Golf putter with articulating striking face and with heel-to-toe and front to back weight distribution adjustment to vary putter balance
A golf putter is provided. The putter includes a putter head. The putter also includes a handle having a proximate end connected to the putter head and having a distal end provided with a grip. The putter head includes components that can be adjusted to alter simultaneously the position of the proximate end of the handle on the putter head and to alter the putter head balance.
This invention pertains to golf putters.
More particularly, the invention pertains to a golf putter that facilitates the adjustment of the heel-to-toe and front to back weight distribution of the putter.
In a further respect, the invention pertains to a golf putter that permits adjustment of the orientation of the striking face of the putter with respect to a golf ball when the ball is being addressed with and struck by the putter.
In another respect, the invention pertains to a golf putter that permits adjustment of putter balancing between a face-balanced configuration and a toe-weighted configuration.
Both the heel-to-toe weight and front to back weight distribution in the head of a golf putter and the orientation of the putter ball-striking face contribute to the functioning of the putter. If the putter ball-striking face has a slight backward tilt (toward the putter shaft) or orientation, the face tends to lift the golf ball when the ball is struck. Providing a putter with a ball-striking face that has a backward tilt is described as “adding loft” to the putter. If the putter ball-striking face has a slight forward tilt (away from the putter shaft) orientation, the face tends to push the golf ball into the green when the ball is struck. Providing a putter with a ball-striking face that has a forward tilt is described as “delofting” the putter.
The head of each putter has a particular balance orientation. The balance orientation of a putter head is determined by finding a point on the shaft at which the shaft will assume a generally horizontal orientation when balanced on a fingertip. When the putter is so balanced on the fingertip of a golfer with the club shaft in a generally horizontal orientation, the putter head normally will assume one of the three basic putter head balance orientations.
The first putter head balance orientation is the face-balanced orientation. When the putter head is in the face-balance orientation, the striking face of the putter is horizontally oriented and faces upwardly toward the sky. In a face-balanced putter, the putter shaft location with respect to the head typically, but not always, points toward the center of the putter head.
The second putter head balance orientation is the toe-weighted orientation. When the putter head is in the toe-weighted orientation, the toe of the putter hangs straight down, the heel of the putter points upwardly toward the sky, and the striking face of the putter is vertically oriented. In a toe-weighted putter, the shaft typically is attached to the head at the heel.
The third putter head balance orientation is the intermediate orientation. When the putter head is in the intermediate orientation, it is oriented in a position between the face-balanced orientation and the toe-weighted orientation. The striking face of the putter head is canted, and is neither horizontally or vertically oriented. When a putter head is in the face-balanced orientation, the ball striking face is said to be at an angle of zero degrees with respect to the horizontal. When a putter head is in the toe-weight orientation, the ball striking face of the putter is at an angle of ninety degrees with respect to the horizontal. When a putter head has an intermediate orientation, the ball striking face of the putter typically is at an angle of twenty to eighty degrees with respect to the horizontal.
One popular style of putting is indicated in
Another popular style of putting is indicated in
It is generally agreed that a putter with a head that has a face-balanced orientation facilitates a pendulum style putting stroke, and that a putter with a head that has an intermediate orientation or toe-weighted orientation facilitates the open-and-closed putter stroke. One problem associated with the different putting styles and with putter heads having balance orientations is that golfers often elect to tinker with their putting stroke, their putters, or the line along which the putter head travels. This necessitates purchasing new putter or having putter mechanically adjusted to alter the putter head balance orientation. For example, on the PGA tour, players often elect to have their putters mechanically adjusted to alter the putter head balance orientation, the orientation of the face of the putter, the “feel” of the putter, etc.
Accordingly, it would be highly desirable to provide a golf putter that allows a golfer to adjust readily both the heel-to-toe weight distribution and the top-to-bottom cant or loft of the putter face, and to adjust the putter head balance orientation.
Therefore, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an improved golf putter.
A further object of the invention is to provide an improved golf putter that permits the weight distribution of the putter head to be adjusted by altering the location at which the club shaft is connected to the putter head.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved golf putter that permits the weight distribution of the putter head to be altered by symmetrically adjusting the relative position of opposing putter structural components.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved golf putter having an articulating ball-striking face.
Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved golf putter that permits the position of structural putter head components to be adjusted simultaneously or independently of the location at which the proximate end of the putter shaft is connected to the putter head.
Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved golf putter that permits, without altering the location of the center of gravity of the putter head, the location on the putter head at which the proximate end of the club shaft is attached to be adjusted.
Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an improved golf putter that permits adjustment of the magnitude of the torque acting on the heel and toe of the putter head.
Yet still another object of the invention is to provide an improved golf putter that permits the weight distribution of the putter head to be altered by adjusting putter structural components that counterpoise one another.
These and other, further and more specific objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description thereof, taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:
Briefly, in accordance with the invention, I provide an improved golf putter. The putter includes a head; and, a shaft including a proximate end attached to the head and a distal end. The distal end includes a grip. The head includes a forward portion including a face for striking a golf ball; and, a wing portion extending rearwardly from the forward portion and movable between at least two operative positions, a first operative position, and a second operative position laterally displaced along the forward portion in a direction outwardly away from the proximate end of the shaft to alter the heel-to-toe weight distribution of the putter.
In another embodiment of the invention, I provide an improved golf putter. The putter includes a head. The head includes a forward portion including a face for striking a golf ball; and, a wing portion extending rearwardly from the forward portion and movable between at least two operative positions, a first operative position, and a second operative position laterally displaced along the forward portion to alter the heel-to-toe weight distribution of the putter. The putter also includes a shaft including a proximate end attached to the wing portion, and a distal end. The distal end includes a grip.
In still another embodiment of the invention, I provide a golf putter including a head; and, a shaft. The shaft has a proximate end attached to the head and has a distal end. The distal end includes a grip. The proximate end is movable between at least two operative positions on the head.
Turning now to the drawings, which depict the presently preferred embodiments of the invention for the purpose of illustrating the practice thereof and not by way of limitation of the scope of the invention and in which like reference characters refer to corresponding elements throughout the several views, FIGS. 1 to 13 illustrate one embodiment of the golf putter of invention, generally indicated by reference character 10. Putter 10 includes a head and a shaft 21. Shaft 21 includes a proximate end 22 connected to the head and includes a distal end 70 (
The head of the putter includes a front portion 16, a back portion 13, neck 12, and a pair of wing portions 14 and 15. Wing 15 includes plate 15A. Wing 14 includes plate 14A. Front portion 16 includes ball striking face 17, and, includes component 38 and component 39. Face 17 is part of component 39. Component 39 is mounted on component 38 such that component 39—and face 17—can be pivoted or moved about a horizontal axis to change the cant or loft of face 17 from top-to-bottom. Neck 12 fixedly interconnects front portion 16 and rear portion 13 such that wing portions 14 and 15 can be laterally adjusted in the direction of arrows A and B, respectively, to alter the toe-to-heel weight distribution in the head of the putter, to alter the location of proximate end 22 with respect to the center of gravity Y (
Component 39 includes at least one shaft or screw 42 that is rotatably received by an oval aperture 43 formed in component 38. Arcuate convex surface 45 conforms to and is slidably adjusted over arcuate concave surface 44 in component 38 to adjust the cant of striking face 17 of component 38.
As earlier noted, the linkage system in the putter head includes control shaft 28. Shaft 28 includes a roller 29 at one end and a roller 30 at its other end. As is illustrated in
The roller 29, 30—arm 26, 27, 31, 32 linkage system illustrated in
In
If desired, the putter 10 can be constructed such that only the position of wing portion 14 can be adjusted and wing portion 15 is maintained permanently in a selected fixed position (or vice-versa) with respect to front portion 16, back portion 13, and neck 12. The fixed position for wing portion 15 can be the position illustrated in
An alternate embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 23 and is generally identified by reference character 100. Putter 100 includes a head and a shaft 121. Shaft 121 includes a proximate end 122 connected to the head at aperture 123 and includes a distal end (not shown). The distal end functions as a handle for the golfer to manually grasp the putter shaft. The shape and dimension of shaft 121 can vary as desired.
The head of the putter 100 includes a front portion 116, a back portion 113, and a pair of wing portions 114 and 115. Front portion 116 includes ball striking face 117, and, includes component 138 and component 139. Face 117 is part of component 139. Component 139 is mounted on component 138 such that component 139—and face 117—can be pivoted or moved about a horizontal axis to change the top-to-bottom cant or loft of face 117. Wing portions 114 and 115 can be laterally adjusted in the direction of arrows H and G, respectively, to alter the toe-to-heel weight distribution in the head of the putter, to alter the location of proximate end 122 with respect to the center of gravity of the putter head, and to alter the putter head balance orientation. The center of gravity of the head of the putter 100 generally does not change when the positions of wing portions 114 and 115 are adjusted because portions 114 and 115 each are simultaneously moved equal distances inwardly or outwardly from the distended positions shown in
When the putter 100 is used by a left handed golfer, a shaft 121 can be attached to peg 60 mounted in hosel 61.
The golf putter 100 is similar to putter 10. Putter 100 does not, however, include a neck comparable to the neck 12 of putter 10. The linkage system of putter 100 is illustrated in
In
System 160 includes generally orthogonal foot 75 and weight 77 and includes rod 74. The end of rod 74 extending through foot 75 is externally thread and extends through an internally threaded opening formed through foot 75. Foot 75 slidably seats in orthogonal opening or cavity 63A formed in component 138 of the front portion 116 of putter 100. Foot 75 seat in opening 63A behind rod 63 such that foot 75 can, when wing 115 is in the position shown in
Neck 74A of rod 74 extends through slot 62 (
Neck 71A of rod 71 extends through slot 62 (
Weight 76 can be slidably moved along rod 71 toward foot 72 in the direction of arrow 151 in
As is illustrated in
When end 73 is turned in the direction of arrow 162, the externally threaded end of rod 74 turns through internally threaded aperture 75A. This draws foot 75 against a back wall of a cavity that is hollowed out of component 138, presses washer 74B against back portion 113 and tightens or compresses wing 115 in position between back portion 113 and front portion 116. Turning end 73 in a direction opposite that of arrow 162 loosens foot 75, and permits wing 115 to be slid in the direction of arrow G and, after wing 115 is displaced inwardly from the position shown in
When end 70 is turned in the direction of arrow 152, the externally threaded end of rod 71 turns through internally threaded aperture 72A. This draws foot 72 against rod 63 and presses washer 71B against back portion 113 and tightens or compresses wing 114 in position between back portion 113 and front portion 116. Turning end 70 in a direction opposite that of arrow 152 loosens foot 72, and permits wing 114 to be slid in the direction of arrow H (
An important advantage of the putter illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 23 (and of the putter illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 13) is that it permits ready adjustment of the putter head balance orientation between the face-balanced orientation and the toe-weighted orientation.
When the putter head is in the configuration illustrated in
When the putter head is in the configuration illustrated in
As would be appreciated by those of skill in the art, it is possible to configure a putter such that only the adjustment of wings 114 and 115 would be required to move face 117 between a face-balanced orientation and toe-weighted orientation or any desired orientation therebetween.
The orientation, or cant or loft, of component 139 and face 117 is adjusted by loosening screws 190 and 191 (
Claims
1. A golf putter including
- (a) a head;
- (b) a shaft including a proximate end attached to said head and a distal end, said distal end including a grip;
- said head including
- (c) a forward portion including a face for striking a golf ball; and,
- (d) a wing portion extending rearwardly from said forward portion and movable between at least two operative positions (i) a first operative position, and (ii) a second operative position laterally displaced along said forward portion in a direction outwardly away from said proximate end of said shaft to alter the heel-to-toe weight distribution of the putter.
2. A golf putter including
- (a) a head including (i) a forward portion including a face for striking a golf ball; and, (ii) a wing portion extending rearwardly from said forward portion and movable between at least two operative positions a first operative position, and a second operative position laterally displaced along said forward portion to alter the heel-to-toe weight distribution of the putter; and,
- (b) a shaft including a proximate end attached to said wing portion and a distal end, said distal end including a grip.
3. A golf putter including
- (a) a head; and,
- (b) a shaft including a proximate end attached to said head and a distal end, said distal end including a grip, said distal end being movable between at least two operative positions on said head.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 13, 2004
Publication Date: Oct 13, 2005
Inventors: Brian Cover (Scottsdale, AZ), William Shildmyer (Mesa, AZ)
Application Number: 10/823,207