GB2278063A

GB2278063A - Putter

Info

Publication number: GB2278063A
Application number: GB9310573A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Alzano
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-05-22
Filing date: 1993-05-22
Publication date: 1994-11-23
Anticipated expiration: 2013-05-22
Also published as: GB9310573D0; GB2278063B

Abstract

A hollow cylindrical putter, the head of which is attached to the putter shaft (15) by an internal fixing shaft or spigot (13) at a point inside the hollow head at or towards the toe end of the putter. The balance, strike response and weight of the putter can be adjusted and set to pre determined preferences by the angles set for the internal shaft (13) and the combination of the metals used in the main body (10), the toe end cap (11) and the internal fixing shaft (13). Transverse markings can be fixed on main body (10) to enable constant repeatable set up positions when addressing the ball. The diameter of the putter head is less than the diameter of the golf ball to ensure that in normal use the point of contact between the putter head and the golf ball is always below the equator of the ball. <IMAGE>

Description

"RHOLER" PUTTER Field of the Invention THIS INVENTION RELATES TO A NEW APPLICATION OF A GOLF CLUB USED ON PREPARED GREENS FOR PUTTING A GOLF BALL INTO THE "HOLE".

Background to the Invention Many attempts have been made since the game of golf was introduced in the 15th Century to devise a 'putter' which will enable golfers to be more accurate in directing a golf ball into the 'hole' in the green. The traditional 'putter' with a hickory shaft-although still used,has given way to clubs of various shapes,weights and patterns and having shaftings of steel, carbon fibre or composite materials.

Golfers adopt various styles of performing the putting 'stroke', each one being aimed at reducing the number of strokes required to putt the ball into the hole . The principal aspect of the present invention is to provide neutral balance for the putter head to reduce the weight of the shafting and the initial "skidding" and reverse spin given to a golf ball when it is struck by the putter.

Another aspect is the ability to vary the weight of the putter by adding weights to its heel to compensate for the speed of the greens and to suit individual golfers own characteristics and preference.

"RHOLER" PUTTER The 'RHOLER' PUTTER comprises of cylindrical body approximating 112 millimetres in length and about 37 millimetres in diameter. A short solid or hollow shafting projects from the cylindrical body and towards one end.

The short solid or hollow shafting will accept the club shafting which would be fixedly attached thereto.

The cylindrical body would be closed off at each end, the forward end, or toe,being the preferred point of attachment for the short shafting, the precise loci being devised to suit the preference of the golfer. The rearward end or heel is closed off by the thickness of the 'plug' required to obtain the specific balance necessary to match the stroke style preferred by the golfer. The 'RHOLER' PUTTER head is adaptable for left' or right' handed players and the position of the club shafting can be adjusted to orientate its centre axis forward or backward of the centre axis of the cylindrical body.

The exterior surface of the cylindrical body can be etched with alignment marks to assist the striking response of the player. The tubular cylindrical body can be provided in a variety of metals such as copper,brass,steel,alloys or any other suitable material. The shaftings can also be provided in a variety of materials including steel,horon,graphite or other suitable material.

"RHOLER" PUTTER A specific embodiment of the present invention will now be described solely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 is a section through the putter head and an end view.

Figure 2 illustrates how the putter shafting may be adjusted to suit varying styles of stroke play Figure 3 shows the exterior of the putter head with the alignment markings. Also shown is the complete putter club by way of example.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments According to Figure 1 there is provided a hollow cylindrical body 10 of metal or other material, which represents the putter head and which has been capped at each extremity by metal or other material plugs 11,12 each of which is fixedly attached to the cylindrical body 10. Fixedly attached to closure plug 11 is a short length of metal, or other material,solid, or hollow, circular or other section shape bar 13 which extends almost the full length of the cylindrical body 10 but is angularly orientated out from its circumference at varying degrees from the vertical to suit the preferred stance of the golfer. The bar 13 while fixedly attached to the closure plug 11 can be located in any fixed position within the periphery of the said closure plug 11.

"RHOLER" PUTTER Similarly, the plug 11 could be fixedly attached at any position within the cylindrical body 10. The fixed position is relative to the characteristics of the golfer the physique, style of play and preferences of stance and grip.

The position is therefore governed by the individual and can be relative thereto. View lb indicates the method of attaching the club shafting 15 (Figure 3) to the hollow short shaft 13.

Figure 1 illustrates the putter head represented by the cylindrical body 10, in end elevation as view la. This also shows a spherical shape 14 which represents a golf ball. It can be observed that the point of contact 15 between the cylindrical body 10 and the golf ball 14 is slightly below the central axis of the said golf-ball 14.

The impact between the club-head and the golf-ball eliminates any 'skidding' effect that is normally associated with conventional golf-club contact with the golf-ball. The impact with the cylindrical body 10 causes the ball 14 to roll forward and , as a consequence, is more likely to be directionally controlled. The closure plug 12 is fixedly attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 10 and its dimensional projection into the said body 10, is weight variable by increasing or decreasing this dimensional projection "RHOLER" PUTTER The line of trajectory imparted by the cylindrical body 10 to the golf-ball 14 causes a counter-clockwise rotation of the golf-ball 14 and thereby more directional control of its movement forward.

The angular extension of the bar 13 from the cylindrical body 10 is variable both in its relationship to the central axis of the said body 10 and to its angular relationship to the longitudinal axis of the said body 10. This aspect is further described in relation to Figure 2 and indicates some of the plurality of positions at which the bar 13 may be fixedly attached to the closure plug 11, which may itself be fixedly attached in various positions as previously stated.

Figure 2 shows in sectional detail some of the positions at which the bar 13 may be fixedly attached to the said closure plug 11 but such illustrations are not intended to cover all the positions possible-only to indicate how the club-head 10 may be adapted to a player's idiosyncrasies. Figure 2, view 2a is the standard form of construction for the club-head 10 and indicates that the solid bar 13 to which the club shafting 15 (Figure 3) is attached emerges from within the cylindrical body 10 (or club-head) along its central axis 16. View 2b shows the solid bar 13 emerging forward of the central axis 15 and view 2c illustrates the solid bar 13 emerging backwards of the central axis 16.

"RHOLER" PUTTER It will be obvious from these three illustrations that considerable scope for changing the position of the clubhead 10 with its shafting 15 exists and would be individually matched to the golfer's style of play.

Ref fearing now to Figure 3 there is shown an exterior view of the club head 10 to indicate the alignment markings provided thereon to aid the putting stroke The markings 17 is circumferential and is sited mid-position of the cylindrical body 10. This would represent the point of contact with the golf-ball 14.

The marking 18 is slightly forward of the central longitudinal axis of the club-head/cylindrical body 10 and parallel with the peripheral sides 10a,10b.

This marking 18 would indicate whether or not the putterhead 10 was square to the 'hole'. The two markings 19 will indicate if the striking point,represented by marking 17 is central with the golf-ball 14 or forward or backward of that described position. Additionally provided on the surface of the club-head 10 is a narrow and shallow groove 20 which is orientated on the upper central line between the club-head 10 and the shafting 15. A similar groove (unseen) can be provided diametrically opposite along the base of the clubhead 10. These grooves 20 represent the stroke response.

View 3 a shows the club-head 10 attached to the shafting 15 which may be provided to any length required and with any type of hand grip 21 desired.

"RHOLER" PUTTER Throughout this specification the words "cylindrical body" have been used to graphically describe the club-head obviously the cylindrical body 10 and the club-head 10 are one and the same. This specification has described a golfclub, normally classified as a "putter" which can be constructed to match the style, physique and preferences of any individual player and is designed to provide better directional control of a golf-ball during the putting stroke.

The principles herein described have been related entirely to the "putter" but may be equally applicable to other clubs -such as the "driver", the "irons" which would number from 1 to 10. The "woods" which are normally classified as "drivers" would also be similarly numbered. The method of club-head construction herein described can also include other golf clubs than the "putter" and therefore the concept is similarly applicable.

Claims

RHOLER prTTTER (1) A hollow headed cylindrical putter which has an internal fixing shaft or spigot attached at/or towards the toe end of the putter within the main body.

The other end of this fixing shaft or spigot being attached to the normal putter shaft such that the only point of attachment with the putter head is the fixing point within the head. This facilitates halanding and anti twisting properties which are unique (2) A hollow headed cylindrical putter the diameter of the putter head being smaller than the diameter of the golf ball to ensure that in normal use the impact between the head of the putter and the ball takes place below the eguatorial or central plane of the ball.

(3) A hollow headed cylindrical putter whose internal shaft or spigot attached to the toe end cap. can be made from any metal or combination of metals such that the "FEEL" induced in striking the golf ball can be tailored to suit the preferences of individual golfers.

(4) A hollow headed cylindrical putter which incorporates the spigot lie and offset angles of the spigot requested by the individual golfer and a mathamat icaly pre determined compensating balance angle ensuring the balance of the putter face through the stroke and at impact. These being pre set prior to assembly! (5) A hollow headed cylindrical putter having transverse alignment marks positioned to ensure constant reneatable hand and head positions at address.

(6) A hollow headed cylindrical putter having the capability of additional weighting at the hee@ end of the putter compensating for differences in the speed of green@ and for fine adjustments of balanging (7) The internal fixing and balanging characteristics of this putter can also be used in other @lubs such as woods or irons the head of which need not be cylindrical.