U.S. patent application number 12/783160 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-25 for method of a player putting a golf ball.
Invention is credited to RICHARD D. REINBERG.
Application Number | 20100298072 12/783160 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43124925 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100298072 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
REINBERG; RICHARD D. |
November 25, 2010 |
METHOD OF A PLAYER PUTTING A GOLF BALL
Abstract
A method of a golfer putting a golf ball along a target line to
a destination hole on a putting green of a golf course or practice
area includes grasping the grip of a selected putter with the
golfer's nondominant hand between the nondominant thumb and the
nondominant forefinger to create a putter pivot point, grasping the
grip of the putter with the golfer's dominant hand below the
position of the nondominant hand, addressing the golf ball,
rotating the putter about the putter pivot point with the dominant
hand to make a back stroke, and releasing the dominant hand from
the grip to make a forward stroke to make striking contact with
contact the golf ball.
Inventors: |
REINBERG; RICHARD D.; (Boca
Raton, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CURATOLO SIDOTI CO., LPA
24500 CENTER RIDGE ROAD, SUITE 280
CLEVELAND
OH
44145
US
|
Family ID: |
43124925 |
Appl. No.: |
12/783160 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61179489 |
May 19, 2009 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
473/409 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2071/0694 20130101;
A63B 69/3676 20130101; A63B 2214/00 20200801 |
Class at
Publication: |
473/409 |
International
Class: |
A63B 69/36 20060101
A63B069/36 |
Claims
1. A method of a player (100) putting a golf ball (50) toward a
target (60) along a target line (70), wherein the player has an
abdomen (101), an abdomen axis (102), a vertical shoulder plane
(103) passing through a nondominant shoulder (104) and a dominant
shoulder (105), a pectoral line (106), a nondominant arm (110), a
nondominant elbow (111), a nondominant hand (112), a nondominant
thumb (113), a nondominant forefinger (114), a nondominant palm
(115), and a dominant hand (122) comprising: a) selecting a putter
(200) having a shaft (210) with a shaft axis (212), a proximal end
(214), and a distal end (216), wherein a grip (220) is secured to
the proximal end (214) and a club head (230) is secured to the
distal end (216); b) grasping the grip (220) with the nondominant
hand (112) between the nondominant thumb (113) and the nondominant
forefinger (114) to create a putter pivot point (300), wherein the
nondominant hand (112) is positioned against the abdomen (101) with
the nondominant palm (115) facing upward such that the nondominant
arm (110) is bent at the nondominant elbow (111); c) grasping the
grip (220) with the dominant hand (122) below the position of the
nondominant hand (112); d) addressing the golf ball (50), wherein
the vertical shoulder plane (103) is substantially parallel to the
target line (70); e) rotating the putter (200) about the putter
pivot point (300) with the dominant hand (122) to make a back
stroke, wherein the club head (230) is displaced a selected
distance; and f) releasing the dominant hand (122) from the grip
(220) such that gravitational force rotates the putter (200) about
the putter pivot point (300) to make a forward stroke such that the
club head (230) contacts the golf ball (50) thereby propelling the
golf ball (50) along the target line (70).
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the player (100) maintains a
spine angle (SA) of at least 25 degrees from the vertical.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the putter (200) has a lie angle
of 80 degrees or less.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the grip (220) is grasped with
the nondominant hand (112) at a proximal most end.
5. The method of claim 1, further including the step of exerting a
forward force on the putter (200) with the dominant hand (122) as
the dominant hand (122) releases the grip (220), such that when the
dominant hand (122) releases the grip (220), a combination of the
forward force and gravitational force rotates the putter (200)
about the putter pivot point (300) to make the forward stroke.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the putter (200) has a length of
36 inches or less.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the putter pivot point (300) is
at least 2 inches from the abdomen axis (102).
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the putter pivot point (300) is
at least 4 inches from the abdomen axis (102).
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the putter pivot point (300) is
located below the pectoral line (106).
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the club head (230) has a mass
of at least 14 ounces.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein the club head (230) has a mass
of at least 16 ounces.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing dated
under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application For Patent
Ser. No. 61/179,489 filed on May 19, 2009, which is incorporated by
reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present application relates to a method of a player
putting a golf ball.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The sport of golf is played on a playing area referred to as
a golf course. The golf course includes a number of sequentially
numbered holes. Each of the holes of the golf course has an initial
ball striking location, referred to as the "tee" or "tee-box", a
putting green containing a hole, and an area extending between the
tee-box and putting green, referred to as the "fairway". The
"rough" are areas that flank the fairways on each hole of the golf
course. The "fringe" is an additional area that surrounds the
putting green.
[0004] While playing a round of golf, players strike a golf ball
with a golf club to advance the ball from an initial ball striking
location to one of several numbered putting holes. During normal a
round of golf, a player usually plays 18 sequentially numbered
holes that are laid out on the golf course. The object of the game
of golf, on each hole, is to advance the golf ball from the initial
ball striking location into the hole in the fewest number of
strokes.
[0005] A player usually carries several different golf clubs during
a round of golf. Each golf club is identified as a wood, iron, or
putter according to its ball-striking portion. A wood is generally
used to strike the golf ball from the initial ball striking
location (ie, the tee-box), or to strike a golf ball to advance it
a long distance. Irons are generally used after the initial shot on
each hole to advance the golf ball closer to the putting green. A
putter is used to strike a ball from a location on the putting
green into the hole. In the case of a putter, the ball-striking
portion includes a structure to strike the ball such that the ball
should move along an intended path along the putting green surface
and remain on the green surface throughout its entire travel into
the putting hole. Putting is one of the most difficult and
unforgiving aspects of golf. Players spend a significant portion of
their practice time in perfecting their putting to reduce the
number of putts needed during the round of golf to get the golf
ball into the hole on each hole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] Without limiting the scope of the present method as claimed
below and referring now to the drawings and figures:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a player performing a
step according to the present method, not to scale;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of a player performing a
step according to the present method, not to scale;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a close-up front elevation view of a player
grasping a putter according to the present method, not to
scale;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a front elevation view of a player performing a
step according to the present method, not to scale;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of a player performing a
step according to the present method, not to scale;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of a player performing a
step according to the present method, not to scale; and
[0013] FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of a player performing a
step according to the present method, not to scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0014] The present method involves a method of a player (100)
putting a golf ball (50). The method enables a significant advance
in the state of the art. The illustrative embodiments of the method
accomplish this by new and novel techniques that are configured in
unique and novel ways and which demonstrate previously unavailable
but desirable capabilities. The description set forth below in
connection with the drawings is intended merely as a description of
illustrative embodiments of the method, and is not intended to
represent the only form in which the present method may be
performed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs,
functions, means, and methods of implementing the method in
connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be
understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and
features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also
intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the
present description.
[0015] Referring general to FIGS. 1-7, the present method is
directed to a method of a player (100) putting a golf ball (50)
toward a target (60) along a target line (70). The present method
is designed to achieve an optimum putting stroke to facilitate
lower overall golf scores. It is well known in the field of golf
that putting accounts for roughly forty percent of the total number
of strokes a player (100) makes in a round of golf. The present
method provides a number of benefits that prior art putting methods
have failed to recognize and understand.
[0016] With reference now to FIGS. 1 and 7, the player (100) has an
abdomen (101), an abdomen axis (102), a vertical shoulder plane
(103) passing through a nondominant shoulder (104) and a dominant
shoulder (105), a pectoral line (106), a nondominant arm (110), a
nondominant elbow (111), a nondominant hand (112), a nondominant
thumb (113), a nondominant forefinger (114), a nondominant palm
(115), and a dominant hand (122). In the embodiments illustrative
in the drawings and figures, the nondominant parts of the player
(100) are on their left, while the dominant parts of the player
(100) are on their right. These embodiments correspond to a player
(100) who uses a conventional right-handed putting stroke. However,
the present method is not limited to a conventional right-handed
putting stroke, as the method may just as easily be employed by a
player (100) who normally uses a conventional left-handed putting
stroke where the nondominant parts of the player (100) are on their
right, and the dominant parts of the player (100) are on their
left.
[0017] As seen in FIG. 1, the abdomen axis (102) is an imaginary
vertical line that runs through the abdomen (101). The abdomen axis
(102) basically bisects the player (100) down the middle, with the
nondominant parts of the player (100) on one side, and the dominant
parts of the player (100) on the other side. The pectoral line
(106) is an imaginary horizontal line that runs across the front of
the player (100) below the pectoral muscles. It should be noted
that the pectoral line (106) will generally be below the player's
(100) nipples.
[0018] Still referring to FIG. 1, according to the method a player
(100) selects a suitable putter (200). The putter (200) includes a
shaft (210) having a shaft axis (212), a proximal end (214), and a
distal end (216). A grip (220) is secured to the proximal end
(214), and a club head (230) is secured to the distal end (216).
The club head (230) may be any of a number of different types, such
as a blade, mallet-style, perimeter weighted, offset, alignment
type, insert type, and combinations thereof. However, one with
skill in the art will appreciate that the present method may be
carried out by selecting a putter (200) having virtually any type
of club head (230).
[0019] After the step of selecting the putter (200) is completed,
the next step of the present method comprises grasping the grip
(220) of the putter (200) with the nondominant hand (112) between
the nondominant thumb (113) and the nondominant forefinger (114) to
create a putter pivot point (300), as best seen in FIG. 3. When
grasping the grip (220) with this particular configuration, a
putter pivot point (300) is created between the nondominant thumb
(113) and the nondominant forefinger (114). The creation of the
putter pivot point (300) provides a point about which the putter
(200) may rotate during the putting stroke. The putter pivot point
(300) is located below the pectoral line (106), as seen in FIG. 4.
This method of grasping the grip (220) of the putter (200)
effectively minimizes or eliminates all putting errors that can be
attributed to the nondominant hand (112), such as wrist cupping
that can lead to putts being pushed to the right of the target line
(70), and wrist cocking that can lead to putts being pulled to the
left of the target line (70).
[0020] According to certain illustrative embodiments of the method,
the grip (220) may be grasped with the nondominant hand (112) at a
proximal most end, as seen in FIG. 3. By grasping the grip (220) at
a proximal most end, the entire mass of the putter (200) is
utilized as the putter (200) rotates about the putter pivot point
(300) during the putting stroke.
[0021] When grasping the grip (220) with the nondominant hand
(112), the nondominant hand (112) is generally positioned against
the abdomen (101) with the nondominant palm (115) facing upward
such that the nondominant arm (110) is bent at the nondominant
elbow (111), as seen in FIG. 4. According to certain illustrative
embodiments of the method, the player (100) may first put the
nondominant arm (110) in the proper position prior to grasping the
grip (220) with the nondominant hand (112). These steps are clearly
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0022] Referring now to FIG. 1, the player (100) may begin by
placing the nondominant elbow (111) against the left side of the
player (100), directly below the nondominant shoulder (104), with
the nondominant hand (112) extending away from the player (100)
such that the nondominant palm (115) is facing upwards. This will
result in the nondominant arm (110) being bent at the nondominant
elbow (111) at approximately a 90 degree angle. The nondominant
hand (112) is rotated toward the abdomen (101) at approximately a
90 degree angle until the nondominant hand (112) abuts the abdomen
(101), as seen in FIG. 2. In this position, the nondominant palm
(115) remains facing upward, and the nondominant thumb (113) is
facing away from the player (100). After this position is reached,
the player (100) may continue the method by grasping the grip (220)
with the nondominant hand (112) as described above.
[0023] Now, referring to FIG. 4, the next step in the present
method involves the player (100) grasping the grip (220) with the
dominant hand (122). The player (100) generally grasps the grip
(220) with the dominant hand (122) at a position that is below the
position of the nondominant hand (112). As seen in FIG. 4, the
player (100) is grasping the grip (220) with the dominant hand
(122) using a conventional style grip. However, one with skill in
the art will recognize that various styles of grips may be employed
with the dominant hand (122) including, but not limited to, a claw
type grip, a finger down type grip (where the dominant forefinger
points straight down the side of the grip), and a saw type grip. Of
course, the player (100) should ultimately choose the type of grip
to employ with the dominant hand (122) that is the most comfortable
and effective in carrying out the method.
[0024] After the player (100) has grasped the grip (220) with both
the nondominant hand (112) and the dominant hand (122), the player
(100) may proceed with addressing the golf ball (50) such that the
vertical shoulder plane (103) is substantially parallel to the
target line (70), as best seen in FIG. 7. In addressing the golf
ball (50), the player (100) may assume a desired stance and ground
the putter (200) behind the golf ball (50) in preparation for
making a putting stroke, as seen in FIG. 4. However, the player
(100) need not ground the putter (200), but may instead allow the
club head (230) to slightly hover above the playing surface.
[0025] As mentioned above, at address, the player (100) is
positioned such that the vertical shoulder plane (103) is
substantially parallel to the target line (70). The vertical
shoulder plane (103) is an imaginary plane that extends vertically
from the ground that passes through a point on the nondominant
shoulder (104) and a point on the dominant shoulder (105), as seen
in FIG. 7. Assuming a position where the vertical shoulder plane
(103) is substantially parallel to the target line (70) ensures
that the player (100) and the club head (230) are squared to the
target line (70), which increases the likelihood that the player
(100) will hole a putt. However, one with skill in the art will
appreciate that the present method may also be practiced with the
vertical shoulder plane (103) positioned slightly to the left or
right of the target line (70).
[0026] According to a certain illustrative embodiment, the player
(100) may address the golf ball (50) with the putter pivot point
(300) positioned at least 2 inches from the abdomen axis (102), as
seen in FIG. 4. According to this embodiment, the player (100) may
grasp the grip (220) as described above, and then slide the
nondominant hand (112) horizontally across the abdomen (101) to a
position such that the putter pivot point (300) is at least 2
inches from the abdomen axis (102). Positioning the putter pivot
point (300) in this fashion ensures that the player (100) assumes a
stance where the golf ball (50) is towards the front of the stance,
or at least in front of the center of the stance. Making sure the
golf ball (50) is towards the front of the stance helps promote a
putting stroke that results in the club head (230) returning to a
position that is square to the target line (70) at impact, and
improves the player's (100) ability to view the ball (50) and
target line (70). Even further, in yet another variation, the
player (100) may address the golf ball (50) with the putter pivot
point (300) positioned closer to the nondominant armpit than it is
to the abdomen axis (102). This setup generally results in the
putter pivot point (300) being near the inside of the nondominant
foot.
[0027] In executing the present method, the player (100) should be
slightly bent at the waist, as is customary with conventional
putting strokes. The bending at the waist can be thought of in
terms of spine angle (SA). The spine angle (SA) may be defined as
the angle at which the player (100) is bent at the waist from the
vertical, which is illustrated in FIG. 7. According to certain
illustrative embodiments of the present method, the player (100)
maintains a spine angle (SA) of at least 25 degrees from the
vertical. Maintaining a constant spine angle (SA) throughout the
putting stroke will lead to a more consistent putting stroke. If a
player (100) has a spine angle (SA) that is too upright, the
putting stroke will have an accurate path that can lead to putts
that are pushed to the right or pulled to the left of the target
line (70). Referring now to FIG. 5, after the player (100) has
addressed the golf ball (50), the player (100) may proceed with
rotating the putter (200) about the putter pivot point (300) with
the dominant hand (122) to make a back stroke. In this step, the
club head (230) is displaced a selected distance from the golf ball
(50) depending on whether the golf ball (50) is located close to
the target (60) or far from the target (60). While the player (100)
uses the dominant hand (122) to rotate the putter (200) about the
putter pivot point (300), the nondominant hand (112) maintains
substantially the same position. When the nondominant hand (112)
maintains a constant position there is much less of a chance that
the putter pivot point (300) moves during the stroke. Movement of
the putter pivot point (300) may cause the club head (230) to be
displaced along a line that is outside or inside of the target line
(70), which would substantially decrease the probability of the
player (100) holing a putt.
[0028] With reference now to FIG. 6, once the player (100) has
completed the back stroke, the player (100) may continue to the
next step of the present method by releasing the dominant hand
(122) from the grip (220) of the putter (200) such that
gravitational force rotates the putter (200) about the putter pivot
point (300) to make a forward stroke. When the forward stroke is
executed, the club head (230) makes striking contact with the golf
ball (50) thereby propelling the golf ball (50) along the target
line (70) toward the hole (60).
[0029] As seen in FIG. 6, the dominant hand (122) is not in contact
with any portion of the putter (200) when the club head (230)
strikes the golf ball (50). In fact, the dominant hand (122) is not
in contact with any portion of the putter (200) at any point during
the forward stroke. Since the dominant hand (122) does not contact
the putter (200) during the forward stroke, any putting errors
primarily caused by the dominant hand (122) in a traditional
putting method will not occur in the present method. For example,
when putting with a conventional stroke a player (100) may
unconsciously use the dominant hand (122) to try to steer the golf
ball (50) due to a lack of confidence in their putting stroke or
their selected target line (70). This can result in putts that are
pushed severely to the right of the target line (70) or pulled
severely to the left of the target line (70). The present method
allows the player (100) to avoid these types of putting errors
caused by the dominant hand (122) by effectively eliminating the
dominant hand (122) from the forward stroke.
[0030] According to this embodiment, the forward stroke is executed
by allowing only gravitational force to rotate the putter (200)
about the putter pivot point (300). Thus, after the player (100)
completes the back stroke, the putter (200) will have a
predetermined amount of potential energy depending on the mass of
the club head (230) and the height that it is raised during the
back stroke. When the player (100) releases the dominant hand (122)
from the grip (220), gravitational force acts upon the putter (200)
and converts the potential energy into kinetic energy, which causes
the putter (200) to rotate about the putter pivot point (300). This
illustrative embodiment is well-suited for shorter length
putts.
[0031] According to an alternative embodiment, the method may
further include the step of exerting a forward force on the putter
(200) with the dominant hand (122) as the dominant hand (122)
releases the grip (220). Thus, when the dominant hand (122)
releases the grip (220), a combination of the forward force and
gravitational force rotates the putter (200) about the putter pivot
point (300) to make the forward stroke. In essence, after the
player (100) executes the back stroke, the player (100) uses the
dominant hand (122) to push or throw the putter (200) towards the
golf ball (50) just prior to releasing the grip (220) to create the
force that pivots the putter (200) about the putter pivot point
(300). This illustrative embodiment is well-suited for longer
length putts.
[0032] A player (100) may execute the present method using nearly
any type of conventional putter (200), however, according to
certain embodiments, a heavier than normal putter may be used in
the method. Typically, a conventional putter head has a mass of
approximately 6 ounces. One embodiment of the present method
utilizes a putter (200) having a club head (230) having a mass of
at least 14 ounces. Such a large mass for a putter club head (230)
allows the putter (200) to smoothly swing, in a pendulum-like
manner, toward the ball (50) for impact, and transfer more energy
to the ball (50) at impact. Further, the shaft (210) may be
weighted to supplement the mass of the club head (230) and aid in a
repeatable controlled forward stroke.
[0033] In yet another illustrative embodiment, the putter (200) may
have a lie angle of 80 degrees or less. The lie angle is typically
defined as the angle created between the shaft axis (212) and a
horizontal plane along the ground when the club head (230) is
soled, viewing the face of the club head (230) straight on.
However, the lie angle may also be discussed in terms of a
divergence angle (DA), which is the measurement of the divergence
from the vertical of the shaft axis (212), and is best seen in FIG.
7. For example, if the divergence angle (DA) created between the
vertical and the shaft axis (212) is 10 degrees, then the putter
(200) would have a lie angle of 80 degrees. The rules promulgated
by the United States Golf Association currently require a
divergence angle (DA) of at least 10 degrees for a so-called
conforming putter (200).
[0034] In a further illustrative embodiment, the putter (200) may
have a length of 36 inches or less. As such, the present method may
be practiced with conventional putters, which typically have
lengths ranging from 33 inches to 35 inches. By having a length of
36 inches or less, the player (100) will be able to execute the
method while using a conventional putter and a conventional stance.
While not completely excluded from use in the practice of the
present method, the so-called long putters, which typically have
lengths ranging from 45 to 54 inches, may not by well-suited for
executing the method. However, the present method enables a
conventional putter to obtain the benefits typically accorded to
so-called belly putters and long putters, such as a pendulum-like
putting stroke and limited involvement of the nondominant hand
(112) during the putting stroke, just to name a couple.
[0035] In a further embodiment, the method utilizes a putter (200)
in which the shaft (210) is connected to the club head (230) such
that the shaft distal end (216) is joined to the putter (200) at
least one inch behind the face of the putter (200). Such a design
allows the player using the present method to have an unobstructed
view of the ball (50) and the face of the club head (230) at
address. In an even further embodiment, the putter (200) is
balanced such that if the putter (200) is resting across the arms
of a chair that the face of the club head (230) point upward toward
the sky. This balancing encourages the proper swing path as the
putter (200) freely rotates about the putter pivot point (300).
[0036] Numerous alterations, modifications, and variations of the
illustrative embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those
skilled in the art and they are all anticipated and contemplated to
be within the spirit and scope of the instant disclosure. For
example, although specific illustrative embodiments have been
described in detail, those with skill in the art will understand
that the preceding embodiments and variations can be modified to
incorporate various types of substitute and or additional or
alternative materials, relative arrangement of elements, and
dimensional configurations. Accordingly, even though only few
variations of the present method are described herein, it is to be
understood that the practice of such additional modifications and
variations and the equivalents thereof, are within the spirit and
scope of the disclosure as defined in the following claims. The
corresponding structures, materials, acts, methods, processes,
techniques, and equivalents of all means or step plus function
elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure,
material, acts, methods, processes, or techniques for performing
the functions in combination with other claimed elements as
specifically claimed.
* * * * *