GB2124910A - Golf putter - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf putter has a face portion in the putter head wherein the central or the entire area of the face portion is formed by a face plate 4 made from a material which is substantially equivalent to or slightly lower than the covering material of two-piece balls with respect to hardness. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Golf putter The present invention relates to golf putters and is particularly but not exclusively useful when putting with two-piece balls.

There are two kinds of golf balls in general according totheir intenal structure,namelytension- wound thread balls, and solid balls including one piece and two-piece balls. These two kinds of ball convey different feelings to a player when they are struck. The difference of feeling is distinctwhen they are hit on putting.

Many players experience considerable difficulty in controlling the ball when hitting a two-piece ball with a conventional putter and are aware that such balls feel poor on putting.

The above-mentioned problems may be attributed to the fact that the two-piece ball is generally covered with an ionomer resin, for example, in which longchain molecules (base polymer) are linked by metal ions and which has greatertoughness, greater elasticity and greater hardness then many other resins. The present invention provides a golf putter wherein the face portion of the putter head is provided with a face plate formed from a material which is substantially equivalentto or slightly lowerthan the covering material of two-piece balls with respect to hardness.

In a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the face plate is provided in a recess positioned at the central portion in the putter head face.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the face plate is provided over the entire area of front surface ofthe putter head to define a face portion.

In a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, an ionomer resin isusedasthematerialforforming the face plate of the putter head.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa front view of the head of a first embodiment putter according to the invention; Figure2isaviewsimilarto Figure 1 ofthe head of another putter according to the invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line Ill-Ill of Figure l,and Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure 2.

Referring nowto Figure 1 head portion 1 of a putter having a face portion 2 is provided with a recess or depression 3 of appropriate depth in the most favourable spot for putting, i.e., in the central portion ofthe putterface, to accomodate a face plate 4therein.

The face plate 4 co-operates with otherface portions sothattheface portion 2 isflush, as shown in Figure 3.

The wall thickness of the face plate 4 is preferably at least 1 mm, in orderto obtain an agreeable feel ofthe ball when putting.

The face plate 4 can be made in the form of a planar plate and then affixing the plate to the recess 3 by an adhesive agent. Alternatively, the face plate 4 can be formed by pouring the molten material into the recess 3 and thereafter may be finished to render its surfaces flush with the face portion 2.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the face plate may extend over the entire area offront surface of the putter head to define the face portion 2.

Forstriking two-piece balls, we have found that an agreeable feeling is obtained when the putter face is formed of a material which is substantially equivalent to or slightly lower than the covering material ofthe twopiece ball with respect to hardness.

Thus, an important feature ofthe present putter is that the face portion thereof is provided with a face plate, as described in the foregoing, which is formed of a material whose hardness is substantially equiva lentto or slightly lowerthan the covering material of two-piece balls.

The covering material oftwo-piece balls has a hardness of about Hs (Shore hardness scale) 62 to 68.

The face plate of the present putter may be prepared from a variety of commercially available materials which are substantially equivalent to or slightly lower than the covering material in hardness, such as iononer resin, ABS resin, Polypropylene and polyethylene. The ionomer resin is most preferably adapted forthe material forming the face plate 4, since the covering material ofthetwopiece ball is generally made of ionomer resin.

Thus the present invention provides a golf putter having the face portion of its head covered with a material which is equivalent or slightly lowerthan the covering material of two-piece balls in hardness.

Accordinglythe putter has an improved compatibility with two-piece balls and creates a satisfying feeling to players. The illustrated putters assist in making effective putts under accurate control and in achieving an improved putting technique when two-piece balls are used.

1. A golf putter having in its head a face portion provided with a face plate formed from a material which is substantially equivalentto or slightly lower than the covering material oftwo-piece balls with respect to hardness.

2. Agolfputteraccording to claim 1 wherein the face portion is formed with a recess in its central area, andtheface plate is secured in the recess.

3. Agolfputteraccordingtoclaim 1 wherein the face plate covers the entire area oftheface portion.

4. A golf putter according to claim 1 wherein the face plate has a thickness of at least 1 mm.

5. A golf putter according to claim 1 wherein the material forming the face plate has a hardness of Hs 62 to 68.

6. A golf putter according to claim 1 wherein the material forming the face plate is made of an ionomer resin.

7. A golf putter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 orin Figures 2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Golf putter The present invention relates to golf putters and is particularly but not exclusively useful when putting with two-piece balls. There are two kinds of golf balls in general according totheir intenal structure,namelytension- wound thread balls, and solid balls including one piece and two-piece balls. These two kinds of ball convey different feelings to a player when they are struck. The difference of feeling is distinctwhen they are hit on putting. Many players experience considerable difficulty in controlling the ball when hitting a two-piece ball with a conventional putter and are aware that such balls feel poor on putting. The above-mentioned problems may be attributed to the fact that the two-piece ball is generally covered with an ionomer resin, for example, in which longchain molecules (base polymer) are linked by metal ions and which has greatertoughness, greater elasticity and greater hardness then many other resins. The present invention provides a golf putter wherein the face portion of the putter head is provided with a face plate formed from a material which is substantially equivalentto or slightly lowerthan the covering material of two-piece balls with respect to hardness. In a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, the face plate is provided in a recess positioned at the central portion in the putter head face. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the face plate is provided over the entire area of front surface ofthe putter head to define a face portion. In a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, an ionomer resin isusedasthematerialforforming the face plate of the putter head. Two embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure lisa front view of the head of a first embodiment putter according to the invention; Figure2isaviewsimilarto Figure 1 ofthe head of another putter according to the invention; Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line Ill-Ill of Figure l,and Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure 2. Referring nowto Figure 1 head portion 1 of a putter having a face portion 2 is provided with a recess or depression 3 of appropriate depth in the most favourable spot for putting, i.e., in the central portion ofthe putterface, to accomodate a face plate 4therein. The face plate 4 co-operates with otherface portions sothattheface portion 2 isflush, as shown in Figure 3. The wall thickness of the face plate 4 is preferably at least 1 mm, in orderto obtain an agreeable feel ofthe ball when putting. The face plate 4 can be made in the form of a planar plate and then affixing the plate to the recess 3 by an adhesive agent. Alternatively, the face plate 4 can be formed by pouring the molten material into the recess 3 and thereafter may be finished to render its surfaces flush with the face portion 2. As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the face plate may extend over the entire area offront surface of the putter head to define the face portion 2. Forstriking two-piece balls, we have found that an agreeable feeling is obtained when the putter face is formed of a material which is substantially equivalent to or slightly lower than the covering material ofthe twopiece ball with respect to hardness. Thus, an important feature ofthe present putter is that the face portion thereof is provided with a face plate, as described in the foregoing, which is formed of a material whose hardness is substantially equiva lentto or slightly lowerthan the covering material of two-piece balls. The covering material oftwo-piece balls has a hardness of about Hs (Shore hardness scale) 62 to 68. The face plate of the present putter may be prepared from a variety of commercially available materials which are substantially equivalent to or slightly lower than the covering material in hardness, such as iononer resin, ABS resin, Polypropylene and polyethylene. The ionomer resin is most preferably adapted forthe material forming the face plate 4, since the covering material ofthetwopiece ball is generally made of ionomer resin. Thus the present invention provides a golf putter having the face portion of its head covered with a material which is equivalent or slightly lowerthan the covering material of two-piece balls in hardness. Accordinglythe putter has an improved compatibility with two-piece balls and creates a satisfying feeling to players. The illustrated putters assist in making effective putts under accurate control and in achieving an improved putting technique when two-piece balls are used. CLAIMS

1. A golf putter having in its head a face portion provided with a face plate formed from a material which is substantially equivalentto or slightly lower than the covering material oftwo-piece balls with respect to hardness.

2. Agolfputteraccording to claim 1 wherein the face portion is formed with a recess in its central area, andtheface plate is secured in the recess.

3. Agolfputteraccordingtoclaim 1 wherein the face plate covers the entire area oftheface portion.

4. A golf putter according to claim 1 wherein the face plate has a thickness of at least 1 mm.

5. A golf putter according to claim 1 wherein the material forming the face plate has a hardness of Hs 62 to 68.

6. A golf putter according to claim 1 wherein the material forming the face plate is made of an ionomer resin.

7. A golf putter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 orin Figures 2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.