GOLF PUTTER

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to golf clubs and, more particularly, to golf putters having a face with a well-defined negative pitch.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous prior United States Patents exist which relate to golf clubs, such as golf putters.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 11,986,711 to Dewhurst, describes a golf putter having a plurality of gaps structurally isolated from the face. Dewhurst also describes a number of prior art publications that relate to golf putters and techniques for assisting golfers to achieve better precision and better accuracy and, as a result, achieve improved golf scores.

What is desired is to provide a golf putter that enables golfers to improve their golf scores using a design that is relatively simple to construct and, as a result, is less expensive than putters currently on the market. The putter should be designed to allow the golfer a long stroke for better aim and distance control.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention provides a golf putter having a negative pitched club face that enhances the rolling motion of a golf ball after being struck by a golfer. The preferred negative pitch angle is in the range between 25 and 45 degrees. Although a negative pitched putter face causes the ball not to travel as far as a traditional putter having a near zero pitch face, it requires the golfer to make a longer putting stroke and follow through after impact causing the ball to roll the same distance as a ball hit with a zero-pitch putter. The long stoke provides the golfer with better aim and distance control, both features being necessary in making consistent putts.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a simplified side view of a golf putter having a negative pitched golf face;

FIG. 2 illustrates the various impact areas on a golf ball;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a golf putter having a positive pitched face which impacts the ball below the equator thus causing the ball to lift or skid;

FIG. 4 illustrates the impact of a standard putter with a near zero pitch;

FIG. 5 is a simplified diagram illustrating how the putter of the present invention makes a golfer have a larger margin of error to reach the pin hole; and

FIG. 6 illustrates a golfer using the putter of the present invention ready to address the golf ball.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A negative pitched club face promotes rolling motion sooner after impact. Force on the ball is distributed such that a significant fraction of the total force is applied as a torque-inducing impetus so the ball is “rolled” as well as “pushed”. The rolling impetus is accomplished by designing the club face such that the impact point on the ball is on the upper half, that is, the impact point is above the equator of the ball, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In general, the impact point on the ball determines how much of the total force is translational, i.e., used to push the ball horizontally, and how much rotational, i.e., used to cause the ball to rotate about its center of mass. As shown in FIG. 2 at point A, all of the impact force is directed horizontally, causing the ball to be pushed, resulting in skidding at impact until friction against the ground eventually causes the ball to roll. The skidding action is undesirable due to unpredictable ball movement. At impact point C, most of the force is directed downwards and friction between club face and ball surface causes the rolling motion; this impact location is also undesirable due to insufficient horizontal motion; this can be described as a “glancing impact” and would not be effective in a putting attempt. The optimal impact zone B (which would vary from golfer to golfer) is an area between these extreme examples. Using Earth latitude and longitude degree measures as an analogy, hitting the ball near the equator would impart mostly horizontal force and causes too much skidding; impacting the ball near the North pole would result in a glancing contact and would not cause the ball to move appreciably.

The present invention provides a putter face geometry such that the impact point lies in the zone between 25 degrees and 45 degrees North latitude. In commonly accepted golf club terminology, the pitch of the putter face is defined as the angle the face makes with a line perpendicular to the ground, so that a zero-pitch face would be perfectly perpendicular to the ground, making contact near the equator of the ball. A positive pitched putter face would make first contact below the equator and a negative pitched face would make contact above the equator. The upside-down triangle shaped putter head shown in FIG. 1 is an example of a negative pitch club face. More precisely, point A (FIG. 2) would be the contact point for a near zero pitched face, point B would be the contact point for a negative pitched face and point Cis the contact point for a putter face with a pitch of nearly negative 90 degrees.

Because a negatively pitched putter face impacts the ball 12 above and not at or near the equator (point A), the force is not impacted directly toward the center mass of ball 12. This makes the ball 12 travel not as far as if the force was directed toward the center of mass, which is what a traditional putter with near zero pitch face would do. However, by using a highly negative pitch putter, the golfer must make a longer putting stroke, and must follow through after impact, making ball 12 roll the same distance as a ball hit with a zero-pitch putter.

FIG. 3 illustrates a positive pitched putting face 13 striking ball 12 and causing it to have a reverse spin (the vertical line 9 defines pitch angle a between it and face 13, an angle a greater than zero defining a positive pitch, an angle less than zero defining a negative pitch) and FIG. 4 illustrates the impact of a zero pitched standard club face 15 on ball 12.

The benefit of a long stroke is better aim and better distance control, both of which are critical in making good consistent putts. In addition, a longer putting stroke provides a golfer a larger margin of error in reaching the pin. This is illustrated in FIG. 5.

Another benefit of allowing a longer stroke is that a putter with highly negative pitch can be used as a training aid. It is well accepted that swinging with a heavy club enhances muscle memory. A longer putting stroke in a similar fashion can enhance muscle memory in putting movements. This is analogous to “full extension” or “full range of motion” repetition in weight training.

Referring to FIG. 6, a golfer 20 is shown using an embodiment of putter 10 to strike golf ball 12. The putter 30 includes a shaft 32 and a grip 34. The shaft 32 is connected to the putter 10 using conventional methods. As shown, the back of the putter does not have any effect on ball movement, only the impact side (front) of the putter has any effect. The putter shown in FIG. 1 is symmetrical to allow left-and right-handed golfers to use the same face design.

In accordance with the features of the present invention, a golfer 20 can hit an off-center putt and experience the ball 12 traveling only slightly less distance than an on-center impact at the same velocity. Off-center impact with known putters causes ball 12 to travel a less distance.

While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.