Could this design be a next generation OptiForce driver, or is it simply a dream that will never leave R&D?.... True golf geeks know that spoilers, fins, and wings are nothing new (just check out these posts, exhibit a, exhibit b, and exhibit c). The drawings come from USPN 8,753,224, which was recently awarded to Callaway Golf after a pendency of only 16.5 months (kudos to the patent office). The patent describes the invention as.... << MORE >>

It was only a matter of time before the increasing popularity of electronic swing training devices resulted in patent litigation. There is no doubt that these are fun little gadgets, but whether they will help you improve your game is still up for debate..... The first swing trainer patent infringement Complaint was filed a few weeks ago by iTrainer Golf Ltd., accusing Swingbyte, Inc. of patent infringement....<< MORE >>

A couple of recent trademark applications filed by Acushnet have tipped their hat regarding their “intent to use” a few technology trademarks. I anticipate that the next Titleist line of woods will incorporate.... << MORE >>

Drum roll please. The next PING fairway wood is .... (probably). Yes sir, check out those crown turbulators! THIS prior post explains the PING turbulators. I must admit, I never thought they would do it; but then again I never thought they would produce a driver with a racing stripe. However, I would bet that, like the i25's racing stripe, the crown turbulators will be real low-key and blend right into the overall design so they are hardly noticeable (if that is possible). Crown turbulators on what is likely the G30 fairway wood suggests that the associated driver is likely to also have crown turbulators. This is getting interesting! << MORE >>

The inventor of this club head clearly falls into the “more is always better” camp. Think you could hit this club?.... << MORE >>

If so, this head cover is for you (and may perfectly compliment your vehicle's TruckNutz)!.... << MORE >>

Two years ago I posted about an articulated hosel design by Callaway Golf. It was rather crude and I commented that a worm gear has no place on a golf club. This week a patent (USPN 8,708,836) issued that revealed a more refined articulated hosel design. What do you think?... All I have to say is wow! Could such a joint withstand repeated impacts? << MORE >>

Because every hacker, myself included, thinks that they can pull off a 1 in 100 shot at least 50% of the time. This makes for great comedy if you aren't afraid to laugh at your playing partners, or yourself in my case. A few years ago I shared a video with you about my Bill Haas shot from some slick smelly old pond mud. Recently I found myself in the same pond, only this time the ball was just under the surface of the water. Like any good hacker I looked at it, thought about the day's bet and the fact that my partner and I were only 1 up (he was in his pocket on this hole), and I quickly came to the conclusion that I had this shot, despite the fact that the ball was under water and at least 8 inches below my feet. There was no doubt in my mind, I had this shot. << MORE >>

As I have often said, the major club companies tend to only file design patent applications on products that have secured a spot in their product line-up. Check out this design from a recent Acushnet design patent. Notice there is no sole-entry shaft sleeve adjustability port; and is that a rotating triangle? Pretty radical for Titleist! Do you think we will ever see this on store shelves?...<< MORE >>

Earlier this month a Callaway Golf patent issued directed to the Bertha driver. Sure, it contained all the usual drawings that we would expect of the product that is on the market, but is also contained some interesting alternative designs. Place your bets, is this a design reject or possibly a future version of the Bertha?....<< MORE >>

Last week a patent application caught my eye because it listed the Golf Channel’s Matt Ginella as an inventor. Yes sir, Matty G played a part in the invention titled “Determination of Custom Information Based on Golfer Performance Data.” What’s next, a training aid designed by Damon Hack, a line of cotton tank tops designed by Gary Williams, or maybe a vegan cookbook authored by Charlie Rymer?....<< MORE >>

Check out this beauty!....<< MORE >>

A recently published patent application discloses a pretty interesting fitting concept, plus I just love the image of the golfing robot. The patent application published this month as US Pub. No. 20140074425 titled “System for Remotely Swinging a Golf Club,” which describes the invention as.... Interesting idea, but boy a purchaser would have to put a lot of faith in other people. Although, it is fun to imagine a line of 10 robots, each outfitted with a different driver; you take one swing, all 10 robots mimic your swing and hit a ball, and then you instantly get feedback on all 10 shots. Perhaps some day. << MORE >>

On March 19th NovelPoint Tracking LLC filed at least six patent infringement lawsuits regarding USPN 6442485 titled “Method and Apparatus for an Automatic Vehicle Location, Collision Notification, and Synthetic Voice.” One of the lawsuits named Cobra Golf Inc. as the defendant (see Complaint). This got my attention. Within 90 seconds I could see that the allegedly infringing product was the Cobra 5600 LM (a GPS navigation system), add another 30 seconds to drop that into a Google search, and clearly it is a product that is not made by Cobra Golf. Generally I think non-practicing entities (NPE’s), or patent trolls as some refer to them, get a bad rap; but come on, how do you make that mistake? Sure, they have sued a lot of golf retailers (check out this list of retailers they sued over golf GPS products), but that is no excuse for naming the wrong company in a patent infringement complaint! This just one reason why NPE’s get so much negative press. Sadly, today I am disappointed in my profession.<< MORE >>

No one would dispute that Phil can pimp a product, and the iron design found in a Callaway patent that issued today is just odd enough that he would probably love to tell the world about it. Check out this iron design.... In what seems to be a recent trend with Callaway, the associated application was filed with a nonpublication request meaning that Callaway wanted to keep this under wraps (away from the eyes of competitors or pesky golf blogs). The patent describes the invention as.... At this point can anyone pull off a low & forward CG location story without it appearing as a "me too" play? << MORE >>

As I stated in a post back in April regarding some Nike Covert variations, golf equipment companies come up with a lot of club head designs in the process of developing one commercial product, majority of which golfers never get to see. Fortunately their patent applications often reveal some of the hidden gems that for one reason or another did not survive the process, or may be a glimpse of a future generation product. Check out these potential Covert driver designs!.... Will we ever see these designs in a commercial product? My guess - not anytime soon; too radical....<< MORE >>

Selecting a good product name is hard work. For every ten good names that the marketing guys come up with, one may survive a proper trademark clearance and protectability analysis. In the past Cleveland Golf has not been known for creative and catchy product names, however that may be a thing of the past. Last week they filed a trademark application for.... Not bad, not bad at all! Place your bets; is it a new line of putters or drivers?....<< MORE >>

Just imagine the look on the faces of your golfing partners when you stroll up to the first tee with the latest _____ _____ brand golf bag, balls, and clubs!.... Boy, that is one heck of a list! You can check out the trademark application HERE. How is that for hard-hitting golf reporting!.... << MORE >>

What would Titleist’s core market of "purists" think of this design?.... Place your bets; will this design ever become an actual Titleist product? My prediction; not a chance!....<< MORE >>

What do you think: safe effective training aid or merely a maker of a raw ring around your neck?.... Birdie or bogey? I would try it.... << MORE >>

Let me start by saying that I am a pretty frugal guy, but golf equipment is my weakness. I am always searching for that product that somehow allows me to show up 5 minutes before my tee time and shoot in the 70’s despite no warm up or practice since my last round. Needless to say I am still searching for that magical club. My annual equipment purchases generally include at least one set of irons (three this year), multiple hybrids, and at least one putter (generally more). Surprisingly I am rather loyal to my driver and fairway wood. Therefore I decided to share with you my single best purchases and my single worst purchase of 2013.... << MORE >>

But you need to also have thick skin because there may be some laughter at your expense. Check out this helmet design!....<< MORE >>

A PING design patent issued today that may give us a first look at a new PING hybrid. Check it out.... << MORE >>

No, not a swing training device; it appears that Nike Golf has been working on a golf club head with a contoured backstop. Backstops to control the maximum face deflection are nothing new, but they are generally flat and a fixed distance behind the face. See what you think of what the Nike engineers have disclosed in a patent application that recently published as US Pub. No. 20130331202 titled “Golf Clubs and Golf Club Head Structures Having Contoured Backstop,” which describes the invention as.... Place you bets; will this ever make it into an actual product? How much extra would you pay for the customization aspect?<< MORE >>

Drum roll please.... ______ ____ of Scottsdale Arizona. Golf gearheads are undoubtedly familiar with the rumors surrounding the GoDaddy founder starting a golf equipment company and cherry picking some of the local Karsten (PING) engineers. Well, it looks like they also got one of their attorneys. On Monday the attorney filed two trademark applications, namely Slick Golf and Slick! So the rumors look to be true. Check out their website here.... What do you think of the name?<< MORE >>

Perhaps Nike Golf is betting on it! One of their patent applications recently published as US Pub. No. 20130324323 titled “Golf Ball Having A Cover Layer With Two Different Hardness Values.” Yes, a cover with 2 different hardness values!.... Would you play such a ball? << MORE >>

Well, if you read my post yesterday then you already know the answer. Yesterday’s post titled “Introducing the Gravity Core by Cobra Golf” suggested that vertical center of gravity adjustability was indeed an innovation back in 1922, but not in 2013! Why do I say this? Because vertical CG adjustability seems to be a hot topic this week, and the truth is that it rubs me the wrong way when any golf company goes too far in patting themselves on the back and suggesting they were the first to do something. After all, golfers have been tinkering with clubs since the first smother hook. As I mentioned yesterday, the word “innovation” is thrown around way too loosely in the golf industry. There is no doubt that there are lots of elegant solutions found in today’s club designs, and there is no doubt that these elegant solutions required a lot of creativity and engineering hours, but are they really “innovations” or just a unique implementation of an older innovation? You decide. Elegant solution or innovation? Check out these designs!....<< MORE >>

Yep, that’s right, Cobra Golf, not Callaway Golf. Why am I posting this? Dumb luck. A Cobra Golf patent application published today while I was working on another post regarding vertical center of gravity adjustment systems in light of this week's launch of the Big Bertha. Let's be honest, the word “innovation” is thrown around way too loosely in the golf industry. In fact, if you work in the golf industry and ever catch yourself starting to say “this is the first club to…,” or “our new innovation…”, then you should really demote yourself because eventually someone will call you out. Plus it makes you sound like you are on an infomercial and kills your credibility! After all, golfers have been tinkering with clubs since the first worm-burner. Sure, there are lots of elegant solutions found in today’s club designs, and there is no doubt they required a lot of creativity and engineering hours, but there are very few real innovations. Later this week I will illustrate that vertical center of gravity adjustability was indeed an innovation back in 1922, not 2013!....<< MORE >>

Most golf geeks are well aware of last week's media schmooze fest put on by Nike Golf (if not, read about it here and here). Apparently my invitation got lost in the mail; probably smart given my distrust of anything associated with over the top marketing. I prefer facts, technical data, and generally boring “spin-free” information; you know, like the information found in patent applications. Most of the lucky invitees seemed to be most impressed with their 2014 RZN golf balls with Speedlock Core Technology. I have to admit, the pictures are pretty intriguing. Recently a Nike Golf patent application published as US Pub. No. 20130288825 titled “Golf Ball Core Having Radial Appendages,” which describes the invention as.... The application appears to be the first of many directed to the Speedlock Core Technology concept....<< MORE >>

It is a trademark that ____________ intends to use in association with golf clubs, but I suspect it is really just another technology acronym rather than a new product name. After all, each new golf product must have at least three technologies, each with its own acronym. So what could APW be short for?<< MORE >>

I wouldn’t bet on it because these "backstryke" driver designs could take down any golf company. Check out these beauties!.... The drawings come from a patent that issued today as USPN 8,585,510 titled “Golf Club Head With Improved Aerodynamic Characteristics.” The associated application was filed with a nonpublication request meaning that Callaway wanted to keep this under wraps (perhaps in fear of a shareholder revolt.... I kid). The patent describes the invention as.... Interesting stuff but could these designs ever really find their way into an actual product line?...<< MORE >>

Check out the designs disclosed in a Cobra Golf patent application that published this week.... Sure, I could see them incorporating phospholuminescent or glow-in-the-dark pigment, heck it might even be pretty cool, but “LEDs or other illumination elements within or around window” – give me a break. Prove me wrong and I will buy one!....<< MORE >>

Rumors are circulating that G-Mac has been testing this golf ball design and is going to put it in play in early 2014. OK, I haven’t actually heard any of these rumors, but they might be out there (and it makes this post a little more interesting). Check out the latest bizarre golf ball dimple design patent that was issued to SRI this week!...<< MORE >>

Well, it probably won't find a home in any golf equipment museum, but the invention is interesting nonetheless. The ground breaking invention at hand is found in a patent application that recently published as US Pub. No. 20130276211 titled....<< MORE >>

It is hard to believe that it has been 20 months since I reported on a ridged score line patent awarded to Bridgestone Golf. This week an interesting variation of the ridged score line concept was disclosed in a patent application that published as US Pub. No. 20130281226, which....<< MORE >>

I am looking to add to my library of golf club data and want to get my hands on all the component club head catalogs that I threw away in the late 80's and 90's. Please shoot me an email if you have old GolfWorks catalogs, or the like, and want to get rid of them. I can't make you rich, but will compensate you for your efforts, particularly if you have a nice large collection.....<< MORE >>

That club is so ugly that it is cute; just what every manufacturer wants to hear. Actually, when confronted by a jaw-dropping ugly golf club I am more likely to think “there must be something to that club because no one would make something look like that if it didn’t perform, let me give it a try.” Soak in the beauty of these designs.... What do you think, would it work?.... << MORE >>

Limited information can be found on the popular golf forums regarding PING’s upcoming I25 driver (here), fortunately a design patent that issued today provides us with a better perspective of the overall shape and design of the club head. Check it out.... Looks like the new driver will be adjustable and include a swing weight port. Baby steps that PING loyalists will love.... << MORE >>

Earlier this summer a post titled “Adjustable Bounce; Who Did it Better” pitted Acushnet against Bridgestone in a death match concerning the best adjustable bounce wedge (perhaps slightly overly dramatic). Today we tackle a different issue, perhaps a sensitive issue for some (not me, of course), regarding men and their desire to have things appear larger than they actually are. Come on; I am talking about grooves and today the competitors are Cobra Golf and Karsten (aka PING).... So, who did it better?.... Now I am off to purchase a muscle suit to wear during my round tomorrow because I am sure it will make me hit the ball further (and with improved accuracy)!<< MORE >>

Cue the cheesy game show music. Can you guess the golf company that was awarded a design patent this week for the following wedge design?.... I will give you a hint, the.... Now the million dollar question, is it an upcoming product or simply a design that never made it out of R&D? I suspect the later since the patent application was filed back in October 2012, but either way it is different enough from past products that there must be a good story behind it....<< MORE >>

Surlyn, please. Urethane, no thank you – so yesterday. Based upon a recently filed trademark application I suspect the marketing guys on the Pirate Ship at Callaway Golf are hoping that 2014 will be the year of the....<< MORE >>

This week the company associated with the popular SuperStroke grips, namely Technique Golf, L.L.C., filed a trademark application seeking registration of a trademark that consists of the shape of a golf club grip. The application includes the following drawing of the grip shape that they are trying to register.... Other grip manufacturers should take notice. Unfortunately for Technique Golf, my gut tells me that they have roughly a zero percent chance of registering this product design as a trademark via this application.... << MORE >>

A patent application recently published that lists a major champion as one of the inventors. Take a guess who invented this “golf putting training device and method.”.... I will go out on a limb and say that this invention would probably improve any golfer’s handicap. Reading between the lines, the inventors clearly believe that a golfer should be focused a few inches in front of the golf ball while putting. So, who is the inventor? Drum roll please....<< MORE >>

I wonder if it is just a matter of time before each pro golfer has their own custom dimple pattern and/or profile; similar to how they all have their preferred wedge grinds. Why am I thinking about such nonsense? Simple, because a Nike patent application that published this week leads me to believe that the concept may not be outside the realm of possibility..... Not exactly the artistic personal touch of grinding a player's wedge, but pretty darn cool. I wonder how long each ball would take, not to mention the final cost of a ball with laser cut dimples....<< MORE >>

Well, Cobra Golf has indicated an intend to use the following marks.... Not bad product names, good work....<< MORE >>

The simple fact is that it is easy for a golfer to tweak the settings on a modern adjustable golf club, yet 90%+ of golfers will never change a setting. What does that tell us about the likely market for golf balls that have to be tweaked/assembled by a golfer in order to use the product?.... Can you imagine spending the time to assemble this golf ball puzzle and then lose it on your first shot? I would go nuts. I think the more accurate representation of a golfer assembling their custom golf ball is something like this.... Crazy stuff! It may be time for someone to shorten the leash on the crew in golf ball R&D....<< MORE >>

You saw it here first!.... Um, 3-putt machine! I am not convinced that my scores would improve by playing archery golf!<< MORE >>

Drum roll please. The next PING driver is .... (probably).... Now, the million dollar question: is that some type of adjustable, or interchangeable, sole plate?....<< MORE >>

This week _{take a guess}_ filed 3 trademark applications directed to variations of the KING OF ALL DISTANCE mark. They include.... << MORE >>

When it comes to really outside-the-box golf inventions, bordering on wacky, Nike Golf is the leader in the field. While some may argue that such a distinction is not a compliment, I think that it is and demonstrates that they are not tied down by conventional thinking. Now with that said, it sure would be nice if they brought one of their really odd designs to a commercial product instead of just dreaming and filing patent applications! The latest unique golf ball invention is disclosed in a patent application that published recently as US Pub. No. 20130165270 titled “Golf Ball With Material-Filled Grooves,” which describes the invention as..... Come on, if Nike would bring a ball like this to the market I promise to purchase at least 10 dozen, and I suspect there are millions of golfers like me willing to try something a little unconventional....<< MORE >>