Golf club

A golf club especially constructed to eliminate the backspin imparted on a golf ball when striking the ball and to improve the player's control and accuracy of the golf putt by ensuring that the center of the ball, the center of the clubface and the center of the golf club all meet at one point when the putter strikes the ball.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to golf clubs, and more particularly, to golf 
putters having an advantageous construction. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
It is the principal object of the present invention to construct a golf 
club that will improve the performance of golfers. The prior art has 
taught a variety of clubface and shaft constructions and arrangements for 
golf putters. However, many putters do not comply with the rules of the 
United States Golf Association (USGA) because their designs run afoul of 
the required specifications or they require the player to assume an 
illegal stance when putting. Hence, such putters cannot be used in 
tournaments conducted pursuant to, sponsored or sanctioned by the USGA. 
See Rule 2 and Appendix II USGA Re-Drafts (Sep. 11, 1981), which are 
incorporated herein by reference. 
The construction of a putter according to the rules require that the shaft 
or neck or socket of a putter be fixed at any point in the head and need 
not remain in line with the heel. The axis of the shaft from the top to a 
point not more than five (5) inches (127 mm) above the sole shall diverge 
in the toe-heel plane from the vertical by at least ten (10) degrees in 
relation to the horizontal line determining the length of the head. 
The length of the clubhead shall be greater than the breadth. These 
measurements are made on horizontal lines between the vertical projections 
of the extremities when the clubhead is grounded in its normal address 
position. 
Conventional putters have a flat face that causes the ball to skid on 
impact, especially on long putts. The skidding causes loss of control of 
the ball when the ball jumps off the ground. Moreover, skidding can amount 
to 20% of the distance to the hole. 
A conventional putter is approximately 1 inch high which is smaller than 
1.62 inches, the height of a golf ball. Consequently, the center of 
gravity of the conventional putter is lower than the center of gravity of 
the ball. Thus, when a conventional putter strikes the ball, the center of 
the putter makes contact below the center of the ball creating backspin in 
the ball. 
When the club strikes the ball below the center line of the ball two things 
happen. First, the ball is made to travel in the direction of the swing of 
the club. This is the largest impact to the ball. Second, the stroke 
causes the ball to spin backwards. The torque or movement exerted on the 
ball is equal to the force of the club strike times the distance away from 
the center of the ball the ball is hit. This torque is small compared to 
the force that makes the ball go forward. 
As the ball travels forward, it will slide along the grass for an almost 
imperceivable time. The force of friction between the grass and the ball 
will create a much larger torque than the torque mentioned above. The 
torque from the friction creates topspin which overtakes the backspin 
initially present in the ball. 
Striking the center of ball is ideal because it eliminates the backspin 
problem. If you strike the ball below its center, the ball first spins 
backward, then turns to topspin during its forward roll due to friction 
with the grass. This slows the ball down and causes hops and skips. The 
problem of backspin is discussed in more detail in the drawings and 
description of preferred embodiments hereinafter. 
Conversely, if you hit above the center of the golf ball it drives the ball 
down with topspin roll, but this also causes hops, skips and loss of 
speed. 
Therefore, there exists a need to create a club that will guarantee that 
the ball will be struck at the center point. The backwards roll can be 
eliminated and a more efficient putt can be produced. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,685 discloses a golf club having a protruding mass on 
the top of the clubhead. However, there is also provided a mass 
concentration on the striking face which may result in off center hits. 
The present invention seeks to solve these problems and improve the 
player's putting performance by providing a putter that is constructed so 
that the center of the clubface strikes the center of the ball. This 
construction is in compliance with the USGA rules and provides the player 
with an improved balance and feel of the club and more control over the 
putt which results in better putting performance. 
By having the shaft connected through the center of the clubface, through 
the arch at some angle, one creates the maximum mass of weight behind the 
center of the club to strike the ball. Without question the best transfer 
of energy always occurs from the center of the clubface to the center of 
the golf ball. This maximizes the energy transferred. In contrast, energy 
is lost when a different part of the clubface strikes the ball. 
If the center of the clubface strikes the center of the golf ball, normal 
backspin in the ball is eliminated. The ball will first scoot, then due to 
friction begin its topspin roll which is the desired roll. This type of 
hit achieves a perfect roll of topspin quicker and with less effort. 
The present invention provides a greater probability that the center of the 
ball will meet the center of the clubface when executing a putt. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In accordance with the present invention, a golf club, especially a putter, 
is constructed so that the center of the clubface meets the center of the 
ball when the clubface strikes the ball. The shaft of the golf putter is 
aligned at an angle of about 50.degree. to 90.degree. in relation to the 
clubface. The clubface is provided with an arch about the center. The arch 
of the clubface is at least about 1.62 inches high, the height as a golf 
ball. Indicator means are situated on or about the clubface to allow the 
player to align up the ball and putter so that a solid strike of the ball 
will occur each stroke. At least one indicator means such as a mark can be 
located at the top of the clubface to allow for top viewing. This mark can 
be axially aligned with another means or mark located at the center of the 
clubface. 
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and 
improved golf club that assures the center of the clubface meets the 
center of the ball when the clubface strikes the ball. 
It is a further object of the present invention to eliminate the backspin 
intrinsic to every golf putt. 
It is a further object of this invention to provide a putter that improves 
the balance and feel of the club. 
It is a further object of the invention to provide a putter that improves 
the player's control over a putt. 
It is a still further object of the invention to provide a golf club that 
improves the player's score without violating the rules and ethics of the 
game. 
Other objects and advantages will become more apparent from the following 
detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying 
drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring more particularly to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 show various 
views of the invention, while FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C show comparative views 
of a conventional golf putter striking a golf ball as well as the forces 
therein that affect the travel of the ball, and of which the present 
invention seeks to control to improve the accuracy of each golf putt. 
As shown in FIG. 1, the clubface 11 of the invention 10 has two indicator 
marks 13 and 14; one mark 13 is at the top of the clubface 11 and the 
other mark 14 is at the center of the clubface 11. The middle portion 12 
of the clubface 11 is optionally circular and identical in size and shape 
to a professional golf ball. The two ends 17 and 18 of the clubface 11 are 
called the toe 18 and heel 17 portions of the clubface 11. The heel 
portion 17 is the end closer to the player's feet. While the entire 
clubface measures about 1 inch high at each end and about 43/4 inches 
long from end to end, the circular middle portion of the face is exactly 
1.62 inches high, the same height as a golf ball. Thus, the radii of the 
circular middle portion and the golf ball are each 0.81 inches long. It is 
understood that the height and length of the clubface may vary according 
to the type of club being utilized. 
Advantageously, for use by many non-professional golfers the shaft 15 of 
the golf club makes a 70.degree. angle with the horizontal axis when 
viewed from the front. The shaft 15 may be integral with the clubface 11 
as one unit or it may be a separate unit inserted into a sleeve 16 
situated on top of the circular portion or the heel and fastened thereto. 
FIG. 2A shows a conventional putter 20 and a professional golf ball 30. The 
conventional putter clubface is about 1 inch high, which is smaller than 
the 1.62 inch height of a golf ball. Consequently, the center of the 
conventional putter 21 is lower than the center of the ball 31. 
FIG. 2B shows the effect of striking a golf ball 30 with a conventional 
putter 50. The conventional putter 50 strikes the ball 30 at a point 41 
below the ball's center point 42 causing backspin on the ball. 
FIG. 2C show the forces acting on a moving golf ball 30 after it is struck 
with a conventional club. The friction between the grass and the ball 
reverses the spin on the ball eliminating the backspin and creating 
topspin. 
FIG. 3 illustrates the present invention. The golf putter 70 is about 1.62 
inches high. The golf ball 30 is about 1.62 inches high. Therefore, the 
center point of the golf putter 71 is the same height as the center of the 
golf ball 81. Advantageously, an indicator mark 72 is situated at the top 
of the club axially in line with the center point 71. This design 
increases the probability that when the putter strikes the ball, the 
center of the clubface of the putter will meet at the same point as the 
center of the ball. By having these two points meet during the stroke, the 
putter strikes the ball in the direction of the swing causing the ball to 
scoot along the ground. This will eliminate the unnecessary backspin 
created by conventional putters. Scooting the ball along the ground 
creates friction between itself and the ground causing the ball to produce 
topspin, which is the desired roll that golfers prefer. 
Moreover, hitting the center of the ball with the center of the clubface 
maximizes the mass of the weight behind the center of the ball. This gives 
a true hit to the ball. 
The present invention contemplates a plurality of markings on the clubface 
for alignment purposes. FIG. 4 shows two indicator marks 92 and 93 on the 
circular middle portion (arch) 91 of the clubface 90. One mark 93 is at 
the center of the arch 91. The marks can be any of a variety of designs. 
Preferably, the marks 92 and 93 are in line with each other, which 
provides excellent alignment when striking the ball. The line on top of 
the putter along with the marks allow the player to perfectly align the 
ball with the putter. Thus, the player will strike the ball solid every 
stroke and the center of the putter will strike the center of the ball. 
Preferably, the perfectly balanced putter is created by having the center 
line of the shaft in line with the center of the clubface and having the 
height of the arch at least equal to the height of a ball (1.62 inches). 
While the invention as illustrated depicts a golf putter, it is not limited 
to such, and in fact, it is contemplated that the invention is equally 
applicable to golf drivers and fairway clubs. 
As various changes may be made in the form, arrangement and construction of 
parts of the preferred embodiments without departing from the spirit of 
the invention, it is understood that all matters herein are to be taken as 
illustrative and not in a limiting sense.