Adjustable golf club

An adjustable golf club is provided having an elongated handle which is secured to a club head support, the club head support being pivotally secured to a club head. The club head has a planar striking face and a bottom surface. The pivotal axis at which the club head and the club head support are connected is perpendicular to the striking face. The pivotal connection permits the angular orientation between the handle and the bottom surface of the club head to be varied within a plane that is generally parallel to the striking face. A detent engaging the club head and club head support maintains the desired angular orientation between the handle and the bottom surface of the club head.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to golf clubs. More particularly, the invention 
relates to a golf club, such as a putter, having a head which is 
adjustable with respect to the handle. 
As used herein, the terms "golf club" and "club" refer to putters and other 
clubs which conform to The Rules of Golf as approved by The United States 
Golf Association and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, 
Scotland (the "USGA Rules of Golf" ). 
Golf is a game played by many people throughout the world. As with most 
sports participants, golfers are constantly searching for ways to improve 
their performance on the course. For example, a golfer may change the way 
he grips the various clubs, the way he addresses the ball, his stance, his 
posture and his swing while trying to reduce his score by a few strokes. 
Putting is one part of the game where golfers typically make many 
adjustments to their playing style. 
When a golfer makes changes to his playing style, the changes may 
necessitate the use of a club having characteristics different from the 
club that the player used prior to making the changes. For example, if a 
player adopts a more upright posture for putting, the change may require 
that his putter have a greater angle between the handle and the club head 
to position the end of the handle that the player grips higher off of the 
ground when the club is in the playing position. 
One way to accommodate changes to a golfer's playing style that require 
different club configurations is for the golfer to obtain a different club 
each time the change is made. This can be expensive and time consuming. An 
alternative is to use a club that is adjustable. One problem with 
adjustable clubs is that they do not typically provide the player with the 
desired "feel" as can be obtained with conventional clubs. For example, 
the components of the adjustable club may be become loose, which can be 
distracting to the player and interfere with the manner in which the club 
impacts the ball. Another problem associated with adjustable clubs is that 
many do not conform to the United States Golf Association's rules of golf, 
and therefore cannot be used in situations which require compliance with 
such rules. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
I have invented new and useful improvements in an adjustable golf club that 
overcomes many of the problems associated with currently available 
adjustable golf clubs. I provide a golf club having an elongated handle 
with a grip end and a lower end. A golf club head support is secured to 
the lower end of the handle. A club head is pivotally secured to the club 
head support. The club head has a generally planar striking surface and a 
bottom surface. The club head is pivotally secured to the club head 
support on a pivotal axis that is generally perpendicular to the striking 
face. The connection from its angular orientation between the handle and 
the bottom surface of the head to be adjusted in a plane that is generally 
parallel to the striking face. Detent means are provided for selectively 
maintaining the angular orientation between the handle and the bottom 
surface of the club head. 
I also provide golf club head that has a generally planar striking face and 
at least one adjustment surface oriented generally parallel to the 
striking face. A club head support is pivotally secured to at least one of 
the adjustment surfaces at a pivot point and on a pivotal axis that is 
perpendicular to the striking face. The club head support includes handle 
securing means for engaging an upwardly extending handle and maintaining 
the handle in a plane that is generally parallel to the striking face. 
Detent means engaging at least one of the adjustment surfaces and the club 
head support are operative for selectively maintaining the angular 
orientation about the pivot point of a point on the club head support. 
Other details, objects and advantages of my invention will become more 
apparent as the following description of the present preferred embodiment 
proceeds.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a preferred embodiment of the golf club of my 
invention is an adjustable putter 2. Putter 2 includes an elongated handle 
4, a club head support 6 and the club head 8. Handle 4 includes a gripping 
end 10 and a lower end 12. Club head support 6 is secured to lower end 12 
of handle 4. Preferably, club head support 6 includes handle engaging 
means which include a radially extending opening 14 in which lower end 12 
of handle 4 is received and secured. Club head support 6 is preferably 
generally circular in shape. Opening 14 is provided at a point on 
peripheral edge 16 of club head support 6. 
Club head 8 has a generally parallel striking face 20 and a bottom surface 
22. Bottom surface 22 normally rests on the ground when the golfer is 
addressing the ball. The angle of striking face 20 to the ground is 
dependent upon the loft that the club is intended to impart the ball. Club 
head 8 is pivotally secured to club head support 6 on a pivotal axis that 
is generally perpendicular to striking face 20. Club head support 6 is 
preferably secured to club head 8 at a pivot point 24 on adjustment 
surface 26. Adjustment surface 26 is preferably generally parallel to 
striking face 20 and is located on the opposite side of the club head from 
striking face 20. Threaded opening 28 is provided in adjustment surface 
26. A central opening 30 is provided in club head support 6. Pivot screw 
32 is received through central opening 30 and into threaded opening 28, 
thereby pivotally securing club head 8 to club head support 6. Threads on 
screw 32 engage the threads within opening 28. Tightening screw 32 will 
retard pivotal movement of the club head 8 with respect to club head 
support 6. 
When club head 8 and club head support 6 are secured to one another, handle 
4 extends generally upward in a plane that is generally parallel to 
striking face 20. The pivotal connection between club head 8 and club head 
support 6 permits adjustment of the angular orientation between handle 4 
and bottom surface 22 in the plane in which handle 4 lies. 
Detent means are provided engaging club head 8 and club head support 6 and 
operative for selectively maintaining the angular orientation between 
handle 4 and bottom surface 22. The detent means preferably include a 
plurality of angularly spaced apertures 34 in adjustment surface 26 of 
club head 8, and a locking pin 36 positioned to engage club head support 6 
and individually engage apertures 34. Locking pin 36 is received into 
opening 38 in club head support 6 and into one of the apertures 34, 
thereby resisting relative movement between the club head 8 and club head 
support 6 about pivot point 24. 
The angular orientation between handle 4 and bottom surface 22 may be 
selectively varied between positive and negative inclinations from 
perpendicular with respect to bottom surface 22. In a preferred 
embodiment, however, apertures 34 are positioned so that the minimum 
angular orientation between handle 4 and bottom surface 22 will be 
10.degree. from perpendicular with respect to bottom surface 22. This is 
required to conform with the current USGA Rules of Golf. Apertures 34 are 
preferably positioned to permit the angular orientation between handle 4 
and bottom surface 22 to be selectively positioned at orientations between 
about 10.degree. and 90.degree. from perpendicular with respect to bottom 
surface 22. In the preferred embodiment, eleven apertures 34 are provided 
spaced from one another at about 4.5.degree. intervals with respect to 
pivot point 24. 
To adjust the angular orientation between handle 4 and bottom surface 22, 
locking pin 36 is disengaged from an aperture 34. Once locking pin 36 is 
disengaged, club head 8 is free to pivot about pivot point 24, and the 
desired angular orientation between handle 4 and bottom surface 22 may be 
set. Once the desired angular orientation is obtained, locking pin 36 is 
pushed in to engage the aperture 34 corresponding to the desired angular 
orientation. Re-engagement of locking pin 36 resists pivotal movement of 
club head 8 relative to club head support 6. It will be appreciated that 
repeated adjustments to the angular orientation may be made in this 
manner. 
The embodiment of the golf club shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a putter for use 
by a right-handed golfer. It will be appreciated that my invention is 
equally adaptable for clubs for left-handed golfer and, further, can be 
utilized for clubs that are adaptable for use by either right-handed or 
left-handed players. 
While I have illustrated and described a certain present preferred 
embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit 
myself thereto and that the invention may be otherwise variously practiced 
within the scope of the following claims.