and method of use disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,140 issued to Zilonis et al. relates to the reduction of hooks or slices. The composition is topically applied to the golf club face and after impact with the golf ball the club becomes substantially free of the composition. The user is therefore required to reapply the composition with every swing attempted with the club. Therefore, the need remains for an improved golf club head that allows the user the benefit of a reduced coefficient of friction without the requirement of reapplying the composition before every golf swing.
[0012] An improved golf club head is claimed to reduce the coefficient of friction that results when a golf club head strikes a golf ball to reduce side spin and the resulting slice or hook.
[0013] A method is claimed to modify a golf club head to perform as an improved golf club head.
[0014] A kit is claimed to provide the user with the necessary materials to modify a golf club to perform as an improved golf club head.
[0015] In the preferred embodiment, a user of this device swings the golf club at a golf ball so that the face contacts the golf ball. If the face contacts the golf ball perpendicularly no slice will result; however, if the face contacts the golf ball at angle a side spin will result. The amount of side spin is determined by the angle the club contacts the ball and the coefficient of friction between the golf ball and the club face. Lubricant seeping from the porous material reduces the coefficient of friction between the golf ball and the face. Thus, a user of this device places less side spin upon a golf ball than using a golf club head without this improvement if hitting a golf ball at the same angle.
[0016]
[0017]
[0018]
[0019]
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
[0023] In the preferred embodiment, the head body
[0024] The club face
[0025]
[0026] The first lubricant
[0027] A user of the device
[0028]
[0029] In the preferred method, the user applies heat to the club face
[0030] A user of the method illustrated in
[0031]
[0032] In
[0033] In the preferred embodiment as seen in
[0034] The supplemental lubricant
[0035] A user applies the supplemental lubricant
[0036]
[0037] Although the invention has been described by reference to some embodiments it is not intended that the novel device be limited thereby, but that modifications thereof are intended to be included as falling within the broad scope and spirit of the foregoing disclosure, the following claims and the appended drawings.