GB2350066A

GB2350066A - Golf putter

Info

Publication number: GB2350066A
Application number: GB0000681A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Derek Albert Snowdon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-01-12
Filing date: 2000-01-12
Publication date: 2000-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-12
Also published as: GB2350066A8; GB0000681D0; GB2350066B

Abstract

In a golf putter the notional extension of the centre line of the grip passes through a point at least 2 cm, eg up to 20cm, behind the striking face 12 of the head of the putter. The putter may be of T shape with a striking face 12 and a block 14 which receives the putter shaft, and preferably the centre of mass of the putter head and said point lie in a common plane parallel to the striking face. The putter head may be of moulded glass or may be of laminated construction comprising layers of glass, wood, metal or synthetic material. A steel sole plate 20 may also be provided.

Description

2350066 GOLF CLUBS INTENDED FOR USE IN PUTTING This invention relates to

golf clubs and in particular golf clubs intended for use in putting, hereinafter referred to as putters.

A well known problem in putting is that known colloquially as the yips, which is where the golfer freezes over the ball and has difficulty in commencing the backswing and therefore maintaining a smooth and rhythmic action. One result of this is a tendency to lose control over the direction in which the ball is propelled and/or the force with which the ball is struck.

According to the present invention, this and other putting problems can be resolved or reduced by a putter wherein the notional extension of the centre line of the grip portion of the shaft lies at least about 2cm behind the striking face of the head of the putter. By the "grip" portion of the shaft is meant that portion of the shaft which is gripped by the golfer for the purpose of striking the ball. By the "striking face" of the head is meant the face of the head which is intended to strike the ball.

Preferably, said notional extension of the centre line of the grip portion of the shaft lies at least about 3.Ocm, and more preferably at least 3.5 or even 4cm, behind the striking face. For practical reasons, however, it is unlikely to lie more than about 17 to 20cm behind the striking face and it will be unusual for it to lie more than 15cm behind that face.

That a putting problem may be solved by the use of a putter according to the invention is surprising because as a general rule hitherto it has been considered essential for the said notional extension of the centre line of the grip portion of the shaft to extend very close to, or through, the striking face of the putter, or even forward of it.

It is also preferred that the centre of mass of the head of the putter lies at least about 2cm, more preferably at least about 3.Ocm or even at least about 3.5cm or even 4cm, behind the striking face of the head of the putter. It has been found that this can assist in maintaining the plane of the face of the putter at the appropriate angle through the whole of the swing and follow-through of the putter and hence at the moment at which the ball is struck.

This is further assisted if the centre of mass of the head and the notional extension of the centre line of the grip portion of the shaft lie in, or substantially in, a plane which is parallel to the plane of the striking face of the putter.

In another preferred embodiment, the striking face is made of glass. This has been found to improve the "feeP of the strike; that is to say, the reaction felt by the golfer at the moment when the striking face of the head of the putter makes contact with the ball.

The whole or at least a part of the head may be of laminated construction. A laminated construction enables ready attainment of any desired weight of the head and weight distribution within the head, e.g. by building up the head using layers of materials of differing specific gravity. For example, one or more of the layers, including that providing the striking face, may be made of glass and one or more of the other layers may be made from one or more other materials, e.g. wood, metal andlor synthetic material. Various kinds of woods, metals and/or synthetic materials may be used and the composition and kind (e.g toughened or not) of glass may also be varied from layer to layer. Further control of the overall weight of the head and the distribution of weight within the head may be achieved by choice of the thickness of each of the layers.

Alternatively, the head may be moulded from glass, e.g. as a single piece.

In one preferred embodiment, the head may be generally T-shaped in plan view wherein the cross bar provides the striking face and the shaft is attached to the other arm. The cross bar may comprise a glass block or a laminate wherein the striking face is glass and the layers are arranged parallel to and behind the striking face. The other arm may comprise a laminate including one or more layers of glass between a pair of metal, e. g. steel plates, with the layers of the laminate extending generally at right angles to the plane of the striking face. Optionally the head may be provided with a sole plate, e.g. of metal, e.g. steel.

The glass employed for the striking face and/or any other part of the head of the putter may be of any desired composition and may have been subjected to any suitable heat treatment, e.g for toughening. The glass may also contain one or more fillers, if desired, e.g for reinforcement and/or for further adjustment of the overall weight and balance of the head. Particulate and fibrous fillers may be used.

The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to a preferred embodiment and with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which Figures 1, 2 and 3 are, respectively a front elevation, plan view and side elevation of a putter according to the invention. The drawings are not to scale; in particular the size of the head is exaggerated.

Referring to the drawings, the putter 2 comprises a head 4 attached to a shaft 6 having a grip portion 8. As best seen in Figure 2, the head is generally T-shaped in plan view. The cross bar of the "T" comprises a first glass plate 10 which provides the striking face 12. To the centre of the back of the plate 10, and extending rearwards from and at right angles to said plate, is bonded a block 14 in the form of a laminate comprising a plurality of glass plates 16 (three are shown in the illustrated embodiment but more or less may be used) sandwiched between a pair of steel plates 18. To the lower face of the "T" is bonded a sole plate in the form of a trapezium - shaped steel plate 20. However, this sole plate can be omitted if desired.

The shaft 6 is attached to the head approximately immediately over the centre of mass 22 of the head, which in the illustrated embodiment lies about 6cm behind the striking face of the club. The notional extension 24 of the centre line of the grip portion 26 of the shaft, shown as a broken line in Figure 3, also lies about 6cm behind the striking face of the head of the club and in the same vertical plane as the centre of mass 22. The arrangement is such that when the shaft is supported at the centre of balance of the club, the striking face 12 lies substantially in the vertical plane.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a putter wherein at least a part of the striking face of the head comprises a transparent or translucent glass. The transparency or translucency enables the golfer to confirm, for example, that the material behind the striking face is free from flaws such as bubbles or other imperfections which might cause a variation in its performance. The entire striking face may be of glass or the face may include an insert made of glass. If desired, the entire head may be made of glass and may be of laminated construction or a single piece moulding.

Claims

1. A putter wherein the notional extension of the centre line of the grip portion of the shaft lies at least about 2cm behind the striking face of the head of the putter.

2. A putter as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the centre of mass of the head of the putter lies at least about 2cm, behind the striking face of the head of the putter.

3. A putter as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the centre of mass of the head and the notional extension of the centre line of the grip portion of the shaft lie in, or substantially in, a plane which is parallel to the plane of the striking face of the putter.

4. A putter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the striking face is glass.

5. A putter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the head is of laminated construction.

6. A putter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the head is a glass moulding.

7. A putter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 the striking face of the head of which lies substantially in the vertical plane when the putter is supported at its point of balance along its shaft.

8. A putter as claimed in Claim 1 substantially as shown in the accompanying drawings.

8. A putter wherein at least a part of the striking face of the head comprises glass.

9. A putter as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 8, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

2 Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A putter wherein the notional extension of the centre line of the grip portion of the shaft passes through a point which lies at least 2cm behind the striking face of the head of the putter and the striking face is glass.

2. A putter as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the centre of mass of the head of the putter lies at least 2cm behind the striking face of the head of the putter.

4. A putter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the head is of laminated construction.

5. A putter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the head is a glass moulding.

6. A putter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5 the striking face of the n head of which lies substantially in the vertical plane when the putter is supported at its point of balance along its shaft.

7. A putter as claimed in Claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.