DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] “A putter is a club with a loft not exceeding ten degrees designed primarily for use on the putting green.” Id., Appendix II, Part 1a. Putter heads come in three primary styles: blade putters, mallet putters, and perimeter weighted putters. FIG. 2A shows a blade putter that has symmetrical flat faces and may be used in either a right-handed or left-handed putting stance, as well as an asymmetric blade putter. FIGS. 2B and 2C show mallet putters and perimeter weighted putters, respectively, which may be asymmetric and which do not have the opposing identical faces of the first blade putter of FIG. 2A . A novel “block” putter head according to the invention is shown in perspective view in FIG. 3 , and in front and side views in FIGS. 4A and 4B . From the side, the block putter head has a shape and curvature similar to that of a conventional blade putter, but the head is substantially wider. It is bilaterally symmetric like a blade putter, with two identical parallel putting faces. Traditionally, a blade putter is relatively narrow. Most commercially available blade putter heads have a thickness ranging from ¼ to ½ inch. However, I have found that a wider (and usually heavier) block putter head promotes a smooth conventional putting motion that needs only a short backswing.

[0024] My new putter can be used in a conventional putting orientation shown in FIG. 5 A, or in the novel orientation shown in FIG. 5B . I have found that remarkable control, especially for short putts, can be achieved by a sidesaddle stance with the putting orientation shown in FIG. 5 B, because the golfer can easily see the ball and the hole from the address position shown in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6 C. The width of the putter allows it to be easily used in this novel fashion. The width of my putter is preferably in the range of about ½ to 2 times the minimum diameter of a regulation golf ball (1.68 inches), more preferably in the range of about ¾ to 1¼ times the minimum diameter of a regulation golf ball, and most preferably about the same width as the minimum diameter of a regulation golf ball.

[0025] The shaft of the putter may either be of the more common length shown in FIG. 6 A, or may be longer as shown in FIGS. 6 B- 6 E. Some golfers find that the longer length shown in FIG. 6B gives more control, especially when putting in the sidesaddle stance. In an alternative embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6 C- 6 E, the shaft can extend beyond the shoulder of the golfer, perhaps by 3 to 12 inches. This would allow the golfer to rest the shaft against his shoulder and achieve greater stability of the putter and a better putting stroke. The stability arises because there are three points of control: each hand and the point where the shaft rests on the shoulder. A better putting stroke arises because if the hands operate such that the shaft continues to touch the shoulder at the designated point throughout the stroke, it is been found to be virtually impossible to bend or “breakdown” the wrists. Breakdown of the wrists results in an inconsistent putting stroke and can also be a source of the “yips”—a sudden and seemingly uncontrolled lunging at the ball with the putter. A putter according to the invention helps achieve a truer pendulum stroke and eliminates or ameliorates the problem of wrist breakdown and yips.

[0026] The advantages of the sidesaddle putting stance and elongated (or extended) shaft with multiple control points are seen both in the novel toe-putting style (see FIG. 5B ) and the conventional face-putting style (see FIG. 5A ). FIG. 6C illustrates the use of the invention with an elongated shaft when putting with the toe of the putter. FIG. 6D illustrates the use of the invention with an elongated shaft when putting more conventionally with the traditional face of the putter. When used in the manner shown in FIG. 6 D, the projection of the straight part of the shaft onto the vertical plane through the toe and heel (shown as angle a) should be at least 10 degrees as required under Appendix II of the 2000-01 U.S.G.A. Rules, Part 1d(i). It should be noted that in this configuration, the plane containing the angle of the shaft with respect to the vertical axis is perpendicular to the target line. While conforming to the angle regulation for the shaft, a golfer may potentially tilt the putter within the plane perpendicular to the target line so that some or all of this angle disappears. Unlike with toe-putting, the putter and putting style shown in FIG. 6D will depend on the “handedness” of the player.

[0027] FIG. 6E illustrates an alternative embodiment for the use of the invention in which the point of shoulder contact and the extension of the elongated shaft occurs at the golfer's shoulder farthest from the golf ball during a putting swing, as opposed to the shoulder nearest to the golf ball. A golfer is free to determine which shoulder is most suited for any particular putt. This embodiment is equally applicable to toe-putting or conventional putting with the traditional face of the putter. In a preferred embodiment, the angle a shown in FIG. 6E can be between 10 and 45 degrees.

[0028] The putter head shown in FIGS. 6D and 6E need not have two parallel hitting surfaces. In fact the putter head used in this configuration can encompass any putter head and in particular any putter head that meets USGA specifications. In addition, the projection of the straight part of the shaft onto the vertical plane along the intended line of play can be customized depending on desired ball placement within the allowed angle of plus or minus 20 degrees.

[0029] The U.S.G.A. 2000-01 Rules, Appendix II, Part 3, govern grips for golf clubs. Grips may be tapered, but must not have any bulges or waists. Unlike other clubs, putters'grips may have a non-circular cross section, as long as the cross-section is symmetrical, had no concavity, and remains similar throughout the grip. Putters are also allowed to have two grips, as long as both are of circular cross-section. Finally, the grip for any club has a maximum diameter of 1.75 inches.

[0030] A putter according to the invention may have two grips, as can be seen in FIGS. 6 B- 6 E. In addition, I have found that a wider than normal grip limits the use of the small muscles of the hand while putting, and thus may make it easier for the golfer to maintain a consistent putting technique. Putters according to the invention thus may have grip diameters of 1-1½ inches or more.

[0031] Further, accuracy (especially when putting with the toe of the putter) can sometimes be enhanced by choosing the diameter and shape of the grip so that it contacts the forearm of the swinging arm. For a two-grip putter, it may be desirable to make the lower grip with a relatively large circular cross-section so that the putter can be “braced” against the forearm of the swinging arm, as shown in FIG. 7A . For a one-grip putter, the grip may also have a flat side where it rests against the arm, to further enhance its stability, as shown in FIG. 7B . This stability again helps to improve the putting stroke, for example, by preventing wrist breakdown and yips.

[0032] The U.S.G.A. Rules of Golf provide that the shaft of the putter must form a 10° angle with the vertical when the sole of the putter is flat on the ground. This 10° angle can be mitigated somewhat by taking advantage of Rule 2(c) of Appendix II of the Rules, which states that “[t]he shaft shall be straight from the top of the grip to a point not more than 5 inches above the sole, measured from the point where the shaft ceases to be straight along the axis of the bent part of the shaft and the neck and/or socket.” FIG. 8 shows the novel putter with a bent neck that minimizes the horizontal distance between the hands and the head of the putter.

[0033] A golfer who putts from a sidesaddle stance using a face of a conventional putter finds it difficult, if not impossible, to place his hands in the vertical plane of the ball and the hole, as shown in FIG. 9A . By rotating the putter to use its toe, the golfer's hands are brought into the vertical plane of the ball and the hole, as shown in FIG. 9B . Because the putter is symmetrical, it can be used by either right handed or left handed golfers with equal facility. The symmetrical shape of the block putter head also enhances the accuracy of the putter in putting with the toe, since the center of mass is lined up with the vertical plane of the hands, the ball, and the hole. The added mass makes this putter particularly effective when putting from the fringe, fairway, or rough, or from a sand trap.

[0034] The sole of the putter is preferably biaxially curved, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 . The curve of the sole helps prevent the putter from digging into the green as the club is pulled back for the backswing before the putt (whether the orientation of FIG. 5A or of FIG. 5B is used). This curvature also makes the putter easier to use when putting from the fringe, fairway, or rough, or from a sand trap. The preferred sole shape will tend to vary from golfer to golfer; some golfers may prefer a flatter sole. The toe of the putter is also preferably curved, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 .

[0035] To perfect the sidesaddle putting style, I have found it useful to practice with a traditional thin blade putter but to use a wider putter for competitive play. Using the narrower putter in practice helps train the golfer to hit the center of the ball with the center of the head when putting from the toe. Preferably the practice putter head and the competition putter head are made from different materials so that they may have substantially the same weight despite their different dimensions. This goal may also be achieved by making the competition putter hollow, or by drilling out a solid block. FIG. 10 shows a very lightweight block putter that may be used as the competition putter of a matched pair.

[0036] In certain embodiments it may be useful to make the putter head relatively heavy for added stability (e.g., a brass head weighing about 300-500 g). Especially when using a putter with a heavy head and a long shaft, it can be useful to add weight (e.g., about 50-200 g) to the shaft to shift the center of mass upward. I have found that this improves the balance of the putter. While weight can be added in whatever location suits the individual golfer, one particularly useful embodiment involves a weight that moves the center of mass of the combined system of the club and the golfer's swinging arm to (or above) the position of the lower gripping hand. Alternatively, the center of mass of this system can be positioned at the center of mass of the arm alone, or the center of mass of the putter alone can be placed at the position of the lower gripping hand.

EXAMPLE

[0037] FIG. 11 shows the dimensions of a particular block putter head according to the invention. This putter head performs well for both conventional and sidesaddle stances. These dimensions are given by way of example only, and may be varied as necessary to suit the needs of a particular golfer. In particular, appropriate widths, as discussed above, vary from about ½ the diameter of a regulation golf ball to about twice the diameter of a regulation golf ball, with widths in the range of ¾ to 1¼ of the diameter of a golf ball being preferred. Lengths may vary from about 3-6 inches, with lengths of about 4-5 inches being preferred. It is also preferred that the length of the putter exceed the width, as required of all clubs by the 2000-01 U.S.G.A. Rules, Appendix II, Part 4b. The putter head should have a height sufficient to reliably strike the ball at a suitable point for putting. Some golfers find that the putter should strike slightly below the equator of the ball, as this can aid the ball in “lifting” out of its position in the grass, which can promote a smooth roll. In the embodiment shown, the putter head is about 1¼ inches high, and heights in the range of about ¾ to 1¾ inches are suitable for practice of the invention.

[0038] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the specification or practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with the true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.