SE2130313A1 - Golf putter and method for improved putting accuracy - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of adjusting a putter for individually adapted putting comprising:providing a golf putter comprising a shaft (7), a putter head (1) with a single hitting face (3) and an attachment device (2) for attaching the putter head (1) to the shaft (7), said attachment device (2) having at least one rod-shaped part (6A, 4) with an imaginary centre line (9), said rod-shaped part (6A, 4) being attached to the putter head (1) so as to have said centre line (9) extending substantially perpendicularly in relation to the hitting surface (3) of the putter head, wherein said putter head (1) is pivotally adjustably attached to said rod-shaped part (6A, 4), preferably by means of a screw/s (11) which may be tightened in a threaded bore (18) of the putter head (1 ), fulther comprising the steps of: -untightening said screw/s (11) to have the putter head (1) freely rotatable on said rod-shaped part (6 A, 4),- individually adapting a lie angle (μ) between the extension of the shaft (7) and a vertical plane V crossing the centre of said rod-shaped part (6A, 4) to fit individual needs of a golfer, by rotating said putter head (1) around said rod-shaped part (6A) to correspond to said adapted a angle (μ), and, - -tightening said screw/s (11) to have the putter head (1) fixed on said rod-shaped part (6 A, 4) in said adapted lie angle (μ), wherein said adapting includes the ability to adapt said lie angle (μ) to both sides of said vertical plane (V), for adaption of the putter to both left hand and right hand playing. It also relates to a saddle stance method for addressing a golf ball and a putter for performing the methods.

Description

GOLF PUTTER AND METHOD FOR IMPROVED PUTTING ACCURACY TECHNICAL FIELD This invention relates to a putter, comprising a club shaft and a putter head which comprises a first portion with a hitting face and a rod formed portion which extends rearwardly essentially perpendicularly in relation to the hitting surface, wherein the shaft is attached at a distance from a rearward end of said rod formed portion.

PRIOR ART Putting accounts for nearly half of the total strokes in a game of golf. Most golfers putt using a conventional stance in which the golfer addresses the ball, basically standing so he is facing at right angles to the line to the hole. Usually a golfer will choose the line of his putt while facing the hole, and then will turn about 90[deg.] to assume his stance. The act of turning can make it difficult to continue to see the line, which can cause putts, especially short putts, to be unsuccessful because they are not hit on the line.

In US 4,592,552, there is disclosed a putter designed to be used either in a conventional or side saddle stance. The putter has a head generally in the form of a right triangle, with two putting surfaces. A larger surface is intended to be used for longer putts in a conventional stance, and a smaller surface at right angles to the larger surface is intended to be used for shorter putts in a side saddle stance. As noted in U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,657 to Gidney, the US 4,592,552 putter design probably does not conform to the Rules of Golf ("The clubhead shall have only one striking face, except that a putter may have two such faces if their characteristics are the same, and they are opposite each other," Id. Appendix II, Part 4c). Furthermore, the asymmetry of the putter head makes it somewhat awkward to swing, since its center of mass may not lie along the line of the shaft. In addition, left-handed golfers must use a separate putter.

Further, from US 6,595,867 there is known a method of putting that includes addressing a golf ball in a side saddle stance, swinging a putter having an elongated shaft, and controlling the putter during the putting swing from at least three points of contact, wherein the putter will have a length such that the shaft of the putter extends above the shoulder of the golfer. The golfer grasps the putter with both hands and further stabilizes the putter by resting the elongated shaft on his shoulder. This method has shown not to provide the intended accuracy or be sufficiently convenient for most players. A similar method is also known suggested bv Mr. Sam Sneed.

Finally, from WOOOI 8476 and WO2004009l87 there is known a putter of a kind that may provide certain advantages compared to more conventional putters. Accordingly, it may provide for prolonged and distinguished sightline to facilitate the movement along a line of the putter head, which may provide for improved accuracy when putting. When putting with said putter there is produced a torque in the shaft if the putter is moved out of the sightline, which creates a momentum, i.e. torque that effects the shaft during the stroke if the putter is not correctly addressed, which the golfer can feel and thereby adjust addressing before next hit. In other Words, a golfer will receive good feedback independent if the ball is hit perfectly or less good.

The rod formed portion of the putter head may also provide for an extended sightline, since the rod form ed portion is arranged essentially perpendicularly in relation to the hitting face of the putter head. This can give the golfer a feeling of an accuracy, similar to that of a pool player since the putter is provided with a possibility to see the rod formed portion move along the sightline.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to maintain essential advantages of the putter design known from WO00l 8476 and WO2004009l87 and to provide for a furthermore improved putter, facilitating improved putting accuracy, in relation to both length and direction during putting.

The invention is characterized by what is defined in the following claims. Further advantages, as features and aspect of the invention, will become apparent by the following detailed description of one embodiment according to the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following detailed description of an embodiment according to the invention it will be referred to the enclosed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a putter head and a portion of the shaft of an exemplary design for use in combination with the invention, Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a modified design according to the basic principles of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows an alternative of a putter head and a portion of the shaft of an exemplary design for use in combination with the invention.

Fig. 4 shows the basic principle of how a putter may be adapted from right-hand putting to left-hand putting according to the invention, Fig. 5 shows a golfer using saddle stance in a first stage of a putting stroke according to a putting method of the invention, and Fig. 6 shows a second stage of said putting stroke.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows an exemplary golf putter head that may be used in combination with the invention, comprising a shaft 7 and a putter head 1 with a hitting surface 3. Between the shaft 7 and the putter head 1 is an L-formed attachment device 2 for attaching said putter head to said shaft.

The shaft 7 has an imaginary centre line 8 positioned substantially coaxially within said shaft. The shaft preferably has a circular cross-section which tapers downwards. The L-formed attachment device 2 comprises a horizontally extending rod-shaped part 6A and vertically extending neck portion 6B. The vertically extending portion 6B may extend coaxial with the centre axis 8 of the shaft 7. The shaft is connected to the upper end 5 of the vertically extending neck portion 6B, preferably by means of an adhesive. The putter head 1 is attached to the horizontally extending rod-shaped part 6A by means of a flat bore 13 that snuggly fits the rod-shaped part 6A and is releasably fixed to the rod-shaped part 6A, e. g.by a screw 11 in a threaded bore 18 tightened against the rod-shaped part 6A. Preferably there is arranged a washer (not shown) between the end of a screw and said rod-shaped part 6A, preferably a resilient washer, e. g. a spring washer, that may more securely arrange for a fixated locking of the putter head at a desired angle u.

The horizontally extending rod-shaped part 6A may be positioned to extend exactly horizontally, without any loft ß of the hitting face 3. However, the hitting face 3 may alternatively be positioned slightly out of the vertical plane, so as to form a loft ß, e. g. a loft of about 3-50, e. g. by adapting the angle (x between the rod-shaped part 6A and the neck portion 6B. In connection therewith the shaft may be inclined by said angle (x such that the top of the shaft 70 may be positioned in about the same plane as the hitting face 3.

The putter head 1 has a centre of gravity x. The attachment device 2 for the shaft 7 and the head 1 are attached to each other in such a manner that the putter head 1 is releasably arranged, to step less enable rotation of the putter head 1 around the rod-shaped part 6A. Since the bore 13 is flat this facilitates stepless adjustment of the lie angle u while maintaining the front end 6C of the rod-shaped part 6A in the same plane. There is also shown an intended sight line SL which preferably may coincide with an imaginary centre line 9 of the horizontally extending rod-shaped part 6A. In this embodiment the imaginary centre line 8 of the shaft intersects the imaginary centre line 9 of the horizontally extending rod-shaped part 6A at a distance L from said centre of gravity x. This distance, L, may vary depending on personal desires, weight of the putter head etc, hut its length must never exceed a certain limit since according to rules a head may not be deeper than wider. Normally the distance, L, would be within the range of 3-7 cm. Further, the imaginary line 9 of the horizontally extending rod-shaped part 6A preferably intersects the centre of gravity. Modifications are of course possible without losing the advantages of the invention, e. g. the imaginary line of the horizontally rod-shaped part 6A may be positioned higher up or further down hut preferably substantially within the same plane as the force vector of the centre of gravity X when the head is positioned with its bottom portion in a horizontal position, i.e. resting against the ground. Furthermore, it may also be positioned slightly out of said plane. Moreover, it is not essential that the rod-shaped part 6A is positioned exactly horizontally (as described above), due to the player looking at it from above.

The distance indicated with z is the distance from the bottom border of the hitting face 3 to the point where the centre line 9 of the horizontally rod-shaped part 6A intersects the hitting surface 3. This distance may be about 15-25 mm.

According to a preferred embodiment the putter head 1 is symmetrical in relation toa vertical plane which comprises the centre line 9 of the rod-shaped part 6A and which is arranged perpendicularly in relation to the hitting surface 3.

Furthermore, the rod-shaped part 6A may extend through the hitting face 3 of such a symmetrical putter head, in such a manner that it intersects the centre of gravity and such that its front and 6C is positioned at the centre of said line of symmetry V.

To get a good hit with the putter giving the ball right mode of rotation the point 6C of the hitting surface 3 should preferably strike the golf ball slightly below its centre point. The inclination 13 of the hitting face 3 may also be important for the strike by influencing on the rotation mode of the ball.

During use, a putter according to the above design will create a torque of the shaft 7, if the putter is moved out of position from the sight line SL, since there is a substantial distance between the point of attachment of the shaft axis 8 and the centre of gravity x of the putter head 1, which creates a momentum, i.e. a force of torque of the shaft 7 if inaccurately positioned during the stroke.

Moreover, since the putter comprises a rod-shaped part 6A of substantial length, positioned substantially perpendicularly in relation to the hitting face 3 of the putter head 1, so it will form said extended line. This special feature may give the player a similar feeling of accuracy as a pool (billiard) player since the player will be able to actually see the rod-shaped part 6A move along the sight line SL which may signal a feeling of extra accuracy.

Since the horizontal, rod-shaped part 6A may protrude through the putter head 1, its end face 6C may be located co-planar with the hitting face 3. positioned at an optimal point for hitting the ball. Thanks to this design the player may be able to actually sense, by means of vibrations in the shaft, when an accurate hit of the ball is performed.

Figure 2 shows a modified embodiment of a golf putter according to the principles described above. A major difference in relation to Fig. 1 is that the putter head 1 is arranged with a rearwardly extending protrusion 1 A its lower portion. An extended sight line SL is also here achieved by having an L- shaped attachment device 2 which comprises the horizontally extending rod-shaped part 6 A. The other rod-shaped part 6B, the neck, may form a minor angle in relation to the vertical in order to achieve that it can be positioned with its imaginary centre line in the same plane as the player positions his eyes during the stroke. The imaginary centre line 9 of the horizontally extending rod-shaped part 6A extends substantially perpendicular in relation to the hitting surface 3 of the putter head, to form said extended sight line SL for extra accuracy of the movement when hitting a golf ball with the putter head moving along a sight line SL. As shown, the sight line SL may be prolonged by providing the top of the head 1 with a blackened groove 1B. Furthermore, there may be arranged a contrasting black wide area 1C on the horizontal surface of the protrusion 1A, which gives contrast in relation to the metallic surface of the rod-shaped part 6A (or vice versa).

In Fig. 3 there is shown another exemplary embodiment that may be used in combination with the invention, in which many principle aspects are similar in relation to what has been described in relation to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. A major difference is that in Fig. 3 the rod-shaped part 4 is provided without any neck portion, whereby the rod-shaped part 4 also forms the attachment device 2. 'lhe putter head l cornprises a front portion 5 and a rearward portion 6, tvhich is relatively thin forniing an extension of the sole of the club head. A ltittiiig face 3 is formed on the front side of said front portion S, which hitting face 3 may inchtcle an insertion S. The rod--shapetl part 4 is preferably malde of metal and is attached to the rearwaifd side of the front prirtiriii fi, rfireieralaly by' inertns of' arranging the front end portion of the rod-shapeti part 4 having a circul ar cylinflrical stub shaft lf), titted in a horizontal bore l3, preferahly provided vvith a flat surface within the front portion 5, such that the rsisd--sliaped part 4 easily can be rotated and attachedfdetached to/troin the putter head l and the putter liead l easiiyf can he rotated around the rod~shapetl part 4. 'llie tflzlicaltë rod-siiaptërl part 4- preferahly has a circtilar cylindricztl forrn, hut also other forrns are possible, for the part behind the stal; sliaft lf). According to the slioyvrt ernhodirrient in Pig. 3 the front end lf? of the stuh shaft lf) rests against the rearward side of the insertion 8. T he rod-shaped part 4 and the sttth sliaft il) niay preferably he centererl in relation to a circular inarking 8A in the (inter surface of the lïtittlng face "fhtë putter head l rnay be releasahly attached. to the rod-shaped part 4, by nieans of a threaded hole and an attachment screw' ll tvhicli extends from the lowerniost side of the putter head, through the sole to the stuh sliaft lf). zfklternatiiaeljw, the screw il can eXtentl from ariother direction.

Here the shown embodiment is such that the shaft 7 is joined with the rod-shaped part 4 by means of a weld 17. Also, other kind of attachments are possible, e. g. gluing. Preferably the shaft 2 is attached with the rod-shaped part 4 at a position above the mass centre X of the integrated club head 1. It is also shown that the balancing weight 23 is formed as a screw (having a recess 24 for a tool) with threads matching the threads 22 in the bore 21 such that the screw/balancing weight 23 can be threaded into the bore to desired position to provide desired balancing. The mass of the balancing Weight 23 need not be included in the mass of the club head 1 that decides the mass centre. The main portion of the club shaft 7 has a centreline 8 that preferably is parallel with the hitting surface 3 and essentially in the same plane as the hitting face 3 which is achieved by use of a bent shaft end piece 30. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the shaft end piece 30 may at its upper end be arranged with a stub formed device 38, in for example aluminium providing that the loft angle ot may easily be adjusted by means of bending.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a basic principle according to the invention, i.e. the ability to, preferably stepless adjust the lie angle u, which provides the ability to adjust the putter for putting from either side. This is achieved by having the rod-shaped part 4 freely rotatable within the bore 13. Accordingly, when untightening the screw/s 11 the putter head 1 will be freely rotatable on the rod-shaped part 6A (4, 10). Thereafter it is possible to individually adapt the lie angle u, i.e. between the extension 8 of the shaft 7 and a vertical plane V crossing the centre of said rod-shaped part 6A (4, 10) enabling fitting to individual needs of a golfer by rotating the putter head 1 around the rod-shaped part 6A to correspond to an individually adapted lie angle u. Once adapted, the putter head 1 fixed on the rod-shaped part (6A, 4) in said adapted lie angle u by tightening said screw/s 11. A major advantage according to the invention is that the method includes the ability to adapt the lie angle u to both sides of the vertical plane V, for adaption of the putter to both left hand and right hand playing, as illustrated by fig. 4 wherein in the upper figure, marked [1] the putter is adapted for right hand playing and in the lower figure, marked [2] the putter is adapted for to both left hand playing.

In Figs. 5 and 6 there are shown two different stages when performing a method for addressing a golf ball in a saddle stance in accordance with the invention. As can be noted it comprises the use of golf putter comprising a relatively long shaft 7, i.e. longer than 1 meter, e. g. about 65-80%, preferably around 70-75 %, of the length of the player, which generally implies a length within 1,2 to 1,6 m, preferably within 1,35 to 1,5 m, depending on the length of the player.

The putter head 1 is applied to the shaft 7 such that there preferably exist a lie angle u of at least 10° preferably between 10° - 15°, i.e. the angle u formed between the line of extension 8 of the shaft 7 and a vertical plane V crossing the centre of the putter head 1 perpendicularly in relation to the hitting face 3.

The golfer positions the body in a saddle stance with a first side of the body next to the golf ball 50 to be hit, at a position with the shoes 100 such that a common tangential horizontal line TS of the toe tips of the shoes 100 of the player will be generally perpendicular in relation to the sight line SL and such that said horizontal line TS is at a distance FP behind a parallel line GL through the golf ball 50.

Preferably the distance FP generally is equal to or exceeds 100 mm, and most preferred generally within the range of 100 - 300 mm. In this regard generally is to be understood as putting on flat ground by a player of average size, since as is evident for the skilled person players will desire to adapt that distance FP if the ground is leaning and/or due to individual aspect of some players that fall outside of average.

Further the player will position the shoes 100 such that a longitudinal horizontal line TL through the big toe at the first side of the body of the player is positioned at a lateral distance SP from the sight line SL. Hence, the golf ball 50 will be positioned at lateral distance SP sidewise of a longitudinal horizontal line TL through the big toe position of the shoe at the first side of the body of the player. Preferably, the distance SP is equal to or exceeds 100 mm, more preferred SP is within the range of 100 - 300 mm.

The player grips the shaft 7 of the putter, including gripping an upper gripping location A with one hand and a lower gripping location B with the other hand. The lower gripping location B is positioned at the first side of the body which is the same side as where the putter head 1 is positioned. The upper gripping location A is positioned closer to the second side of the body, such that the upper end 70 of the putter shaft is positioned in front of the chest, at least 50 mm in front of the chest (e. g. within 70 - 200 mm in front of the chest), preferably at least 100 mm in front of the chest and such that the upper end 70 of the putter shaft is positioned below the upper level of the shoulder 80 on the second side of the body. Preferably the upper end 70 of the putter shaft 7 is positioned at least 100 mm below the shoulder 80, more preferred within a range of 200-500 mm below the shoulder 80.

When the golfer has properly gripped the shaft 70 and positioned the feet next to the golf ball 50 as mentioned above the chest and the face will be directed towards the hole, such that a desired stance in relation to the sight line SL may be obtained and the player being ready to put. To accurately perform the putting stroke, it is an advantage to fixate at least one of the portions 60A, 90A of the arms 60, 90 in contact with the upper body. According to the preferred method this includes that the upper arm portion 60A on the second side of the body is kept generally fixed by means of pressing said portion 60A against the upper body, i.e. the chest, wherein more preferred said upper arm 60A is positioned generally pointing downwards, pressed and fixed against the chest along the second side of the upper body. The method preferably also includes that the upper arm portion 90A of the other arm 90, with the hand gripping the lower gripping location (B), is pressed against the chest in a similar manner, but preferably not in a fixed position since some movement in the longitudinal direction TL, will generally be desired to achieve appropriate movement of the putter head 1 along the sight line SL. This provides the advantage that a great sense of accuracy is obtained and somewhat surprisingly test have shown that it may eliminate yips, which is a rather frequent problem that players do experience and which may be extremely difficult to solve when using a traditional putter.

Now the player is ready to hit the golf ball 50 along the sight line SL. This may imply slightly leaning the head/upper body towards the golf ball 50. Thereafter the golfer swings the putter head 1 along the side of the body, preferably along the sight line SL, from behind the golf ball 50 to a position away from said golf ball by means of first moving the lower gripping portion B backwards to a start forward stroke position, while keeping said upper gripping location A generally fixed. From this start forward stroke position the player moves the putter head 1, again along the side of the body, forward along the sight line SL by moving the lower gripping location B forwards to hit the golf ball 50 and finalizes the stroke by keeping the upper gripping location A generally fixed. Of course, once the golf ball is hit it may be of less importance if the upper gripping location A is still fixed.

The player is assisted to keep the upper hand gripping the upper location A in a fixed position in front of the chest, i.e. not having the hand in contact with the chest, by having the arm 60, with the upper hand, in a fixed position. As mentioned above, this is preferably achieved by pressing the upper gripping arm 60 in contact with the side of the chest, whereby the upper arm portion 60A will be fixated pointing more or less vertically/downwards in contact with the body, which during the stroke (as usual) shall be kept as still as possible. The lower arm portion 60A will be kept in a position generally extending horizontally or slightly upwards to have the upper gripping location A adj acent to a vertical centre plane of the body. Hence, by then keeping the body in a fixed position there will be achieved a fixation of the upper gripping location A and very accurate putting may more easily be achieved than when using traditional methods.

It needs to be noted that the movement during hitting the ball 50, i.e. along the sight line SL, is generally in parallel with the sidewise extension of the sides of the body of the player. Hence the player does not need to twist the neck to see the intended goal, i.e. the golf hole. Hence, the player may easily position and maintain the body in a very accurate position corresponding with a preferred sight line SL and during the whole stroke keep face and body in an untwisted position and perform the putting stroke in parallel with a centre line of the body corresponding to a normal front facing body position.

Thanks to the use of a putter design as described above it is easy to adapt the putter by rotating the putter head 1 around the rod-shaped part 4, 6A, whereby the putter is easily adjusted to be adapted for a right-hand player and a left-hand player, respectively.

The invention is not limited by what has been shown above but may be varied within the scope of the following claims. For instance, it is evident that different modifications that are described above can be combined in an unrestrictive manner according to the invention, e. g. that to one and the same club head there are a number of different rods where some of them present bores and others do not and that some of the rods with bores are arranged with threads and others are not. Briefly it could be said that the invention facilitates a large Variety in order to fulfil considerable differences in desires Which do exist among different individuals Who play golf.

Claims (10)

Claims

1. A method for addressing a golf ball along a sight line (SL) in a side saddle stance with a golf putter; comprising providing a golf putter comprising a shaft (7) and a putter head (1) having a hitting face (3), wherein a lie angle (u) of at least l0°, preferably less l5°, exist between the extension (8) of said shaft (7) and a vertical plane (V) crossing the centre of said putter head ( l) perpendicularly in relation to said hitting face (3), and providing said putter shaft with an elongated shaft (7), and by, in connection with the golfer positioning the body in a saddle stance next to a golf ball (50): - gripping said putter shaft (7) at an upper gripping location (A) and a lower gripping location (B) location, - positioning said putter head (1) and the lower gripping location (B) at a first side of the body and the upper gripping location (A) adj acent a second side of the body, such that the upper end (70) of the putter shaft (7) is positioned below or in level with the shoulder (80) on the second side of the body, - pressing and generally fixating an upper arm portion (60A) on said second side of the body against the chest and pressing an upper arm portion (90A) of the other arm (90), with the hand gripping the lower gripping location (B) against said first side of the chest, - swinging said putter head (1) from behind to away from said golf ball (50) by means of first moving said lower gripping location (B) backwards to a start stroke position while keeping said upper gripping location (A) generally fixed, and - then by means of moving said lower gripping location (B) forwards to hit said golf ball (50) and finalize a stroke while keeping said upper gripping location (A) generally fixed, at least until hitting said golf ball (50), wherein said golfer positions the body in a saddle stance with a first side of the body next to the golf ball (50) to be hit, at a position with the shoes (100) such that a common tangential horizontal line (TS) of the toe tips of the shoes (100) of the player will be generally perpendicular in relation to the sight line (SL),

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said upper arm (60A) is positioned generally pointing downwards and pressed against the chest along the second side of the upper body.

3. The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein also the upper arm (90A) of the other arm (90) with the hand gripping the lower gripping location (B) is positioned generally pointing downwards.

4. The method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the golf ball is positioned a distance (FP) in front of said common tangential horizontal line (TS) of the toe tips of the shoes (100) of the player and at a lateral distance (SP) sidewise of a longitudinal horizontal line (TL) through the big toe at said first side of the body of the player.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the distance (FP) or (SP) is equal to or eXceeds 100 mm, more preferred both are equal to or exceed 100 mm, and most preferred are within the range of 100 - 300 mm.

6. The method according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the location of said upper gripping location (A) is positioned at least 50 mm, preferably within 70 - 200 mm, in front of the chest of the player,

7. The method according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said upper gripping location (A) is positioned below the shoulder (80) on the second side of the body,

8. The method according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein preferably the upper end (70) of the putter shaft (7) is positioned at least 100 mm below the shoulder (80), more preferred within a range of 200- 500 mm below the shoulder (80).

9. A golf club for performing any of the methods defined in claims 1-9, wherein said putter head (1) is equipped with a single hitting face (3).

10. A golf club according to claim 9, wherein said putter head (1) is releasably rotatably, preferably stepless, attached to said rod-shaped part (6A, 4), and wherein preferably there is arranged means for hindering attachment of said putter head (1) at a lie angle (u) less than l0°, and more preferred there is arranged a locking washer between the end of a screw and said rod-shaped part (6A).