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Gravity action putter and methods of use

Gravity action putter and methods of use description/claims

Not Applicable.

This invention relates to golf putters and the methods with which they are used, specifically to an improved putter shaft and head design; and to use of the putter by holding with one hand in a manner that allows gravity to determine, in whole or in part, the speed with which the putter contacts the golf ball.

Many golf putter shaft, head and grip designs have been proposed in the past for clubs to be used for rolling a golf ball with the intent of the ball falling into the hole on the green.

Hundreds of patents have been issued and hundreds are pending for golf putters. No inventions have included making the shaft of a uniform diameter such that it may be grasped anywhere along the length of the shaft. Usually there is a small diameter shaft connected to the putter head, and one or two grips placed on the shaft.

The small diameter of the shaft allows there to be deflections between the putter head and the grip. These deflections can cause the ball to miss falling into the hole. The present invention solves this problem. The small diameter shaft is too small to be gripped effectively or comfortably. The present invention solves this problem.

When putting with the most often used method of gripping the putter with two hands near the top end of the putter, locking the wrists, and moving the putter by turning the shoulders back then forward, several undesirable things occur. On the backstroke, the putter head tilts to an “open” position and it moves inside the target line. When moved forward toward the ball, the putter head may not return to the square position at the proper time, resulting in an error.

All known putting methods utilize muscles in the golfer's body to move the putter head backward away from the ball and then again to move the putter head toward and contact the ball. This is further complicated because accelerating the club head through the contact is highly recommended by many experts. Muscles must then be controlling not only the speed of the putter head but the rate of change of speed, which is acceleration. The acceleration produces the feeling that the golfer is shoving the ball instead of hitting the ball. Actually, even with acceleration, the clubhead hits the ball. Pure shoving is not permitted by the rules of golf. Any inconsistencies in the golfer's muscles result in inconsistencies in the putt. The present invention solves or reduces the effect of this problem with muscles.

Two aspects of putting are fundamental to the putt. The direction, or line, of the putt is one. The initial speed of the ball is the other because it determines how far the ball will roll in a particular set of conditions of the green. This initial speed is a direct function of how fast the putterhead is moving when it contacts the ball. Anything that will improve the line or speed of the putterhead will improve the quality of the putt. The present invention improves both the direction and the initial speed of the ball.

The current invention is a golf putter designed to be held by only one hand in order to achieve the ability to produce a pure pendulum motion. The pure pendulum motion has many advantages and solves problems encountered with the conventional two hand putting method.

The present invention includes a shaft of larger diameter than conventional putters. The diameter is chosen to be sufficient for gripping comfortably along most of length of the shaft by one hand.

The putter shaft may be gripped close to the putter head, with the shaft held against the arm so that the arm and putter move in unison as a pendulum whose pivot point is the joint of the golfer's upper arm and shoulder. With practice, the golfer can move the putter in a coplanar motion similarly to a pure pendulum.

The striking face of the putter may be set and maintained perpendicular to the target line, thereby solving the variable face angle problem attendant putting with two arms. The larger shaft diameter results in less shaft deflection due to inertia forces and forces of contacting the ball. Deflections cause errors in the speed and direction the ball travels. The current invention reduces putting errors due to deflections.

All putting is accomplished by using muscles in the body of the golfer. Muscle power is a source of errors. The current invention has less sources of muscle power errors because the simple pendulum requires less active muscles than the conventional putting method. Conventional putting requires muscles to move the golfer's back and shoulders while holding the arms rigid and the head still. Fewer muscles are required to simply swing the arm while grasping the putter of the current invention.

The current invention allows gravity to aid in controlling the speed of the putterhead at ball contact, which in turns controls the distance the ball will roll. Considering the putter-arm pendulum, muscles are used to create a back stroke which raises the putterhead and the center of gravity of the pendulum. If the muscles are relaxed at the top of the back stroke, then the force of gravity will cause the pendulum to swing downward. Thus, the speed of the putterhead, at ball contact, is determined by gravity and not muscle power. Since gravity is more consistent than muscle power, putting using gravity is more consistent than conventional putting. Combinations of gravity and muscle power may also be used with the current invention.

The line of travel of the putterhead may be easily checked by practicing the back stroke, releasing the backward forces, then stopping the putterhead before it hits the ball. Much as a cue stick is commonly stroked before hitting a billiard ball.

A gripping cover may, or may not, be used on the shaft.

The preferable putterhead appears as a rectangle when viewed from the top as this shape aids in the alignment perpendicular to the target line, similarly to aligning a rectangular picture frame hanging on a wall. Lines on the top of the putterhead aid in positioning the putterhead with respect to the ball so that ball contact may be made with the best spot on the putterhead. The best spot is also known as the “sweet spot”.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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