Patent ID: 8550932
Filing Date: 2013-10-08
Classification: A63B

Abstract:
1. A putter head, comprising: a putter body including a ball striking face member made of a first material having a first hardness characteristic, wherein a plurality of independent and separated openings are defined in the ball striking face member, and wherein at least some of the independent and separated openings extend across a central portion of the ball striking face member; and a second material provided to at least partially fill the plurality of openings, wherein the second material has a second hardness characteristic that is softer than the first hardness characteristic, and wherein the material making up the ball striking face member between adjacent openings and the second material exposed in at least some of the openings extend across the central portion of the ball striking face member and provide a ball striking surface of the putter head that contacts a ball when struck by the putter head, wherein a plurality of grooves are defined in the ball striking surface of the putter head, wherein the plurality of grooves extend across the central portion of the ball striking face member and are formed in at least one of: (a) the material making up the ball striking face member between adjacent openings and (b) the second material exposed in the openings in the ball striking face member, wherein at least one of the grooves has a first edge that constitutes the first material and a second edge opposite the first edge that constitutes the second material.