Golf putter

Abstract

The purpose of this invention is to provide a golf putter with which players are capable of making accurate putts. It is quite difficult to make precision putting strokes as far as the strokes are guided by the spot mark on the putter head. There have been proposals on various training tools and improved putters, but it is still not easy to learn the skill of accurate putting. The inventor has developed a golf putter 20 provided with projected end portions 21 and 21', which are disposed at both ends of the putter head la in a one-piece construction and stick out in the forward direction for a certain distance at right angles to the putt face F. It has been confirmed that with the putter of this invention, any player can easily make accurate putting strokes.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] This invention relates to a golf putter and more particularly to a golf putter from which accurate putting can be expected

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Golf putting is played on the green by setting up the putter head in the rear of the ball and hit the ball with the putter head to roll the ball into the hole. As important points of a good putting stroke, the putter head should be initially placed at a position perpendicular to the target line along which the ball is putted. Then, the putter head should be set so that the sweet spot (the center of balance) of the putter head is precisely aligned with the central position of the ball. Under this condition, the player should first take the putter head straight back along the target line while keeping their eyes over the ball and keeping head and shoulders still, and then take the putter head forward to putt the ball along the target line and roll the ball into the hole. When a series of movements are conducted correctly and smoothly, a precision putting stroke is completed, and the ball can be brought toward the hole along the target line.

[0003] To execute this, the players must at first consider the undulations of the green surface, read the green for grain, and draw an imaginary target line 3, such as shown in FIG. 4, so that the ball 2 will roll along this line and into the hole when the ball 2 is putted with the putter 1. Then, the players need to make an accurate stroke to roll the ball toward the first target point. In practice, the line connecting the toes of both feet should be parallel to the imaginary line 3. It is important to putt the ball 2 on the line 3 while the face F of the putter head 1a is kept square, i.e., at the position perpendicular to the line 3. This can be done by giving the ball 2 an impact of putt at right angles from the sweet spot 1b (which will differ in position, depending on the head structure) near the center of the putter face F.

[0004] In FIG. 4, S represents the shaft.

[0005] Various proposals have been made for the learning of above-described accurate putting strokes.

[0006] As an example, Official gazette of Japanese utility model laid open No. 1987-155875 proposed a putter for use in golf training, such as shown in FIGS. 5a and 5b. The head 5 of this putter comprises a V-shaped face F1 on one side, a convex face F2 on the other side, and a bottom face 6 between the V slopes, with the bottom width being narrower than the diameter of the ball 2. The shaft S is fitted detachably to the head 5.

[0007] This putter is aimed at giving the ball 2 always an automatic roll into the central portion even when the ball 2 cannot be putted with the central portion of the head, but instead putted with one of the slopes 7, as shown in FIG. 5a. This putter is said to be quite effective in making judgments as to whether the line connecting the toes of both feet is parallel to the expected target line, or whether the way to use both hands is good, based on the difference between the actual ball line and the previously expected target line.

[0008] The bottom face 6 (the central zone) of the V-shaped face Fl is given a narrower width than the diameter of the ball 2. If the ball 2 is putted with a slope 7 of the face Fl, the ball is given unnecessary rotation. But by the time the ball reaches the bottom face 6, the ball loses its rotation because the opposite slope works to reduce the rotation. This putter is thus advantageous in that the ball 2 rolls straight forward whenever it is putted at any point of the face F1. On the other hand, the convex face F2 has a semi-circular surface in its cross-section, as shown in FIG. 5b. If this face is used for putting, the ball never rolls toward the hole unless the ball is seized at the central point (a) of the face. If the ball were seized at a point (b) or (c) on the surface, the ball would roll on in the direction of 2a or 2b, which is quite different from the direction of the expected target line. Since the putt from this face F2 makes it possible to judge the right position of putt, it is asserted that the putter of this type is very effective for the experienced golfers to train themselves.

[0009] Official gazette of Japanese utility model laid open No. 1995-3684 proposed a putt training tool of the disposable, ball-guiding type, which can be fitted detachably to the putter head, as shown in FIG. 6. This tool can be fitted to the putter by utilizing the spot mark 8, placing first a positioning aid onto the putt face of the putter so that the guide plates 9 and 9' can be positioned at right places relative to the spot mark 8, then setting the guide plates 9 and 9' on both sides of this positioning aid, adhering these plates to the putt face of the putter, and removing the positioning aid from the putt face. As a result, the putt face is provided with a ball-guiding putt zone 10 having partition walls on both sides and having a width slightly wider than the ball diameter.

[0010] If the ball is seized with the putter head at its central position, i.e., the position on the line extending from the spot mark 8, then the ball is led into the ball-guiding putt zone and is putted with the head at its central position (or sweet spot).

[0011] In that case, the ball rolls on straight in the right direction intended by the player.

[0012] If, on the other hand, the ball is seized at a head position other than the spot mark position, then the ball will come in touch with the inside wall of a guide plate, or hit against the tip of a guide plate or against the end portion of the head. In that case, the ball will roll obliquely or in other directions not intended by the player. Sometimes, such a play may be a cause of danger.

[0013] When players train themselves using a putter equipped with this tool, they learn the position of the sweet spot on the putter head or master the skill of putting through practices.

[0014] Official gazette of Japanese patent application laid open No. 1996-126729 proposed a putt training guide plate, such as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. In FIG. 7, right- and left-side vertical faces 11 and 11' are separated from each other at a certain space by an open face 12 and are connected by a connecting portion 13, which is bent backward and laid on the top surface of the putter head and is provided with a central projection 14. The right- and left-side vertical faces 11 and 11' are provided with gateposts 15 and 15', respectively, each having upper and lower projections. An adhesive is applied on the back surface of the guide plate 16 and is protected with release paper. At the time of training, this release paper is peeled off, and the guide plate is adhered to the putter face F.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 8a, the ball 2 is best putted at the central position P in the open face 12 of the guide plate 16, i.e., the position right below the spot mark 8. When putting the ball 2 in practice, the player must maintain the putter at right angles to the direction in which the ball 2 rolls on.

[0016] Thus, when the ball is putted accurately at the central position P of the putter 1, the ball goes straight in the direction perpendicular to the putt face and reaches the point A. This direction verifies that the player has made a fine putting stroke.

[0017] If, however, the ball is seized at a wrong position outside the central position P, and comes in contact with a gatepost 15 or 15', then the ball will head for the point B or C. In that case, the player instantly becomes aware of an inaccurate putting stroke. If the player fails to keep the putt angle of 90.degree. to the intended ball direction, as shown in FIG. 8b, then the ball comes in contact with a gatepost in a similar way. This also makes a wrong putting stroke known instantly to the player. Therefore, it is asserted that the best putting practice is possible with this guide plate.

[0018] Meanwhile, there have been other proposals with emphasis on additional components, with which the putter head is provided, to guide the ball along the line 3, without depending on the spot mark 8.

[0019] Official gazette of Japanese patent application laid open No. 1984-194764 proposed a putter provided with a guide rod 17 in the rear of the putter head 1, as shown in FIG. 9. The rod 17 is fitted in a T-shape, as seen from above, at the right angles to the rear face. If this rod 17 is aligned straight with the hole 4, the head 1 is always perpendicular to the line 3, and the ball 2 is positioned on the line connecting the target and the guide rod 17. When the ball is putted at this position, a right putting stroke can be expected.

[0020] Official gazette of Japanese patent application laid open No. 1994-205855 proposed a putter equipped with a semi-circular extension 18, which is disposed horizontally on the rear side of the face F of the putter head. An observation slit 19 is formed in this extension 18 at a position corresponding to the sweet spot of the putter head 1 in the direction perpendicular to the face F.

[0021] In conventional putters, a positioning mark (like the spot mark 8) of a spot or a line is placed on top of the putter head. When this mark is used as a fixed point, it is possible to make a judgment on the direction in which to stroke the putter head or the position of the sweet spot.

[0022] In using such a conventional putter, the player sets the putter head in the rear of the ball, using the positioning mark as the fixed point, and keeps eyes over the ball while putting the ball with this putter.

[0023] However, when a positioning mark is put on the putter head, players tend to move their eyes involuntarily with the movement of the putter taken straight back when they should keep their eyes steadily over the ball. As a result, they cannot keep their head and shoulders still.

[0024] As described above, it is important for the player to complete a putting stroke smoothly from beginning to end while consistently keeping eyes over the ball and keeping shoulders still. The conventional putters tend to cause wrong shots to occur because it is difficult for the player to keep eyes and shoulders still. However hard practice players repeat using such a conventional putter, they would never have a good command of accurate putting skill and cannot expect any progress in the play.

[0025] In the case of the putters shown in FIG. 10a, the player in the putting practice sets up the putter head in the rear of the ball, visualize a target line along which the ball is putted, align the observation slit with this imaginary line, and put a mark on the area of carpet in the observation slit. Under this condition, the player makes a putt while keeping eyes on the mark, and takes the putter through the ball in such a way that the observation slit will pass over the mark.

[0026] In this case, the mark is not drawn on the putter head, but is placed under the head. Therefore, players are no longer lured to move their eyes and shoulders involuntarily with the movement of the putter taken straight back. Thus, allegedly, a correct putting is achieved, and the ball can be directed toward the hole along the target line.

[0027] This patent application asserted that through repeated putting practice with this putter, the players would quickly acquire an ideal swing form of putting and therefore that they could have an expectation for early and steady learning of the putting skill.

[0028] The observation slit in FIG. 10a is a cut in the extension. But as shown in FIG. 10b, the slit can be a hole 19 punched in the extension 18 in the direction perpendicular to the putter head. As shown in FIG. 10c, the extension 18 is not limited to the semi-circular shape, but can be rectangular, with the observation slit being cut through the extension so as to divide the extension nearly in two.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0029] The above proposals have the disadvantages described below.

[0030] In the putters shown in FIGS. 5-8, emphasis is placed much strictly on an attempt to putt the ball on the line of spot mark while keeping the putt face at the angle of 90.degree. to the line. Because of this intention, the gates (e.g., bottom face F1, guide plates 9 and 9', and gateposts 15 and 15'), through which the ball is admitted and putted, were set at too narrow a width. Such a precision as these is not required in actual putting.

[0031] The putter of FIG. 5 is used only for training, and its shape is different from the shape of an ordinary putter shown in FIG. 4. Therefore, players have to recheck on their sense of balance for the head each time when they make a put in a game. For this reason, hard practice is unlikely to produce satisfactory results.

[0032] The tools shown in FIGS. 6-8 are the attachments to the putters that are used in actual games. Despite the lightweight of these tools, some changes in the balance cannot be denied, and require players to make adjustments.

[0033] In the end, there has been no training putter or tool that enables the "feel" of the putt acquired in the training to be applied to actual games without making any adjustment. (It has justly been claimed that these putters or tools should be used for training.) In addition, it is recommended that the setting of an imaginary target line should be based on the spot mark on the putter, regardless of whether the putter is for use in game or in training. Since the spot mark is only a short line drawn across the width of the top surface of the head, the target line, obtained merely by extending this short line, is quite unreliable. In fact, many players have experienced that these putters and tools have fallen short of their expectations.

[0034] In common practice, the players try to putt the ball into the hole in the green as they draw an imaginary extension line to the hole 4, utilizing the spot mark drawn at the sweet spot 1b on top of the putter head, as shown in FIG. 4. Since players have to aim at the hole ahead of this thin line, they feel it difficult to make an accurate putting stroke. Any accurate pendulum stroke is impossible under the condition that only this spot mark is given for the positioning. In many cases, there occur such mistakes as pushed putts and pulled putts. With these putters, the players often tend to make a putt in a looking up posture, thus failing to keep the ball moving straight forward.

[0035] The above-described incomplete ball-guiding function is also pointed out for the putters shown in FIG. 10.

[0036] The putters of FIGS. 9 and 10 have no perfect ball-guiding function. Even if the guiding function works, the situation remains unchanged, in which the ball is guided along a thin line, and no precision is expected for the putting.

[0037] If a putter were to be given a sufficient ability to guide the ball while changes in weight balance is minimized, then a putter with an additional tool would have to be designed in a much larger size than those proposed in the past, in order for a straight line portion to be secured.

[0038] This invention has been made to solve the above-described problems. The object of this invention is to provide a golf putter that makes any training putter unnecessary and minimizes the addition of any ball-guiding projection or ridge and the changes in putter balance within a rational range, so that the player can set up a right address position for the putting and make a true pendulum putting stroke without causing any looking up, pushed putt or pulled putt to occur.

[0039] The above object can be achieved by the putter of this invention, which is provided with a projected end portion sticking out for a certain length in the forward direction at right angles from each end of the putt face.

[0040] The projected end portions are disposed at both ends of, and at right angles to, the putt face. These portions function as a guide for the player to become aware of the ball line just as the spot mark functions in the similar manner. But unlike the spot mark that can be only drawn across the width of the putter head, these projected portions stick out for a distance longer than the head thickness. Their length is surprisingly enough to make the player recognize the imaginary parallel lines drawn on both sides of the putter at a sufficient allowance.

[0041] In the past, the players could not help but aiming at the hole only along a thin line. With this putter, they can aim at the hole not along a thin line but within a broad straight guiding zone. Because of the guiding action of this broad zone, players can make a precise pendulum stroke while avoiding the looking up, pushed putts or hooked putts. The reason why the pendulum strokes become easy is that, as the projected guiding portions are located at both ends of the putt face, the players have no other way but to take the putter straight back, and the follow-through comes as the natural reaction. As a result, they can make precise pendulum strokes.

[0042] The projected end portions of this putter have a one-piece construction. Since these end portions serve as the ball line guides, players can address the ball precisely to aim it at the hole.

[0043] As the most remarkable feature of the line guiding action offered by the projected end portions, the putter of this invention has quite a different way to take aim at the hole. When these ball line guides are set at right angles to the hole, it is possible for players to utilize the three lines including the central line connecting between the spot mark and the hole. These three lines are not mere lines but they form a ball-guiding zone. If the ball is putted so as to remain in this zone, it is highly probable that the ball rolls into the hole.

[0044] Due to the action of these ball line guides, the players can address the ball at a posture sideways to the hole wherever in the green they are.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0045] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the golf putter of this invention.

[0046] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the putt face of the putter of this invention.

[0047] FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the putter of this invention.

[0048] FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the way to putt the ball with the putter of this invention.

[0049] FIGS. 5a and 5b are explanatory diagrams showing the way to putt the ball with a prior-art putter.

[0050] FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional training putter.

[0051] FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of another conventional training putter.

[0052] FIGS. 8a and 8b are explanatory diagrams for explaining the directions in which the ball goes when it has been putted at wrong places of the putter shown in FIG. 7.

[0053] FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional putter provided with a guiding rod to help direct the ball at the hole.

[0054] FIGS. 10a-10c show the conventional putters having ball-guiding extensions in varied shapes.

A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0055] This invention is further described by referring to FIGS. 1-3.

[0056] The golf putter 20 of this invention comprises projected end portions 21 and 21', which are provided at both ends of the putter head 1a in a one-piece construction and stick out forward for a certain distance at right angles to the putt face F.

[0057] The putter head 20 of this invention can be manufactured with all the putter head materials now in commercially available.

[0058] The projected end portions 21 and 21' are the extensions to the head 1a. Naturally, they have a length extended more than the head thickness. In the plan view, the bottom of the putter has a staple-like shape, which makes it possible for the player to keep the putter standing upright without falling. Thus, at the address position, the putter placed in the rear of the ball automatically determines the vertical position of the shaft S. The width of each projected end portion, as seen from the front, can be simply enough to have a breakage-resisting strength. Therefore, not so large a width is required. The change in the balance between front and back is only slight, and there is no change in the lateral balance between the right and left of the putter.

[0059] There is little probability that the ball is putted with these end portions of the putter. Unlike prior training putters, the putter of this invention is not intended to improve the putting skill by putting the ball with the added portions of the putter. In this respect, the putter of this invention is basically different in its use from the putters of FIGS. 5-8.

[0060] The looking up can be prevented by the function of the ball line guides, which the projected end portions perform successfully as described above. The players can no longer take a looking up posture when they make a putt while avoiding the ball to come in contact with a ball line guide. The players also have little trouble avoiding pushed putts and pulled putts, and they can make ideal pendulum strokes that have never been experienced before, when they make putting strokes along these ball line guides.

[0061] The function of the ball line guides is as outlined in FIG. 3.

[0062] When the player takes an address position with the putter head 1 set at right angles to the hole 4, an imaginary zone 23 is formed by the line extended from the spot mark 8 and the ball guiding lines 22 and 22', which extend from the projected end portions 21 and 21'. At the address position, the player is conscious of this broad zone extending to the hole 4, and with this image in mind, the player can make an accurate putting stroke.

[0063] The golf putter of this invention comprising the above-described configuration has the following effects:

[0064] (1) There is no large change in the structure and balance, thus giving no sense of incongruity to players.

[0065] (2) The bottom of the putter is stabilized by the staple-like structure, giving the players a sense of stability when they address the ball.

[0066] (3) The ball is easier to putt than when putted with other putters because the ball seems to be embraced in the putt face.

[0067] (4) The ball guiding function makes it possible for the player to seize the ball right at its center.

[0068] (5) The zonal guide keeps the player so calm and confident that a pendulum stroke is easy to make.

[0069] (6) The image of the zone is so strong that the players can no longer take a looking up posture.

[0070] (7) The putter of this invention has quite a different purpose of construction so that the ball has little chance of coming in contact with the projected end portions.

[0071] (8) The zonal guiding function affords the players to set up an easy address position toward the hole.

[0072] (9) The putter of this invention makes any training putter unnecessary.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A golf putter characterized in that putter head is provided with projected end portions at both ends of said putter head in a one-piece construction and that said end portions are designed to stick out for a certain distance in the forward direction at right angles to the putter face.