A PUTTER HEAD

Abstract: A putter head (10) comprises a plate-like body portion (12), a heel weight (14) and a toe weight (16). A front side (18) of the body portion defines a ball-striking surface (30) for striking a golf ball. The heel and toe weights extend downwardly from the body portion and are spaced apart in a heel-to-toe direction. The heel and toe weights thus define a channel (41) between them that extends along an underside of the body portion along a width dimension thereof. The putter head provides a relatively small ball contact area which has the effect of concentrating the reaction force when the putter head contacts a ball. This provides a putter incorporating the putter head (10) with more "feel". Furthermore, the putter head presents a relatively small frontal surface area which reduces the possibility of the putter head snagging on grass at the fringe of a putting green.

Description: A PUTTER HEAD THIS INVENTION relates to a golf putter head. Many existing commercially available putters have putter heads having a flat ball- striking face defined by a putter body. The ball-striking face typically extends from a lower region of the putter body close to the underside thereof to an upper region of the putter body. When the putter head makes contact with a golf ball, the resultant force that is transmitted through the putter head is largely absorbed by the putter body. As a result, little of the resultant force is transmitted along the putter shaft to the handle where the force can be felt by a golfer holding the shaft. A problem that is often encountered with existing putters, is that because the ball-striking face of the putter head of such putters extends between the underside of the putter and the upper side thereof thereby often causing snagging of the putter head when putting out of grass at the fringe of a putting green. It is an object of the present invention to provide a putter head that ameliorates many of the abovementioned problems. According to the invention there is provided a golf putter head comprising a plate-like body portion having a front side defining a ball-striking surface, a rear side, a heel end, a toe end, an upper side and a lower side, the body portion having a width dimension measured between said front and rear sides thereof, a length dimension measured between said heel and toe ends thereof and a thickness dimension measured between said upper and lower sides thereof; a heel weight defining a sole along an underside thereof and being disposed adjacent the heel end of the body portion; and a toe weight defining a sole along an underside thereof and being disposed adjacent the toe end of the body portion, the heel and toe weights extending operatively downwardly from the body portion and being spaced apart in a heel- to-toe direction extending along the length dimension of the body portion. The body portion may have a thickness measured along the thickness dimension thereof, of not greater than 1 2mm. The body portion may optimally have a thickness of 9mm. The lower side of the body portion may be disposed at a height of between 8mm and 1 6mm above the underside of the heel weight. More particularly, the lower side of the body portion may be disposed at a height of about 1 2mm above the underside of the heel weight. The golf putter head may have an inverted U-shaped configuration when viewed from the front side of the body portion. The body portion may define at least one weight reduction recess formation. The weight reduction recess formation may be in the form of a slot defined in the body portion adjacent the rear side thereof, the slot extending between the heel and toe weights and being spaced from the front side of the body portion. Said heel and toe weights may be elongated in a front-to-rear direction extending between said front and rear sides of the body portion. The length dimension of the body portion may be greater than the width dimension thereof. The body portion may include a socket for receiving a lower end of a golf putter shaft. A corner of each of the heel and toe weights, defined by a front side and the underside thereof, may be curved. The underside of each of the heel and toe weights may taper from an outer side thereof to an inner side thereof. A corner of each of the heel and toe weights, defined by an inner side and the underside thereof, may be curved. Further features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non- limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows a schematic front view of a golf putter head in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 shows a schematic top plan view of the golf putter head of Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the golf putter head of Figure 1 . With reference to the drawings, a golf putter head in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The putter head 10 comprises a plate-like body portion 1 2, a heel weight 14 and a toe weight 1 6. The body portion 1 2, the heel weight 14 and the toe weight 1 6 are of integrally moulded brass. The body portion has a front side 1 8, a rear side 20, a heel end 22, a toe end 24, an upper side 26 and a lower side 28. As such, the body portion has a width dimension that is measured between the front and rear sides thereof, a length dimension that is measured between the heel and toe ends thereof and a thickness dimension that is measured between the upper and lower sides thereof. The front side 1 8 of the body portion defines a ball-striking surface 30 for striking a golf ball. The body portion defines a first slot 32 in the front side thereof, into which a face insert 34 is press-fitted. The face insert 34 has a front side which provides the ball-striking surface 30 of the body portion. The body portion 1 2 of the putter head defines a weight reduction recess formation in the form of a second slot 36 that is defined in the body portion adjacent the rear side thereof. The slot extends between the heel and toe weights and is spaced from the front side 1 8 of the body portion. In order to provide a desired weight distribution characteristic, the slot 36 is filled with a resin material. The body portion 1 2 includes a socket 38 that projects from its upper side 26 near the heel weight, for receiving a lower end of a golf putter shaft 40. The upper side 26 of the body portion is marked with three grooves 41 .1 , 41 .2 and 41 .3 for identifying an optimum ball-striking region of the putter head. The heel and toe weights extend downwardly from the body portion and are spaced apart in a heel-to-toe direction extending along the length dimension of the body portion. The heel and toe weights thus define a channel 41 between them that extends along the underside of the body portion along the width dimension of the body portion. The heel weight 1 4 has an outer side 42, an inner side 44, an under side 46, a front side 48 and a rear side 50. The toe weight 1 6 is a mirror image of the heel weight 1 4 and as such, also has an outer side 42, an inner side 44, an underside 46, a front side 48 and a rear side 50. The under side of each of the heel and toe weights tapers from the outer side 42 to the inner side 44 thereof, terminating in a curved sole 52. A corner 54 of each of the heel and toe weights, defined by the front side 48 and the under side 46 thereof, is curved. Furthermore, a corner of each of the heel and toe weights, defined by the inner side 44 and the underside 46 thereof, is curved. The curved corners and the tapered undersides of the heel and toe weights provide the heel and toe weights with a streamlined front profile. The putter head is designed for use with a 41 ,27mm diameter English golf ball, a U.S. standard 42,67mm diameter golf ball, a newer 43,69mm diameter golf ball or any other golf ball having a diameter between the smaller and larger diameters mentioned above. Optimally, the body portion 1 2 has a thickness, measured along the thickness dimension thereof, of 9mm, with the lower side 28 of the body portion being disposed at a height of 1 2mm above the underside of the heel weight. The Applicant has determined that a ground clearance of approximately 4.5mm should be provided between a ground surface and the underside of the heel and toe weights when putting. The dimensions of 9mm for the thickness of the body portion 1 2 and 1 2mm for the height of the body portion above the underside of the heel weight, have been selected by the Application so as to permit the ball- striking surface of the body portion to strike a golf ball at an optimal height that is approximately equal to the radius of the golf ball (the average radius of the golf balls described hereinabove is approximately 21 mm) . Allowing for a ground clearance of approximately 4.5mm, the abovementioned dimensions have been selected for an ideal putting stroke wherein a centre line defined by the ball- striking surface of the putter head midway between the upper and lower sides thereof (i.e. a distance of 4.5mm along the thickness dimension of the body portion), strikes the ball at said optimal height. In use, the putter head in accordance with the invention, provides a relatively small ball contact area which has the effect of concentrating the reaction force when the putter head makes contact with a golf ball. The relatively thin body portion of the putter head serves to "channel" the reaction forces to the shaft of the putter thereby allowing the reaction forces to be felt more easily by a golfer. This provides the putter with more "feel". Furthermore, the configuration of the putter head and particularly the channel 41 defined by the underside of the body portion and the heel and toe weights, presents a relatively small frontal surface area. This, together with the streamlined front profile presented by the heel and toe weights, reduces the possibility of the putter head snagging on grass when putting a ball from relatively long grass at the fringes of a putting green. As such, the inwardly- tapered undersides 46 of the heel and toe weights and the channel 41 defined by the body portion and the heel and toe weights, combine to reduce the frontal surface area presented by the putter head in a putting stroke so as to permit grass to pass through the channel and under the putter head when putting a golf ball. Furthermore, with the ball-striking surface 30 being elevated above the putting surface, the possibility of grass being positioned between the surface 30 and a golf ball, when putting the ball, is reduced. With the lower side of the body portion being disposed at a height of 1 2mm above the underside of the heel weight, the ball-striking surface of the body portion will strike the golf ball at a height that is approximately equal to the radius of the ball, thereby imparting over-spin to the ball which enhances rolling of the ball thereby assisting the ball in holding its line with it is putted.

Claims: CLAIMS A golf putter head comprising a plate-like body portion having a front side defining a ball-striking surface, a rear side, a heel end, a toe end, an upper side and a lower side, the body portion having a width dimension measured between said front and rear sides thereof, a length dimension measured between said heel and toe ends thereof and a thickness dimension measured between said upper and lower sides thereof; a heel weight defining a sole along an underside thereof and being disposed adjacent the heel end of the body portion; and a toe weight defining a sole along an underside thereof and being disposed adjacent the toe end of the body portion, the heel and toe weights extending operatively downwardly from the body portion and being spaced apart in a heel-to-toe direction extending along the length dimension of the body portion. A golf putter head as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the body portion has a thickness measured along the thickness dimension thereof, of not greater than 1 2mm. A golf putter head as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the body portion has a thickness measured along the thickness dimension thereof, of about 9mm. A golf putter head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lower side of the body portion is disposed at a height of between 8mm and 1 6mm above the underside of the heel weight. 5. A golf putter head as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the lower side of the body portion is disposed at a height of about 1 2 mm above the underside of the heel weight. 6. A golf putter head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which has an inverted U-shaped configuration when viewed from the front side of the body portion. 7. A golf putter head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion defines at least one weight reduction recess formation. 8. A golf putter head as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the weight reduction recess formation is in the form of a slot defined in the body portion adjacent the rear side thereof, the slot extending between the heel and toe weights and being spaced from the front side of the body portion. 9. A golf putter head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said heel and toe weights are elongated in a front-to-rear direction extending between said front and rear sides of the body portion. 10. A golf putter head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the length dimension of the body portion is greater than the width dimension thereof. 1 1 . A golf putter head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the body portion includes a socket for receiving a lower end of a golf putter shaft. 1 2. A golf putter head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein corner of each of the heel and toe weights, defined by a front side and the underside thereof, is curved. 1 3. A golf putter head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the underside of each of the heel and toe weights tapers from an outer side thereof to an inner side thereof. 14. A golf putter head as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a corner of each of the heel and toe weights, defined by an inner side and the underside thereof, is curved. 1 5. A new golf putter head substantially as described in the specification. 1 6. A golf putter head substantially as described in the specification, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings.

Inventors: HOAL JOHN ANDREW VALENTINE, HOAL, JOHN, ANDREW, VALENTINE
Applicants: HOAL JOHN ANDREW VALENTINE, HOAL, JOHN, ANDREW, VALENTINE
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A63B53
IPC codes: A63B53