US3066936A - Putter - Google Patents

Description

R. W. HYDE Dec. 4, 1962 PUTTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 25, 1960 R. W. HYDE Dec. 4, 1962 PUTTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25, 1960 197' T01? UE YS.

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a Patented Dec. 4-, 19%52 3,066,93e PUTTER Robert W. Hyde, 1650 Colonial Drive, Cincinnati 38, Ohio Filed Apr. 25, 1960, Ser. No. 24,414 1 Claim. (Cl. 273-80) This application is in part a continuation of patent application Serial No. 704,566, filed December 23, 1957, vand now 'abandoned The objective of the invention has been to provide a golf putter which efiectively minimizes the changes in the -angle which the face of the putter head makes relative to `a selected line of putt during a putting strolre. The mportance of putting in a game of golf is obvious, and this invention solves a major problem in this phase of the game, nainely, that of stroking the ball along a chosen path.

In using a conventional putter, the golfer addresses the ball, placing the club head immediately behind the lball and at right angles to the selected line of putt. Assuming that the golfer has selected the correct line of putt, the problem then becomes one of swinging the club through the backstroke and through that part of the forward stroke which brings the face of the putter head into contact with the ball, such that the face arrives at the point of contact in the same right angular relationship that existed when the putt was initially lined up. Studies, using stroboscopic lights land high speed cameras, have shown that the major cause of misdirected putts is that the club head does not aa'rive 'at this critical point in the stroke in the right angular relationship. At the start of the lbacltstroke, the desired right angular relationship is rather easy to achieve, because the golfer can carefully study the relationship of the club face to the desired line of putt. But, on the backstroke, the putter head moves along an yarcuate path and the angle that the face makes with the line of putt changes as the club head is swung back, the angle increasing from to 30 degrees depending upon the length of the backstrolte. Thus, the face of the head '*opens and the club head also moves to the inside of the line of putt a substantial distance due to the arcuate nature of the swing. As the club head moves forward the face begins to close and in a perfect swing the face of the head returns to the 90 degree relationship the instant that contact is made with the ball. However. such perfection selclom obtains. The club head is moving at the time such contact is made. The human eyes have limitatons. They cannot see both the ball and club head alignment when the ball is struck, and, therefore, the golfer has no way of knowing what angle exists between the putter face and line of putt at the instant of contact. Often, the reason that the exact 90 degree relationship is not achieved is because the golfefs hands are not in the same position relative to the ball when the ball is struclt that they were in when the putt was aligned initially. The golfer's hands may lead the club head or they may follow the club head. If the hands lead, the of the club head is open when the ball is struck.. lf the hands follow, the face of the head is closed when the ball is struck. In either case, the ball goes off to one side of the selected line of putt. Thus, accurate putting depends mainly on getting the club head back to the ball in the same relationship which existed when the putt was initially lined up.

rThe putter of this invention eliminates the opening and the closing of the face of the club head relative to the selected line of putt during the strolre. That is, the right angular relationship of the face of the club head to the cicsired line of putt is maintained throughout the backstrolte and throughout the forward stroke, including that important instant in the forward stroke when contact is club head in the direction opposite the golfer.

made with the ball. Hence, by maintaining the right angular relationship, the golfer`s chances of putting the ball along the selected line of putt are greatly enhanced, simply because at no time does the club get out of alignment. An important consideration here is that, with the club head in the correct right angular relationship throughout the stroke, the position of the golfens hands at the instant the ball is struck, whether they lead or follow, is of little ou' no consequence.

This advantageous result, wherein the right angular relationship is maintained throughout the swing, has been achieved heretofore in "trick putters in which the putter head swings, usually by gravity, in a Vertical plane which is coextensive with the line of putt. These pendulumtype putters have not been approved by the U.S. Golf Association, because they have required an entirely different type of stroke than that with which golfers are familiar. By contrast, one of the most important features of the putter of this invention is that it permits the use of the same type wrist action and the same type swing used for conventional putters.

The main difference between the putter of this invention and conventional putters resides in the configuration of the shaft of the club, and, particularly, the disposition of the straight grip portion, which is at the upper end of the club, with respect to the head of the club.

l `have discove'red that when this relationship is such that a downward extension of the axis of the straight club portion strikes the putting green, with the club in putting position, at a point which is substantially spaced from the center of gravity of the club head on the side of the selected lin-e of putt o-pposite the golfer, the desired right 'angular relationship exists throughout the swing. Otherwise expressed, the mass of the club head is below and to the inside of the downward extension of the axis of the grip portion, and, although the club is not a simple penduluni, as in the case of the trick pntters of the past, somewhat of la pendulum effect is obtained.

In the disclosure of the application of which this is a continuation, the relationship of the downward extension of the axis of the handle or grip portion to the head of the club was set forth as one in which the downward extension struck the green at a point between five and seven inches away from the center of the face of the That is, the point was out beyond the toe of the club head. This relationship was and is correct for the type of club head disclosed, which was a small one, on the order of between nine and ten ounces in weight. However, club heacls vary in weight from nine to thirteen ounces, some golfers preferring a light putter and some preferr-ing a heavy putter. Also, some golfers use a light putter for a fast green and a heavy putter for a slow green. Recently, in order to satisfy the demands of different golfers for different club weights in putters employing the principles of my invention, I have found that it is necessary to make changes in the curvature of the shaft based upon two variables, both of which are centered about the riiass of the club head. I have found that golfers who use a fast backstroke require less shaft curvature than those using a slow backstroke. I have also found that putters having heavier club heads require less shaft curvature than those with light club heads. This change in the curvature, wherein it is decreased, pulls the point at which the downward extension of the axis of the grip portion of the club strikes the green in toward the toe of the club head. However, even for the heaviest club head this point still must be spaced substantially out away from the center of gravity of the club head, this being a very essential characteristic of putters made iu accordance with the principles of my discoveries. These ananasa principles will now be explained by referring to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of the putter.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the putter diagrammatically showing the comparative angulation of the upper and lower port'ions of the shaft.

FIGURE 3 is a diagram'matic, perspective view of the putter as viewed from above showing 'the putter in full lines in the back swing and showing it in phantom lines in position to strike the ball.

FIGURE 4 is a slightly exaggerated diagrammatic analysis comparing the different angular relationships of the face of a conventional putter and the face of my improved putter to a selected line of putt during an approach swing.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a putter incorporating the principles of the invention, and, particularly, illustrating the relative positions of club heads of various weights to the point at which the down- Ward extension of the central axis of the grip` portion Strikes the green when the putter is in putting position.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic view comparing the stroke of a putter of this invention with the str'oke of a conventional putter. In this view the conventional putter is shown in dotted lines, whereas the putter of this invention is shown in solid lines.

The putter shown in FIGURES 1-4 is one having a light-weight head. In these figures the putter head is designated 10. The head may be of conventional design having a fiat face 11. The shaft of the club, which is designated generally by 12, includes a straight upper end portion 13 having a grip M. The lower portion of the shaft, indicated at 15, preferably lis curved as shown in FIGURE 2 so that it meets the head of the putter on an axis which is substantially Vertical. However, this relationship is not critical.

The important relationships are shown in FIGURE 2,. It will be noted that the axis designated A-A, which extends vertically through the putter head, meets the axis designated B-B, which extends through the center of the grip at an angle designated X which, in the preferre'd embodiment, is between 25 and 35. in a putter of average size (approximately 32-36 inches long) the axis B B meets the ground, when the putter is in position to stroke the ball, approximately 5-7 inches lon the far side of the ball.

Reference is now made to FIGURE 3 which shows the putter as it might be viewed through the eyes of a golfer. In this view the are of the swing is greatly exaggerated to assist in the explanation of the putter. In FIGURE 3, the line P-P indicates a selected line of putt. The arc S S represents the line of swing. A golf ball is shown at 16 on the line of putt. In this view the putter is drawn in full lines as it lmight appear to the golfer on the back- .stroke. The phantom lines show the same putter in position to strike the ball. In moving the putter from the position shown in phantom lines to the position shown in full lines, it may be seen that the head swings around and below the axis which projects from the center of the grip portion down toward the ground. The effect is that the head twists or turns so that the plane of its face, indicated by the dot-dash lines F-F intersects the line of putt P-P at a right angle. :Now by referring to the diagram of FIGURE 4 it may be seen that this right angular relationship is maintained throughout the swing. In this figure P P designates the line of putt, and a ball on this line is shown at 16. Various positions of a conventional putter head during the swing are represented by the rectangles designated 17. Superimposed upon these rectangles are heavy lines 18 which indicate the various positions of the face of the putter of this invenvtion during the back swing. Obviously, the conventional putter and the putter of this invention start out at the Vball at right angles to the line of putt P-P. Inherently,

it is difficult with a conventional putter to start from this position, move through the back stroke', and then move through the approach stroke and arrive at the ball in this exact right angular relationship, and it is this specific problem which the putter of this invention solves; 'because it may be seen that the right angular relationship is maintained throughout the swing, the line of which is also indicated at S-S in this view.

One other relationship is shown FEGURE 4 by the dotted lines 19 and this is the change that takes place in the plane of the face of the putter of this invention when it is swung back away from the ball, starting in the right angular relationship and then progressing straight back on the line of putt. In this case, due to the angulation of the grip portion with respect to the Vertical axis through the putter head, it may be seen that the head twists, closing with respect to the line of putt. If a conventional putter were to be swung back on this same line P-P the face of the putter would "open. The angles which the dotted lines make with the line P P are exaggerated, but they illustrate the fact that the present putter face changes its angle in just the opposite way of a conventional putter under the circnrnstances to which reference has been made. Thus, one way of explaining the operation of the present putter is that when it is swung naturally it compensates for the tendency of the conventional putter to open and Stays at all times at a right angle to the line of putt.

Reference is now made to FEGURES 5 and 6. In these -figures a putter is indicated generally by the numeral 1A). This putter has a grip portion 21, the aXis of which is straight, and a head 22 which is affixed to the lower end of the shaft. The shaft, between the putter head and the grip portion is curv-cd as indicated at 23. In FIGURE 5, the dot-dash line 24 represents a selected line of putt. The dot-dash line 25 designates a line which is at right angles to line of putt M, the latter line passing underneath of club head 22. A downward extension of the central aXis of grip portion .'i is represented by the dot-dash line 2-6 and, as shown in FIGURE 5, the line 26 meets line 25 at a place designated 27. (For simplicity, this place 27 will be referred to as the point.)

Club head 22, shown in full lines in FIGURE 5, represcnts a club head of average weight, which is between 10 and ll ounces. This club head weighs more than the one shown in FIGURES 1 through 4. The club head shown in dotted lines in FEGURE 5 and which is identified by the numeral 28 is a lightweight club head which may weigh between 9 and 1C= ounces. The club head shown in the dotted lines at 2? represents a heavy club head which may weigh between 11 and 13 ounces. As shown, the degree of curvature of the shaft is varied for club heads of varying weights accordin to the following Chart.

W eight of Potter Head in Ounces Two variables are represented in the Chart. One being the weight of the putter head in ounces, the other beingr the type of backstroke used by a particular goifcr. The fignres given in inches represent the distance between the point 27 and the center of gravity of the club head. To take several specific examples, one golfer may prefer a rather heavy putter head, such as one weighing between li and 12 ounces. if he uses a fast backstroke the distance between the point 27 and the center of gravity of the club head should be in the range of from 1-3 inches depending upon the feel of the putter in his hands. A putter in the sarne weight range, in the hands aoeaesa of a golfer using a slow backstroke, requires a curvature in the shaft which results in a distance between the point and the center of gravity of the club head in the range of from 3-5 inches.

Generally, the heavier the club the shorter the distance between the center of gravity of the club head and the point; or, expressing it inversely, the lighter the club head, the greater the distance between the center of gravity of the club and the point. Also as the backstroke speed increases, the distance between the point and the center of gravity decreases, these two things, the weight and the speed of the backstroke, may be expressed in terms of the inertia of the club head so that as inertia increases, the distance between the point and the center of gravity of the club head decreases.

It will be appreciated that the distances given in the above chart are approximations, because there is always that intangible of the feel of a particular club in a particular golfefs hands that cannot be measured. Despite the variables set forth it is an essential characteristic of clubs made in accordance with the principles of my invention that the point be spaced a substantial distance away from the center of gravity of the club head along a line from the center of gravity of the putter head outwardly through the toe of the putter head. It is this unique relationship that creates a swing in which the usual opening and closing movements of the putter face are eliminated.

The curvature of the shaft which places the point out beyond the center of gravity results in the head being well under or inside of the downward extension of the axis of the grip portion and this imbalance causes the shaft to twist slightly in the palms of the golfers hands as it is swung and thereby keeps the putter face in the desired 9D degree relationship. It also eliminates, to a great degree, the arc through which the head passes during a putting stroke (in the hands of some golfers this arc is eliminated altogether) with the result that the flat face of the club head Strikes the ball squarely, imparting a highly desirable overspin to the ball, the gyroscopic action of which tends to keep the ball right on the selected line of putt.

Reference is now made to the comparative view of FIGURE 6 wherein the putter is shown in solid lines and wherein the heavy arrow represents the selected line of putt. The two Vertical lines 31 and 32, with the connecting line 33, represents a Vertical plane coextensive with the line of putt 30. It may be seen that the club head very closely follows the plane, moving along a much shallower arc than the arcuate swing of the conventional putter which is shown generally by the dot-dash lines 34. The arcuate swing of the conventional golf club gives the putting face a wiping action with respect to a ball, causing it to rotate about an axis other than the horizontal one which results in a direct overspin.

Since the club head of the putter of this invention strikes the ball squarely it is preferred that it be highly polished so that it presents relatively no friction at. the point of the contact with the ball compared to the friction of the ball resting on the green. In this Way the ball starts spinning the instant it is hit and it does not bounce or jump, but rolls smoothly along the intended line of putt.

l-Iaving described my invention, I claim:

A golf putter comprising a shaft having a long, continuous, fixed, straight grip portion at its upper end, a putter head having a heel at one end thereof and a toe at the opposite end thereof and a flat putting face at one side thereof, said putter head afiixed to the lower end of said shaft adjacent to the heel vend thereof, and said shaft being curved between said straight grip portion and the lower end thereof such that an extension of the longitudinal central axis of said straight grip portion Strikes the green, when the putter is in putting position, at a point spaced outwardly beyond the center of gravity of said putter head by a distance of more than one inch but less than seven inches on a line which extends from said center of gravity outwardly through the toe of said putter head which places the center of gravity of the club head below and inside of said extension of the central axis of the grip portion to cause an im'balance resulting in the shaft tending to twist sligbtly in the palms of a golfer's hands during the rearward and forward movements of a stroke thereby tending to maintain the face of the putter normal to an intended line of putt.

References C'ted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 749,174 Davis Jan. 12, 1904 807,224 Vaile Dec. 12, 1905 1,486,823 Allen Mar. 11, 1924 1,561,349 Murphy et al Nov. 10, 1925 1,616,377 Knight Feb. 1, 1927 2,820,638 Morrison Ian. 21, 1958

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