Golf club with a cushion made of viscoelastic material

Abstract

A golf club ( 10 ) is configured to dissipate kinetic energy during the impact when striking the golf ball, thereby to reduce the quantum of kinetic energy transferred from the golf club ( 10 ) to the ball and reducing the distance that the ball travels. The reduction in ball travel encourages the player to use more concentric muscle action at the moment of impact and thus to have better control over the impact. The golf club ( 10 ) includes a shaft ( 18 ) and a head ( 14 ) and the head ( 14 ) comprises a support structure ( 22 ) that is connected to the shaft ( 18 ), and an impact absorbent structure ( 16 ) that defines a face ( 46 ) of the golf club ( 10 ). The impact absorbent structure ( 16 ) includes a cushion ( 48 ), disposed between the face ( 46 ) and the support structure ( 22 ) and the cushion ( 48 ) is made of a shear thickening material.

1 - 7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . A golf club including a shaft and a head, said head comprising:
 a support structure that is connected to the shaft; and   an impact absorbent structure that defines a face of the golf club, said impact absorbent structure including a cushion, disposed between the face and the support structure; wherein said cushion is made of a viscoelastic material that is rheopectic.   
     
     
         9 . A golf club according to  claim 8 , wherein said impact absorbent structure includes at least one hard layer, that is harder than the cushion, said hard layer being disposed adjacent the face of the golf club. 
     
     
         10 . A golf club according to  claim 8 , wherein said hard layer forms the face of the golf club. 
     
     
         11 . A golf club according to  claim 8 , wherein said hard layer is embedded in the cushion and is spaced from the face of the golf club. 
     
     
         12 . A golf club according to  claim 11 , the impact absorbent structure includes a softer, compressible face layer, forming the face of the golf club, with said hard layer disposed between the cushion and said face layer. 
     
     
         13 . A golf club according to  claim 8 , wherein said support structure defines a recess in which said impact absorbent structure is receivable. 
     
     
         14 . A golf club according to  claim 8 , wherein said golf club includes at least one biometric telemetry sensor that is configured to monitor movement of the golf club. 
     
     
         15 . A golf club according to  claim 9 , wherein said hard layer forms the face of the golf club. 
     
     
         16 . A golf club according to  claim 9 , wherein said hard layer is embedded in the cushion and is spaced from the face of the golf club. 
     
     
         17 . A golf club according to  claim 9 , wherein said support structure defines a recess in which said impact absorbent structure is receivable. 
     
     
         18 . A golf club according to  claim 10 , wherein said support structure defines a recess in which said impact absorbent structure is receivable. 
     
     
         19 . A golf club according to  claim 11 , wherein said support structure defines a recess in which said impact absorbent structure is receivable. 
     
     
         20 . A golf club according to  claim 12 , wherein said support structure defines a recess in which said impact absorbent structure is receivable. 
     
     
         21 . A golf club according to  claim 9 , wherein said golf club includes at least one biometric telemetry sensor that is configured to monitor movement of the golf club. 
     
     
         22 . A golf club according to  claim 10 , wherein said golf club includes at least one biometric telemetry sensor that is configured to monitor movement of the golf club. 
     
     
         23 . A golf club according to  claim 11 , wherein said golf club includes at least one biometric telemetry sensor that is configured to monitor movement of the golf club. 
     
     
         24 . A golf club according to  claim 12 , wherein said golf club includes at least one biometric telemetry sensor that is configured to monitor movement of the golf club. 
     
     
         25 . A golf club according to  claim 13 , wherein said golf club includes at least one biometric telemetry sensor that is configured to monitor movement of the golf club. 
     
     
         26 . A golf club according to  claim 16 , the impact absorbent structure includes a softer, compressible face layer, forming the face of the golf club, with said hard layer disposed between the cushion and said face layer. 
     
     
         27 . A golf club according to  claim 15 , wherein said support structure defines a recess in which said impact absorbent structure is receivable.