Indoor Golf: Golf Patent: Titleist Aims to Throw Its Weight Around

By: Tony Covey

Current driver design is largely focused on two goals: saving weight and moving weight. A recent patent filing by Acushnet (Titleist) focuses on the latter.

Look Familiar?

There's no denying that in the golf equipment space, who invented what is often a matter of great debate, with more than one party often trying to claim ownership of an idea or technology. With that in mind, it shouldn't come as any real surprise that while some of what's disclosed here does appear different from anything else on the market, some looks to fit within been there, done that category. As with most anything else, reality is nuanced, and any actual innovation may be unclear to the naked eye.

In this case, the key phrase might be this: One aspect of the present technology is the realization that position of weight elements in existing golf club head designs are not easily adjustable.

Are existing methods of moving weight around really that complicated?

If nothing else, the patent application which was filed on June 3, 2016 (as a continuation from a patent application from 2014), and published on September 22nd, and lists Stephen S. Murphy and Darryl C. Galvan as inventors, provides some insight into Titleist's R&D department while highlighting a couple of potentially interesting ways to move mass around a metalwood head.

Here is, in part, how Acushnet summarizes the field of its invention:

The systems, methods, and devices described herein have innovative aspects, no single one of which is indispensable or solely responsible for their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of the claims, some of the advantageous features will now be summarized.

One aspect of the present technology is the realization that position of weight elements in existing golf club head designs are not easily adjustable. Thus, there exists a need for an improved golf club head. The present technology is directed to a golf club head incorporating a position adjustable weight system. The position adjustable weight system provides the ability to fine tune the performance characteristics of the golf club via manipulation of the position of an adjustable weight, thereby manipulating the location of the center of gravity and the moment of inertia of the golf club to suit the golfer's preference and increase the club's playability.

As noted, a cursory glance suggests that many of the ideas contained within already exist in the marketplace. That said, you never know what kind of fresh spin can be placed on existing technology, and with its 917 series, Titleist has shown an ability to bring something different to the market. Perhaps there's more still to come.