GB2217611A - Golf putters - Google Patents

Abstract

The golf putter having a shaft 2 and a head 3. The head 3 has a front portion 5 defining a striking face 6 and a bottom portion 7 substantially normal to the front portion 5, and is substantially symmetrical about a plane which is both normal to the striking face 6 and substantially vertical when the putter is in use. Furthermore the head 3 is fixed on one end of the shaft 2, which is joined to the head 3 at a point in said plane and which extends upwardly from said point. A central rib portion 9 both strengthens the head 3 and serves as a sighting aid. Further sighting aids in the form of grooves 10, 11 are provided. <IMAGE>

Description

"Golf Putters" This invention relates to golf putters.

Some years ago the inventor developed an entirely new type of golf putter which is the subject of British Patents Nos. 1,129,313 to 1,129,315. In a carefully monitored series of tests carried out at Muirfield at the 1966 Open Championship involving four thousand or so golfing spectators, this putter and a number of other putters of different types were used to perform 18,000 six-foot putts. A surprising result of these tests was that the putter which forms the subject of the above patents was shown to perform quite significantly better (more than 25% better than the average) than any of the other putters. Unfortunately, due to the rather unorthodox shape and construction of this new putter, the putter is considered not to satisfy the Rules of Golf as approved by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved golf putter which possesses many of the advantages of the original putter which is the subject of the above patents and which is clearly in accordance with the Rules of Golf.

According to the present invention there is provided a golf putter having a shaft and a head, the head having a striking face and being substantially symmetrical about a plane which is both normal to the striking face and substantially vertical when the putter is in use, and the head being fixed on one end of the shaft which is joined to the head at a point in said plane and which extends upwardly from said point.

Such a putter has been shown to give excellent results in use since, as with the putter which is the subject of the above patents, it is particularly easy to align the head with the desired direction of the putt.

Furthermore not only can the putter be made to satisfy the Rules of Golf, but it can also be made more rugged and of more compact appearance than the previous putter.

Preferably the striking face is formed on a front portion of the head, and a central rib portion extends rearwardly of the front portion along said plane.

The central rib portion can serve the dual function of strengthening the head and of providing a sighting aid for alignment through the ball with the hole.

The head may comprise a bottom portion extending rearwardly of, and substantially normally to, the front portion, the central rib portion being provided on an upper surface of the bottom portion.

In an optional, particular rugged form of construction, the head may have thickened end portions disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of said plane.

The shaft advantageously includes a first straight portion joined to the head and extending along said plane, and a second straight portion joined to the first straight portion and inclined to said plane at an angle of at least 100, to satisfy the Rules of Golf.

The shaft is conveniently joined to the central rib portion of the head.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, a preferred golf putter in accordance with the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a view of the putter from below, in the direction of the arrow A in Figure 2; Figure 2 is a side view, in the direction of the arrow B in Figure 1, of the head end portion of the putter; Figure 3 is a view of the putter from above, in the direction of the arrow C in Figure 4, with the handle omitted; and Figure 4 is a rear view, in the direction of the arrow D in Figure 3, of the head end portion of the putter.

Referring to the figures the putter has a shaft and a head. The shaft comprises a handle (not shown) of conventional design consisting of a straight thin-walled steel tube and a hand grip, and a handle connector 2 integral with the head 3. The connector 2 has a socket 4 at its end for receiving an end of the handle in conventional manner. In an alternative arrangement the handle may be made of wood or plastics material.

In the following description it will be assumed that the putter has the orientation which would be adopted in use when the putter is held by the user in position immediately behind the ball, prior to striking the ball.

The head 3 of the putter has a front portion 5 having a front striking face 6 which is generally planar and is inclined backwardly at an angle of approximately 30 to the vertical with a view to avoiding ball-bounce after the ball has been struck. In addition the head 3 has a bottom portion 7 extending substantially normally to the front portion 5 and having a bottom surface which is radiused both in the direction parallel to the striking face 6 and the direction normal to the striking face 6.

The front portion 5 and the bottom portion 7 meet along a rounded edge 8 which is intended to prevent the head from digging into the ground.

The head is also provided with a central rib portion 9 which extends along the vertical plane of symmetry of the head 3. The central rib portion 9 both strengthens the head 3 and also serves as a sighting aid for alignment through the ball with the hole. Optionally a further sighting aid is provided by two grooves 10 and 11 in the top surface of the bottom portion 7 of the head 3. These grooves 10 and 11 typically have a width of 2 mm and a depth 1 mm.

The connector 2 comprises a first straight portion 12 joined to the central rib portion 9 of the head 3 and extending in the vertical plane of symmetry of the head 3, and a second straight portion 13 inclined at an angle of 10 to the first straight portion 2, that is at the intended angle of inclination of the handle.

Furthermore thickened flange portions 14 and 15 are provided on opposite ends of the head 3, these portions 14 and 15 being disposed symmetrically with respect to the vertical plane of symmetry.

The head 3 and connector 2 are preferably formed from a one-piece metal casting or forging.

Claims (10)

1. A golf putter having a shaft and a head, the head having a striking face and being substantially symmetrical about a plane which is both normal to the striking face and substantially vertical when the putter is in use, and the head being fixed on one end of the shaft which is joined to the head at a point in said plane and which extends upwardly from said point.

2. A golf putter according to claim 1, wherein the striking face is formed on a front portion of the head, and a central rib portion extends rearwardly of the front portion along said plane.

3. A golf putter according to claim 2, wherein the head comprises a bottom portion extending rearwardly of, and substantially normally to, the front portion, the central rib portion being provided on an upper surface of the bottom portion.

4. A golf putter according to claim 3, wherein the striking face is generally planar and is inclined backwards at an angle of approximately 30 to the vertical when the putter is in use.

5. A golf putter according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the bottom portion has a bottom surface which is radiused both in the direction parallel to the striking face and in the direction normal to the striking face.

6. A golf putter according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the shaft is joined to the central rib portion of the head.

7. A golf putter according to any preceding claim, wherein the head has thickened end portions disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of said plane.

8. A golf putter according to any preceding claim, wherein the shaft includes a first straight portion joined to the head and extending along said plane, and a second straight portion joined to the first straight portion and inclined to said plane.

9. A golf putter according to claim 8, wherein said second straight portion is inclined to said plane at an angle of at least 100.

10. A golf putter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.