US20080188321A1 - Golf putter heads and methods of making them - Google Patents
Golf putter heads and methods of making them Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20080188321A1 US20080188321A1 US12/022,875 US2287508A US2008188321A1 US 20080188321 A1 US20080188321 A1 US 20080188321A1 US 2287508 A US2287508 A US 2287508A US 2008188321 A1 US2008188321 A1 US 2008188321A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- putter head
- cavity
- striking face
- wall
- putter
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/0487—Heads for putters
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/0416—Heads having an impact surface provided by a face insert
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/0458—Heads with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/0408—Heads characterised by specific dimensions, e.g. thickness
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/0441—Heads with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/0445—Details of grooves or the like on the impact surface
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B53/00—Golf clubs
- A63B53/04—Heads
- A63B53/0458—Heads with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate
- A63B53/0462—Heads with non-uniform thickness of the impact face plate characterised by tapering thickness of the impact face plate
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B60/00—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like
- A63B60/52—Details or accessories of golf clubs, bats, rackets or the like with slits
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T29/00—Metal working
- Y10T29/49—Method of mechanical manufacture
- Y10T29/4998—Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material
- Y10T29/49988—Metal casting
- Y10T29/49989—Followed by cutting or removing material
Definitions
- This invention relates to golf clubs, and more particularly to golf putter heads that impart improved feel to the user.
- putter heads that are made of soft materials are limited in their applications. For example, they are not suitable for rough treatment environments because they tend to dent, scratch, mar or corrode. Also, because of their low carbon content, they are not suitable for heat treatment to increase their hardness to provide putter heads with the durability advantages provided by highly hardened steel. Further, putter heads that have inserts made of soft materials set into or applied on the putter face have been found lacking in terms of not providing sufficient, significant, reliable or repeatable feel or feedback to the user to indicate when the ball is being struck directly on the sweet spot of the face of the head, as compared to being struck by a portion of the club face that is not aligned with or is off of the sweet spot.
- Putter heads that have inserts made of soft materials have been found undesirable at times because the inserts are subject to distortion of the striking area due to the difference in the thermal coefficients between differing materials of the insert and the head.
- the inserts and adhesives that secure the inserts can be affected by the ambient temperatures to which they are subjected. For example, a golf club that is stored in a car trunk or garage may experience temperatures that range from below zero to extremely high. These inserts may lose their originally intended softness or inherent hardness due to such temperature fluctuations.
- the present disclosure provides golf putter heads of the mallet or blade type that overcome the aforementioned and other problems and/or disadvantages.
- the present disclosure provides golf putter heads that provide improved sufficient, significant, reliable and repeatable feel or feedback to the user relative to whether a golf ball is aligned with the sweet spot of the putter face when the striking face strikes the ball.
- the present disclosure provides golf putter heads that will ring with a distinct sound like that of a tuning fork when a golf ball is properly stroked on the sweet spot of the striking face, thereby offering an audible feedback to the user.
- the present disclosure also provides golf putter heads that impart to the user's hands a more pronounced feeling of contact with the golf ball when it is stroked with a putter head of this disclosure.
- the present disclosure also provides golf putter heads that are one-piece.
- the present disclosure also provides golf putter heads that are one-piece and are of the heavy type.
- the present disclosure further provides golf putter heads that have a unique unbounded through-cavity located behind, preferably directly behind, the striking face of the putter head.
- the present disclosure further provides golf putter heads having an unbounded through-cavity that can have an elliptical shape.
- the present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads having a high moment of inertia.
- the present disclosure further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads that have a high moment of inertia, and are properly balanced without need of adjustments to the head.
- the present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads having a high moment of inertia that in turn provides resistance to substantially horizontal twisting of the putter head or putter during use.
- the present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads having a high moment of inertia due to the presence of a mass of the putter head material located along the longitudinal axis of the putter head.
- the present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads having a high moment of inertia provided by a spherical mound of the putter head material.
- the present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads having a high moment of inertia provided by a spherical mound of the putter head material located preferably immediately behind and central to the elliptical unbounded through-cavity and providing downward and rearward weight to the putter head.
- the present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads that are made of heat treated stainless steel.
- the present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads that are made of a high hardness stainless steel.
- the present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads that are made of a heat treated, tempered, high hardness stainless steel that can have a Rockwell hardness of from about 44 to about 52, preferably from about 44 to about 47, on the Rockwell C Scale.
- the present disclosure still further provides golf putter heads whose striking face has a texture comprised of an array of dimples, preferably uniform dimples.
- the present disclosure still further provides golf putter heads whose striking face has a texture comprised of at least 10,000 dimples per square inch of the striking face.
- the present disclosure further provides golf putter heads whose striking face provide a true roll (without an imparted hop or side spin) to a golf ball when it is stroked with the striking face.
- the present disclosure further provides golf putter heads that will not dent, scratch, mar or corrode under normal conditions of use.
- golf putter heads of the present disclosure can have a selected combination of aspects and features, including from the following: that they are one-piece, made of a heat treatable stainless steel that is heat treated and tempered to a Rockwell hardness of from about 44 to about 52, preferably from about 44 to about 47 on the Rockwell C-Scale, have a contact wall having a striking face with a sweet spot, have an unbounded through-cavity that extends through the putter head preferably directly behind the striking face, have a spherical mound of the putter head material directly behind and central to the elliptical unbounded through-cavity, and have a striking face with an array of dimples therein, the golf putter heads providing a distinct audible feedback sound and feel to the user depending on where on the striking face the golf ball is struck.
- the present disclosure also provides embodiments of methods of making an aforementioned or other golf putter head of the disclosure.
- FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of an embodiment of a mallet style golf putter head of the disclosure
- FIG. 2 is a top left rear perspective view of the golf putter head of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the putter head of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view as would be seen along line 4 - 4 of the putter head of FIG. 3 , if the putter head of FIG. 3 were inverted;
- FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of FIG. 4 ;
- FIG. 5 is a front elevational view as would be seen along line 5 - 5 of FIG. 3 showing the textured front striking face of the putter head of FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view as would be seen along line 6 - 6 of FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 7 is a sectional view as would be seen along line 7 - 7 of FIG. 6 ;
- FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of the textured front striking face of the putter head of FIG. 5 ;
- FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the enlarged encircled portion of the striking face of the putter head as basically would be seen along line 9 - 9 of FIG. 5 ;
- FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged schematic vertical sectional view as would be seen of a portion of the textured face of the putter head shown in FIG. 9 ;
- FIG. 11 is a top front perspective view of a blade type embodiment of the putter head of the disclosure.
- FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the blade type putter head embodiment shown in FIG. 11 ;
- FIG. 13 is a front elevation of the blade type putter head embodiment as would be seen along line 13 - 13 of FIG. 12 , if the putter head of FIG. 12 were inverted;
- FIG. 14 is a side elevation of the blade type putter head embodiment as would be seen along line 14 - 14 of FIG. 12 ;
- FIG. 15 is a side elevation of the blade type putter head embodiment as would be seen along line 15 - 15 of FIG. 12 .
- FIG. 16 is a top front perspective view of a second embodiment of a mallet style golf putter head of the disclosure.
- FIG. 17 is a top left rear perspective view of the golf putter head of FIG. 16 ;
- FIGS. 18 and 18A are top plan view of the putter head of FIG. 16 ;
- FIG. 19 is a front elevational view showing the front face of the putter head of FIG. 18 ;
- FIG. 20 is a rear elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 18 ;
- FIG. 20A is a bottom plan view of the putter head of FIG. 18 ;
- FIG. 20B is a rear perspective view of the bottom of the putter head of FIG. 20A ;
- FIG. 20C is a right side elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 18 ;
- FIG. 20D is a left side elevational view of the putter head of FIG. 18 ;
- FIG. 21 is a vertical sectional view as would be seen along line 21 - 21 of FIG. 19 ;
- FIG. 22 is a horizontal sectional view as would be seen along line 22 - 22 of FIG. 21 ;
- FIG. 23 is a horizontal sectional view as would be seen along line 23 - 23 of FIG. 21 ;
- FIG. 24 is a top front perspective view of a second embodiment of the blade type putter head of the disclosure.
- FIG. 25 is a top left rear perspective view of the blade type putter head of FIG. 24 ;
- FIG. 26 is a top plan view of the blade type putter head of FIG. 25 ;
- FIG. 27 is a front elevation of the blade type putter head of FIG. 26 ;
- FIG. 28 is a rear elevation of the blade type putter head of FIG. 26 ;
- FIG. 28A is a bottom plan view of the blade type putter head of FIG. 26 ;
- FIG. 28B is a rear perspective view of the bottom of the blade type putter head of FIG. 26 ;
- FIG. 28C is a right side elevational view of the blade type putter head of FIG. 26 , as would be seen along line 28 C- 28 C of FIG. 26 ;
- FIG. 28D is a left side elevational view of the blade type putter head of FIG. 26 , as would be seen along line 28 D- 28 D of FIG. 26 ;
- FIG. 29 is a vertical sectional view of the blade type putter head of FIG. 26 , as would be seen along line 29 - 29 of FIG. 27 .
- FIGS. 1 and 2 there is shown an embodiment of a mallet style golf putter head of the disclosure. More particularly, these Figures show a mallet style golf putter head, generally designated 10 , comprised of a one-piece body 12 having a front F, a rear R, a front-to-rear longitudinal axis LA, a transverse axis TA, and a heel H and a toe T oppositely disposed on a transverse axis TA.
- Body 12 has an upstanding wall 14 whose length extends generally transverse to longitudinal axis LA and whose width extends generally along longitudinal axis LA.
- Upstanding wall 14 has a top surface 16 , a bottom surface 18 , a front portion 20 and a rear portion 22 .
- Front portion 20 of upstanding wall 14 extends generally between heel H and toe T, and is comprised of a contact wall 24 having a front striking face 26 and a rear wall surface 28 .
- Upstanding wall 14 is also comprised of a downwardly disposed unbounded through-cavity 30 , the through-cavity 30 being directly behind striking face 26 , transverse to the longitudinal axis and extending from and through top and bottom surfaces 16 , 18 of upstanding wall 14 .
- Through-cavity 30 has a front wall surface 32 that forms, i.e., is the same as rear wall surface 28 of contact wall 24 .
- FIG. 3 is a top plan view of golf putter head 10 of FIG. 1
- FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view as would be seen along line 4 - 4 of FIG. 3
- FIG. 5 is a front elevational view as would be seen along line 5 - 5 of FIG. 3
- FIGS. 3 through 5 show that through-cavity 30 preferably has an elliptical shape when seen in top plan view or in horizontal section. The preferred elliptical shape is configured such that through-cavity 30 has a convex central portion that extends forwardly toward striking face 26 .
- 3 through 5 also show that the portions of front and rear surfaces 32 , 34 of through-cavity 30 that define sweet spot SS and central portion 36 of through-cavity 30 are spaced relatively closer to each other than are the portions of wall surfaces 32 ′, 34 ′ that are at or adjacent the end portions of through-cavity 30 .
- through-cavity 30 can have the general shape of the outer surface of an open umbrella whose apex is toward and aligned with central portion 36 of front striking face 26 .
- Through-cavity 30 can also have the general shape of a bow whose convex surface is toward, and whose ends are bowed away from striking face 26 .
- FIGS. 3 through 5 and FIGS. 6 and 7 show that front striking face 26 (of contact wall 24 of front portion 20 of upstanding wall 14 ) preferably has a sweet spot SS on longitudinal axis LA.
- FIGS. 3 through 5 and FIGS. 6 and 7 show that front striking face 26 (of contact wall 24 of front portion 20 of upstanding wall 14 ) preferably has a sweet spot SS on longitudinal axis LA.
- FIGS. 3 through 5 and FIGS. 6 and 7 show that front striking face 26 (of contact wall 24 of front portion 20 of upstanding wall 14 ) preferably has a sweet spot SS on longitudinal axis LA.
- FIGS. 3 through 5 and FIGS. 6 and 7 show that front striking face 26 (of contact wall 24 of front portion 20 of upstanding wall 14 ) preferably has a sweet spot SS on longitudinal axis LA.
- FIGS. 3 through 5 and FIGS. 6 and 7 show that front striking face 26 (of contact wall 24 of front portion 20 of upstanding wall 14 ) preferably has a sweet spot
- Opposed end portions 35 of through-cavity 30 define wider end portions of through-cavity 30 .
- preferably thinner central portion 36 of through-cavity 30 is located behind, preferably directly behind and adjacent either side of sweet spot SS.
- the wider end portions of through-cavity 30 are located adjacent respective heel H and toe T portions of upstanding wall 14 .
- top surface 16 of upstanding wall 14 includes an alignment groove 40 that runs along longitudinal axis LA and is orthogonal to and joins central portion 36 of through-cavity 30 at or just behind sweet spot SS.
- Front portion 20 of top surface 16 of upstanding wall 14 merges into rear portion 22 of upstanding wall 14 .
- Rear portion 22 is comprised of an upper, downwardly depending rim 42 that merges into a concave surface portion 44 that transitions adjacent base 46 of upstanding wall 14 , into a rearwardly extending surface 48 that extends toward rear R of body 12 .
- Rearwardly extending surface 48 and concave surface portion 44 of the rear portion 22 of upstanding wall 14 each include a portion of alignment groove 40 , and those portions of alignment groove 40 are in alignment with each other and with the portion of alignment groove 40 that traverses top surface 16 of upstanding wall 14 .
- front striking face 26 preferably is substantially flat and is disposed at a rearward or loft angle La of from about 3 degrees to about 5 degrees, preferably 3 or 4 degrees, measured from the junction of front striking face 26 and of bottom surface 18 of upstanding wall 14 to the junction of front striking face 26 and top surface 16 of upstanding wall 14 .
- Alignment groove 40 is orthogonal to and abuts or intersects through-cavity 30 .
- Through-cavity 30 preferably is disposed generally parallel to the angle of striking face 26 .
- the width of through-cavity 30 from front to rear, preferably is uniform through a vertical section of upstanding wall 14 from its top surface 16 to its bottom surface 18 .
- the vertical section taken through line 6 - 6 of FIG. 3 is taken along alignment groove 40 and consequently through sweet spot SS, where through-cavity 30 is thinnest.
- the width of through-cavity 30 remains uniform from top surface 16 to bottom surface 18 at whatever point the section line is taken through upstanding wall 14 and through-cavity 30 , but as seen from FIG. 7 , the uniform width of through-cavity 30 at each section line progressively made through through-cavity 30 will be wider as the section lines are progressively made further and further away from sweet spot SS progressively toward through-cavity opposed end portions 35 .
- Through-cavity 30 can be of any suitable size, shape, thickness and/or location behind contact wall 24 , so long as the through-cavity creates a cushioning effect that softens the putting striking blow when putter head 10 strikes a golf ball especially at the sweet spot, creates a true ball roll off of striking face 26 , and provides a definite, distinguishable feeling and a definite repeatable frequency sound vibration when sweet spot SS of a particular embodiment of the disclosure is struck during the putting stroke.
- Suitable spacing between the front and rear wall surfaces at the central portion of the through-cavity behind sweet spot SS, and desirably within about, 250′′ to either side of the sweet spot of embodiments of the putter heads of the disclosure, is in the range between about 0.070′′ to about 0.090′′, and preferably is about 0.080′′.
- FIGS. 8 , 9 and 10 show features of textured front striking face 26 of putter head 10 of the disclosure.
- FIG. 5 shows textured striking face 26 as a random multitude of dots
- FIG. 8 shows that the uniformly textured surface finish of striking face 26 when seen in enlarged plan view, is comprised of an array of tightly and uniformly packed circles representing indented dimples 50 .
- FIGS. 9 and 10 show that when seen in vertical section, dimples 50 preferably have a diameter “d” of about 0.008 inch, and, they are comprised of semi-circles or hemisputter headeres 52 indented to a depth of from about 0.0010 inch to about 0.0020 inch into the surface of striking face 26 .
- dimples 50 are uniformly spaced from each other in a quantity or density of about 10,000 per square inch.
- golf putter heads covered by the disclosure regardless of whether the golf putter head is a mallet-type, blade-type or other type of golf putter.
- FIGS. 11 through 15 show an embodiment of a blade-type golf putter head of the disclosure. More particularly, FIG. 11 shows a blade-type golf putter head 10 ′ that has basically the same features as were described above in connection with the disclosure of mallet-type golf putter head 10 .
- Features of the mallet-type putter head 10 and of blade-type putter head 10 ′ that are basically the same are indicated by the same reference number, while features that are slightly different are indicated by the same reference number with a prime.
- Main features of putter heads 10 and 10 ′ that are basically the same include a one-piece body 12 , an upstanding wall 14 having a front portion 20 comprised of a contact wall 24 in turn having a textured front striking face 26 , and a downwardly disposed unbounded through-cavity 30 behind, preferably directly behind, striking face 26 , through-cavity 30 being transverse to longitudinal axis LA and extending from and through respective top and bottom surfaces 16 , 18 of upstanding wall 14 , and through-cavity 30 having a front wall 32 that forms, i.e., is the same as, rear wall surface 28 of contact wall 24 .
- Other main features of embodiments of golf putter heads of the disclosure include the material of which the one-piece bodies of the putter heads are made, and the textured, dimpled finish of striking face 26 .
- rear portion 22 of upstanding wall 14 has a substantially flat rear portion, e.g., rim 22 , that is generally parallel to front striking face 26
- rear portion 22 ′ is arcuate, that is, convex toward the front F of putter head 10 ′ when it is seen in top plan view.
- rearwardly extending surface 48 of the tail or shelf extends quite a distance to the rear of upstanding wall 14 and finishes in an arcuate sweep behind upstanding wall 14 to provide a heavy feel to the mallet type putter head
- rearwardly extending surface 48 ′ of the shorter shelf extends only to the rear of rounded toe T and heel H surfaces to the rear of upstanding wall 14 ′.
- the shelf can be 1.900 inch
- the shelf of putter head 10 ′ is shorter and can be 1.375 inch.
- alignment groove 40 is shorter in blade-type putter head 10 ′.
- FIGS. 14 and 15 respectively are side elevational views of the toe T and heel H ends of golf putter head 10 ′, and the front striking face 25 of upstanding wall 14 of one-piece body 12 .
- FIGS. 16-22 there is shown a second embodiment of a mallet type putter head of the present disclosure. More particularly, these Figures show a mallet style putter head generally designated 100 , comprised of many of the features and elements present in the first embodiment of mallet type putter head 10 .
- a mallet style putter head generally designated 100 , comprised of many of the features and elements present in the first embodiment of mallet type putter head 10 .
- Features and elements that are common to or substantially the same in each of the mallet type putter head embodiments 10 and 100 are understood and considered to have the same reference numbers.
- Features that are different or in addition in embodiment 100 are given a 3 digit 100 to 199 series reference number.
- Second mallet style embodiment 100 is considered the preferred embodiment of the mallet type putter heads of the disclosure.
- FIG. 16 is a top front perspective view
- FIG. 17 is a top left rear perspective view of mallet type golf putter head 100 .
- rear portion 122 of upstanding wall 114 includes a central portion cp that is located behind central portion 36 of through-cavity 30 , and includes a convexly shaped portion 160 that extends in a rearward direction generally along and to each side of longitudinal axis LA toward rear R of putter head 100 .
- Central portion cp of upstanding wall 114 and central portion CP of putter head 100 ′ includes a mass of the stainless steel material of which body 112 is made, to thereby provide putter head 100 with a centrally located high moment of inertia.
- the mass of central portion cp of upstanding wall 114 includes convexly shaped portion 160 of upstanding wall 114 .
- the mass of central portion CP of putter head 100 ′ includes both central portion cp of upstanding wall 114 and spherical mound 170 .
- FIGS. 16 , 17 and FIG. 18 a top plan view of putter head 100 , show that rear portion 122 of top surface 116 of upstanding wall 114 , and upstanding wall 114 itself preferably have an undulating configuration that extends in a direction generally along transverse axis TA.
- the undulating configuration preferably is comprised of opposed, rearwardly extending convexly shaped heel H and toe T wall surface portions 162 , 164 which respectively merge into adjacent, more centrally located, forwardly facing concavely shaped pocket wall surface portions 166 , 168 , each of which respectively merge into centrally located rearwardly extending convexly shaped portion 160 of central portion cp.
- the rearwardly extending mass of stainless steel material of central portion cp of upstanding wall 114 and central portion CP of putter head 100 ′ need not include, but preferably do include a rearwardly extending geometrically shaped portion which need not be, but preferably is an integral, i.e., all one-piece, extension of upstanding wall 114 .
- the rearwardly extending geometrically shaped portion preferably is at least a portion or segment of a sphere, here shown as a spherical mound generally designated 170 .
- FIG. 21 shows a vertical cross section through central portion cp of upstanding wall 114 and through central portion CP of putter head 100 ′, including through rearwardly extending spherical mound 170 . It is contemplated to be within the scope of this disclosure that the rearwardly extending geometrically shaped portion can be selected from the group consisting of circular, oblong, cylindrical, rectilinear, triangular, or other suitable geometric shapes.
- putter head 100 includes:
- the radius of curvature of convexly shaped heel H and toe T wall surface portions 162 , 164 is 0.300′′ (meaning three hundred thousandths of an inch);
- the best fit radius of curvature of rearwardly extending convexly shaped central portion cp is formed by two separate intersecting radii, “r” each of which is 2.346′′, the individual radii “r’ originating a distance “o” that is 1.486 forward of the top edge of striking face 26 , and being spaced 0.634′′ to opposite sides “os” of longitudinal axis LA;
- CP the distance from the center of the radius of curvature “b” of pocket wall surface 166 to the center of the radius of curvature “b” of pocket wall surface 168 , extended to the front F and to the rear R of putter head 100 , that is, the transverse width of central portion CP of putter head 100 , is 1.8652′′;
- the radius of curvature of spherical mound 170 is 0.8425′′ (see FIG. 21 );
- FIG. 19 a front elevational view of putter head 100 ′ of FIG. 18 , shows that putter head 100 ′ preferably has a flat top surface 116 and a slightly arcuate bottom surface 18 .
- FIG. 19 also shows sweet spot SS and a circular dashed line that refers to FIG. 8 , which in turn shows that striking face 26 has a uniformly textured finish comprised of indented dimples 50 .
- FIG. 20 a rear elevational view of putter head 100 of FIG. 18 , shows convexly shaped heel H and toe T wall surface portions 162 , 164 , concavely shaped pocket wall surface portions 166 , 168 , convexly shaped central portion cp of upstanding wall 114 , convexly shaped spherical mound 170 , concave fillet 172 generally above spherical mound 170 , and concave fillet 174 along the base of upstanding wall 114 , joining spherical mound 170 , and the above mentioned wall surface portions with the top surface 148 of rearwardly extending shelf S.
- FIG. 20A a bottom plan view of putter head 100 of FIG. 18
- FIG. 20B a rear perspective view of the bottom of putter head 100
- through-cavity 30 extends all the way through upstanding wall 114 (not shown) from and through its top surface 116 (not shown) to and through its bottom surface 18
- FIGS. 20A and 20B also show upwardly angled bottom surface portion 118 of rearwardly extending shelf S of bottom wall 18 .
- FIG. 20C a left side elevational view of putter head 100 of FIG. 18
- FIG. 20D a right side elevational view of putter head 100 of FIG. 18
- These Figures also show rearwardly extending upwardly angled bottom surface portion 118 of bottom wall 18 .
- FIG. 21 a vertical sectional view as would be seen along line 21 - 21 along longitudinal axis LA and through sweet spot SS of FIG. 19 , shows that preferred dimensions of features of putter head 100 of the disclosure include:
- FIGS. 18 and 21 show that the mass that comprises central portion cp of upstanding wall 114 between its top surface 116 and bottom wall 18 and that comprises the integral mass of spherical mound 170 , are centrally located within central portion CP of putter head 100 directly behind through-cavity 30 and contact wall 24 .
- This configuration provides one-piece putter head 100 of the disclosure with balance and a high moment of inertia that resists twisting of the putter head during the putting stroke.
- FIG. 22 is a nearly horizontal section taken along line 22 - 22 through putter head 100 of FIG. 21 .
- the section line is shown tilted downward about 3 degrees to provide the reader with a sectional view straight down into and completely through through-cavity 30 .
- FIG. 22 shows the upper portion of spherical mound 170 in section, and a lower portion of the spherical mound 170 and fillet 174 each in top plan view.
- the reference letter “n” refers to the preferred breadth of sweet spot SS, and is 0.5000′′.
- the reference letter “o” represents the distance between the center points of the terminal ends of through through-cavity 30 and is 2.300′′.
- the reference letter “p” near the terminal ends of through-cavity 30 represents the width of through-cavity 30 at those points and is “0.132”.
- FIG. 23 is a horizontal section taken along line 23 - 23 through putter head 100 of FIG. 21 . More particularly, the section is taken through or along the bases of spherical mound 170 , concave pocket wall surfaces 166 , 168 , and convex wall surfaces 162 and 164 , with fillet 174 being visible along the base of spherical wall 170 and the base of the aforementioned wall surfaces.
- FIGS. 24 through 29 show a second embodiment of a blade type putter head of the disclosure, generally referred to as 100 ′.
- the Figures show that blade type putter head 100 ′ is basically the same as mallet type putter head 100 , except that blade type putter head 100 ′ preferably does not have a rearwardly extending shelf S. Accordingly, except for not having a rearwardly extending shelf S, putter head 100 ′ has basically the same structural features and reference numbers as mallet type putter head 100 .
- the dimensions of blade putter head 100 ′ they can be any suitable dimensions. For example, they can be basically the same as those of mallet putter head 100 ′, or smaller.
- rear portion 122 of upstanding wall 114 like mallet type putter head 100 , preferably has a rearward undulating configuration that extends in a direction generally along transverse axis TA.
- the undulating configuration preferably is comprised of opposed, rearwardly extending convexly shaped heel H and toe T wall surface portions 162 , 164 which respectively merge into adjacent, more centrally located, forwardly facing concavely shaped pocket wall surface portions 166 , 168 , each of which respectively merge into centrally located rearwardly extending convexly shaped central portion cp.
- blade type putter head 100 ′ preferably includes a centrally located rearwardly extending integral mass of putter head stainless steel material of central portion cp of upstanding wall 114 .
- the centrally located rearwardly extending mass of material preferably also includes a rearwardly extending geometrical shape which need not be, but preferably is at least a portion or segment of a preferably solid sphere, here referred to as spherical mound 170 which is located within central portion CP of putter head 100 ′.
- preferred dimensions of features of putter head 100 ′ can include:
- the radius of curvature of convexly shaped heel H and toe T wall surface portions 162 , 164 can be 0.300′′;
- the radius of curvature of forwardly facing concavely shaped pocket wall surface portions 166 , 168 can be 0.300′′;
- the best fit radius of curvature of rearwardly extending convexly shaped central portion cp can be formed by two separate intersecting radii, “r”, each of which can be 2.346′′, the individual radii “r’ originating a distance “o” that can be 1.486′′ forward of the top edge of striking face 26 , and can be 0.634′′ to opposite sides “os” of longitudinal axis LA;
- CP the distance from the center of the radius of curvature “b” of pocket wall surface 166 to the center of the radius of curvature “b” of pocket wall surface 168 , extended to the front F and to the rear R of putter head 100 , that is, the transverse width of central portion CP of putter head 100 , can be 2.0571′′;
- the radius of curvature of spherical mound 170 can be 0.8300′′
- e the radius of curvature of concave fillet 172 above spherical mound 170 , where its spherical surface meets top surface 116 of central portion cp of upstanding wall 114 , and where its spherical surface meets pocket wall surface portions 166 , 168 , can be 0.250′′;
- fp refers to the front portion 20 of upstanding wall 114 and is the distance from striking face 26 rearward behind through-cavity 30 to a transaxial line running parallel to or corresponding to transverse axis TA, which distance can be 0.3650
- FIG. 27 is a front elevational view
- FIG. 28 is a rear elevational view, of putter head 100 ′ of FIG. 26 .
- FIG. 28A is a bottom plan view
- FIG. 28B is a bottom rear perspective view, of putter head 100 ′ of FIG. 26 .
- FIG. 28B shows fillet 174 ′ joining the surface of spherical mound 170 with edge 150 of angled portion 118 ′ of bottom wall 18 .
- FIG. 29 is a vertical sectional view as would be seen along line 29 - 29 of FIG. 27 , through central portion cp of upstanding wall 114 , and through central portion CP of putter head 100 ′, including through sweet spot SS and through rearwardly extending solid spherical mound 170 . As shown in FIG. 29 , and as also shown in FIGS.
- spherical mound 170 is bounded about its upper periphery by an elongated fillet 172 and along its lower extent or edge by elongated fillet 174 ′ which joins the lower extent of spherical mound 170 to the rear edge 150 of upwardly angled bottom wall portion 118 ′.
- FIG. 29 shows that preferred dimensions of features of putter head 100 ′ of the disclosure can include:
- g′ the distance from top surface 116 of upstanding wall 114 to the radial center point of spherical mound 170 , is 0.8435′′;
- the shown and preferred segment of spherical mound 170 of putter head embodiments 100 , 100 ′ preferably is the size of a segment of a golf ball.
- the golf putter head of the disclosure permits a variety of shafting styles.
- the golf putter heads of the disclosure can be attached or secured by suitable conventional means to suitable conventional golf club shafts.
- golf putter heads of the disclosure including those designated 10 , 10 ′, 100 and 100 ′ are each shown having structure, e.g. a straight hole 60 at heel H for receiving the mounting end of a suitable shaft (not shown), it is contemplated that the putter heads alternatively can be center shafted.
- Holes 60 can be straight, e.g. (orthogonal to the transverse axis or longitudinal axis) or disposed at an angle adjacent the center of the head (not shown).
- the shafts can be straight or bent.
- features which can be selected to be common to, or used individually in or in suitable and various combinations in the golf putter heads of the disclosure include unbounded through-cavity 30 , it preferably being a thin cavity and preferably elliptical in shape, formed, preferably machined, in one-piece body 12 , adjacent or behind, preferably directly behind, striking face 26 , a machine-textured striking face 26 having a texture in the form of an array of precision machined uniform hemispherical dimples therein, the one-piece body preferably being converted, i.
- the term “contact wall” herein means the portion of front portion 20 of upstanding wall 14 , or 114 that extends between front striking face 26 and rear wall surface 28 .
- the thickness of the contact wall at sweet spot SS, and adjacent it for about 0.250 inch to either side of it is from about 0.030 inch to about 0.080 inch, preferably from about 0.060 inch to about 0.080 inch, more preferably from about 0.065 inch to about 0.075 inch, and most preferably about 0.075 inch.
- Sweet spot SS is at the center of the length of striking face 26 and is aligned with alignment groove 40 .
- the thickness of the contact wall at sweet spot SS and about 0.250 inch to either side of it is uniform and the surfaces of front striking face 26 and rear wall surface 28 are parallel to each other and flat. Adjacent the end portions 35 of through-cavity 30 , the thickness of the contact wall preferably is from about 0.100 inch to about 0.180 inch, more preferably from about 0.150 inch to about 0.180 inch and most preferably from about 0.160 inch to about 0.170 inch. Preferably, the thickness of the contact wall increases gradually at a non-linear rate as the wall extends along its elliptical path from the flat portion adjacent sweet spot SS toward end portions 35 of through-cavity 30 .
- Another feature which can be and preferably is employed in the putter heads of the disclosure is an upstanding wall that has a rear portion that includes a central portion cp, which in turn includes a mass of putter head body material that extends rearwardly generally along and preferably to each side of the longitudinal axis of the putter head.
- the central portion of the upstanding wall that extends rearwardly can have a convex shape.
- the central portion of the upstanding wall that extends rearwardly can include an integral geometrically shaped portion which can be or include a portion or segment of a sphere, for example, a spherical mound 170 .
- the mass of the rearwardly extending geometrically shaped portion or sphere is included within the central portion CP of the putter head of the disclosure. This mass provides balance to the putter head and helps provide a high moment of inertia to the putter head. This helps prevent twisting of the putter head during the putting stroke.
- Embodiments of the disclosure include methods of making the disclosed one-piece, preferably one-material, golf putter heads 10 , 10 ′, 100 and 100 ′.
- the embodiments of the methods of the disclosure apply to making putter heads of mallet, blade or other type designs.
- the methods include providing a solid bar of heat treatable stainless steel alloy (not shown) that is to be formed or converted, e.g., machined or milled, into one-piece putter head 10 , 10 ′, 100 and 100 ′.
- the solid bar of heat treatable stainless steel alloy that is provided can have a hardness of from about 25 to about 32 on the Rockwell C-Scale.
- the solid bar is converted, e.g., milled or machined, to nearly the desired final form of the putter head, that is, to a form that includes a preliminary or temporary front striking surface that is to become or be formed into textured striking face, e.g. 26 .
- the nearly desired final putter form does not include a through-cavity or a textured striking face.
- the forming of the putter head prior to heat treating preferably is by use of Computerized Numerically Controlled machine tools.
- the nearly desired final putter form is heat treated to increase its metal hardness and temper it to a Rockwell hardness of from about 48 to about 52, preferably from about 44 to about 47 on the Rockwell C-Scale.
- a preferred heat treated stainless steel is known and sold as “17-4 ph”, or less preferably a 440 C Stainless Steel.
- a shaped, unbounded through-cavity 30 is formed behind, preferably directly behind, the preliminary front striking surface.
- the forming of through-cavity 30 preferably is effected by use of a Wire Electric Discharge Machining Process.
- the forming of through-cavity 30 can be effected by giving the cavity an elliptical shape, or the general shape of an open umbrella that has a convex outer surface that is directed toward the preliminary front surface.
- the forming of through-cavity 30 also can be effected to provide the through-cavity with the general shape of a bow having a convex surface that is directed toward the preliminary front surface, and whose ends are bowed away from the preliminary front surface.
- the preliminary front surface of the nearly desired final putter is formed into a textured striking face 26 by machining into the preliminary front surface an array or series of uniform precision dimples and uniform lands between the dimples.
- the forming of the textured striking face is effected to provide an array of uniform precision dimples in the form of indented hemispheres having a diameter of preferably from about 0.005 inch to about 0.012 inch, more preferably from about 0.007 inch to about 0.010 inch, and most preferably about 0.008 inch.
- the forming of the textured striking face preferably is effected to provide an array of uniform precision dimples in the form of indented hemispheres having a depth of about 0.001 inch to about 0.002 inch.
- the forming of the textured striking face is effected to provide the striking face with an array of uniform dimples uniformly spaced from each other in a quantity or density of about 10,000 dimples per square inch.
- Through-cavity 30 preferably is formed parallel to the preliminary front surface or to textured striking face 26 .
- textured striking face 26 is formed to be substantially flat and to have a loft angle La of 3 or 4 degrees, preferably 3 degrees, relative to bottom wall 18 of golf putter head 10 , 10 ′, 100 or 100 ′′.
- the textured striking face preferably is effected by an Electric Discharge Machining Ram Process.
Landscapes
- Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
- Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
- Golf Clubs (AREA)
Abstract
Golf putter heads have a one-piece heat treated high hardness stainless steel body having an upstanding wall with a striking face, and directly behind it, a downwardly disposed thin unbounded through-cavity to provide distinct repeatable audible feedback. The putter heads can have a centrally located rearwardly extending mass of body material in the form of an integral spherical mound to provide balance and a high moment of inertia. Methods of making the putter heads are disclosed.
Description
- This application is based on and claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/898,829, filed Feb. 1, 2007.
- 1. Field of the Invention
- This invention relates to golf clubs, and more particularly to golf putter heads that impart improved feel to the user.
- 2. Description of Related Art
- Most conventional putters are made of soft materials. Some have face inserts made of aluminum, brass, plastic or non-metallic materials. The intention is that the soft materials will impart a desirable roll to the golf ball when it is struck with the putter face.
- However, putter heads that are made of soft materials are limited in their applications. For example, they are not suitable for rough treatment environments because they tend to dent, scratch, mar or corrode. Also, because of their low carbon content, they are not suitable for heat treatment to increase their hardness to provide putter heads with the durability advantages provided by highly hardened steel. Further, putter heads that have inserts made of soft materials set into or applied on the putter face have been found lacking in terms of not providing sufficient, significant, reliable or repeatable feel or feedback to the user to indicate when the ball is being struck directly on the sweet spot of the face of the head, as compared to being struck by a portion of the club face that is not aligned with or is off of the sweet spot. Putter heads that have inserts made of soft materials have been found undesirable at times because the inserts are subject to distortion of the striking area due to the difference in the thermal coefficients between differing materials of the insert and the head. Also, the inserts and adhesives that secure the inserts can be affected by the ambient temperatures to which they are subjected. For example, a golf club that is stored in a car trunk or garage may experience temperatures that range from below zero to extremely high. These inserts may lose their originally intended softness or inherent hardness due to such temperature fluctuations.
- The present disclosure provides golf putter heads of the mallet or blade type that overcome the aforementioned and other problems and/or disadvantages.
- The present disclosure provides golf putter heads that provide improved sufficient, significant, reliable and repeatable feel or feedback to the user relative to whether a golf ball is aligned with the sweet spot of the putter face when the striking face strikes the ball.
- The present disclosure provides golf putter heads that will ring with a distinct sound like that of a tuning fork when a golf ball is properly stroked on the sweet spot of the striking face, thereby offering an audible feedback to the user.
- The present disclosure also provides golf putter heads that impart to the user's hands a more pronounced feeling of contact with the golf ball when it is stroked with a putter head of this disclosure.
- The present disclosure also provides golf putter heads that are one-piece.
- The present disclosure also provides golf putter heads that are one-piece and are of the heavy type.
- The present disclosure further provides golf putter heads that have a unique unbounded through-cavity located behind, preferably directly behind, the striking face of the putter head.
- The present disclosure further provides golf putter heads having an unbounded through-cavity that can have an elliptical shape.
- The present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads having a high moment of inertia.
- The present disclosure further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads that have a high moment of inertia, and are properly balanced without need of adjustments to the head.
- The present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads having a high moment of inertia that in turn provides resistance to substantially horizontal twisting of the putter head or putter during use.
- The present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads having a high moment of inertia due to the presence of a mass of the putter head material located along the longitudinal axis of the putter head.
- The present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads having a high moment of inertia provided by a spherical mound of the putter head material.
- The present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads having a high moment of inertia provided by a spherical mound of the putter head material located preferably immediately behind and central to the elliptical unbounded through-cavity and providing downward and rearward weight to the putter head.
- The present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads that are made of heat treated stainless steel.
- The present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads that are made of a high hardness stainless steel.
- The present disclosure yet further provides the aforementioned and other golf putter heads that are made of a heat treated, tempered, high hardness stainless steel that can have a Rockwell hardness of from about 44 to about 52, preferably from about 44 to about 47, on the Rockwell C Scale.
- The present disclosure still further provides golf putter heads whose striking face has a texture comprised of an array of dimples, preferably uniform dimples.
- The present disclosure still further provides golf putter heads whose striking face has a texture comprised of at least 10,000 dimples per square inch of the striking face.
- The present disclosure further provides golf putter heads whose striking face provide a true roll (without an imparted hop or side spin) to a golf ball when it is stroked with the striking face.
- The present disclosure further provides golf putter heads that will not dent, scratch, mar or corrode under normal conditions of use.
- These and other objects and advantages of the present disclosure are provided by golf putter heads of the present disclosure that can have a selected combination of aspects and features, including from the following: that they are one-piece, made of a heat treatable stainless steel that is heat treated and tempered to a Rockwell hardness of from about 44 to about 52, preferably from about 44 to about 47 on the Rockwell C-Scale, have a contact wall having a striking face with a sweet spot, have an unbounded through-cavity that extends through the putter head preferably directly behind the striking face, have a spherical mound of the putter head material directly behind and central to the elliptical unbounded through-cavity, and have a striking face with an array of dimples therein, the golf putter heads providing a distinct audible feedback sound and feel to the user depending on where on the striking face the golf ball is struck.
- The present disclosure also provides embodiments of methods of making an aforementioned or other golf putter head of the disclosure.
- Other advantages and features of the present disclosure will be understood by reference to the following:
-
FIG. 1 is a top front perspective view of an embodiment of a mallet style golf putter head of the disclosure; -
FIG. 2 is a top left rear perspective view of the golf putter head ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the putter head ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view as would be seen along line 4-4 of the putter head ofFIG. 3 , if the putter head ofFIG. 3 were inverted; -
FIG. 4A is an enlarged view of the encircled portion ofFIG. 4 ; -
FIG. 5 is a front elevational view as would be seen along line 5-5 ofFIG. 3 showing the textured front striking face of the putter head ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view as would be seen along line 6-6 ofFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 7 is a sectional view as would be seen along line 7-7 ofFIG. 6 ; -
FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of the encircled portion of the textured front striking face of the putter head ofFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view through the enlarged encircled portion of the striking face of the putter head as basically would be seen along line 9-9 ofFIG. 5 ; -
FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged schematic vertical sectional view as would be seen of a portion of the textured face of the putter head shown inFIG. 9 ; -
FIG. 11 is a top front perspective view of a blade type embodiment of the putter head of the disclosure; -
FIG. 12 is a top plan view of the blade type putter head embodiment shown inFIG. 11 ; -
FIG. 13 is a front elevation of the blade type putter head embodiment as would be seen along line 13-13 ofFIG. 12 , if the putter head ofFIG. 12 were inverted; -
FIG. 14 is a side elevation of the blade type putter head embodiment as would be seen along line 14-14 ofFIG. 12 ; and -
FIG. 15 is a side elevation of the blade type putter head embodiment as would be seen along line 15-15 ofFIG. 12 . -
FIG. 16 is a top front perspective view of a second embodiment of a mallet style golf putter head of the disclosure; -
FIG. 17 is a top left rear perspective view of the golf putter head ofFIG. 16 ; -
FIGS. 18 and 18A are top plan view of the putter head ofFIG. 16 ; -
FIG. 19 is a front elevational view showing the front face of the putter head ofFIG. 18 ; -
FIG. 20 is a rear elevational view of the putter head ofFIG. 18 ; -
FIG. 20A is a bottom plan view of the putter head ofFIG. 18 ; -
FIG. 20B is a rear perspective view of the bottom of the putter head ofFIG. 20A ; -
FIG. 20C is a right side elevational view of the putter head ofFIG. 18 ; -
FIG. 20D is a left side elevational view of the putter head ofFIG. 18 ; -
FIG. 21 is a vertical sectional view as would be seen along line 21-21 ofFIG. 19 ; -
FIG. 22 is a horizontal sectional view as would be seen along line 22-22 ofFIG. 21 ; -
FIG. 23 is a horizontal sectional view as would be seen along line 23-23 ofFIG. 21 ; -
FIG. 24 is a top front perspective view of a second embodiment of the blade type putter head of the disclosure; -
FIG. 25 is a top left rear perspective view of the blade type putter head ofFIG. 24 ; -
FIG. 26 is a top plan view of the blade type putter head ofFIG. 25 ; -
FIG. 27 is a front elevation of the blade type putter head ofFIG. 26 ; -
FIG. 28 is a rear elevation of the blade type putter head ofFIG. 26 ; -
FIG. 28A is a bottom plan view of the blade type putter head ofFIG. 26 ; -
FIG. 28B is a rear perspective view of the bottom of the blade type putter head ofFIG. 26 ; -
FIG. 28C is a right side elevational view of the blade type putter head ofFIG. 26 , as would be seen alongline 28C-28C ofFIG. 26 ; -
FIG. 28D is a left side elevational view of the blade type putter head ofFIG. 26 , as would be seen alongline 28D-28D ofFIG. 26 ; and -
FIG. 29 is a vertical sectional view of the blade type putter head ofFIG. 26 , as would be seen along line 29-29 ofFIG. 27 . - Referring to the drawings in detail, particularly to the perspective views of
FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown an embodiment of a mallet style golf putter head of the disclosure. More particularly, these Figures show a mallet style golf putter head, generally designated 10, comprised of a one-piece body 12 having a front F, a rear R, a front-to-rear longitudinal axis LA, a transverse axis TA, and a heel H and a toe T oppositely disposed on a transverse axis TA. -
Body 12 has anupstanding wall 14 whose length extends generally transverse to longitudinal axis LA and whose width extends generally along longitudinal axis LA.Upstanding wall 14 has atop surface 16, abottom surface 18, afront portion 20 and arear portion 22. -
Front portion 20 ofupstanding wall 14 extends generally between heel H and toe T, and is comprised of acontact wall 24 having a frontstriking face 26 and arear wall surface 28.Upstanding wall 14 is also comprised of a downwardly disposed unbounded through-cavity 30, the through-cavity 30 being directly behind strikingface 26, transverse to the longitudinal axis and extending from and through top andbottom surfaces upstanding wall 14. Through-cavity 30 has afront wall surface 32 that forms, i.e., is the same asrear wall surface 28 ofcontact wall 24. - Referring to
FIGS. 3 through 5 ,FIG. 3 is a top plan view ofgolf putter head 10 ofFIG. 1 ,FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view as would be seen along line 4-4 ofFIG. 3 , andFIG. 5 is a front elevational view as would be seen along line 5-5 ofFIG. 3 .FIGS. 3 through 5 show that through-cavity 30 preferably has an elliptical shape when seen in top plan view or in horizontal section. The preferred elliptical shape is configured such that through-cavity 30 has a convex central portion that extends forwardly towardstriking face 26.FIGS. 3 through 5 (and 7) also show that the portions of front andrear surfaces cavity 30 that define sweet spot SS andcentral portion 36 of through-cavity 30 are spaced relatively closer to each other than are the portions of wall surfaces 32′, 34′ that are at or adjacent the end portions of through-cavity 30. - It is contemplated that when seen in top plan view or in horizontal section, through-
cavity 30 can have the general shape of the outer surface of an open umbrella whose apex is toward and aligned withcentral portion 36 of frontstriking face 26. Through-cavity 30 can also have the general shape of a bow whose convex surface is toward, and whose ends are bowed away from strikingface 26. -
FIGS. 3 through 5 andFIGS. 6 and 7 show that front striking face 26 (ofcontact wall 24 offront portion 20 of upstanding wall 14) preferably has a sweet spot SS on longitudinal axis LA. These Figures also show that elliptically-shaped through-cavity 30 is defined by cavityfront wall surface 32 that is coincident with, i.e., one and the same as,rear wall surface 28 ofcontact wall 24, by cavityrear wall surface 34 and by opposed enclosing cavity end wall surfaces 35.Front wall surface 32 andrear wall surface 28 of through-cavity 30 define a relatively thinnercentral portion 36 of the through-cavity 30 that extends to either side of sweet spot SS.Opposed end portions 35 of through-cavity 30 define wider end portions of through-cavity 30. As shown, preferably thinnercentral portion 36 of through-cavity 30 is located behind, preferably directly behind and adjacent either side of sweet spot SS. The wider end portions of through-cavity 30 are located adjacent respective heel H and toe T portions ofupstanding wall 14. - In a preferred embodiment of the disclosure, and as shown in
FIGS. 1 through 4A ,top surface 16 ofupstanding wall 14 includes analignment groove 40 that runs along longitudinal axis LA and is orthogonal to and joinscentral portion 36 of through-cavity 30 at or just behind sweet spot SS. -
Front portion 20 oftop surface 16 ofupstanding wall 14 merges intorear portion 22 ofupstanding wall 14.Rear portion 22 is comprised of an upper, downwardly dependingrim 42 that merges into aconcave surface portion 44 that transitionsadjacent base 46 ofupstanding wall 14, into arearwardly extending surface 48 that extends toward rear R ofbody 12.Rearwardly extending surface 48 andconcave surface portion 44 of therear portion 22 ofupstanding wall 14 each include a portion ofalignment groove 40, and those portions ofalignment groove 40 are in alignment with each other and with the portion ofalignment groove 40 that traversestop surface 16 ofupstanding wall 14. - Referring mainly now to
FIGS. 6 and 7 ,front striking face 26 preferably is substantially flat and is disposed at a rearward or loft angle La of from about 3 degrees to about 5 degrees, preferably 3 or 4 degrees, measured from the junction of frontstriking face 26 and ofbottom surface 18 ofupstanding wall 14 to the junction of frontstriking face 26 andtop surface 16 ofupstanding wall 14.Alignment groove 40 is orthogonal to and abuts or intersects through-cavity 30. - Through-
cavity 30 preferably is disposed generally parallel to the angle ofstriking face 26. The width of through-cavity 30, from front to rear, preferably is uniform through a vertical section ofupstanding wall 14 from itstop surface 16 to itsbottom surface 18. The vertical section taken through line 6-6 ofFIG. 3 is taken alongalignment groove 40 and consequently through sweet spot SS, where through-cavity 30 is thinnest. As can be seen fromFIGS. 6 and 7 , the width of through-cavity 30 remains uniform fromtop surface 16 tobottom surface 18 at whatever point the section line is taken throughupstanding wall 14 and through-cavity 30, but as seen fromFIG. 7 , the uniform width of through-cavity 30 at each section line progressively made through through-cavity 30 will be wider as the section lines are progressively made further and further away from sweet spot SS progressively toward through-cavityopposed end portions 35. - Through-
cavity 30 can be of any suitable size, shape, thickness and/or location behindcontact wall 24, so long as the through-cavity creates a cushioning effect that softens the putting striking blow whenputter head 10 strikes a golf ball especially at the sweet spot, creates a true ball roll off of strikingface 26, and provides a definite, distinguishable feeling and a definite repeatable frequency sound vibration when sweet spot SS of a particular embodiment of the disclosure is struck during the putting stroke. Suitable spacing between the front and rear wall surfaces at the central portion of the through-cavity behind sweet spot SS, and desirably within about, 250″ to either side of the sweet spot of embodiments of the putter heads of the disclosure, is in the range between about 0.070″ to about 0.090″, and preferably is about 0.080″. -
FIGS. 8 , 9 and 10 show features of texturedfront striking face 26 ofputter head 10 of the disclosure. AlthoughFIG. 5 shows texturedstriking face 26 as a random multitude of dots,FIG. 8 shows that the uniformly textured surface finish of strikingface 26 when seen in enlarged plan view, is comprised of an array of tightly and uniformly packed circles representing indented dimples 50.FIGS. 9 and 10 show that when seen in vertical section, dimples 50 preferably have a diameter “d” of about 0.008 inch, and, they are comprised of semi-circles or hemisputter headeres 52 indented to a depth of from about 0.0010 inch to about 0.0020 inch into the surface of strikingface 26. Preferably, dimples 50 are uniformly spaced from each other in a quantity or density of about 10,000 per square inch. - Generally, that which is referenced and described above applies to golf putter heads covered by the disclosure, regardless of whether the golf putter head is a mallet-type, blade-type or other type of golf putter.
- For example,
FIGS. 11 through 15 show an embodiment of a blade-type golf putter head of the disclosure. More particularly,FIG. 11 shows a blade-typegolf putter head 10′ that has basically the same features as were described above in connection with the disclosure of mallet-typegolf putter head 10. Features of the mallet-type putter head 10 and of blade-type putter head 10′ that are basically the same are indicated by the same reference number, while features that are slightly different are indicated by the same reference number with a prime. Main features of putter heads 10 and 10′ that are basically the same include a one-piece body 12, anupstanding wall 14 having afront portion 20 comprised of acontact wall 24 in turn having a texturedfront striking face 26, and a downwardly disposed unbounded through-cavity 30 behind, preferably directly behind, strikingface 26, through-cavity 30 being transverse to longitudinal axis LA and extending from and through respective top andbottom surfaces upstanding wall 14, and through-cavity 30 having afront wall 32 that forms, i.e., is the same as,rear wall surface 28 ofcontact wall 24. Other main features of embodiments of golf putter heads of the disclosure, though not described in detail above, include the material of which the one-piece bodies of the putter heads are made, and the textured, dimpled finish of strikingface 26. - Minor differences between mallet type
golf putter head 10 and blade-type putter head 10′ relate, for example, in blade-type putter head 10′ to rearportion 22′ ofupstanding wall 14′. Whereas in mallet-typegolf putter head 10,rear portion 22 ofupstanding wall 14 has a substantially flat rear portion, e.g., rim 22, that is generally parallel to frontstriking face 26, in the blade-typegolf putter head 10′,rear portion 22′ is arcuate, that is, convex toward the front F ofputter head 10′ when it is seen in top plan view. Also, whereas in mallet-typegolf putter head 10, rearwardly extendingsurface 48 of the tail or shelf, hereafter referred to as the shelf, extends quite a distance to the rear ofupstanding wall 14 and finishes in an arcuate sweep behindupstanding wall 14 to provide a heavy feel to the mallet type putter head, in blade-typegolf putter head 10′, rearwardly extendingsurface 48′ of the shorter shelf extends only to the rear of rounded toe T and heel H surfaces to the rear ofupstanding wall 14′. For example, whereas the rearmost point ofputter head 10, the shelf can be 1.900 inch, the shelf ofputter head 10′ is shorter and can be 1.375 inch. A consequence of the shorter length of rearwardly extendingsurface 48′ of the shelf is thatalignment groove 40 is shorter in blade-type putter head 10′. -
FIGS. 14 and 15 respectively are side elevational views of the toe T and heel H ends ofgolf putter head 10′, and the front striking face 25 ofupstanding wall 14 of one-piece body 12. - In
FIGS. 16-22 , there is shown a second embodiment of a mallet type putter head of the present disclosure. More particularly, these Figures show a mallet style putter head generally designated 100, comprised of many of the features and elements present in the first embodiment of mallettype putter head 10. Features and elements that are common to or substantially the same in each of the mallet typeputter head embodiments embodiment 100, are understood and considered to have the same reference numbers. Features that are different or in addition inembodiment 100 are given a 3digit 100 to 199 series reference number. - Second
mallet style embodiment 100 is considered the preferred embodiment of the mallet type putter heads of the disclosure. -
FIG. 16 is a top front perspective view, andFIG. 17 is a top left rear perspective view of mallet typegolf putter head 100. These Figures show thatrear portion 122 ofupstanding wall 114 includes a central portion cp that is located behindcentral portion 36 of through-cavity 30, and includes a convexly shapedportion 160 that extends in a rearward direction generally along and to each side of longitudinal axis LA toward rear R ofputter head 100. Central portion cp ofupstanding wall 114 and central portion CP ofputter head 100′ includes a mass of the stainless steel material of whichbody 112 is made, to thereby provideputter head 100 with a centrally located high moment of inertia. The mass of central portion cp ofupstanding wall 114 includes convexly shapedportion 160 ofupstanding wall 114. The mass of central portion CP ofputter head 100′ includes both central portion cp ofupstanding wall 114 andspherical mound 170. -
FIGS. 16 , 17 andFIG. 18 , a top plan view ofputter head 100, show thatrear portion 122 oftop surface 116 ofupstanding wall 114, andupstanding wall 114 itself preferably have an undulating configuration that extends in a direction generally along transverse axis TA. The undulating configuration preferably is comprised of opposed, rearwardly extending convexly shaped heel H and toe Twall surface portions wall surface portions portion 160 of central portion cp. - The rearwardly extending mass of stainless steel material of central portion cp of
upstanding wall 114 and central portion CP ofputter head 100′ need not include, but preferably do include a rearwardly extending geometrically shaped portion which need not be, but preferably is an integral, i.e., all one-piece, extension ofupstanding wall 114. As shown, the rearwardly extending geometrically shaped portion preferably is at least a portion or segment of a sphere, here shown as a spherical mound generally designated 170.FIG. 21 shows a vertical cross section through central portion cp ofupstanding wall 114 and through central portion CP ofputter head 100′, including through rearwardly extendingspherical mound 170. It is contemplated to be within the scope of this disclosure that the rearwardly extending geometrically shaped portion can be selected from the group consisting of circular, oblong, cylindrical, rectilinear, triangular, or other suitable geometric shapes. - Referring to
FIGS. 16 through 21 , and toFIG. 18A , preferred dimensions of features ofputter head 100 include: - “a”, the radius of curvature of convexly shaped heel H and toe T
wall surface portions - “b”, the radius of curvature of forwardly facing concavely shaped pocket
wall surface portions - “c”, referring also to
FIG. 18A , the best fit radius of curvature of rearwardly extending convexly shaped central portion cp, is formed by two separate intersecting radii, “r” each of which is 2.346″, the individual radii “r’ originating a distance “o” that is 1.486 forward of the top edge of strikingface 26, and being spaced 0.634″ to opposite sides “os” of longitudinal axis LA; - “c”, referring to
FIG. 18A , the distance from the topmost edge of strikingface 26 rearward to the center rearmost point on the convex radius of the respective heel H and toe T, (that is, the front to rear longitudinal depth of thetop surface 116 of upstanding wall 114), is 0.898″; - “cc”, referring to
FIG. 18A , the distance from the topmost edge of strikingface 26 rearward to the center rearmost point on the convex best fit radius of curvature ofcentral portion 160, is 0.780″; - “ccc”, referring to
FIG. 18A , the distance from the topmost edge of strikingface 26 rearward to the center of the forwardly extending concave radii curvature ofpocket wall surface - “CP”, the distance from the center of the radius of curvature “b” of
pocket wall surface 166 to the center of the radius of curvature “b” ofpocket wall surface 168, extended to the front F and to the rear R ofputter head 100, that is, the transverse width of central portion CP ofputter head 100, is 1.8652″; - “d”, the radius of curvature of
spherical mound 170 is 0.8425″ (seeFIG. 21 ); - “e”, the radius of curvature of
concave fillet 172 abovespherical mound 170, where its spherical surface meetstop surface 116 of central portion cp ofupstanding wall 114, and where its spherical surface meets pocketwall surface portions - “f”, the radius of curvature of
concave fillet 174 at and tracing along the junction of the base ofupstanding wall 114, below convexly shaped heel H and toe Twall surface portions wall surface portions spherical mound 170 where its spherical surface and the aforementioned other wall surface portions meet the rearwardly extendingtop surface 148 of shelf S, is 0.250″. -
FIG. 19 , a front elevational view ofputter head 100′ ofFIG. 18 , shows thatputter head 100′ preferably has a flattop surface 116 and a slightlyarcuate bottom surface 18.FIG. 19 also shows sweet spot SS and a circular dashed line that refers toFIG. 8 , which in turn shows that strikingface 26 has a uniformly textured finish comprised ofindented dimples 50. -
FIG. 20 , a rear elevational view ofputter head 100 ofFIG. 18 , shows convexly shaped heel H and toe Twall surface portions wall surface portions upstanding wall 114, convexly shapedspherical mound 170,concave fillet 172 generally abovespherical mound 170, andconcave fillet 174 along the base ofupstanding wall 114, joiningspherical mound 170, and the above mentioned wall surface portions with thetop surface 148 of rearwardly extending shelf S. -
FIG. 20A , a bottom plan view ofputter head 100 ofFIG. 18 , andFIG. 20B , a rear perspective view of the bottom ofputter head 100, show that through-cavity 30 extends all the way through upstanding wall 114 (not shown) from and through its top surface 116 (not shown) to and through itsbottom surface 18.FIGS. 20A and 20B also show upwardly angledbottom surface portion 118 of rearwardly extending shelf S ofbottom wall 18. -
FIG. 20C , a left side elevational view ofputter head 100 ofFIG. 18 , andFIG. 20D , a right side elevational view ofputter head 100 ofFIG. 18 , show the spherical profile ofspherical mound 170 and the concave profile offillet 174 joining the profile of thespherical mound 170 totop surface 148 of rearwardly extending shelf S. These Figures also show rearwardly extending upwardly angledbottom surface portion 118 ofbottom wall 18. - Referring to
FIG. 21 , a vertical sectional view as would be seen along line 21-21 along longitudinal axis LA and through sweet spot SS ofFIG. 19 , shows that preferred dimensions of features ofputter head 100 of the disclosure include: - “d”, the radius of curvature of
spherical mound 170, is 0.8425″; - “g”, the distance from
top surface 116 ofupstanding wall 114 to the radial center point ofspherical mound 170, is 0.8435″; - “h”, the thickness of
contact wall 24 at sweet spot SS, is 0.750″; - “tc”, the width of through-
cavity 30 at sweet spot SS, is 0.080″; - “j”, the distance from striking
face 26 to the radial center point ofspherical mound 170, is 0.6150″; - “k”, the distance from striking
face 26 to the rearward-most point of central portion cp, (also considered the front to rear width of upstanding wall 114), is 0.9500″; [is this the same dimension asbottom wall 18?] - “l”, the distance from striking
face 26 to the rear edge of shelf S ofbottom wall 18, is 1.9000″; and - “m”, the distance from
top surface 116 ofupstanding wall 114 totop surface 148 of shelf S ofbottom wall 18, is 0.7000″. -
FIGS. 18 and 21 show that the mass that comprises central portion cp ofupstanding wall 114 between itstop surface 116 andbottom wall 18 and that comprises the integral mass ofspherical mound 170, are centrally located within central portion CP ofputter head 100 directly behind through-cavity 30 andcontact wall 24. This configuration provides one-piece putter head 100 of the disclosure with balance and a high moment of inertia that resists twisting of the putter head during the putting stroke. -
FIG. 22 is a nearly horizontal section taken along line 22-22 throughputter head 100 ofFIG. 21 . InFIG. 21 , the section line is shown tilted downward about 3 degrees to provide the reader with a sectional view straight down into and completely through through-cavity 30.FIG. 22 shows the upper portion ofspherical mound 170 in section, and a lower portion of thespherical mound 170 andfillet 174 each in top plan view. The reference letter “n” refers to the preferred breadth of sweet spot SS, and is 0.5000″. The reference letter “o” represents the distance between the center points of the terminal ends of through through-cavity 30 and is 2.300″. The reference letter “p” near the terminal ends of through-cavity 30 represents the width of through-cavity 30 at those points and is “0.132”. -
FIG. 23 is a horizontal section taken along line 23-23 throughputter head 100 ofFIG. 21 . More particularly, the section is taken through or along the bases ofspherical mound 170, concave pocket wall surfaces 166, 168, and convex wall surfaces 162 and 164, withfillet 174 being visible along the base ofspherical wall 170 and the base of the aforementioned wall surfaces. -
FIGS. 24 through 29 show a second embodiment of a blade type putter head of the disclosure, generally referred to as 100′. The Figures show that bladetype putter head 100′ is basically the same as mallettype putter head 100, except that bladetype putter head 100′ preferably does not have a rearwardly extending shelf S. Accordingly, except for not having a rearwardly extending shelf S,putter head 100′ has basically the same structural features and reference numbers as mallettype putter head 100. With respect to the dimensions ofblade putter head 100′, they can be any suitable dimensions. For example, they can be basically the same as those ofmallet putter head 100′, or smaller. - Referring mainly to
FIGS. 24 through 26 , 28B andFIG. 29 , these Figures show thatrear portion 122 ofupstanding wall 114, like mallettype putter head 100, preferably has a rearward undulating configuration that extends in a direction generally along transverse axis TA. The undulating configuration preferably is comprised of opposed, rearwardly extending convexly shaped heel H and toe Twall surface portions wall surface portions - As is the case with mallet
type putter head 100, bladetype putter head 100′ preferably includes a centrally located rearwardly extending integral mass of putter head stainless steel material of central portion cp ofupstanding wall 114. The centrally located rearwardly extending mass of material preferably also includes a rearwardly extending geometrical shape which need not be, but preferably is at least a portion or segment of a preferably solid sphere, here referred to asspherical mound 170 which is located within central portion CP ofputter head 100′. - Referring to
FIG. 26 , preferred dimensions of features ofputter head 100′ can include: - “a”, the radius of curvature of convexly shaped heel H and toe T
wall surface portions - “b”, the radius of curvature of forwardly facing concavely shaped pocket
wall surface portions - “c”, (referring also to
FIG. 18A ), the best fit radius of curvature of rearwardly extending convexly shaped central portion cp, can be formed by two separate intersecting radii, “r”, each of which can be 2.346″, the individual radii “r’ originating a distance “o” that can be 1.486″ forward of the top edge of strikingface 26, and can be 0.634″ to opposite sides “os” of longitudinal axis LA; - “CP”, the distance from the center of the radius of curvature “b” of
pocket wall surface 166 to the center of the radius of curvature “b” ofpocket wall surface 168, extended to the front F and to the rear R ofputter head 100, that is, the transverse width of central portion CP ofputter head 100, can be 2.0571″; - “d”, the radius of curvature of
spherical mound 170 can be 0.8300″; - “e”, the radius of curvature of
concave fillet 172 abovespherical mound 170, where its spherical surface meetstop surface 116 of central portion cp ofupstanding wall 114, and where its spherical surface meets pocketwall surface portions - “f”, referring to
FIG. 25 , the radius of curvature ofconcave fillet 174′ at and tracing along the junction of the base ofupstanding wall 114, below convexly shaped heel H and toe Twall surface portions wall surface portions spherical mound 170 where its spherical surface and the aforementioned other wall surface portions meet the rearwardly extending edge of upwardly angledbottom surface 18′, can be 0.250″; and - “fp”, refers to the
front portion 20 ofupstanding wall 114 and is the distance from strikingface 26 rearward behind through-cavity 30 to a transaxial line running parallel to or corresponding to transverse axis TA, which distance can be 0.3650 -
FIG. 27 is a front elevational view, andFIG. 28 is a rear elevational view, ofputter head 100′ ofFIG. 26 .FIG. 28A is a bottom plan view, andFIG. 28B is a bottom rear perspective view, ofputter head 100′ ofFIG. 26 .FIG. 28B showsfillet 174′ joining the surface ofspherical mound 170 withedge 150 ofangled portion 118′ ofbottom wall 18. -
FIG. 29 is a vertical sectional view as would be seen along line 29-29 ofFIG. 27 , through central portion cp ofupstanding wall 114, and through central portion CP ofputter head 100′, including through sweet spot SS and through rearwardly extending solidspherical mound 170. As shown inFIG. 29 , and as also shown inFIGS. 25 , 26, 28, 28B and 29,spherical mound 170 is bounded about its upper periphery by anelongated fillet 172 and along its lower extent or edge byelongated fillet 174′ which joins the lower extent ofspherical mound 170 to therear edge 150 of upwardly angledbottom wall portion 118′. -
FIG. 29 shows that preferred dimensions of features ofputter head 100′ of the disclosure can include: - “d′”, the radius of curvature of
spherical mound 170, is 0.8425″; - “g′”, the distance from
top surface 116 ofupstanding wall 114 to the radial center point ofspherical mound 170, is 0.8435″; - “h”, the thickness of
contact wall 24 at sweet spot SS, is 0.750″; - “tc”, the width or gap of through-
cavity 30 at sweet spot SS, is 0.080″; - “j′”, the distance from striking
face 26 to the radial center point ofspherical mound 170, is 0.3650″; - “k′”, the distance from the lower portion of
striking face 26 to the rearward-most point of central portion cp ofupstanding wall 114, is 0.9500″ (This is also considered to be the front to rear width of upstanding wall 114); - “I′”, the distance from the lower portion of
striking face 26 to the rear edge ofspherical mound 170, is 1.1950″; and - “ba”, the angle measured from
bottom surface 18′ to upwardly extendingsurface 118′, is 15 degrees. - The shown and preferred segment of
spherical mound 170 ofputter head embodiments - The golf putter head of the disclosure permits a variety of shafting styles. The golf putter heads of the disclosure can be attached or secured by suitable conventional means to suitable conventional golf club shafts. Although golf putter heads of the disclosure, including those designated 10, 10′, 100 and 100′ are each shown having structure, e.g. a straight hole 60 at heel H for receiving the mounting end of a suitable shaft (not shown), it is contemplated that the putter heads alternatively can be center shafted. Holes 60 can be straight, e.g. (orthogonal to the transverse axis or longitudinal axis) or disposed at an angle adjacent the center of the head (not shown). The shafts can be straight or bent.
- Regardless of shafting variants and head style chosen, features which can be selected to be common to, or used individually in or in suitable and various combinations in the golf putter heads of the disclosure include unbounded through-
cavity 30, it preferably being a thin cavity and preferably elliptical in shape, formed, preferably machined, in one-piece body 12, adjacent or behind, preferably directly behind, strikingface 26, a machine-texturedstriking face 26 having a texture in the form of an array of precision machined uniform hemispherical dimples therein, the one-piece body preferably being converted, i. e., machined or milled, from a solid bar of a heat treatable stainless steel alloy having a hardness of from about 25 to about 32 on the Rockwell C-Scale, and heat treated and tempered to a high hardness of from about 48 to about 52, more preferably from about 44 to about 47, on the Rockwell C-Scale, the combination of a very hard, i.e. highly hardened, one-piece putter head having the machined textured face on a contact wall feature partly formed by the front wall of an elliptical through-cavity preferably directly behind the contact wall, provides golf putter heads of the disclosure that meet one or more of objectives of the disclosure. - With respect to the feature of a “contact wall”, the term “contact wall” herein means the portion of
front portion 20 ofupstanding wall striking face 26 andrear wall surface 28. Preferably the thickness of the contact wall at sweet spot SS, and adjacent it for about 0.250 inch to either side of it, is from about 0.030 inch to about 0.080 inch, preferably from about 0.060 inch to about 0.080 inch, more preferably from about 0.065 inch to about 0.075 inch, and most preferably about 0.075 inch. Sweet spot SS is at the center of the length of strikingface 26 and is aligned withalignment groove 40. Preferably, the thickness of the contact wall at sweet spot SS and about 0.250 inch to either side of it is uniform and the surfaces of frontstriking face 26 andrear wall surface 28 are parallel to each other and flat. Adjacent theend portions 35 of through-cavity 30, the thickness of the contact wall preferably is from about 0.100 inch to about 0.180 inch, more preferably from about 0.150 inch to about 0.180 inch and most preferably from about 0.160 inch to about 0.170 inch. Preferably, the thickness of the contact wall increases gradually at a non-linear rate as the wall extends along its elliptical path from the flat portion adjacent sweet spot SS towardend portions 35 of through-cavity 30. - Another feature which can be and preferably is employed in the putter heads of the disclosure is an upstanding wall that has a rear portion that includes a central portion cp, which in turn includes a mass of putter head body material that extends rearwardly generally along and preferably to each side of the longitudinal axis of the putter head. The central portion of the upstanding wall that extends rearwardly can have a convex shape. The central portion of the upstanding wall that extends rearwardly can include an integral geometrically shaped portion which can be or include a portion or segment of a sphere, for example, a
spherical mound 170. The mass of the rearwardly extending geometrically shaped portion or sphere is included within the central portion CP of the putter head of the disclosure. This mass provides balance to the putter head and helps provide a high moment of inertia to the putter head. This helps prevent twisting of the putter head during the putting stroke. - Embodiments of the disclosure include methods of making the disclosed one-piece, preferably one-material, golf putter heads 10, 10′, 100 and 100′. The embodiments of the methods of the disclosure apply to making putter heads of mallet, blade or other type designs. The methods include providing a solid bar of heat treatable stainless steel alloy (not shown) that is to be formed or converted, e.g., machined or milled, into one-
piece putter head - The nearly desired final putter form is heat treated to increase its metal hardness and temper it to a Rockwell hardness of from about 48 to about 52, preferably from about 44 to about 47 on the Rockwell C-Scale. A preferred heat treated stainless steel is known and sold as “17-4 ph”, or less preferably a 440 C Stainless Steel. Next, a shaped, unbounded through-
cavity 30 is formed behind, preferably directly behind, the preliminary front striking surface. The forming of through-cavity 30 preferably is effected by use of a Wire Electric Discharge Machining Process. The forming of through-cavity 30 can be effected by giving the cavity an elliptical shape, or the general shape of an open umbrella that has a convex outer surface that is directed toward the preliminary front surface. The forming of through-cavity 30 also can be effected to provide the through-cavity with the general shape of a bow having a convex surface that is directed toward the preliminary front surface, and whose ends are bowed away from the preliminary front surface. - The preliminary front surface of the nearly desired final putter is formed into a textured
striking face 26 by machining into the preliminary front surface an array or series of uniform precision dimples and uniform lands between the dimples. Preferably, the forming of the textured striking face is effected to provide an array of uniform precision dimples in the form of indented hemispheres having a diameter of preferably from about 0.005 inch to about 0.012 inch, more preferably from about 0.007 inch to about 0.010 inch, and most preferably about 0.008 inch. The forming of the textured striking face preferably is effected to provide an array of uniform precision dimples in the form of indented hemispheres having a depth of about 0.001 inch to about 0.002 inch. The forming of the textured striking face is effected to provide the striking face with an array of uniform dimples uniformly spaced from each other in a quantity or density of about 10,000 dimples per square inch. - Through-
cavity 30 preferably is formed parallel to the preliminary front surface or to texturedstriking face 26. In a preferred embodiment, texturedstriking face 26 is formed to be substantially flat and to have a loft angle La of 3 or 4 degrees, preferably 3 degrees, relative tobottom wall 18 ofgolf putter head - The present disclosure having thus been described with particular reference to embodiments thereof, it will be discerned that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure as described herein.
Claims (20)
1. A golf putter head for attachment to a golf club shaft, comprising:
a one piece body that is made of a stainless steel material that has a hardness of from about 44 to about 52 on the Rockwell C-Scale, the body including
a front and a rear,
a front-to-rear longitudinal axis and a transverse axis,
a heel and a toe oppositely disposed on a transverse axis, at least one of the heel and toe having structure for attachment to a golf club shaft, and,
an upstanding wall whose length extends transverse to the longitudinal axis and whose width extends along a longitudinal axis, the upstanding wall having a top surface, and a bottom surface, a front portion and a rear portion, the front portion of the upstanding wall extending generally between the heel and toe and being comprised of
a contact wall having a front striking face and a rear wall surface, and
a downwardly disposed unbounded through-cavity, the through-cavity being directly behind the striking face, transverse to the longitudinal axis and extending from and through the top and bottom surfaces of the upstanding wall, the through-cavity having a front wall surface that forms the rear wall surface of the contact wall.
2. The putter head of claim 1 , wherein the striking face has a uniform texture comprised of an array of dimples in the form of indented hemispheres.
3. The putter head of claim 1 , wherein the body is comprised of heat treated stainless steel.
4. The putter of head claim 1 , wherein the through-cavity has an elliptical shape when seen in top plan view or in horizontal section.
5. The putter head of claim 1 , wherein the striking face includes a sweet spot, the through-cavity also has a rear wall surface, the front and rear wall surfaces of the through-cavity define a central portion of the through-cavity, and the spacing between the front and rear wall surfaces at the central portion of the through-cavity behind the sweet spot is in the range between about 0.070″ to about 0.090″.
6. The putter head of claim 1 , wherein the striking face is substantially flat and the through-cavity is generally parallel to the front striking face.
7. The putter head of claim 1 , wherein the putter head is either mallet type or blade type.
8. The putter head of claim 1 , wherein the front striking face has a sweet spot at the center of the length of the front striking face, and wherein the thickness of the contact wall that extends generally along the longitudinal axis between the front striking face and the rear wall surface of the contact wall at the sweet spot and adjacent it to either side of the sweet spot, is from about 0.060 inch to about 0.080 inch.
9. The putter head of claim 1 , wherein the thickness of the contact wall between the front striking face and the rear wall surface of the contact wall at the sweet spot and adjacent it for about 0.250 inch to either side of the sweet spot is uniform.
10. The putter head of claim 1 , wherein the rear portion of the upstanding wall includes a central portion that includes a mass of the body material that extends rearwardly generally along and to each side of the longitudinal axis.
11. The golf putter head of claim 10 , wherein the central portion of the upstanding wall that extends rearwardly has a convex.
12. The golf putter head of claim 11 , wherein the rear portion of the upstanding wall, when seen in top plan view, has a rearwardly facing undulating configuration that extends in a direction generally along or aside the transverse axis, the undulating configuration being comprised of opposed rearwardly extending convexly shaped heel and toe wall surface portions, the heel and toe wall surface portions merging into adjacent, more centrally located forwardly facing concavely shaped pocket wall surface portions, and the respective pocket wall surface portions merging into a rearwardly extending convexly shaped central portion of the putter head.
13. The putter head of claim 10 , wherein the rearwardly extending mass of body material of the central portion of the upstanding wall includes an integral rearwardly extending geometrically shaped portion.
14. The putter head of claim 13 , wherein the geometrically shaped portion includes a portion of a sphere.
15. The putter head of claim 1 , wherein the stainless steel material is at least one selected from the group consisting of heat treated 17-4 ph stainless steel, a 400 series stainless steel and a 400 C series stainless steel.
16. A method of making a one-piece golf putter head of one material, which comprises:
providing a solid bar of heat treatable stainless steel alloy that is to be formed into the putter head;
converting the solid bar to nearly the desired final form of the putter head, except for the formation of a through-cavity and a textured striking face, the nearly desired final putter form including a preliminary front striking surface that is to become the textured striking face;
heat treating the converted nearly desired final putter form to increase its metal hardness to a Rockwell hardness tempered to from about 44 to about 52 on the Rockwell C-Scale;
forming a shaped through-cavity directly behind the preliminary front surface; and
forming the preliminary front surface into a textured striking face, by machining into the preliminary front surface a series of uniform precision dimples and uniform lands between the dimples.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the forming of the through-cavity includes forming the cavity in an elliptical shape.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the forming of the textured striking face is effected to provide an array of uniform dimples in the form of indented hemispheres having a diameter of about 0.005 inch to about 0.012 inch.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the through-cavity is formed parallel to the textured striking face.
20. The method of claim 16 , wherein the forming of the through cavity is effected by a Wire Electric Discharge Machining Process.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US12/022,875 US20080188321A1 (en) | 2007-02-01 | 2008-01-30 | Golf putter heads and methods of making them |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US89882907P | 2007-02-01 | 2007-02-01 | |
US12/022,875 US20080188321A1 (en) | 2007-02-01 | 2008-01-30 | Golf putter heads and methods of making them |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20080188321A1 true US20080188321A1 (en) | 2008-08-07 |
Family
ID=39676651
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/022,875 Abandoned US20080188321A1 (en) | 2007-02-01 | 2008-01-30 | Golf putter heads and methods of making them |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20080188321A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH700851A1 (en) * | 2009-04-28 | 2010-10-29 | Christian Taennler | Golf club i.e. putter, for passing golf ball on ground, has club head including weighted parts, which longitudinally extend along passing direction from club part and are arranged at distance from each other |
Citations (76)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US873423A (en) * | 1906-04-21 | 1907-12-10 | James Govan | Golf-club. |
US1154490A (en) * | 1915-02-05 | 1915-09-21 | Robert Hobart Davis | Golf-club. |
US1503291A (en) * | 1923-07-05 | 1924-07-29 | Rimmer Robert | Golf putter |
US1524731A (en) * | 1924-04-11 | 1925-02-03 | Spalding & Bros Ag | Golf-club iron |
US1535670A (en) * | 1923-05-24 | 1925-04-28 | Kidd William | Golf club |
US1927083A (en) * | 1929-11-16 | 1933-09-19 | Mavis Machine Corp | Golf club |
US2482097A (en) * | 1944-07-27 | 1949-09-20 | Armco Steel Corp | Alloy and method |
US3061310A (en) * | 1959-09-04 | 1962-10-30 | Adolf E Giza | Hollow headed golf putter |
US3064975A (en) * | 1961-10-09 | 1962-11-20 | Raymond A Smith | Full view non-scuff golf club putter |
US3637218A (en) * | 1969-09-11 | 1972-01-25 | Anthony L Carlino | Spherical golf club head |
US3819180A (en) * | 1972-06-26 | 1974-06-25 | T Murphy | Perforated golf putter |
US3851877A (en) * | 1972-12-22 | 1974-12-03 | J Giambazi | Putter head |
US3967826A (en) * | 1974-12-30 | 1976-07-06 | Clay Judice | Golf putter |
US4398965A (en) * | 1976-10-26 | 1983-08-16 | Pepsico, Inc. | Method of making iron golf clubs with flexible impact surface |
US4795158A (en) * | 1987-03-20 | 1989-01-03 | Right Way Golf | Golf putter |
US4902016A (en) * | 1988-08-08 | 1990-02-20 | Lynx Golf, Inc. | Golf club head having a high friction striking surface |
US4976436A (en) * | 1987-12-21 | 1990-12-11 | Laurel Kaihatsu Co., Ltd. | Golf putter including ball retrievel means |
US5089067A (en) * | 1991-01-24 | 1992-02-18 | Armco Inc. | Martensitic stainless steel |
US5131656A (en) * | 1991-09-16 | 1992-07-21 | Frank Kinoshita | Impulse performance putter |
US5160144A (en) * | 1991-11-04 | 1992-11-03 | Maniatis Jimmy J | Golf putter including tuning fork effects |
US5174573A (en) * | 1989-06-01 | 1992-12-29 | Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc. | Putter having a head with ball-centering indicia |
US5314184A (en) * | 1993-01-28 | 1994-05-24 | Callaway Golf Company | Golf putter with bottom rail |
US5316304A (en) * | 1993-01-04 | 1994-05-31 | Yost David A | Wire faced golf putter |
US5346219A (en) * | 1993-05-07 | 1994-09-13 | Pehoski Richard J | Golf putter head |
US5437456A (en) * | 1992-08-05 | 1995-08-01 | Callaway Golf Company | Iron golf club head with dual intersecting recesses and associated slits |
US5533728A (en) * | 1995-05-30 | 1996-07-09 | Pehoski; Richard J. | Mallet and blade putter heads |
USD378392S (en) * | 1995-12-26 | 1997-03-11 | Shumway Roger R | Golf club head |
US5692968A (en) * | 1996-06-17 | 1997-12-02 | Shine; Randall S. | Golf putter with vibration dampening and golf ball pickup and release |
US5749791A (en) * | 1996-09-18 | 1998-05-12 | Passeri, Jr.; Robert V. | Golf ball putter |
US5820481A (en) * | 1996-01-19 | 1998-10-13 | Raudman; Charles J. | Golf putter |
US5899819A (en) * | 1997-05-14 | 1999-05-04 | Mount; Gregory T. | Golf putter |
US5913731A (en) * | 1997-11-10 | 1999-06-22 | Westerman; Clive B. | Golf putter |
US6080070A (en) * | 1999-01-25 | 2000-06-27 | Traxx Golf Company, Inc. | Putter head with improved alignment and stability features |
US6086651A (en) * | 1997-08-28 | 2000-07-11 | Alp Electric Co., Ltd. | Sinter and casting comprising Fe-based high-hardness glassy alloy |
US6086485A (en) * | 1997-12-18 | 2000-07-11 | Jiro Hamada | Iron golf club heads, iron golf clubs and golf club evaluating method |
US6089993A (en) * | 1997-03-05 | 2000-07-18 | Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. | Golf club head |
US6224497B1 (en) * | 1997-09-25 | 2001-05-01 | Anthony J. Antonious | Golf club head with improved frequency matched ball striking face characteristics |
US6238303B1 (en) * | 1996-12-03 | 2001-05-29 | John Fite | Golf putter with adjustable characteristics |
US6257994B1 (en) * | 2000-03-24 | 2001-07-10 | Anthony J. Antonious | Ball striking face configurations for golf putters |
US6267689B1 (en) * | 1998-12-18 | 2001-07-31 | John A. Ambrose | Golf putter with high center of gravity |
US6309311B1 (en) * | 2000-01-28 | 2001-10-30 | Clive S. Lu | Golf club head with weighted force absorbing attachment |
US6319146B1 (en) * | 1999-06-14 | 2001-11-20 | Truett P. Mills | Golf putter with adjustable lie and offset hosel |
US6350208B1 (en) * | 2000-01-25 | 2002-02-26 | Thomas R. Ford | Golf putter |
US20020065143A1 (en) * | 2000-11-29 | 2002-05-30 | Shin Yi So | Golf club head with multiple dimpled face |
US6435979B1 (en) * | 1999-01-08 | 2002-08-20 | William Pratt Mounfield, Jr. | Golf putter with symmetrical extruded surfaces |
US6435975B2 (en) * | 1999-01-29 | 2002-08-20 | Nicholas Mark Middleton | Golf club and method of use |
US20030060305A1 (en) * | 2001-09-27 | 2003-03-27 | Ashton David Perry | Golf clubhead for putting or striking a golf ball |
US6592467B1 (en) * | 2002-01-17 | 2003-07-15 | Focus Golf Systems, Inc. | Putter blade |
US6605008B1 (en) * | 2000-09-18 | 2003-08-12 | Tibor F. Kovarik | Golf club |
US6634955B2 (en) * | 2000-01-26 | 2003-10-21 | Nicholas M. Middleton | Golf club |
US20030207725A1 (en) * | 2002-05-03 | 2003-11-06 | Robsan Corporation | Golf putter |
US6663497B2 (en) * | 2001-01-25 | 2003-12-16 | Acushnet Company | Adjustable putter |
US6682439B2 (en) * | 2001-08-01 | 2004-01-27 | Dennis E. Brown | Multi-string putter face with separate and variable tension capabilities and multiple position shaft with adjustable shaft angle capabilities |
US6685577B1 (en) * | 1995-12-04 | 2004-02-03 | David M. Scruggs | Golf club made of a bulk-solidifying amorphous metal |
US20040038747A1 (en) * | 2000-05-16 | 2004-02-26 | Lindsay Norman Matheson | Golf-putters |
US6723279B1 (en) * | 1999-03-15 | 2004-04-20 | Materials And Electrochemical Research (Mer) Corporation | Golf club and other structures, and novel methods for making such structures |
US6723941B2 (en) * | 2001-11-29 | 2004-04-20 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Wire electric-discharge machining apparatus |
US6752723B2 (en) * | 2002-01-30 | 2004-06-22 | Hugh Leo Cullen | Aim visualization, anti-torque stabilized, and resonant-structured golf putter head |
US20040138004A1 (en) * | 2003-01-10 | 2004-07-15 | Grace Robert M. | High moment of inertia putter |
US20040147334A1 (en) * | 2003-01-23 | 2004-07-29 | D'agguano Frank | Golf putter |
US20040173964A1 (en) * | 2003-03-07 | 2004-09-09 | Pollman Frederic W. | Golf putter |
US20050070373A1 (en) * | 2003-09-26 | 2005-03-31 | Johnson Lanny L. | Elongate blade golf putter |
US6878072B1 (en) * | 2003-11-14 | 2005-04-12 | Mph Golf, Llc | Golf ball putter, retriever and retainer |
US20050102809A1 (en) * | 2002-03-26 | 2005-05-19 | Kimihisa Hiramoto | Method for processing metal molding member having fine configuration, method for manufacturing metal molding member, extrusion die, method for manufacturing extruded member, and extruded member |
US6916252B2 (en) * | 2002-08-20 | 2005-07-12 | John Emmanuel Bennett | Golf club putter head |
US6986716B2 (en) * | 2003-08-15 | 2006-01-17 | Nike, Inc. | Golf putter and method for manufacturing the golf putter |
US20060019766A1 (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2006-01-26 | Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. | Putter head |
USD515647S1 (en) * | 2005-01-18 | 2006-02-21 | Mark Morgulis | Golf putter |
US7004849B2 (en) * | 2001-01-25 | 2006-02-28 | Acushnet Company | Putter |
US7014568B2 (en) * | 2001-11-19 | 2006-03-21 | David Pelz | Golf club |
US7018304B2 (en) * | 2004-05-20 | 2006-03-28 | Bradford Brent W | Putter head |
US20060094534A1 (en) * | 2006-01-13 | 2006-05-04 | Hettinger Ronald K | Putterhead with Dual Milled Face Pattern |
USD521582S1 (en) * | 2004-01-23 | 2006-05-23 | Karsten Manufacturing Corporation | Golf putter head |
US20060148585A1 (en) * | 2005-01-04 | 2006-07-06 | Vinton Philip G | Golf putter heads |
US7244189B1 (en) * | 2004-10-23 | 2007-07-17 | Stobbe Richard E | Golf club with heel and toe weighting |
US7341527B1 (en) * | 2005-06-22 | 2008-03-11 | Fisher Dale P | Golf putter with multiple striking-surfaces, reversible face plate |
-
2008
- 2008-01-30 US US12/022,875 patent/US20080188321A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (81)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US873423A (en) * | 1906-04-21 | 1907-12-10 | James Govan | Golf-club. |
US1154490A (en) * | 1915-02-05 | 1915-09-21 | Robert Hobart Davis | Golf-club. |
US1535670A (en) * | 1923-05-24 | 1925-04-28 | Kidd William | Golf club |
US1503291A (en) * | 1923-07-05 | 1924-07-29 | Rimmer Robert | Golf putter |
US1524731A (en) * | 1924-04-11 | 1925-02-03 | Spalding & Bros Ag | Golf-club iron |
US1927083A (en) * | 1929-11-16 | 1933-09-19 | Mavis Machine Corp | Golf club |
US2482097A (en) * | 1944-07-27 | 1949-09-20 | Armco Steel Corp | Alloy and method |
US3061310A (en) * | 1959-09-04 | 1962-10-30 | Adolf E Giza | Hollow headed golf putter |
US3064975A (en) * | 1961-10-09 | 1962-11-20 | Raymond A Smith | Full view non-scuff golf club putter |
US3637218A (en) * | 1969-09-11 | 1972-01-25 | Anthony L Carlino | Spherical golf club head |
US3819180A (en) * | 1972-06-26 | 1974-06-25 | T Murphy | Perforated golf putter |
US3851877A (en) * | 1972-12-22 | 1974-12-03 | J Giambazi | Putter head |
US3967826A (en) * | 1974-12-30 | 1976-07-06 | Clay Judice | Golf putter |
US4398965A (en) * | 1976-10-26 | 1983-08-16 | Pepsico, Inc. | Method of making iron golf clubs with flexible impact surface |
US4795158A (en) * | 1987-03-20 | 1989-01-03 | Right Way Golf | Golf putter |
US4976436A (en) * | 1987-12-21 | 1990-12-11 | Laurel Kaihatsu Co., Ltd. | Golf putter including ball retrievel means |
US4902016A (en) * | 1988-08-08 | 1990-02-20 | Lynx Golf, Inc. | Golf club head having a high friction striking surface |
US5174573A (en) * | 1989-06-01 | 1992-12-29 | Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc. | Putter having a head with ball-centering indicia |
US5089067A (en) * | 1991-01-24 | 1992-02-18 | Armco Inc. | Martensitic stainless steel |
US5131656A (en) * | 1991-09-16 | 1992-07-21 | Frank Kinoshita | Impulse performance putter |
US5160144A (en) * | 1991-11-04 | 1992-11-03 | Maniatis Jimmy J | Golf putter including tuning fork effects |
US5437456A (en) * | 1992-08-05 | 1995-08-01 | Callaway Golf Company | Iron golf club head with dual intersecting recesses and associated slits |
US5316304A (en) * | 1993-01-04 | 1994-05-31 | Yost David A | Wire faced golf putter |
US5314184A (en) * | 1993-01-28 | 1994-05-24 | Callaway Golf Company | Golf putter with bottom rail |
US5346219A (en) * | 1993-05-07 | 1994-09-13 | Pehoski Richard J | Golf putter head |
US5533728A (en) * | 1995-05-30 | 1996-07-09 | Pehoski; Richard J. | Mallet and blade putter heads |
US6685577B1 (en) * | 1995-12-04 | 2004-02-03 | David M. Scruggs | Golf club made of a bulk-solidifying amorphous metal |
USD378392S (en) * | 1995-12-26 | 1997-03-11 | Shumway Roger R | Golf club head |
US5820481A (en) * | 1996-01-19 | 1998-10-13 | Raudman; Charles J. | Golf putter |
US5692968A (en) * | 1996-06-17 | 1997-12-02 | Shine; Randall S. | Golf putter with vibration dampening and golf ball pickup and release |
US5749791A (en) * | 1996-09-18 | 1998-05-12 | Passeri, Jr.; Robert V. | Golf ball putter |
US6238303B1 (en) * | 1996-12-03 | 2001-05-29 | John Fite | Golf putter with adjustable characteristics |
US6089993A (en) * | 1997-03-05 | 2000-07-18 | Taylor Made Golf Company, Inc. | Golf club head |
US5899819A (en) * | 1997-05-14 | 1999-05-04 | Mount; Gregory T. | Golf putter |
US6086651A (en) * | 1997-08-28 | 2000-07-11 | Alp Electric Co., Ltd. | Sinter and casting comprising Fe-based high-hardness glassy alloy |
US6224497B1 (en) * | 1997-09-25 | 2001-05-01 | Anthony J. Antonious | Golf club head with improved frequency matched ball striking face characteristics |
US5913731A (en) * | 1997-11-10 | 1999-06-22 | Westerman; Clive B. | Golf putter |
US6086485A (en) * | 1997-12-18 | 2000-07-11 | Jiro Hamada | Iron golf club heads, iron golf clubs and golf club evaluating method |
US6344000B1 (en) * | 1997-12-18 | 2002-02-05 | Jiro Hamada | Iron golf club heads, iron golf clubs and golf club evaluating method |
US6267689B1 (en) * | 1998-12-18 | 2001-07-31 | John A. Ambrose | Golf putter with high center of gravity |
US6435979B1 (en) * | 1999-01-08 | 2002-08-20 | William Pratt Mounfield, Jr. | Golf putter with symmetrical extruded surfaces |
US6080070A (en) * | 1999-01-25 | 2000-06-27 | Traxx Golf Company, Inc. | Putter head with improved alignment and stability features |
US6435975B2 (en) * | 1999-01-29 | 2002-08-20 | Nicholas Mark Middleton | Golf club and method of use |
US6723279B1 (en) * | 1999-03-15 | 2004-04-20 | Materials And Electrochemical Research (Mer) Corporation | Golf club and other structures, and novel methods for making such structures |
US6319146B1 (en) * | 1999-06-14 | 2001-11-20 | Truett P. Mills | Golf putter with adjustable lie and offset hosel |
US6350208B1 (en) * | 2000-01-25 | 2002-02-26 | Thomas R. Ford | Golf putter |
US6634955B2 (en) * | 2000-01-26 | 2003-10-21 | Nicholas M. Middleton | Golf club |
US6860817B2 (en) * | 2000-01-26 | 2005-03-01 | Zen Corporation Limited | Golf club |
US6309311B1 (en) * | 2000-01-28 | 2001-10-30 | Clive S. Lu | Golf club head with weighted force absorbing attachment |
US6257994B1 (en) * | 2000-03-24 | 2001-07-10 | Anthony J. Antonious | Ball striking face configurations for golf putters |
US20040038747A1 (en) * | 2000-05-16 | 2004-02-26 | Lindsay Norman Matheson | Golf-putters |
US6605008B1 (en) * | 2000-09-18 | 2003-08-12 | Tibor F. Kovarik | Golf club |
US20020065143A1 (en) * | 2000-11-29 | 2002-05-30 | Shin Yi So | Golf club head with multiple dimpled face |
US7004849B2 (en) * | 2001-01-25 | 2006-02-28 | Acushnet Company | Putter |
US6663497B2 (en) * | 2001-01-25 | 2003-12-16 | Acushnet Company | Adjustable putter |
US6682439B2 (en) * | 2001-08-01 | 2004-01-27 | Dennis E. Brown | Multi-string putter face with separate and variable tension capabilities and multiple position shaft with adjustable shaft angle capabilities |
US20030060305A1 (en) * | 2001-09-27 | 2003-03-27 | Ashton David Perry | Golf clubhead for putting or striking a golf ball |
US7014568B2 (en) * | 2001-11-19 | 2006-03-21 | David Pelz | Golf club |
US6723941B2 (en) * | 2001-11-29 | 2004-04-20 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Wire electric-discharge machining apparatus |
US6592467B1 (en) * | 2002-01-17 | 2003-07-15 | Focus Golf Systems, Inc. | Putter blade |
US6752723B2 (en) * | 2002-01-30 | 2004-06-22 | Hugh Leo Cullen | Aim visualization, anti-torque stabilized, and resonant-structured golf putter head |
US20050102809A1 (en) * | 2002-03-26 | 2005-05-19 | Kimihisa Hiramoto | Method for processing metal molding member having fine configuration, method for manufacturing metal molding member, extrusion die, method for manufacturing extruded member, and extruded member |
US20030207725A1 (en) * | 2002-05-03 | 2003-11-06 | Robsan Corporation | Golf putter |
US6916252B2 (en) * | 2002-08-20 | 2005-07-12 | John Emmanuel Bennett | Golf club putter head |
US20040138004A1 (en) * | 2003-01-10 | 2004-07-15 | Grace Robert M. | High moment of inertia putter |
US20040166953A1 (en) * | 2003-01-10 | 2004-08-26 | Grace Robert M. | High moment of inertia putter |
US7048639B2 (en) * | 2003-01-10 | 2006-05-23 | Macgregor Golf Company | High moment of inertia putter |
US20040147334A1 (en) * | 2003-01-23 | 2004-07-29 | D'agguano Frank | Golf putter |
US20040173964A1 (en) * | 2003-03-07 | 2004-09-09 | Pollman Frederic W. | Golf putter |
US20050215347A1 (en) * | 2003-03-07 | 2005-09-29 | Pollman Frederic W | Golf putter with aiming mark |
US6986716B2 (en) * | 2003-08-15 | 2006-01-17 | Nike, Inc. | Golf putter and method for manufacturing the golf putter |
US20050070373A1 (en) * | 2003-09-26 | 2005-03-31 | Johnson Lanny L. | Elongate blade golf putter |
US6878072B1 (en) * | 2003-11-14 | 2005-04-12 | Mph Golf, Llc | Golf ball putter, retriever and retainer |
USD521582S1 (en) * | 2004-01-23 | 2006-05-23 | Karsten Manufacturing Corporation | Golf putter head |
US7018304B2 (en) * | 2004-05-20 | 2006-03-28 | Bradford Brent W | Putter head |
US20060019766A1 (en) * | 2004-07-21 | 2006-01-26 | Bridgestone Sports Co., Ltd. | Putter head |
US7244189B1 (en) * | 2004-10-23 | 2007-07-17 | Stobbe Richard E | Golf club with heel and toe weighting |
US20060148585A1 (en) * | 2005-01-04 | 2006-07-06 | Vinton Philip G | Golf putter heads |
USD515647S1 (en) * | 2005-01-18 | 2006-02-21 | Mark Morgulis | Golf putter |
US7341527B1 (en) * | 2005-06-22 | 2008-03-11 | Fisher Dale P | Golf putter with multiple striking-surfaces, reversible face plate |
US20060094534A1 (en) * | 2006-01-13 | 2006-05-04 | Hettinger Ronald K | Putterhead with Dual Milled Face Pattern |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH700851A1 (en) * | 2009-04-28 | 2010-10-29 | Christian Taennler | Golf club i.e. putter, for passing golf ball on ground, has club head including weighted parts, which longitudinally extend along passing direction from club part and are arranged at distance from each other |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US10307648B2 (en) | Golf club head or other ball striking device having stiffened face portion | |
US7815520B2 (en) | Golf club head | |
US8727908B2 (en) | Golf club head | |
US8485920B2 (en) | Metal wood golf club head | |
US9526956B2 (en) | Golf club head | |
US7972222B2 (en) | Iron golf club heads and golf club sets with variable weight distribution | |
US20070155524A1 (en) | Curved golf putter | |
US6962537B2 (en) | Mini-face blade putter | |
US8016693B2 (en) | Golf club | |
US5913731A (en) | Golf putter | |
US20160067560A1 (en) | Golf club head | |
US5792007A (en) | Golf club and club shaft constructions | |
US11161022B2 (en) | Golf club heads with a multi-material striking surface | |
KR20130018148A (en) | Golf club set | |
US10369433B2 (en) | Golf club head | |
US20210001190A1 (en) | Golf club head | |
WO2021022259A1 (en) | Golf club heads with a multi-material striking surface | |
US5643100A (en) | Golf putter | |
US20080188321A1 (en) | Golf putter heads and methods of making them | |
US6241624B1 (en) | Mallet style golf club | |
JP5362949B2 (en) | Iron type golf club | |
AU660089B2 (en) | Golf club | |
US20090111603A1 (en) | Parabolic golf club head | |
JP2022100145A (en) | Golf club head and manufacturing method of the same | |
US7066831B2 (en) | Golf putter |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |