Side spin inducing golf club

Abstract

A ramped surface is added to the ball striking surface of the planar club face of the head of a golf club. The ramp diverges from the central portion of the club face to the heel or toe of the club so as to produce a side spin on a golf ball struck by the club head. Where the ramp diverges from the club face towards the toe of the club the spin will be counterclockwise. Where the ramp diverges from the club face towards the heel of the club the spin will be clockwise.

1 . A sidespin inducing golf club head comprising: 
 a golf club body extending laterally from a hosel, and having a sole, a top surface, a heel, a toe, and a planar club face that intersects the sole at an acute angle, the planar club face having a top edge, a sole edge, a toe end and a heel end and a grooved area between the heel end and the toe end; and    a ramp formed on the planar face of the club, which ramp intersects the grooved area of the club face along a line lateral to the intersection between the club face and the sole of the club, the ramp having a ramp surface that extends substantially to one of the ends of the club face and diverges from the plane of the club face as the ramp approaches the end of the club face, such that the ramp will introduce a side spin in one direction to a golf ball struck on the grooved area of the ramp and club face.    
   
   
       2 . The club head of  claim 1  wherein the ramp diverges from the club face in the direction of the toe of the club head.  
   
   
       3 . The club head of  claim 1  wherein the ramp diverges from the club face in the direction of the heel of the club head.  
   
   
       4 . The club head of  claim 1  wherein the ramp surface is a planar surface.  
   
   
       5 . The club head of  claim 1  wherein the ramp surface a curved surface  
   
   
       6 . The club head of  claim 1  wherein the club head and ramp are formed as a single piece of material.  
   
   
       7 . The club head of  claim 1  wherein the ramp is permanently attached to the club head.  
   
   
       8 . The club head of  claim 1  wherein the ramp is detachably secured to the club face by means of at least one releasable fastener.  
   
   
       9 . A sidespin inducing golf club head comprising: 
 a golf club body extending laterally from a hosel, and having a sole, a top surface, a heel, a toe, and a planar club face that intersects the sole at an acute angle, the planar club face having a top edge, a sole edge, a toe end and a heel end, and a grooved area between the heel end and the toe end; and    a ramp formed on the planar face of the club, which ramp intersects the grooved area of the club face along a line substantially normal to the intersection between the club face and the sole of the club, the ramp having a ramp surface that has a shape that is a developable curved surface, so that the ramp surface has a loft angle that is the same as that of the planar club face, the ramp extending substantially to one of the ends of the club face and diverging from the plane of the club face as the ramp approaches the end of the club face, such that the ramp introduces a side spin in one direction to a golf ball struck on the grooved area of the ramp and club face.    
   
   
       10 . The club head of  claim 9  wherein the top surface of the club head is provided with an index line that will generally align the planar club face with a line to an intended target when the index line is aligned with the line to the intended target.  
   
   
       11 . The club head of  claim 9  wherein the ramp diverges from the club face in the direction of the toe of the club head.  
   
   
       12 . The club head of  claim 9  wherein the ramp diverges from the club face in the direction of the heel of the club head.  
   
   
       13 . The club head of  claim 9  wherein the club head and ramp are formed as a single piece of material.  
   
   
       14 . The club head of  claim 9  wherein the ramp is permanently attached to the club head.  
   
   
       15 . The club head of  claim 9  wherein the ramp is detachably secured to the club face by means of at least one releasable fastener.  
   
   
       16 . A method for custom fitting the club head of  claim 1  to a golfer who has a swing that produces an out-of-control hook or slice, comprising the steps of: 
 having the golfer hit balls with a test club having a planar club face and not having a corrective ramp,    determining the degree and causes of the hook or slice, and    creating a formula for forming a ramp having the desired correction for the golfer's swing.    
   
   
       17 . A method as recited in  claim 16  further comprising the following steps between the determining step and the writing step: 
 attaching to the test club a corrective ramp having a known degree of correction,    having the golfer hit balls with the test club with the corrective ramp attached,    noting the results of the correction,    repeating the three preceding steps with corrective ramps having differing degrees of correction until the out-of-control hook or slice is sufficiently corrected    
   
   
       18 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the ramp is formed by a machining process.  
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the ramp is formed by a casting process.  
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 16  wherein the ramp is formed by a forging process.