GB2255287A

GB2255287A - Putter.

Info

Publication number: GB2255287A
Application number: GB9109305A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stanley John Walker
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-04-30
Filing date: 1991-04-30
Publication date: 1992-11-04
Also published as: GB9109305D0

Abstract

A golf putter (1) has a putting head (2) mounted on a shaft (3) with a putting head (2) entirely symmetrical on opposite sides of the shaft (3). The putting head (2) has a middle portion (5) with a roughly circular face (6) for striking the ball and identically formed heel and toe wings (8, 9) leading to heel and toe edges (10, 11) respectively. The underface is a parallel sided strip of arcuate shape. <IMAGE>

Description

PUTTER The invention relates to a putter for golf.

Putters of many shapes and configurations have been previously proposed but none has yet been proposed which will reliably propel a golf ball across a putting surface accurately and in a desired direction when in unskilled hands. So called centre shafted putters with portions forming a toe and a heel of a head provided on opposite sides of a shaft of the putter have been previously proposed but such putters are still inherently unstable.

According to the invention a golf putter comprises a putting head mounted on a shaft with the putting head being provided to be entirely symmetrical on opposite sides of the shaft and comprising a middle portion including a surface provided for striking the ball in use and substantially identically formed portions projecting from the middle portion and comprising a toe and a heel of the head of the putter, an undersurface of the putter comprising an arcuate strip of substantially equal width throughout its length.

Preferably the entire putting head is of substantially equal width, that is to say the distance measured between the forward striking surface and an opposed rear surface.

A A recess is advantageously provided in an upper face of the putting head, which recess may be angled to one side or the other of the line of symmetry of the head to provide the divergence from the vertical in the toe-heel plane of at least 100 required by the rules of golf when the golf is in the normal address position. Alternatively the aperture to receive the shaft may be provided on the line of symmetry and the angle of diversion provided by an angle in a portion of the shaft at a position spaced from the head.

The putter head is advantageously formed of metal, such as brass and may carry distinguishing motifs and/or legends, such as for example the crests or badges of famous golf courses or the symbols or marks of manufacturers of other goods, motorcar makers for example. Thus the clubs may be sold as an exclusive line at particular golf courses or may be used as promotional material for manufacturers of other products, not necessarily golf related. For example the face of the putter opposed to the face design for striking the ball could bear the stylised propeller symbol of the motor car manufacturer by Bayeriche Motoren Werke and the undersurface of the head could be inscribed for example with the legend BMW 735i.

The invention is diagrammatically illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view from the front, above and one side of a head and part of the shaft of a golf putter according to the invention; Figure 2 is a view from the rear of the putter of Figure 1; and Figures 3, II and 5 are elevations of the front faces of three further examples of a head of a golf putter according to the invention.

Referring to the drawings and firstly to Figures 1 and 2, a golf putter 1 is generally shown in the position of use to comprise a head 2 and a shaft 3. The head 2 is entirely symmetrical about a line of symmetry 4 and has a middle portion 5 with a generally circular face 6 at the front and a generally circular face 7 at the rear, from which middle portion 5 a toe wing 8 and a heel wing 9 project in opposite directions to a toe edge 10 and a heel edge 11 respectively. The shaft 3 is engaged in a recess in the upper face of the middle portion 5 and secured therein. The middle portion 5 is constant width W throughout and in consequence the faces 6 and 7 of the middle portion 5 are parallel to one another as are the opposite faces of the wings 8 and 9.

The underface of the head 2 of the putter extending from the edge 10 to the edge 11 is a parallel sided strip of arcuate shape. The face 6 is used for striking a ball in use of the putter and the face 7 is particularly suitable for bearing an identifying crest or promotional symbol. The underside of the putter may also bear a promotional legend.

Providing the putter to be symmetrical about the line 4 of symmetry provides the putter to be perfectly balanced about the shaft 3 whereby any tendency for the club to rotate about the axis of the shaft 3 upon striking the ball is avoided. The striking face can thus remain perpendicular to the intended path of movement of the ball being struck both at the point of impact and during the follow through, thereby greatly improving the directional accuracy of a putt effected with the putter according to the invention.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show variations of the putter 1 of Figures 1 and 2 particularly in the thickness of the wings 8 and 9. Thus in a putter 12 of Figure 3 the wings corresponding to the wings 8 and 9 of Figures 1 and 2 are of generally uniform thickness throughout except at the toe and heel edges. In the putter 13 of Figure 4 the wings are of small thickness adjacent the middle portion, increase to a greater thickness at an intermediate position and reduced to small thickness adjacent the toe and heel edges.

The putter head 14 of Figure 5 is of similar shape to the putter 13 but has greater thickness of the wings adjacent the middle portion.

Claims

1. A golf putter comprising a putting head mounted on a shaft with the putting head being provided to be entirely symmetrical on opposite sides of the shaft and comprising a middle portion including a surface provided for striking the ball in use and substantially identically formed portions projecting from the middle portion and comprising a toe and a heel of the head of the putter, an undersurface of the putter comprising an arcuate strip of substantially equal width throughout its length.

2. A golf putter according to claim 1, in which the entire putting head is of substantially equal width as measured between the forward striking surface and an opposed rear surface.

3. A golf putter according to claim l or claim 2, including a recess provided in an upper face of the putting head to receive the shaft, the recess being angled to one side or the other of the line of symmetry of the head to provide a divergence from the vertical in the toe-heel plane of at least 100 when the golf is in the normal address position.

4. A golf putter according to claim 1 or claim 2, including a recess provided in the upper face of the putting head to receive the shaft, the recess being provided on the line of symmetry and an angle of diversion being provided by an angle in a portion of the shaft at a position spaced from the head.

5. A golf putter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the putter head is formed of metal and carries distinguishing motifs and/or legends.

6. A golf putter substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.