WO2006015420A1

WO2006015420A1 - Golf putter head and club

Info

Publication number: WO2006015420A1
Application number: PCT/AU2005/001181
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thomas Hamlin
Original assignee: Hamlin, Edward
Priority date: 2004-08-09
Filing date: 2005-08-09
Publication date: 2006-02-16

Abstract

The invention provides a golf putter head (1) having an upward facing surface (7) visible from above the head, which surface has a periphery (5) of which at least a part is an arc of a circle. The radius of the circle or arc is substantially or exactly half the diameter of a putting green hole. In the preferred embodiment, the upwardly facing surface has a complete circle marked thereon the circle having substantially or exactly the diameter of a putting green hole. Also provided is a golf putter having a shaft (2) with a grip and secured to the shaft a head as described.

Description

GOLF PUTTER HEAD AND CLUB

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved putter head, and to a putter-type club incorporating such a head, for use in the game of golf. BACKGROUND

Golf has become one of the most popular games or sports and Is played by both amateurs and professionals. The game requires a degree of physical fitness, but also a degree of skill, coordination and steadiness of hand. The last three of these are particularly required for that part of the game known as putting.

Enormous effort has been devoted to the design and development of putters that assist players to set up a putt, i.e. to position themselves relative to the ball and to the desired position of the ball.

The present invention provides a form of putter head, and a club incorporating such a head, that is believed from testing to be advantageous in "setting up" a putt (i.e. addressing the ball and aiming for the putt), and that lends itself well to the provision of a well balanced putter.

It is believed that putters incorporating putter heads according to the present invention can provide a desirable combination of playing characteristics, customizability and ease of manufacture and provide players with a useful alternative to existing putters. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a golf putter head having^' an upward facing surface visible from above said head said surface having a periphery of which at least a part is an arc of a circle with a radius of substantially or exactly half the diameter of a putting green hole. Preferably, the golf putter head has a planar ball impacting surface that in a ball-impacting position of the head,

(a) is upright; and

(b) extends transversely of said putter head between a heel end and a tail end of said surface, and wherein said arc has a centre of curvature that is positioned transversely to be behind a design ball impact point between said heel and toe ends of said ball impacting surface.

The said centre of curvature may be positioned at a distance behind said ball impacting surface that is approximately the radius of curvature of the arc.

In another embodiment, the said centre of curvature may positioned at a distance behind said ball impacting surface greater than the radius of curvature of the arc. It is preferred that the said periphery is comprised of the whole of said circle.

The periphery may be rendered visible to a user whose eyes are positioned above the putter head in any of a number of alternative ways, including: (a) recessing of said surface below an upper surface of said head;

(b) raising of said surface above a surrounding or adjacent upward facing surface of said head;

(C) said periphery being marked on an upper surface of said head; or (d) said upwardly facing surface is a surface of a generally puck-shaped first component secured to or formed integrally with a plate-like second component of which a front surface is said ball impacting surface.

In one aspect, the invention provides a golf putter head having an upwardly facing surface with a circle marked thereon the circle having substantially or exactly the diameter of a putting green hole. Preferably, the centre of the said circle is positioned behind a design ball striking point of a ball striking surface of the putter head. In particular, the design ball striking point may be a "sweet spot" of the ball striking surface.

The invention provides in a further embodiment a golf putter head as set out above and having a planar side face extending rearwardly from a or the said ball striking face of the putter head, and wherein;

(a) a first notional plane that includes the ball striking face and a second notional plane that includes the side face intersect in a right angle; and (b) the said second plane extends rearwardly from substantially the heel end of the ball striking face.

In a ball striking position of the putter head the first and second notional planes may both be substantially vertical. The invention further provides a golf putter including a shaft and a grip . thereon and a golf putter head according to any of the embodiments disclosed herein.

In order that the invention may be better understood it will now be described non-limitingly by reference to preferred embodiments as shown in the attached Figures, of which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a golf putter head according to the invention;

Figure 2 ts a plan view of the golf putter head and shaft portion shown in Figure 2; Figure 3 is a rear view of the golf putter head shown in Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a side view of the golf putter head shown in Figure 1, seen at its moment of impact with a golf ball;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a further golf putter head according to the invention; Figure 6 is a plan view of the golf putter head shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a still further golf putter head according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a golf putter head that is a yet further embodiment of the invention; Figure 9 is a plan view of the golf putter head shown in Figure 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figures 1 to 4 show a golf putter head i according to the invention and a portion of a putter shaft 2 secured thereto by a hosel 3.

Apart from the hosel 3, putter head 1 has two main parts 4 and 5. These are shown as being formed integrally as a single component, for example by casting or forging, with or without finish machining, or by machining from solid. However, the putter head 1 may also be made by securing several separate parts together, as further disclosed hereinafter. Parts 4 and 5 are respectively a plate-like first member 4 and a puck- shaped disk member 5. First member 4 has a ball impacting surface 6, and disk member 5 Is so positioned that Its flat upper and lower surfaces 7 and 8 are horizontal when the putter head 1 is in the position above a horizontal ground surface 9 at which it impacts a golf ball 10.

Disk member 5 is substantially circular in plan view (i.e. as seen by a golfer using a putter (not shown as a whole) incorporating putter head 1 when positioned to execute a putt. Disk member 5 is tangential to a rear face 11 of first part 4. Defining a transverse direction as being the direction that at the point of impact 12 of putter head 1 with ball 10 is horizontal and normal to surface 6, disk member 5 is positioned in the transverse direction to lie directly behind the point of impact of surface 6 with ball 10, as shown in Figure 2.

Disk member 5 is of a diameter that is substantially, and preferably exactly, the diameter of a golf hole. This diameter is at present set at 4.25 inches (108mm). It is believed that this choice of diameter tends to assist the user in setting up, i.e. aiming, the putt accurately.

The transverse positioning of the disk member 5 directly behind the designed impact point 12 lends itself well to the impact point 12 being the "sweet spot" of the putter head 1 , due to the effect of the mass of disk member 5. The greater the mass of disk member 5, the more nearly the sweet spot will be to a transverse position directly behind impact point 12.

As shown in the Figures, a groove 13 or some other elongate aiming marie may be provided on upper surface 7 of disk member 5. This is of course subject to any constraints imposed from time to time by the Rules of Golf.

Groove 13 extends along a diameter of disk member 5 and is perpendicular to impact surface 6. The transverse position of groove 13 is such that a notional extension of it passes through the designed impact point 12 - see Figure 2, where impact point 12 is marked in its correct transverse position on face β. Other possibilities exist for markings on the disk member 5. For example (not shown) two grooves (or otherwise applied lines) could be used, perpendicular to the transverse direction and spaced apart transversely by the diameter of golf ball 10. Another possibility (not shown) is to mark on surface 7 of disk member 5 a circle of substantially the diameter of golf ball 10, the circle being tangential to rear surface 11 of first member 4.

It is also of course possible to provide guide markings (not shown) elsewhere on the club head 1. For example, a mark could be placed on top surface 14 of first member 4 to indicate the transverse position of the "sweet spot'. The provision of such guide markings also is subject to any constraints imposed from time to time under the Rules of Golf.

The ball impacting surface 6 of first member 4 Is shown in Figure 1 with grooves 15, as is often done on conventional putters. Grooves 15 are not of the essence of the present invention.

Although Figures 1 -4 show one particular embodiment of the invention, other embodiments are possible in which the basic concept of having visible to a player, when preparing to execute a putt; an upwardly facing surface that is circular (or a segment of a circle) and of substantially or exactly the^" same diameter as the hole, the surface being preferably directly behind the intended point of impact of the head with the golf ball.

Putter head 1 may be made, as previously disclosed, in one piece, by casting or forging, with or without finish machining, or by machining from solid. It may also be made by making first member 4 and disk member 5 separately, and subsequently securing them together by suitable fastener(s) (not shown) or by welding, for example.

Figures 5 and 6 show a further putter head 21 according to the invention and a shaft portion 22 and hosel 23. This ts generally similar to putter head 1, having a plate-like first member 24 with a ball impacting front surface 26. Instead of a disk member corresponding directly to disk member 5 of putter head 1 , however, a formation 25 extends backwardly from member 24. Formation 25 is a generally horizontal platelike element, and is cut away over two lands 27 and 28, thereby to define a circular upper surface 29 of formation 25. As with putter head 1 , putter head 21 could be made as a single item by casting or forging, with or without finish machining, for example, or by machining from solid

Figure 7 shows still another golf putter head 31 according to the invention, and a shaft portion 32 and hosel 33. Putter head 31 has a circular recess 34 in its upper surface 35 Recess 34 is of a diameter substantially or exactly the same as that of a golf hole (i.e. 4.25 inches (108mm)). A line 36 is marked within recess 34 and is perpendicular to ball impacting surface 37 of head 31 , transversely positioned at a design ball impact position 39, and is part of a diameter of recess 34. Putter head 31 is formed as a single component.

Instead of or in addition to line 36, it would be possible to provide within the circle defined by the periphery of recess 34 a further circle 38 (marked or defined by any suitable means, for example by a circular groove or by machining a further circular recess within recess 34) of substantially the diameter of a golf ball and close to (as shown) or tangential to (not shown) the front of of recess 34. It is thought that this arrangement may be advantageous. It should be emphasized that the provision of a golf-ball sized circular surface in combination with a hole-sized circular surface is applicable to other constructions of putter heads according to the invention. Figures 8 and 9 show still another golf putter head 51 that embodies the invention. Head 51 has a plane ball-impacting surface 52 on a plate-like front member 61 and behind member 61 a puck-shaped disk member 53. Disk member 53 has an upward-facing circular surface 54 whose diameter is the same as that of a golf hole (i.e. at present 4.25 inches (108mm)), similarly to faces 7, 29 and 34 of heads 1, 21 and 31.

In addition, head 51 includes a plate-like side member 55 extending rearwardly from heel end 56 of surface 52. A plane surface 57 of member 55 is perpendicular to the plane of surface 52 and, when head 51 is positioned at the point of impact 63 with a ball 58 (shown only in Figure 9) also lies in a notional vertical plane. For this reason surface 57 is seen edge-on in the plan view of Figure 9. (Alternatively, the ball striking face 52 may have some loft (not shown) so that in the ball striking position surface 57 and the plane of surface 52 may still be perpendicular to each other, but without face 52 being perpendicular to the ground.) A hose! 59 is shown for securing a shaft 65 to the head 51. Hosel 59 may be located in other positions than that shown, if required.

Head 51 is shown as being formed integrally in one piece, including a gusset 60 between disk member 53 and member 61 and a connecting web 62 between members 61, 55 and 53. However, head 51 could alternatively be formed by making members 53, 61 and 55 (for example only) separately and then securing them together.

Without in any way being bound by any possible reason, it appears to applicants that the side face 57 at right angles to the ball striking face 52 assists, in correct execution of the putt. One possibility is that having a surface 57 on the head 51 helps a player, looking downward, to ensure that the head 51 is both correctly aligned to, and moving in the direction of, the intended direction of ball 58, at the instant of impact with ball 58. If this condition is fulfilled, surface 57 will at that instant be seen by the player to be moving parallel to the intended direction of ball movement and, at least momentarily, within its own plane.

Although disk member 53 is shown with a groove 64 (or similar elongate marking) on its upper surface 54 to assist in aiming for the putt, groove 64 being a diameter of surface 54, a player may use surface 57 as an aid in aiming as well. Surface 57 is parallel (In plan view) to groove 64.

It is preferred that the centre of disk member 53 be directly behind the design ball impact point 63 on surface 52, and more preferably that that transvserse location also be the transverse location of the "sweet spot" of the putter head 51. Given that plate-like member 55 has a certain mass, this condition may require that a compensating mass be positioned on the opposite side of the centre of member 53. This may be achieved by, for example only, making member 53 thicker on the side opposite member 55 than on the side adjacent to member 55.

Other possible variations will be apparent and may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A golf putter head having an upward facing surface visible from above said head said surface having a periphery of which at least a part is an arc of a circle with a radius of substantially or exactly half the diameter of a putting green hole.

2. A golf putter head according to claim 1 having a planar ball impacting surface that in a ball-impacting position of the head,

(a) is upright; and (b) extends transversely of said putter head between a heel end and a tail end of said surface, and wherein said arc has a centre of curvature that is positioned transversely to be behind a design ball impact poinf between said heel and toe ends of said ball impacting surface. .

3. A golf putter head according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the said centre of curvature is positioned at a distance behind said ball impacting surface that is approximately the radius of curvature of the arc.

4. A golf putter head according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the said centre of curvature is positioned at a distance behind said ball impacting surface greater than the radius of curvature of the arc.

5. A golf putter head according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the said periphery is comprised of the whole of said circle.

6. A golf putter head according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the said arc is rendered visible to a user whose eyes are positioned above the putter head by recessing of said surface below an upper surface of said head.

7. A golf putter head according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the said arc is rendered visible to a user whose eyes are positioned above the putter head by raising of said surface above a surrounding or adjacent upward facing surface of said head.

8. A golf putter head according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the said arc is rendered visible to a user whose eyes are positioned above the putter head by virtue of said arc or said periphery being marked on an upper surface of said head.

9. A golf putter head according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the said arc is rendered visible to a user whose eyes are positioned above the putter head by said upwardly facing surface being a surface of a generally puck-shaped first component secured to or formed integrally with a plate-like second component of which a front surface is said ball impacting surface.

10. A golf putter head having an upwardly facing surface with a circle marked thereon the circle having substantially or exactly the diameter of a putting green hole.

11. A golf putter head according to claim 10 wherein the centre of the said circle is positioned behind a design ball striking point of a ball striking surface of the putter head.

12. A golf putter head according to claim 11 wherein the design ball striking point is a sweet spot of the ball striking surface.

13. A golf putter head according to any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein a line is marked on the said upwardly facing surface the line passing through the centre of curvature of the said arc and being normal to a plane . containing the ball striking surface.

14. A golf putter head according to any one of claims 1 to 13 having a planar side face extending rearwardly from a or the said ball striking face of the putter head, and wherein: (a) a first notional plane that includes the ball striking face and a second notional plane that includes the side face intersect in a right angle; and

(b) the said second plane extends rearwardly from substantially the heel end of the ball striking face.

15, A golf putter head according to claim 14 wherein in a ball striking position of the putter head the first and second notional planes are both substantially vertical.

16. A golf putter head comprising a shaft and a grip thereon and a golf putter head according to any one of claims 1 to 15.