CEOs of high-profile (e.g. S&P 1500) corporations are sometimes tempted to shirk their duties. One quite well-tried method of shirking is to leave the office for the day and play golf instead. Thus, as an observer, if you take the position that shirking might in general hamper business performance, an extrapolated question can be asked […]
Tag: golfballs
2012 Yearly Golfball Patents: A look back
Over the course of the last year Improbable has attempted to address the question of whether the number of new patents for golfballs might or might not be used as a continuous gauge for human ingenuity. With the recent publication of December’s figures, The full results are now in. Statistics : Highest monthly level : 11 golfball […]
Updated index of new patents for golfballs (Oct. 2012)
The monthly number of new US patents for golfballs fell sharply in October – down almost 28% on the figures for September 2012. Just eight new golfball concepts were patented this month. • Golf ball and method for designing same • Golf ball • Golf ball incorporating ionomeric component having property gradients • High performance […]
Updated index of new patents for golfballs (Sept. 2012)
The GolfBall Index maintained headway into positive territory again this month – virtually equalling August’s promising figures. September 2012 ended with almost one dozen new US patents for golfballs. • Golf ball core with soft outer transition volume and negative hardness gradient • Multi-layer core golf ball having opposing hardness gradient with steep gradient outer […]
The Golfball Index (UPDATED: August 2012)
Although the month started slowly (there was just one new golfball patent in the first week) the index quickly regained lost ground, and soon reached one of the highest levels this year. (Showing a significant improvement on July, when the US patent office issued just 7 new patents for golfballs.) August 2012 ended with no […]
The Golfball Index (UPDATED: July 2012)
The July 2012 figures for the Golfball Index have edged back down into negative territory again – failing to maintain the the promising figures for June. This month there were just 7 US patents issued for new types of golfballs. • Golf ball • Multi-layer-core golf ball having highly-neutralized polymer outer core layer • Golf […]
The Golfball Index (UPDATED: April 2012)
See previous index for January, February, and March 2012. The Golfball Index maintained its recent lacklustre performance during April 2012. As in the previous month, there were only 7 new US golfball patents. • Thick inner cover multi-layer golf ball • Three-layer-core golf ball having highly-neutralized polymer outer core layer • Multi-piece golf ball comprising […]
Introducing – The Golfball Index
Each month sees in a batch of new US patents for golfballs. Can their numbers serve as a pointer for estimating the ongoing condition of human ingenuity? An Improbable Investigation. The Golfball Index moved back into positive territory in February 2012, with 9 new US golfball patents being granted. This represented a 350% increase over […]