Golf Putter Head for Ensuring Pure Roll

Abstract

A new golf putter head is disclosed, comprising an upper portion and a sole pillar, wherein the upper portion comprises a strike face and the bottom edge of the strike face is at a height within 0.375″ of the golf ball equator, and the sole pillar does not contact the ball at any point during the swing.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention takes priority from Provisional App. No. 62/162,723, filed May 16, 2015, which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to golf putters, and more particularly to golf putter heads that ensure that the ball rolls without slippage.

Background of the Invention

This invention relates to a golf putter head. Putting accounts for over 40% of a golfer's strokes. Factors such as alignment of the putter face, path of the putter, launch angle, club speed, impact location, grip pressure, forward or backward rotation, hook or cut spin, grain, spike marks, slope and even wind can play a significant part in the outcome of a putt.

In the horizontal plane, the strike face of the putter may be open (positive angle), closed (negative angle) or square (perpendicular) to the putter's path. These various face angles along with the putter swing path determine the direction in which the ball will start to travel. Face angle at impact accounts for as much as 92-95% of the starting direction of putts. As soon as the golf ball contacts the putting surface, friction will initiate over-spin; however, this is not pure over-spin at this point. It can take the best part of 4 feet, or 40% out of a 10-foot putt for some balls to achieve rolling without slippage. Rolling without slippage is called “pure roll”. After putter head impact, the ball is airborne for a short time, hits the ground, then slides along the putting surface due to friction. Ball rotation begins when the frictional force between ground and ball is overcome by the translational speed of the ball. The harder the ball is hit, the further it will go before pure roll starts to occur. When the ball has either stopped skidding or spinning, rolling without slippage (pure roll) is achieved. The random nature of ball spinning and slippage due to friction greatly diminishes putting accuracy, whereas the pure roll phase dramatically improves putting accuracy.

The prevailing architecture of a golf putter has a sole-face intersection angle that ranges from perpendicular to an open sole-to-face angle of 10°. Typically, the angle vertex occurs at the termination point of the playing surface. Striking a golf ball with the sole-face vertex located at the putting floor produces an impact beneath the equator of the golf ball. This blow delivers increased loft, backspin, and sliding. Backspin is undesirable because it causes the ball to rotate counterclockwise, reducing putt accuracy, and delaying the initiation of the more accurate, controlled pure roll phase. These counterproductive results equate to false roll, random accuracy, and inconsistent putting scores. Since the putting surface is a fixed environment, only modifications made to the putter face can improve ball dynamics that lead to improved putting accuracy. If the sole height is raised independent of the face angle, then an increase in center strikes will occur. A strike with optimized launch characteristics will increase the ability to achieve pure roll within 20% of the length of the putt.

A need exists for a putter head that reduces ball loft on impact, random spinning while airborne, and skidding upon landing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a putter head that enables the pure roll phase earlier than prior art putter heads.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a putter head that hits the golf ball within the strike zone.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a putter head that does not touch the golf ball below the strike zone at any point during the swing.

The golf putter head of the present invention comprises an upper portion that comprises a strike face, with a strike face edge located on the bottom of the strike face; and a sole pillar located below the upper portion, wherein the sole pillar does not contact the golf ball while the strike face strikes the golf ball. The strike face edge is horizontal and located at a height that is within 0.375″ of the diameter of a golf ball.

In an embodiment, the sole pillar comprises a sole pillar face, which is recessed with respect to the strike face, and both the strike face and sole pillar face are approximately vertical.

In an embodiment, the strike face is at an angle between −30 and 30 degrees with respect to a vertical plane.

In an embodiment, the strike face edge comprises a chamfer, a bull nose, a rounded edge, or a bevel.

Either the sole pillar, the strike face, or both, may be textured.

The sole pillar may be removable and its location may be adjustable. The sole pillar may also comprise multiple pieces, each piece being attached independently to the upper portion.

In an embodiment, the strike face edge is located at a height that is less than the diameter of the golf ball.

In an embodiment, the strike face edge is located at a height that is substantially equal to the diameter of the golf ball.

In an embodiment, the golf putter head dimensions are governed by the following parameters:

• the distance between a heel and a toe of the upper portion is y₁i;
• the distance between a bottom and a top of the upper portion is z₁;
• the distance between a face and a back of the upper portion is x₁;
• the distance between a heel and a toe of the sole pillar is y₂;
• the distance between a bottom and a top of the sole pillar is z₂;
• the distance between a face and a back of the sole pillar is x₂;
• the distance between a heel and a toe of the strike face is y₃;
• the distance between a bottom and a top of the strike face is z₃;
• the distance between the strike face and a front of the sole pillar is x₃;
• the pitch of the sole pillar is θ₁;
• the pitch of the strike face is θ₂;
• the yaw of the sole pillar is ψ₁;
• the yaw of the strike face is ψ₂;
• the roll of the sole pillar is φ₁;
• the roll of the strike face is φ₂;
• wherein:

y₁≤7″;

z₁=z₂+z₃;

y₁>x₁;

x₁=x₂+x₃;

y₂<y₃;

z₂<z₁;

x₂<x₁;

y₃≥0.5y₁;

y₃≥⅔x₁;

z₃=z₁−z₂;

x₃<x₁;

0≤θ₁≤180°;

−30°≤θ₂≤30°;

0≤ψ₁≤180°;

0≤ψ₂≤180°;

0≤φ₁≤180°;

0≤φ₂≤180°.

In an embodiment, the sole pillar comprises a set of guides on its bottom side to reduce club drag.

LIST OF FIGURES

FIG. 1. Golf Putter Head Coordinate System

FIG. 2. Side View of Current Putter Head Technology

FIG. 3. Side View of Pure Roll Putter Head Design

FIG. 4. Side View of Putter Face Impacting Golf Ball within the Strike Zone

FIG. 5. Front View of Strike Zone Impact Location on a Golf Ball

FIG. 6. Ball Slippage: Friction vs. Pure Roll

FIG. 7. Perspective View of the Putter Head

FIG. 8. Front View of the Putter Head

FIG. 9. Top View of the Putter Head

FIG. 10. Perspective View of the Putter Head Bottom

FIG. 11. Front View of the Putter Head with Different Sole Pillar Configurations

FIG. 12. Perspective View of the Putter Head and Retrofit Member

FIG. 13. Side View of a Sole Pillar/Strike Face Edge Bevel

FIG. 14. Front View with Strike Face and Sole Pillar Surface Textures

FIG. 15. United States Golf Association (USGA) Putter Specifications

FIG. 16. A Pure Roll Putter Head Configuration

FIG. 17. Interactive Design Flow Chart for Performance Optimization

Table 1. Putter Head Dimensional Configuration Limits

Table 2. Reference Numbers

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description describes solely a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and is not meant to limit the invention to that particular embodiment. The invention is limited solely by the claims.

Nomenclature, Terminology, and Engineering Model Conventions

The reference numbers used in the present disclosure are listed in Table 2.

FIG. 1 depicts the putter head 10 parameters which are defined using 6-degree-of-freedom 15 modeling conventions. The translational parameters are in a standard x 16, y 17, and z 18 coordinate system with corresponding rotations of roll 19, pitch 20, and yaw 21. The right hand rule is used to determine positive angular rotations.

Roll 19, denoted by φ, is rotation about the x-axis 16. A positive roll angle corresponds to a heel-up/toe-down putter head and a negative yaw angle is a heel-down/toe-up rotation. The heel is referred to as 13 and the toe is referred to as 14.

Pitch 20, denoted by θ, is rotation about the y-axis 17. A positive pitch angle corresponds to putter strike face 30 up (produces ball loft) and a negative pitch angle is putter strike face 30 down (ball accelerates downward).

Yaw 21, denoted by ψ, is rotation about the z-axis 18. A positive yaw angle corresponds to an open strike face 30 while a negative yaw angle has a closed strike face 30.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

FIG. 2 depicts a prior art conventional putter head 10, which regardless of size or shape, is designed to launch the golf ball 41. A typical strike face angle of 3-6 degrees is used, depending on how much loft is desired. This positive strike face angle places the strike zone below the center of gravity of the ball, thus lifting it from its ground depression upon impact. The loft is accompanied by ball backspin 49 with an unpredictable duration of the airborne phase and skidding 45 upon landing. This combined effect causes putt inaccuracy.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual drawing of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the putter head of the present invention comprises a strike face 30 that does not extend the entire height of the putter head but ends somewhere within the strike zone of the ball, and a sole pillar 26 that comprises a sole pillar face 34 that is recessed in such a way that it does not touch the ball during the putter's swing. Because there is no contact with the ball below the strike zone, the ball does not acquire a backspin, which reduces skidding 45 and ensures that the pure roll phase 43 happens earlier.

Since the only impact to the ball is within or above the strike zone, the ball sits down in a depression. The initial blow will thus limit or eliminate ball loft, produce negligible skidding 45, with a short airborne phase, and quick entry into the pure roll 43 phase. The decreased backspin 49 and reduce distance to reach pure roll 43 will increase putting accuracy. This new design feature, called a sole pillar 26, can be incorporated into all current putter head designs, regardless of size or shape.

FIG. 4 shows a side view of an embodiment of the putter head 10 (with the sole pillar 26), golf ball 34, the golf ball's equator 42 and strikezone 48 on a grass surface 37. As shown, the putter head does not make any contact with the ball at any point below the equator. While the sole pillar 26 is shown here as a planar face roughly parallel to the strike face 30, it is not a requirement for practicing the present invention. The sole pillar can be any shape and any angle as long as it does not make contact with the ball below the strike zone. Similarly, the exact distance that the sole pillar is recessed from the strike face can be any distance that ensures that the sole pillar does not make contact with the ball during the swing.

FIG. 5 shows the location of the targeted strike zone 48 on a golf ball. The strike zone 48 represents the acceptable impact area required to limit golf ball 41 loft and spin. The exact height at which the ball is struck within that zone determines ball behavior. It will be understood, however, that the strike zone can be wider or narrower around the equator, or asymmetrical around the equator, in other embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows a side-by-side comparison of two golf balls and their dynamics after impact. FIG. 6a shows golf ball 41 dynamics upon landing using a conventional prior art putter head. In this case, the backspin 49 direction opposes the direction of golf ball 41 travel, thus skidding 45 or slippage 45 results due to friction between the ball 41 and the ground 44. FIG. 6b, on the other hand, shows golf ball dynamics when using the putter head of the present invention with a sole pillar height designed to impact within the strike zone 48 of the ball 41. This latter scenario puts the golf ball 41 in a state of topspin 43 with angular momentum spinning in the direction of ball travel. This greatly reduces ground friction and pure roll 43 is achieved more readily. Pure rolling 43 without slipping 45 is achieved when the horizontal velocity of the golf ball 41 equals the angular velocity of the golf ball 41.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the golf putter head 10, which has a shaft 11 directly connected to the putter head 10, but partially removed for illustration purposes. As with conventional prior art putters, the shaft 11 may be made of materials such as steel, graphite, wood and the like, as long as the material possesses appropriate strength and rigidity. In addition to the shaft 11, the putter head 10 could include a hosel and grip (not shown). Depending upon the preference of the putter manufacturer, a variety of shafts may be used for connection to the putter head, including but not limited to: neck hosel shafts, crank-neck, short slant-neck, slant-neck, double-bend or center shaft. Depending upon the preference of the putter manufacturer, the putter head shape can be a blade, mallet or a combination of both. The putter head 10 can be made from metal, bi-metal, wood, plastic, composites and any combination thereof.

In the preferred embodiment, the top of the putter head has an alignment marker or arrow 12 to identify the center line of the putter head 10. That is not required for practicing the present invention.

The magnified view shown in the Figure illustrates one possible way in which the strike face 30 and the sole pillar 26 could be arranged. As mentioned above, while here, the sole pillar 26 has a face that's near parallel to the strike face, this is not required for practicing the present invention. All that is required is for the sole pillar to be recessed back from the strike face so that it does not touch the ball during the swing.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the preferred embodiment golf putter head. This view illustrates the stepping or railing of the sole pillar 26 in comparison to the front of the strike face 30. The strike face 30 extends in front of the sole pillar 26. By design, the putter head center of gravity location, along with the height and rotation of the sole pillar 26, and rotation of the strike face 30, materials and surface texture selections, will be combined to optimize the roll of the golf ball 41.

FIG. 9 is a top view of the putter head of the present invention. Depending upon the preference of the putter manufacturer, the putter head 10 design can be a blade, mallet or a combination of both. Putter head 10 shafts can have many locations and styles such as neck hosel crank-neck, short slant-neck, slant-neck, double-bend, and/or a center shaft. All shaft types and locations could be employed for connection to the putter head of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective illustration of the bottom side of the putter head of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. This view illustrates the stepping or railing of the sole pillar 26 in comparison to the bottom of the strike face 30. As shown, the face of the sole pillar 26 is near-parallel to the strike face 30 and recessed back from the strike face 30. The intersection of the sole pillar 26 and strike face 30 is the strike edge 47.

FIG. 11 is a front view of an embodiment of the golf putter head of the present invention with configurable sole pillar geometries. It may be desirable to place the sole pillar in a particular location to move the center of gravity of the putter head to a desired location. Since different players may have different preferences in that respect, an adjustable or configurable sole pillar may be needed. Locations A, B, and C illustrate removable sole pillars 26 in different locations on the putter head 10. Each location could be adjustable, weightable, coupled, fixed and rotatable with multiple configurations to maximize the putter head performance. The shape of the sole pillars 26 could also be varied depending on player needs. The removable sole pillars 26 may be attached to the putter head 10 by means of screws, snaps, magnets, slides, or any other attachment means that result in a rigid, secure attachment.

In an embodiment, an existing prior art putter head may be modified by adding a sole pillar as a retrofit. FIG. 12 is a perspective view of that embodiment. This illustrates a putter head 10 with a retrofit member 40. The retrofit member 40 is a sole pillar 26 encompassing all the variables in Table 2. The putter head to be retrofitted can be a blade style putter, mallet or a combination of both. As shown in the Figure, multiple sole pillar pieces may be used. The retrofit member 40 may be attached to the prior art putter head by screws, magnets, snaps, or any other attachment means resulting in a rigid, secure attachment.

In an embodiment, the strike face edge may be beveled, chamfered, or rounded. FIG. 13 is a side view of the putter with a beveled strike face edge 47. The strike face edge 47 can be configured using various edge technologies combined with surface textures 46 with performance characteristic designed to minimize loft and backspin 49 in favor of topspin 43 and hastened pure roll 43. Edge shapes may include but are not limited to: bevel, chamfer, rounded, bull nose, and shall include both concave and convex surfaces.

In an embodiment, the strike face may be textured. FIG. 14 is a front view of the strike face 30, strike face edge 47 and sole pillar 26 with coarse to fine textures 46. Textures 46 may be applied to the strike face 30, sole pillar 26, the strike face edge 47, or any combination of the above.

In the preferred embodiment, the putter head 10 of the present invention conforms to the rules of the United States Golf Association (USGA). FIG. 15 illustrates the current dimensional requirements for a conforming putter head.

The USGA maintains “The Rules of Golf” to specify the equipment which may be used to play the game. In general, they are “descriptive” and “restrictive” in nature—defining what a golf putter head should look like and limiting how golf putter heads can perform. The following is stated by the USGA for a putter head:

“When the putter head is in its normal address position, the dimensions of the head must be such that:

• • the distance from the heel to the toe is greater than the distance from the face to the back;
  • the distance from the heel to the toe of the head is less than or equal to 7 inches (177.8 mm);
  • the distance from the heel to the toe of the face is greater than or equal to two thirds of the distance from the face to the back of the head;
  • the distance from the heel to the toe of the face is greater than or equal to half of the distance from the heel to the toe of the head; and
  • the distance from the sole to the top of the head, including any permitted features, is less than or equal to 2.5 inches (63.5 mm).

The USGA Rule goes on to describe how these measurements should be made for traditionally shaped heads and that for unusually shaped heads, the heel-to-toe measurement may be made at the face.”

FIG. 15 is a top view of the putter head which designates the locations of y₃ 32 (length of putter face), x₁ 23 (width of the putter body) and y₁ 24 (length of the putter body). The face view indicates the location of z₁ 25 (height of the putter body) The USGA equations 50 are the upper and lower limits which must be retained to become a USGA conforming putter head.

Table 1 demonstrates the dimensional specifications for a putter head incorporating the current conforming parameters in FIG. 14. Table 2 defines 4 variables: body, sole pillar, strike face and rotation. Each variable has inherent linear dimensions [x 16, y 17, and z 18] with affiliated rotation elements [roll 19 (φ), pitch 20 (θ), and yaw 21 (ψ)] used to define the entire pure roll putter geometry, including the all-important sole pillar 26 and strike face 30 elements. The variables units are either in inches or degrees. Each variable has lower and upper limits and established equations.

FIG. 16 illustrates a pure roll putter head configuration where all dimensions fall within the design limits identified in Table 2 and also meet the USGA standards shown in FIG. 15. It will be understood that this is a single embodiment of the invention and that many other putter head configurations of the present invention can also meet these design limits and USGA standards.

The example in FIG. 16 illustrates a putter head with:

Translation:
Body	x1 = 3″	y1 = 5″	z1 = 1.5″
Sole Pillar	x2 = 2″	y2 = 2″	z2 = .75″
Strike Face	x3 = 1″	y3 = 3″	z3 = .75″
Rotation:
Sole Pillar	(roll) ϕ1 = 0°	(pitch) θ1 = 45°	(yaw) ψ1 = 0°
Strike Face	(roll) ϕ2 = 0°	(pitch) θ2 = 6°	(yaw) ψ2 = 0°

This particular model will align with a 1.680″ diameter golf ball 41 approximately at the equator 42.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart that accompanies Table 1. It incorporates all of the putter head design parameters of this invention. Each parameter is configured independently with the ultimate performance goal of expediting pure roll.

During the design process, various other design features would also need to be defined. Some of those design features include, but are not limited to, the following:

• • Putter head shapes (blade, mallet, Futuristic Design)
  • Shaft (location, length, steel, wood, graphic)
  • Grip (standard, medium, large)
  • Material composition (aluminum bronze, copper nickel, carbon steel, copper, carbon damascus, stainless steel, mix metals, wood, plastics, combination of all the above)
  • Face finishes and textures
  • Sole pillar finishes and textures
  • Face inserts
  • Putter weighting (toe weighed for conventional open-square-close stroke and face balance for straight back and straight through stroke)
  • Lie angle

The appropriate selection of these physical attributes will support and enhance the previously optimized putter head design of the present invention.

In an embodiment, design refinements can also be made to produce pure roll putter head configurations that can account for green/weather conditions as well as user skills.

An example would be a configuration of this invention with a sole pillar designed to strike slightly below the equator of the ball to produce minimal backspin, just enough to limit ball momentum on a fast downhill green. That is, refinements of the pure roll putter design can be further “tweaked” to meet various nuances of the putting game, all with improved putt accuracy in mind.

Furthermore, the putter head of the present invention can be refined to also compensate for the human input factor and be made with design assistance for persons both skilled and unskilled in the art of putting. For example, if a person tends to drag the bottom of the club on approach, the putter head of the present invention could comprise a set of guides on the bottom of the putter to reduce club drag so a free swing will occur with a strike at the equator of the ball. Many other refinements are possible to facilitate the personal needs of the human, whether it is a professional or a newcomer to the game of golf putting.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate that numerous design configurations may be possible to enjoy the functional benefits of the inventive systems. Thus, given the wide variety of configurations and arrangements of the embodiments of the present invention the scope of the invention is reflected by the breadth of the claims.

Claims

1. A golf putter head, comprising:

an upper portion, comprising a strike face, said strike face being configured to strike a golf ball, said strike face comprising a strike face edge located on the bottom of the strike face;

a sole pillar located below the upper portion, said sole pillar shaped in such a way as to not contact the golf ball while the strike face strikes the golf ball;

wherein the strike face edge is horizontal and located at a height ranging from 0.375″ less than a diameter of a golf ball to 0.375″ more than a diameter of a golf ball.

2. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the sole pillar comprises a sole pillar face, wherein the both the strike face and the sole pillar face are approximately vertical, and wherein the sole pillar face is recessed with respect to the strike face.

3. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the strike face is at an angle ranging between −30 and 30 degrees with respect to a vertical plane.

4. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the strike face edge comprises one of the following: a bevel, a chamfer, a rounded edge, or a bull nose.

5. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein at least one of the strike face and the sole pillar is textured.

6. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the sole pillar is removable.

7. The golf putter head of claim 6, wherein the sole pillar comprises at least two pieces, wherein each of the at least two pieces may be attached independently to the upper portion.

8. The golf putter head of claim 6, wherein the sole pillar's location with respect to the upper portion is adjustable.

9. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the strike face edge is located at a height less than the diameter of the golf ball.

10. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein the strike face edge is located at a height substantially equal to the diameter of the golf ball.

11. The golf putter head of claim 1, wherein:

the distance between a heel and a toe of the upper portion is y1;

the distance between a bottom and a top of the upper portion is z1;

the distance between a face and a back of the upper portion is x1;

the distance between a heel and a toe of the sole pillar is y2;

the distance between a bottom and a top of the sole pillar is z2;

the distance between a face and a back of the sole pillar is x2;

the distance between a heel and a toe of the strike face is y3;

the distance between a bottom and a top of the strike face is z3;

the distance between the strike face and the face of the sole pillar is x3;

the pitch of the sole pillar is θ1;

the pitch of the strike face is θ2;

the yaw of the sole pillar is ψ1;

the yaw of the strike face is ψ2;

the roll of the sole pillar is φ1;

the roll of the strike face is φ2; and wherein: y1≤7″; z1=z2+z3; y1>x1; x1=x2+x3; y2<y3; z2<z1; x2<x1; y3≥0.5y1; y3≥⅔x1; z3=z1−z2; x3<x1; 0≤θ1≤180°; −30°≤θ2≤30°; 0≤ψ1≤180°; 0≤ψ2≤180°; 0≤φ1≤180°; 0≤φ2≤180°.

12. The golf putter head of claim 1, further comprising:

a set of guides on a bottom side of the sole pillar to reduce club drag.