GB2236954A

GB2236954A - Improvements in golf putting clubs

Info

Publication number: GB2236954A
Application number: GB9020289A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harry Toovey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-10-19
Filing date: 1990-09-17
Publication date: 1991-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2010-09-17
Also published as: GB2236954B; GB8923545D0; GB9020289D0

Abstract

A golf putting club has a head in the form of a rectangular faced block with a front or striking face 11, a rear face 12, top face 13 and bottom face 14. A bore 23 extends vertically into the head from top face 13 to a chamber 22 which contains a marker in the form of a faceted zircon chip 21 behind the sweet spot 18 of the striking face 11. The chamber 22 is open to the rear via a glazed window 24 to admit light. The chip 21 reflects light which is visible down bore 23 when a user's head is correctly positioned above. Alternatively, the marker could be an electric bulb or light omitting diode, powered by a solar cell or a miniature mercury cell battery. <IMAGE>

Description

Improvements in Golf Putting Clubs This invention relates to improvements in golfputting clubs, particularly with a view to enabling a golfer to reliably attain the correct stance for making a good putting shot.

In putting, the purpose is to propel the ball in a straight line to the hole. In order to do this, the striking face of the club should be aligned exactly at right angles to the intended line, and hit the ball by moving the club along the line. If the face is not straight, or the striking path untrue, the ball will be deflected to one side or the other. To hit the ball correctly the club should strike the ball on the so-called sweet spot, which is in the centre of the striking face, and the player's head should be directly over the point of contact between the striking face and the ball.

As aids to enable the player to achieve the desired stance, there have been proposed from time to time variations in the design of the head and handle. One of the most widely adopted expedients is to provide guide markings on the top edge of the club head. which indicate the location of the sweet spot and ideal striking point.

These are helpful, but are only fully accurate when the correct stance has already been adopted. There is no indication of the direction from which the markings should be viewed, and thus of themselves they do not ensure a correct stance. A common fault is to tilt the club resting on its heel, so that the outer end of the club head is clear of the ground. Guide markings do nothing to correct this, as the markings can be viewed from any direction and appear correct.

An object of the invention is to provide a putter which embodies a device whereby the player is aided to adopt a correct stance, and adopt this stance repeatedly with each use of the club.

According to the invention, a golf putting club, or 'putter' has a striking head which incorporates a marker located within the head behind the centre of the sweet spot, and sighting means so that the marker can be seen only when the player's head is correctly positioned above the striking head.

A preferred form of marker is a light reflecting chip or crystal of a material such as diamond, quartz, glass or a silicate such as zircon, preferably facetted to best catch and reflect incident light, mounted in a chamber within the club head. The chamber may open to the back face of the head, to admit light to be reflected and scattered by the chip. This open side of the chamber may be closed with glass or clear plastics material.

Alternatively the marker may be a light emitting device, such as a miniature electric bulb, or light emitting diode, powered by a solar cell or miniature mercury cell battery.

In this case there is no need for the chamber to be provided with a window.

The sighting means preferably comprises a bore or passage extending vertically down from the top face of the club into the chamber, and aligned with the marker, so that the marker can be seen only when viewed from directly above, e.g. when the club is correctly held and the user's head is directly above the club head.

A preferred embodiment of golf putting club according to the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the head of a golf putting club according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a view from above of the head; Fig. 3 is a view of the rear face of the head; Fig. 4 is a view of the front or striking face of the club head; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line V-V of Fig. 4: and Fig. 6 is an illustration of the club in use.

As shown in the drawings, a golf putting club or 'putter' head 10, is in the general form of a rectangular faced block, with a front or striking face 11, a rear face 12, a top face 13 and a bottom face 14, also a heel face 15 and a toe face 16. The club also has a handle 17. All the edges of the head are bevelled.

Fig. 4 shows a striking face 11 of the head 10.

The 'Sweet Spot' is indicated by a cross 18, and the preferred striking zone by a dotted circle 19. The handle 17 makes a simple straight connection with the head, and is aligned with the sweet spot.

Behind the sweet spot, in the body of the head, and aligned with the handle, is located a marker 21 in a chamber 22. This marker is a small facetted crystal or chip of zircon (a zirconium silicate) about 8 mm in diameter which will reflect and scatter light falling on it and provide a sparkling point which can be viewed only from directly above through a bore or passage 23 extending perpendicularly from the top surface 13 of the club head to the chamber 22 and aligned with the marker 21. To admit light, the chamber opens to the rear face 12 of the head through a window 24 which is glazed with a suitable transparent or translucent plastics material, or glass, to prevent access to and removal of the chip, yet admit light to it.

To use the putting club (Fig 6) the club head 10 is placed behind the ball 30, with the bottom face 14 flat on the ground, resisting any inclination to tilt the head on the heel. The player must then position his head above the club so that he can see the sparkle of light from the chip 21 down the passage 23 (line 25); if he cannot see this he is not in a correct stance. A black or other marking 25, in the geometric shape of a diamond or other suitable shape helps to focus the user's attention on the passage 23. This marking shows the position of the 'sweet spot' 18 and is aligned directly behind the ball. Having attained this view, with the club head still resting flat on the ground, he may now address the ball knowing that the sweet spot 18 is directly in front of the spark of light, and make his stroke.

By this means a player may attain the correct stance every time he uses the putting club, and thus improve the standard of his play.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the embodiment described above, and for example the shape, dimensions and weight of the head may be varied to suit each individual player. As is well known, the handle should align with the sweet spot, and the underface 14 may be ribbed as required, and the size and shape of any recess on the striking face, and of weight reducing cut outs elsewhere may be varied.

The marker may be any device which when located in the correct position, can provide a visible indication when viewed down the passage that the correct alignment has been achieved. The marker may be reflective, diffractive, refractive, self-luminous or phosphorescent, or merely a brightly coloured or polished metal object which can nevertheless be distinctly seen when viewed down the passage or bore.

The principle may be applicable to other golf clubs, such as chippers, irons or woods.

Claims

1. A golf putting club having a striking head which incorporates a marker located within the head, behind the centre of the sweet spot, and sighting means so that the marker can be seen only when the player's head is correctly positioned above the striking head.

2. A club according to claim 1, wherein the marker is a light reflecting chip or crystal of a material such as diamond, quartz glass, or other silicate, facetted so as to reflect incident light, and mounted in a chamber within the club head.

3. A club according to claim 2, wherein the marker is a piece of zircon (a zirconium silicate).

4. A club according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the chamber is open to the back face of the head, to admit light to be reflected by the chip, the open side of the chamber being closed with glass or clear plastics material.

5. A club according to any preceding claim, wherein the sighting means comprises a bore or passage extending vertically down from the top face of the club into the chamber and aligned with the marker, so that the marker can be seen only when viewed from directly above.

6. A golf putting club substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A club according to claim 5, including a handle connected to the head, and inclined at an angle to the vertical, the axis of the handle being aligned with the marker.

7. A club according to claim 1 wherein the marker is a self luminous device.

8. A golf putting club substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A golf putting club having a striking head which incorporates a marker comprising a light reflecting chip or crystal faceted so as to reflect incident light, and located in a chamber within the club head behind the centre of the sweet spot; and sighting means comprising a bore or passage extending vertically downwards from the top face of the club head into the chamber and aligned with the marker, so that the marker can only be seen when viewed directly from above.

2. A club according to Claim 1, wherein the marker is a piece of zircon, diamond, quartz, glass or a silicate.

3. A club according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the chamber is open to the back face of the head, to admit light to be reflected by the chip, the open side of the chamber being closed with glass or clear plastics material.

4. A club according to any preceding Claim, including a handle connected to the head, and inclined at an angle to the vertical, the axis of the handle being aligned with the marker.

5. A club according to Claim 1 wherein the marker is a self-luminous device.