US20020177487A1

US20020177487A1 - Golf practice putter

Info

Publication number: US20020177487A1
Application number: US10/145,530
Authority: US
Inventors: Gang-Yeun Jung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-05-25
Filing date: 2002-05-14
Publication date: 2002-11-28
Also published as: WO2002094391A1; JP2003010373A; CN1463197A

Abstract

Disclosed is a golf practice putter adapted for developing a proper putting posture. The golf practice putter comprises a shaft grasped by a golfer to be swung; a suspension lever locked by a screw to a connector which is mounted to a lower end of the shaft, in a manner such that an angular position of the suspension lever can be changed; and a putter head suspended from the suspension lever by means of suspending elements in a manner such that the putter head can be moved to and fro in a pendulum-like fashion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a golf practice putter which allows a putting posture of a golfer to be properly corrected when making a putting shot so as to sink a golf ball into a hole-cup, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a golf practice putter which adopts a principle of pendulum motion to allow a golfer to directly confirm through feeling a weight of a putter head whether or not a putting shot is made under a proper putting posture, and enable the golfer to solely develop the proper putting posture within a short period of time.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, a putter serving as a kind of iron club is used while attempting to sink a golf ball into a hole-cup on a putting green. Putting is an action of driving the golf ball using the putter.

In a putting segment of the game of golf, while direction and distance-related senses of a golfer are considered important, it is recognized that a proper putting posture is most essential to sink the golf ball into the hole-cup with the minimum number of strokes. In order to develop the proper putting posture, it is necessary to repeatedly practice putting for an extended period of time and thereby improve a stroke sense.

The proper putting posture is accomplished when the putter and both hands grasping the putter are moved to and fro about a golfer's head in a pendulum-like fashion and a putter head hits a golf ball at a lowermost point of the pendulum motion. With the proper putting posture, it is possible to direct the golf ball across the putting green to a desired position.

Upon executing a putting swing, if the golfer's wrist or body is bent or shakes, the pendulum motion is not accurate and the putter cannot accurately hit the golf ball, and so it is difficult to direct the golf ball across the putting green to the hole-cup.

In attempts to develop a proper putting posture, it is the norm that an instructor observes and corrects a student golfer's putting posture and thereby helps the student golfer to develop an ideal swing. However, such instruction is expensive. And, because each instructor instructs the student golfer based on his or her golfing experience or habits obtained through a lengthy period of time, a personal opinion cannot but be included in the instruction, and thereby, it is difficult to accurately practice the proper putting posture.

In addition to the above-described problems, a critical drawback is inherent in the conventional putter in that, since a putter head is formed integrally with a shaft, when executing a putting swing, it is impossible for the golfer to confirm whether or not the pendulum motion is accurate.

Hence, due to the fact that it is impossible to judge whether or not the golfer has the proper putting posture during putting practice, a great deal of effort, time and cost cannot but be incurred to develop the proper putting posture.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice putter which adopts a principle of pendulum motion to allow a golfer to directly confirm through feeling a weight of a suspended putter head upon executing a putting swing whether or not a putting shot is made under a proper putting posture, and enable the golfer to solely develop the proper putting posture within a short period of time.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice putter which allows a putter head to be firmly suspended.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice putter which allows a golfer to directly and conveniently confirm whether or not a suspension lever and a putter head are properly aligned with each other and at the same time prevents premature head-up movement of a golfer.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice putter which allows an expert as well as a beginner to develop putting postures respectively suited to them.

Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a golf practice putter which allows a golf ball to be precisely hit on a contact point thereof by a putter head, and the putter head to hit the golf ball on a point included in a predetermined effective contact surface thereof.

In order to achieve the above objects, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a golf practice putter adapted for developing a proper putting posture, comprising: a shaft grasped by a golfer to be swung; a suspension lever locked by a screw to a connector which is mounted to a lower end of the shaft, in a manner such that an angular position of the suspension lever can be changed; and a putter head suspended from the suspension lever by means of suspending elements in a manner such that the putter head can be moved to and fro in a pendulum-like fashion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the golf practice putter further comprises a suspending part including a pair of first receiving grooves defined adjacent to both ends of the suspension lever and a pair of second receiving grooves defined adjacent to both ends of the putter head to respectively correspond to the pair of first receiving grooves, the suspending elements being received in the first and second receiving grooves.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the suspending part includes a pair of first insertion holes defined adjacent to both ends of the suspension lever, a pair of first screw holes respectively communicated with the first insertion holes, a pair of second insertion holes defined adjacent to both ends of the putter head to respectively correspond to the pair of first insertion holes, and a pair of second screw holes respectively communicated with the second insertion holes, the suspending elements being inserted at both ends thereof into the first and second insertion holes to be locked therein by screws driven into the first and second screw holes.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the golf practice putter further comprises a transparent part including a pair of rectangular sight openings which are respectively defined through the suspension lever and the putter head to extend in a lenghthwise direction of them.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the sight opening defined in the putter head is partially delimited by an inclined surface.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a distal end of the suspension lever is coupled to the putter head by means of a coupling part, and an articulated part is provided to the suspension lever in a manner such that the putter head can be moved to and fro in a pendulum-like fashion about the articulated part.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the coupling part comprises an inserting portion which is formed on a surface of the suspension lever and includes a stopper projection and an engagement ball, and an engaging groove which is defined on an upper surface of the putter head to correspond to the inserting portion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the suspension lever is divided into two pieces; and the articulated part comprises a support projection which is formed at an upper end of a lower suspension lever piece, a fitting groove which is defined at a lower end of an upper suspension lever piece to allow the support projection to be fitted therein, and a locking portion which includes a pin which is inserted through holes defined through the support projection and the lower end of the upper suspension lever piece.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the locking portion comprises a nut member which is inserted through the holes defined through the support projection and the lower end of the upper suspension lever piece and a bolt member which is threadedly coupled into the nut member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of articulated parts are provided to the suspension lever.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a pair of contact surface width adjustment parts are provided to the putter head to allow a contact point of a golf ball to be precisely struck with a sweet spot of an effective contact surface of the putter head when executing a putting shot.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, each contact surface width adjustment part comprises a threaded hole which is defined to extend through the putter head from a front contact surface to a rear surface, and an adjustment screw possessing one end which has a flat surface and the other end which is defined with a tool accommodating groove.

According to yet still another aspect of the present invention, plural pairs of contact surface width adjustment parts are provided to the putter head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which: [0029]
FIG. 1 is a partially-enlarged exploded perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; [0030]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled status of the golf practice putter of FIG. 1; [0031]
FIG. 3[0032] a is a side view illustrating a state wherein the golf practice putter of FIG. 1 is swung under a proper putting posture;
FIG. 3[0033] b is a front view illustrating a state wherein the golf practice putter of FIG. 1 is swung under an improper putting posture;
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; [0034]
FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; [0035]
FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating an in-use status of the golf practice putter of FIG. 5; [0036]
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; [0037]
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled status of the golf practice putter of FIG. 7; [0038]
FIG. 9[0039] a is a side view illustrating a state wherein the golf practice putter of FIG. 7 is swung under a proper putting posture;
FIG. 9[0040] b is a front view illustrating a state wherein the golf practice putter of FIG. 7 is swung under an improper putting posture;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; [0041]
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention; [0042]
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention; [0043]
FIG. 13 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating a putter head of the golf practice putter of FIG. 12; and [0044]
FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention.[0045]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts. [0046]
FIG. 1 is a partially-enlarged exploded perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled status of the golf practice putter of FIG. 1. [0047]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a golf practice putter according to the present invention is adapted for developing a proper putting posture upon executing a putting shot to sink a golf ball into a hole-cup on a putting green. The golf practice putter of this first embodiment comprises a [0048] shaft 1, a suspension lever 2, and a putter head 4. The shaft 1 is grasped by a golfer to be swung. The suspension lever 2 is locked to a connector 10 which is mounted to a lower end of the shaft 1, by a screw which is threadedly coupled into a locking hole 12 defined through the connector 10, in a manner such that an angular position of the suspension lever 2 can be changed depending upon a body figure of the golfer. The putter head 4 is suspended from the suspension lever 2 by means of a pair of suspending elements 3 in a manner such that the putter head 4 can be moved to and fro in a pendulum-like fashion. Each suspending element 3 may comprise the conventional endless wire, and the like.
The golf practice putter includes a suspending [0049] part 50. The suspending part 50 comprises a pair of first receiving grooves 52 which are defined adjacent to both ends of the suspension lever 2 and a pair of second receiving grooves 54 which are defined adjacent to both ends of the putter head 4 to respectively correspond to the pair of first receiving grooves 52. Upper and lower end portions of each suspending element 3 comprising the endless wire, and the like, are respectively received in the first and second receiving grooves 52 and 54. Due to such a construction, it is possible to prevent release of the suspending elements 3 from the suspension lever 2 and the putter head 4 when the putter head 4 is moved to and fro about the suspension lever 2 in the pendulum-like fashion.
A lower surface of the [0050] putter head 4 is defined, adjacent to both ends thereof, with a pair of openings, to ensure that a putting practice can be executed using the golf practice putter of the present invention on guide rails of a mat which is a subject matter of a copending application filed in the name of the present applicant. In this regard, it is to be understood that the lower surface of the putter head 4 may be defined with no openings.
FIG. 3[0051] a is a side view illustrating a state wherein the golf practice putter of FIG. 1 is swung under a proper putting posture.
As shown in FIG. 3[0052] a, in the golf practice putter according to the first embodiment of the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, if the golfer grasps the shaft 1 and executes a putting swing, as the putter head 4, which has a predetermined weight and is suspended from the suspension lever 2 by the suspending elements 3 each comprising the endless wire, and the like, is moved to and fro about the golfer's head in the pendulum-like fashion, the suspending elements 3 each comprising the endless wire, and the like, are prevented from being bent forward or rearward.
Accordingly, the [0053] putter head 4 can hit the golf ball at a lowermost point of the pendulum motion while the golfer feels the natural weight of the suspended putter head 4 as it is, whereby it is possible to direct the golf ball across the putting green to a desired position.
FIG. 3[0054] b is a front view illustrating a state wherein the golf practice putter of FIG. 1 is swung under an improper putting posture.
As shown in FIG. 3[0055] b, if a putting swing is made under an improper putting posture such as when force is unnaturally applied from the golfer to the golf practice putter or the golfer's wrist is bent, the pendulum motion of the putter head 4, which has the predetermined weight and is suspended from the suspension lever 2 by the suspending elements 3 each comprising the endless wire, and the like, cannot be accurately brought about. That is to say, the suspending elements 3 for suspending the putter head 4 from the suspension lever 2 are bent as shown in FIG. 3b.
Thus, in the course of executing the putting swing, as the golfer feels uneven motion of the [0056] putter head 4 having the predetermined weight due to the bending of the suspending elements 3, the golfer can directly confirm whether or not a putting shot is made under the proper putting posture.
In this way, the golfer can solely and directly confirm whether a putting shot is made under the proper putting posture or the improper putting posture and correct the improper putting posture. Thus, the golfer can solely develop the proper putting posture within a short period of time. [0057]
FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. [0058]
In the above-described first embodiment, the upper and lower end portions of each suspending [0059] element 3 having a ring-shaped configuration are respectively received in the first and second receiving grooves 52 and 54 which are defined in the suspension lever 2 and the putter head 4, respectively, and thereby, the putter head 4 is reliably suspended from the suspension lever 2. However, in this second embodiment of the present invention, the suspending part comprises a pair of first insertion holes 2 a which are defined adjacent to both ends of the suspension lever 2, a pair of first screw holes 2 b which are respectively communicated with the first insertion holes 2 a, a pair of second insertion holes 4 a which are defined adjacent to both ends of the putter head 4 to respectively correspond to the pair of first insertion holes 2 a, and a pair of second screw holes 4 b which are respectively communicated with the second insertion holes 4 a. A pair of band-shaped rigid suspending elements 3 are inserted at both ends thereof into the first and second insertion holes 2 a and 4 a to be locked therein by screws driven into the first and second screw holes 2 b and 4 b.
Therefore, due to the fact that the pair of band-shaped rigid suspending [0060] elements 3 are inserted at both ends thereof into the first and second insertion holes 2 a and 4 a defined through the suspension lever 2 and the putter head 4 to be locked therein by the screws driven into the first and second screw holes 2 b and 4 b, fastening force for firmly suspending the putter head 4 with respect to the suspension lever 2 is considerably increased.
FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. [0061]
In this third embodiment, in order to ensure that the golfer directly and conveniently confirms whether or not the [0062] suspension lever 2 and the putter head 4 are properly aligned with each other and at the same time premature head-up movement of the golfer is prevented upon executing a putting shot, the golf practice putter includes a transparent part 20. The transparent part 20 comprises a pair of rectangular sight openings 22 and 24 which are respectively defined through the suspension lever 2 and the putter head 4 to extend in a lenghthwise direction of them.
At this time, a portion of an inner edge defining the [0063] sight opening 24 in the putter head 4, which portion is close to the golfer, is formed as an inclined surface 24 a, in a manner such that a size of the sight opening 24 is gradually decreased from an upper end toward a lower end of the putter head 4. In view of the fact that the putter head 4 is positioned in front of the golfer and below the suspension lever 2, by viewing the inclined surface 24 a through the sight openings 22 and 24 of the suspension lever 2 and the putter head 4, it is possible to conveniently confirm whether or not the suspension lever 2 and the putter head 4 are properly aligned with each other.
FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating an in-use status of the golf practice putter of FIG. 5. [0064]
In the golf practice putter according to this third embodiment of the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, before the golfer initially executes a putting shot, in a state wherein the golf practice putter is placed in front of the golfer, it is possible to confirm through the [0065] transparent part 20 comprising the sight openings 22 and 24 whether or not the putter head 4 suspended from the suspension lever 2 by the suspending elements 3 is properly positioned below the suspension lever 2.
Also, upon executing a putting shot, as the golfer views the [0066] sight openings 22 and 24 of the transparent part 20, the premature head-up movement of the golfer, which is regarded as a major problem caused by a poor golfing habit, can be naturally prevented, whereby the golfer can precisely develop the proper putting posture.
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an assembled status of the golf practice putter of FIG. 7. [0067]
In the golf practice putters according to the above-described embodiments, since the suspending [0068] elements 3 for suspending the putter head 4 with respect to the suspension member 2 are easily bent, even when the hands grasping the club 1 tremble only slightly, the golf practice putters can be adequately used by experts having delicate putting senses. On the contrary, in this fourth embodiment, in order to ensure that a probability of the putter head 4 to be bent is decreased so as to allow even a beginner to easily and conveniently develop the proper putting posture, the suspending elements are not employed. And, instead, a distal, that is, lower end of the suspension lever 2 is coupled to the putter head 4 by means of a coupling part 60, and an articulated part 200 is provided to the suspension lever 2 in a manner such that the putter head 4 can be moved to and fro in a pendulum-like fashion about the articulated part 200.
The [0069] coupling part 60 comprises an inserting portion 65 which is installed on a front surface of the suspension lever 2, and an engaging groove 66 which is defined on an upper surface of the putter head 4 to correspond to the inserting portion 65. The inserting portions 65 includes a stopper projection 62 and an engagement ball 64. The stopper projection 62 functions to limit, to a certain extent, insertion of the lower end of the suspension lever 2 into the engaging groove 66. After being inserted into the engaging groove 66, the engagement ball 64 is engaged into a corresponding depression defined on an inner edge of the putter head 4, defining the engaging groove 66. In this regard, it is to be noted that the engagement ball 64 is biased by a conventional spring element to be engaged into the depression.
Due to the provision of the articulated [0070] part 200, the suspension lever 2 is divided into two pieces. The articulated part 200 comprises a support projection 212 which is formed at an upper end of a lower suspension lever piece 210, a fitting groove 222 which is defined at a lower end of an upper suspension lever piece 220 to allow the support projection 212 to be fitted therein, and a locking portion 230 for locking the lower and upper suspension lever pieces 210 and 220 to each other. The locking portion 230 includes a pin which is inserted through holes 214 and 224 defined through the support projection 212 and the lower end of the upper suspension lever piece 220.
As a consequence, after the [0071] support projection 212 is fitted into the fitting groove 222, by inserting the pin through the holes 214 and 224, the putter head 4 can be moved to and fro about the pin in the pendulum-like fashion. At this time, the pin is loosely inserted into the holes 214 and 224 in a manner such that the pendulum motion of the putter head 4 can be brought about even with slight force. It is preferred that appropriate lubricant is filled in the holes 214 and 224.
While it was explained that the articulated [0072] part 200 comprises the support projection 212 and the fitting groove 222, a person skilled in the art will readily recognize that the articulated part 200 may be structured in a variety of ways, for example, in a ball and socket manner.
FIG. 9[0073] a is a side view illustrating a state wherein the golf practice putter of FIG. 7 is swung under a proper putting posture.
As shown in FIG. 9[0074] a, in the golf practice putter according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, if the putting shot is made under the proper putting posture, as the putter head 4 is moved to and fro about the golfer's head in the pendulum-like fashion, bending does not occur in the articulated part 200.
Accordingly, the [0075] putter head 4 can hit the golf ball at a lowermost point of the pendulum motion, whereby it is possible to direct the golf ball across the putting green to the desired position.
FIG. 9[0076] b is a front view illustrating a state wherein the golf practice putter of FIG. 7 is swung under an improper putting posture.
As shown in FIG. 9[0077] b, if a putting swing is made under an improper putting posture such as when force is unnaturally applied from the golfer to the golf practice putter or the golfer's wrist is bent, the putter head 4 is secondarily moved to and fro about the articulated part 200 in the pendulum-like fashion. That is to say, bending occurs in the articulated part 200 as shown in FIG. 9b.
Thus, in the course of executing the putting swing, as the golfer feels the bending of the articulated [0078] part 200, the golfer can directly confirm whether or not a putting shot is made under the proper putting posture.
In this way, even a beginner having poor golfing habits can solely and conveniently develop the proper putting posture within a short period of time. [0079]
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [0080]
Differently from the fourth embodiment wherein the locking portion for locking the lower and upper suspension lever pieces to each other comprises the pin, in this fifth embodiment, the locking portion comprises a [0081] nut member 232 which is inserted through the holes 214 and 224 defined through the support projection and the lower end of the upper suspension lever piece and a bolt member 234 which is threadedly coupled into the nut member 232.
Due to the fact that the locking portion comprises the [0082] nut member 232 and the bolt member 234, a sensitivity of the pendulum motion of the putter head 4 can be controlled depending upon a putting skill of the golfer. In other words, in the case of a beginner, by decreasing locking force of the locking portion, the beginner can easily develop the proper putting posture, and in the case of an expert, by increasing locking force of the locking portion, the expert can further improve a stroke sense.
As a result, when using the locking portion which comprises the [0083] nut member 232 and the bolt member 234, by adjusting a magnitude of locking force of the locking portion, a sensitivity of the putter head 4 to unnatural force application can be controlled.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention. [0084]
In this sixth embodiment, a plurality of articulated [0085] parts 200 are provided to the suspension lever 2. As a consequence, a possibility of the suspension lever 2 to be bent is increased when compared to the case where only one articulated part 200 is provided to the suspension lever 2, whereby putting must be executed with high accuracy and the golfer can further improve a stroke sense.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating a putter head of the golf practice putter of FIG. 12. [0086]
In this seventh embodiment, a pair of contact surface [0087] width adjustment parts 40 are provided to the putter head 4 to allow a contact point of the golf ball to be precisely struck with a sweet spot of an effective contact surface 4 a of the putter head 4 when executing a putting shot.
Each contact surface [0088] width adjustment part 40 comprises a threaded hole 42 which is defined to extend through the putter head 4 from a front surface to a rear surface, and an adjustment screw 44 which is driven into the threaded hole 42. The adjustment screw 44 possesses one end which has a flat surface and the other end which is defined with a tool accommodating groove 44 a. The flat surface of the one end of the adjustment screw 44 can be brought into contact with the contact point of the golf ball. The adjustment screw 44 can be driven into the threaded hole 42 by an appropriate tool such as a wrench, a driver, and the like, which is engaged into the tool accommodating groove 44 a.
In the golf practice putter according to this seventh embodiment of the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, by rotating [0089] adjustment screws 44 threadedly coupled into the threaded holes 42 and thereby projecting the adjustment screws 44 out of the effective contact surface 4 a of the putter head 4 by a predetermined length, the sweet spot on the front contact surface 4 a, which is to be brought into contact with the contact point of the golf ball, can be set between two adjustment screws 44.
Namely, when the golf ball is not precisely struck with the sweet spot of the [0090] effective contact surface 4 a of the putter head 4 between the pair of adjustment screws 44, as the golf ball is first bumped against the projecting portion of the adjustment screw 44, the golf ball is bounded in a random direction, whereby the golf ball cannot be directed toward a desired position.
Therefore, by repeatedly executing a putting practice for an extended period of time, the golfer can precisely develop the proper putting posture so that the contact point of the golf ball can be accurately struck with the sweet spot of the [0091] effective contact surface 4 a of the putter head 4.
A length by which the [0092] adjustment screw 44 projects out of the effective contact surface 4 a may vary depending upon a stroke sense or a putting skill of the golfer. That is to say, in the case of a beginner, the length is decreased, and in the case of an expert, the length is increased.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a golf practice putter in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention. [0093]
In this eighth embodiment, plural pairs of contact surface [0094] width adjustment parts 40 are provided adjacent to both ends of the putter head 4. Therefore, when compared to the case where only one pair of contact surface width adjustment parts 40 are provided, it is possible to allow the contact point of the golf ball to be more precisely struck with the sweet spot of the effective contact surface 4 a of the putter head 4.
As apparent from the above description, the golf practice putter according to the present invention provides advantages in that, since it adopts a principle of pendulum motion to allow a golfer to directly confirm through feeling a weight of a suspended putter head upon executing a putting swing whether or not a putting shot is made under a proper putting posture, and enable the golfer to solely develop the proper putting posture within a short period of time, a putting sense is improved and thereby, it is possible to execute putting with high accuracy, whereby an amount of effort, time and cost required to develop the proper putting posture can be significantly reduced. [0095]
Also, due to the fact that both ends of respective suspending elements are inserted into a suspension lever and the putter head and then locked thereto by screws, it is possible to firmly suspend the putter head from the suspension lever. [0096]
Further, the golfer can directly and conveniently confirm through a transparent part formed in the suspension lever and putter head whether or not the suspension lever and the putter head are properly aligned with each other, and, as the golfer's eyes are fixed on the transparent part, premature head-up movement of the golfer can be prevented upon executing a putting shot. [0097]
Moreover, because the putter head is directly suspended by the suspension lever having at least one articulated part rather than being indirectly suspended via the suspension elements, to be moved to and fro in a pendulum-like fashion, an expert as well as a beginner can develop putting postures respectively suited to them within a short period of time. [0098]
In addition, by the fact that the articulated part is provided with a locking portion which is constituted by bolt and nut members and it is possible to appropriately adjust locking force of the locking portion, the golfer can develop a putting posture optimally suited to him or her. [0099]
Furthermore, upon executing a putting shot, due to the presence of a pair of contact surface width adjustment parts provided to the putter head, since a contact point of a golf ball can be precisely struck with a sweet spot of an effective contact surface of the putter head, it is possible to precisely develop a desired putting posture. [0100]
In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims. [0101]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A golf practice putter adapted for developing a proper putting posture, comprising:

a shaft grasped by a golfer to be swung;

a suspension lever locked by a screw to a connector which is mounted to a lower end of the shaft, in a manner such that an angular position of the suspension lever can be changed; and

a putter head suspended from the suspension lever by means of suspending elements in a manner such that the putter head can be moved to and fro in a pendulum-like fashion.

2. The golf practice putter as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a suspending part including a pair of first receiving grooves defined adjacent to both ends of the suspension lever and a pair of second receiving grooves defined adjacent to both ends of the putter head to respectively correspond to the pair of first receiving grooves, the suspending elements being received in the first and second receiving grooves.

3. The golf practice putter as set forth in claim 2, wherein the suspending part includes a pair of first insertion holes defined adjacent to both ends of the suspension lever, a pair of first screw holes respectively communicated with the first insertion holes, a pair of second insertion holes defined adjacent to both ends of the putter head to respectively correspond to the pair of first insertion holes, and a pair of second screw holes respectively communicated with the second insertion holes, the suspending elements being inserted at both ends thereof into the first and second insertion holes to be locked therein by screws driven into the first and second screw holes.

4. The golf practice putter as set forth in claims 1 or 2, further comprising:

a transparent part including a pair of rectangular sight openings which are respectively defined through the suspension lever and the putter head to extend in a lenghthwise direction of them.

5. The golf practice putter as set forth in claim 4, wherein the sight opening defined in the putter head is partially delimited by an inclined surface.

6. The golf practice putter as set forth in claim 1, wherein a distal end of the suspension lever is coupled to the putter head by means of a coupling part, and an articulated part is provided to the suspension lever in a manner such that the putter head can be moved to and fro in a pendulum-like fashion about the articulated part.

7. The golf practice putter as set forth in claim 6, wherein the coupling part comprises an inserting portion which is formed on a surface of the suspension lever and includes a stopper projection and an engagement ball, and an engaging groove which is defined on an upper surface of the putter head to correspond to the inserting portion.

8. The golf practice putter as set forth in claim 6, wherein the suspension lever is divided into two pieces; and the articulated part comprises a support projection which is formed at an upper end of a lower suspension lever piece, a fitting groove which is defined at a lower end of an upper suspension lever piece to allow the support projection to be fitted therein, and a locking portion which includes a pin which is inserted through holes defined through the support projection and the lower end of the upper suspension lever piece.

9. The golf practice putter as set forth in claim 8, wherein the locking portion comprises a nut member which is inserted through the holes defined through the support projection and the lower end of the upper suspension lever piece and a bolt member which is threadedly coupled into the nut member.

10. The golf practice putter as set forth in claim 6, wherein a plurality of articulated parts are provided to the suspension lever.

11. The golf practice putter as set forth in claims 1 or 6, wherein a pair contact surface width adjustment parts are provided to the putter head to allow a contact point of a golf ball to be precisely struck with a sweet spot of an effective contact surface of the putter head when executing a putting shot.

12. The golf practice putter as set forth in claim 11, wherein each contact surface width adjustment part comprises a threaded hole which is defined to extend through the putter head from a front contact surface to a rear surface, and an adjustment screw possessing one end which has a flat surface and the other end which is defined with a tool accommodating groove.

13. The golf practice putter as set forth in claim 11, wherein plural pairs of contact surface width adjustment parts are provided to the putter head.