GOLF PUTTER HEADS, FITTING HEADS, AND PUTTERS

Description

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to golf putter heads, fitting putter heads, and golf putters incorporating golf putter heads. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to golf putter heads and golf putters producing consistently less skidding and more rolling of golf balls when struck with the putters, and golf fitting putter heads and fitting putters including same.

Background Art

A “golf putter head” (or “putter head”) is a device comprising a body having a generally planar golf ball striking surface, the body configured to be attached directly to a putter shaft, or using a hosel to connect the shaft to the putter head. A “golf fitting putter head” is a device for attaching to a putter shaft directly or using a hosel, and which has an adjustment mechanism to adjust “putter toe hang.”

Key rating metrics of golf putter heads are the loft, heal to toe balance (sometimes referred to as the “face balance” in the art), and most importantly, from the standpoint of the user, the quality of roll of the ball produced by the putter head. In some putter heads the loft is very high for a golf putter head, for example 5 degrees or more. This high loft and lack of balance tends to produce more bouncing and skidding of the ball before it begins to roll. Either bad balance, too much or too little loft, or a combination of these features will affect the ball roll quality.

A need has arisen for golf putter heads and golf putters exhibiting better quality ball roll than presently available.

There are many patents on putters, and many on the market. However, none of these have addressed ball roll quality. Roll quality data of putting greens has been disclosed in the patent literature (see for example, US 20160367861A1), but little if any data is available on the roll quality of the ball itself. Putting analysis software (Quintic or other) are available, but no one has sought to use such data to design putter heads to achieve the balance of weight as I describe herein.

As may be seen, current designs of known golf putter heads may not be adequate for all users, especially demanding golfers that rely on putting to achieve low scores. There remains a need for more robust golf putter head designs, particularly for achieving complete or nearly complete golf ball roll and very little or no ball skid when struck by the putter head. The golf putter heads and golf putters of the present disclosure are directed to these needs.

Everyone putts at a different stroke arc so to find a balanced putter to fit a particular golfer's stroke arc there is a need to find the proper “toe hang” for each golfer. This is the reason so many golfers continue to buy putters. They are trying to find the “correct” putter for them. The problem is nobody fine tunes toe hang and everyone buys what they like looking at instead of what they actually need.

“Toe hang” may be described as follows (from Schmitt, P., “A deep dive into “toe hang” of a putter, and why it matters”, Golf WRX, July 2018). Grab your putter and lay it on a flat surface with the putter head hanging freely off the edge. Now, look at where the toe of your putter is pointing and imagine a clock face is centered on the axis of the shaft. The closer the toe of your putter is to pointing at 6:00, the more toe hang it has. The closer the toe of your putter is to pointing at 9:00 (for a right-handed golfer), the less toe hang it has. If the toe of the putter is pointing directly at 9:00 (where the face is pointing straight up), that is referred to as “face balanced.” If the toe of the putter is pointing at 7:30, that is generally referred to as “¼ toe hang.” If the toe of the putter is pointing directly at 6:00, that is commonly referred to as “full toe hang.” Generally speaking, the majority of putters will fall on a spectrum somewhere between face balanced and full toe hang.

There is a need in the art for a device that I call a “fitting putter” that allows all golfers to find the perfect balance or toe hang to fit their own unique swing and stroke arc.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present disclosure, improved golf putter heads and golf putters including same are described, as well as and methods of making the putter heads and assembling putters using same, which reduce or overcome many of the faults of previously known golf putter heads and golf putters. In particular, I have designed uniquely balanced putter heads having superior heal to toe balance and heal to toe symmetry featuring a mirror image from the center to heal and center to toe to achieve balance of weight, cast or machined metal (for example, but not limited to 303, 304, 316, 415 stainless steels, and various carbon steels), with a ball striking face having a front to back depth or thickness ranging from about 0.4 to about 0.5 inch, as one piece, with loft of the ball strike face varying from about 0 to about 1 +/−0.1 degree. The balance and loft are configured to provide the putter head to strike the ball and essentially have zero to less than 1 ball diameter skid, and essentially the same roll profile as measured by a standardized putting analysis software (Quintic or other) which takes photographs at up to 1080 frames per second (fps). Surprisingly, regardless of the metal used, if the face width, thickness, and balance are the same, I achieve the same results.

In accordance with the present disclosure, I have also developed fitter putter head and fitting putters that allows golfers to find the perfect balance or toe hang to fit their own unique putting stroke arc.

A first aspect of the disclosure are golf putter heads for use with golf putters comprising:

• • a) a body that is one-piece, formed, and generally rectangular, the body having a base portion having a trailing edge, and a ball strike portion;
  • b) the ball strike portion having a toe, a heal, a ball striking face, a length measured along the ball striking face from the heal to the toe, and a midpoint M along the length L1;
  • c) the body having a body width L2 measured from the ball striking face to the trailing edge ranging from about 1.0 inch to about 1.5 inches;
  • d) the ball strike portion having a depth D measured from the ball striking face to a back face of the ball strike portion, the depth D being less than the body width L2;
  • e) the body being divided into symmetrical halves measured from the midpoint M to achieve balance of weight measured along the length L1 of the ball strike portion;
  • f) the ball striking face having a loft angle varying from about 0 to about 1 degree +/−0.1 degree.

In certain embodiments the body of the putter heads of the present disclosure may comprise one or more metals selected from stainless steels, carbon steels, and steel alloys, and combinations and mixtures thereof. For example, the body may comprise stainless steels selected from stainless steel types 304, 306, 316, 415, and mixtures and combinations thereof.

• • In certain embodiments the depth D may range ranges from about 0.4 to about 0.5 inch.

In certain embodiments the loft angle (α) may range from about 0 to about 0.5 degree.

In certain embodiments the length (L1) may range from about 4 to about 5 inches; in certain embodiments from about 4.5 to about 5.0 inches.

In certain embodiments the loft angle (α) and the balance may be configured to provide the putter head to strike a golf ball and result in the golf ball skidding a skid length ranging from zero to less than 1 golf ball diameter.

In certain embodiments the loft angle (α) and the balance may be configured to provide the putter head to strike a golf ball and result in the golf ball having a ball roll profile essentially the same as a golf ball roll profile measured by a standardized putting analysis software (Quintic or other) using a camera taking photographs from 360 fps to 1070 fps.

In certain embodiments the putter head body may further comprise right and left side weights (22, 24) attached to the top of the body, in certain embodiments behind and adjacent the ball strike portion, the left and right side weights independently weighing from about 350 to about 480 grams.

In certain embodiments the ball striking face may have a patterned surface on at least a portion of the ball striking face.

In certain embodiments the putter heads of the present disclosure may further comprise a hosel hole for attachment of a hosel to the putter head, the hosel hole extending from a top surface of the ball strike portion.

Another aspect of the disclosure are golf putters comprising a shaft attached directly to the base of a putter head of the present disclosure. In certain embodiments a shaft is attached to a hosel, the hosel attached to the base of a putter head of the present disclosure.

Another aspect of this disclosure are golf fitting putter heads and golf putters comprising same for fitting golfers with putters that accommodate their particular putt stroke arc and desired toe hang. Golf fitting putter heads of the present disclosure comprise:

• • a) a body that is one-piece, formed, and generally rectangular, the body having a base portion having a trailing edge, and a ball strike portion;
  • b) the ball strike portion having a toe, a heal, a ball striking face, a length L1 measured along the ball striking face from the heal to the toe, and a midpoint M along the length L1;
  • c) the body having a body width L2 measured from the ball striking face to the trailing edge ranging from about 1.0 inch to about 1.5 inches;
  • d) the ball strike portion having a depth D measured from the ball striking face to a back face of the ball strike portion, the depth D being less than the body width L2;
  • e) the body being divided into symmetrical halves measured from the midpoint M to achieve balance of weight measured along the length LI of the ball strike portion;
  • f) the ball striking face having a loft angle varying from about 0 to about 1 degree +/−0.1 degree;
  • g) the body having a through slot (50) extending from the base portion to the ball strike portion, the through slot having a length L3 of about 90 percent of L1, and a width that is about 90 percent of D, the through slot adapted to receive a hosel (28) and a hosel bolt (44) that locks the hosel in a first position as desired and releases the hosel for adjusting position of the hosel parallel to the ball striking face to a second position where the bolt is again tightened, locking the hosel in the second position, the through slot adapted to receive one or more weights (46, 48) adjustable in position in the through slot parallel to the ball striking face by tightening and loosening one or more weight bolts (52) thereby allowing adjustment of toe hang.

These and other features of the golf club putter heads, golf fitting heads, golf putters, and golf fitting putters of the disclosure will become more apparent upon review of the brief description of the drawings, the detailed description, and the claims that follow. It should be understood that wherever the term “comprising” is used herein, other embodiments where the term “comprising” is substituted with “consisting essentially of” are explicitly disclosed herein. It should be further understood that wherever the term “comprising” is used herein, other embodiments where the term “comprising” is substituted with “consisting of” are explicitly disclosed herein. Moreover, the use of negative limitations is specifically contemplated; for example, certain putter heads may comprise a number of physical components and features but may be devoid of certain optional hardware and/or other features. For example, some putters may be devoid of a hosel. Some putter ball striking faces may be devoid of patterns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The manner in which the objectives of this disclosure and other desirable characteristics can be obtained is explained in the following description and attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of one golf putter head in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic front elevation view, partially in phantom, and FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the putter head illustrated schematically in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic front and rear elevation views, respectively, of a golf putter in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic bottom plan view of the golf putter illustrated schematically in FIGS. 4 and 5;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic rear perspective and plan views, respectively, of the golf putter illustrated schematically in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6;

FIG. 9 is a graphical representation of a golf putter striking a golf ball, explaining several terms useful for understanding the golf putter heads and golf putters of the present disclosure (from Quintic Ball Roll);

FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 present boll roll test data (roll speed vs. distance) collected by standard ball roll system and software know under the trade designation Quintic for golf putters of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a schematic rear perspective view of a right-handed golf fitting putter and golf fitting putter head in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a schematic bottom perspective view of the right-handed golf fitting putter and golf fitting putter head illustrated schematically in FIG. 13; and

FIG. 15 is an exploded view of the right-handed golf fitting putter and golf fitting putter head illustrated schematically in FIGS. 14 and 15.

It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings of FIGS. 1-9 and 13-15 may not be to scale and illustrate only typical apparatus embodiments of this disclosure. Furthermore, FIGS. 10-12 illustrate example data only. Therefore, the drawing figures and test data are not to be considered limiting in scope, for the disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the disclosed golf putter heads, golf fitting putter heads, golf putters, and golf fitting putters. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the apparatus, combinations, and methods disclosed herein may be practiced without these details and that numerous variations or modifications from the described embodiments may be possible. All published patent applications and patents referenced herein are hereby explicitly incorporated herein by reference, irrespective of the page, paragraph, or section in which they are referenced.

The primary features of the golf putter heads, golf fitting putter heads, golf putters, and golf fitting putters of the present disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawing figures. The same reference numerals are used throughout the various views to denote the same items in the figures.

One aspect the present disclosure are putter heads. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, putter head embodiment 100 of the present disclosure comprises a body 2 that is one-piece, formed (for example, molded, cast, machined), and generally rectangular, body 2 having a base portion 4 having a trailing edge 6, and a ball strike portion 8.

Ball strike portion 8 includes a toe 10, a heal 12, a ball striking face 14, a length L1 measured along ball striking face 14 from toe 10 to heal 12, and a midpoint M along length L1. Length L1 may range from about 3 to about 6 inches, or from about 4.5 to about 5.0 inches. Body 2 has, in embodiment 100, a body width L2 measured from ball striking face 14 to trailing edge 6 ranging from about 0.5 inch to about 2 inches, or from about 1.0 inch to about 1.5 inches.

Ball strike portion 8 has in embodiment 100 a depth D measured from ball striking face 14 to a back face 16 of ball strike portion 8, where depth D in this embodiment is less than body 2 width L2. Depth D may range from about 0.3 to about 0.6 inch, or from about 0.4 to about 0.5 inch.

Body 2 may be conceptually divided into symmetrical halves 18, 20 measured from midpoint M to achieve balance of weight measured along length L1 of ball strike portion 8, as illustrated schematically in FIGS. 2 and 3.

Ball striking face 14 in embodiment 100 has a loft angle (α) varying from about 0 to about 1 degree +/−0.1 degree. In certain embodiments the loft angle (α) may range from about 0 to about 0.5 degree.

Putter head 100 may include one or more hosel holes 32, 34 tapped or otherwise formed into a top of the ball striking portion 8, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. Typically, a right-handed player would have one hosel hole 32, whereas a left-handed player would typically have one hosel hole 34. It possible that some users may prefer two hosel holes. If one hosel hole is drilled in ball striking potion 8, say at position 32, then weights 22, 24 may be adjusted accordingly to balance the left/right weight of the putter heads. Weights 22, 24 may be prism-shape, as illustrated schematically in FIG. 1, where angle (ß) may range from about 35 to about 55 degrees. Attachment of weights 22, 24 to base 2 (if necessary) may be by any suitable mechanism, including welding, brazing, adhesives, small screws, and the like. It will be appreciated that more or less (or other shaped) weights than illustrated in the various figures herein may be provided. It is not necessary that weights 22, 24 be the same length or shape in any embodiment; however, in order to provide the best weight balance, and therefore best putting performance, it is preferred that weights 22, 24 be a substantial mirror image of each other, with weight at the toe being lightly more than the weight at the heal to compensate for weight of the hosel, if any.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic front and rear elevation views, respectively, of a golf putter embodiment 200 in accordance with the present disclosure, and FIG. 6 is a schematic bottom plan view of the golf putter illustrated schematically in FIGS. 4 and 5, illustrating a bottom surface 30, which may be slightly raised on the toe and heal ends as illustrated to reduce drag.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are schematic rear perspective and plan views, respectively, of the golf putter illustrated schematically in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, illustrating an optional aiming feature 38.

FIG. 9 is a graphical representation of a golf putter striking a golf ball, explaining several terms useful for understanding the golf putter heads and golf putters of the present disclosure (from Quintic Ball Roll). As explained herein, the goal of putter heads of the present disclosure is to reduce “skid distance”, and increase “roll distance” of the golf ball when putting.

FIGS. 10, 11, and 12 present actual boll roll test data (roll speed vs. distance) collected by standard ball roll system and software known under the trade designation Quintic for golf putters. FIGS. 10 and 11 shows test results for competitive putters having loft greater than 1 degree and not balanced, and FIG. 12 presents test results of a putter head and putter of the present disclosure. Notice from FIG. 12 that even at high initial ball speeds the skid distance is only about 1 inch.

Ball strike surface 14 may be patterned or non-patterned (smooth). Golf putter embodiment 200 illustrated schematically in FIGS. 4-8 has a “fish-scale” patterned surface 14. Embodiment 200 illustrated employs a shaft 26 attached to putter head base 2 using a plumber-neck hosel 28, although other hosels may be used, such as single bend, double bend, flow neck, slant, and the like. Attachment of shaft 26 to hosel 28 may employ threaded fittings, a ferrule, welding, brazing, adhesive, and the like.

Thus the balanced and low or zero lofted putter heads and putters described herein provide consistently better golf ball roll characteristics. Surprisingly, this improvement occurs no matter what material I use for the putter heads.

FIG. 13 is a schematic rear perspective view of a right-handed golf fitting putter and golf fitting putter head embodiment 300 in accordance with the present disclosure, FIG. 14 is a schematic bottom perspective view of embodiment 300, and FIG. 15 is an exploded view of embodiment 300. As illustrated schematically in FIGS. 13-15, embodiment 300 includes shaft 26, hosel 28, body 2 and bottom portion 4 as in embodiments 100 and 200. Embodiment 300 further features a through slot 50 which extends from a top surface of body 2 to a bottom surface of base 4. Slot 50 allows hosel 28 to be adjusted in position parallel to ball striking face 14 (FIG. 14) via tightening and loosening a hosel bolt 44 and washer 42. Hosel bolt 44 has threads that engage with internal threads in a lower portion 41 of hosel 28. A hosel lip, flange, or stop 40 is provided that slidingly engages with the top surface of body 2 and allows hosel 28 to be fastened in a desired location. One or more weights 46 and 48 may be deployed in through slot 50 and fastened therein using a threaded weight bolt 52 and through holes 54 in weights 46, 48. Using weight bolt 52, the position of weights 46 and 48 may be adjusted generally parallel to ball striking face 14 along through slot 50 to be closer to toe 10 or further from toe 10.

Weights 46, 48 may comprise metal, plastic, plastic-coated metal, wood, or other material, as long as the weight is known and the weights are able to be fastened in and move in through slot 50. Suitable metals include steel, brass, copper, lead, and the like. The shape of weights may be as illustrated schematically, or they may be one or more flat plates each having a through hole for weight bolt 52. The weights may be the same or different in composition, weight and/or shape. Weights 46, 48 may independently weigh from about 10 to about 150 grams.

From the foregoing detailed description of specific embodiments, it should be apparent that patentable golf putter heads, golf putters, golf fitting putter heads, and golf fitting putters have been described. Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described herein in some detail, this has been done solely for the purposes of describing various features and aspects of the apparatus and is not intended to be limiting with respect to their scope. It is contemplated that various substitutions, alterations, and/or modifications, including but not limited to those implementation variations which may have been suggested herein, may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the scope of the appended claims.