COUNTERBALANCED WEDGES

摘要

Described are embodiments of wedge-type golf clubs that include a counterbalance weight located at the butt end of the shaft. The shaft and/or grip of disclosed clubs can have reduced mass while the club head and the butt of the shaft can have increased mass compared to conventional clubs, which provides a similar overall total mass but with an increase in the moment of inertia (MOI). The increase in MOI compared to a conventional club of similar style and mass can provide increased swing stability during a stroke, decreasing unintentional waggling about the hand grip fulcrum. The added weight in the head and the added weight in the butt of the shaft can counterbalance each other so that the overall swingweight of the club can be about the same as for a conventional, non-counterbalanced club having the same total mass, thereby providing a familiar feel and easy playability.

主权项

1. A wedge-type golf club comprising:
a club head having a static loft angle greater than 45°; a shaft having an upper end and a lower end that is coupled to the club head; a hand grip coupled to the shaft between the upper end and the lower end; and a counterbalance weight coupled to the upper end of the shaft, the counterbalance weight having a mass of at least 40 grams; wherein the golf club has a total mass of at least 500 grams, a total length of from about 35 inches to about 38 inches, an MOICG of at least 600 kg*cm2, and an inertial efficiency of at least 13.5%, wherein inertial efficiency is a unitless ratio of the MOICG per unit length squared divided by the total club mass.