Angle Adjustment Discontinuities for Golf Clubs

Abstract

A golf club having a golf club shaft and a golf club head is provided. The shaft includes a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis extending therebetween. The golf club head, which is attached to the distal end of the golf club shaft, extends from a heel region to a toe region. The golf club head includes an angle adjustment discontinuity that is located below the distal end of the golf club shaft. The angle adjustment discontinuity includes a first elongated groove extending over both a transverse distance and a longitudinal distance. The first elongated groove does not encircle the longitudinal axis.

1 . A golf club comprising:
 a golf club shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction extending therebetween; and   a golf club head attached to the distal end of the golf club shaft, the head including:
 an angle adjustment discontinuity located below the distal end of the golf club shaft, the angle adjustment discontinuity including a first elongated groove extending over both a transverse distance and a longitudinal distance, the first elongated groove not encircling the longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         2 . The golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the first groove forms a closed loop. 
     
     
         3 . The golf club according to  claim 1 , further including a second elongated groove extending over both a transverse distance and a longitudinal distance, the second elongated groove not encircling the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         4 . The golf club according to  claim 3 , wherein the second elongated groove extends substantially parallel to the first elongated groove. 
     
     
         5 . The golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle adjustment discontinuity is symmetric with respect to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         6 . The golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the angle adjustment discontinuity is symmetric with respect to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . The golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the first elongated groove does not extend more than 180 degrees around the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         8 . The golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the head includes a neck region and wherein the first elongated groove is located at least partially in the neck region. 
     
     
         9 . The golf club according to  claim 1 , wherein the head includes a heel region and wherein the first elongated groove is located at least partially in the heel region. 
     
     
         10 . The golf club according to  claim 1 , further including at least a third elongated groove. 
     
     
         11 . A golf club comprising:
 a golf club shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction extending therebetween; and   a golf club head attached to the distal end of the golf club shaft, the head including:
 a means for relieving strain located below the distal end of the golf club shaft, the means for relieving strain including a first elongated gap-forming element extending over both a transverse distance and a longitudinal distance, the first elongated gap-forming element not encircling the longitudinal axis. 
   
     
     
         12 . The golf club according to  claim 11 , wherein the second elongated gap-forming element extends substantially parallel to the first elongated gap-forming element. 
     
     
         13 . The golf club according to  claim 11 , wherein the first elongated gap-forming element forms a closed loop that does not encircle the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         14 . The golf club according to  claim 11 , wherein the means for relieving strain is symmetric with respect to an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         15 . The golf club according to  claim 11 , wherein the means for relieving strain is symmetric with respect to an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The golf club according to  claim 11 , wherein the first elongated gap-forming element does not extend more than  180  degrees around the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . The golf club according to  claim 11 , wherein the head includes a neck region and wherein the first elongated gap-forming element is located at least partially in the neck region. 
     
     
         18 . The golf club according to  claim 11 , wherein the head includes a heel region and wherein the first elongated gap-forming element is located at least partially in the heel region. 
     
     
         19 . The golf club according to  claim 11 , further including at least a third elongated gap-forming element. 
     
     
         20 . A golf club head comprising:
 a main body extending from a heel region to a toe region;   a neck region extending from the heel region to a connection region and defining a longitudinal axis, the connection region configured for attachment to a distal end of a golf club shaft; and   an angle adjustment discontinuity located below the connection region, the angle adjustment discontinuity including a first elongated groove extending over both a transverse distance and a longitudinal distance, the first elongated groove not encircling the longitudinal axis.   
     
     
         21 . A golf club comprising:
 a golf club shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis defining a longitudinal direction extending therebetween; and   a golf club head attached to the distal end of the golf club shaft, the head including:
 an angle adjustment discontinuity located below the distal end of the golf club shaft, the angle adjustment discontinuity including a first elongated groove extending over both a transverse distance and a longitudinal distance and a second elongated groove extending over both a transverse distance and a longitudinal distance.