Abstract:
A golf club incorporates a spirit level along the axis thereof. Such a club permits the slope of a green to be indicated by laying the club upon the ground, and may be an aid to novice golfers.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]    The present invention relates to golf clubs and in particular golf putters. 
       BACKGROUND  
       [0002]    Many golfers have difficulty ‘reading’ a green so as to putt the golf ball to the pin with the correct speed and direction. In particular it may be difficult to assess the slope of the green, especially if the slope is slight or changes direction. 
         [0003]    What is required is a simple means of determining green slope (if any) so as to allow a novice golfer to improve his game, and to learn to ‘read’ a green. Such a device would be particularly useful as a training aid. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]    According to the invention there is provided a golf club incorporating a spirit level along the shaft axis thereof. The spirit level is preferably within the shaft envelope. The spirit level is preferably marked to indicate discrete angles away from true horizontal, and preferably is so marked on either side of the mean (horizontal) condition. 
         [0005]    The advantage of placing the spirit level along the shaft axis is that when laid upon the green, the length of the golf club contributes to a more accurate indication of average slope. 
         [0006]    In a preferred embodiment, the golf club is adapted to touch the ground substantially at either end, i.e. at head and handle, so as to make two points of contact with the ground. This is preferable to having a line contact where slight protrusions of the ground may cause the golf club to rock. 
         [0007]    Preferably the golf club is adapted to lie naturally upon the ground, for example on one side, and the spirit level is aligned facing upwardly so that it is easily viewed by the player. 
         [0008]    The spirit level may be placed at any convenient point along the length of the golf club, and preferably at a location where bending of the golf club shaft in use will not affect the stability thereof. 
         [0009]    It will be appreciated that in normal use the spirit level should not interfere with the playing qualities of the golf club, and in such circumstances should be imperceptible to the golfer. 
         [0010]    Preferably the spirit level is incorporated within a putter. The advantage of a putter is that the shaft is not subjected to significant bending stress, as in a driver or an iron, so that freedom to place the spirit level at any location along the shaft is preserved. 
         [0011]    The spirit level may include a cover, for example a slidable door or sleeve, to protect the face thereof from weather and dirt. 
         [0012]    The spirit level may conveniently be incorporated within one component of the golf club, for example the handle, shaft or head, so as to facilitate manufacture and assembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0013]    Other features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment shown by way of example only in the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a first side view of a putter 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a second side view of the putter of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  shows a spirit level portion of the putter of  FIGS. 1-2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    With reference to the drawings a putter  10  consists of a shaft  11  to which is attached a head  12 , which may be of any suitable shape. The head  12  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is representative, and the shape thereof forms no part of the present invention. 
         [0018]    A handle  13  is attached or formed about the shaft, and is of a diameter and profile to suit the grip of the intended user. 
         [0019]    Within the handle is incorporated a spirit level  14 , preferably located in a position where least interference with the users grip will occur when a user is preparing to make a putt, and facing generally upwardly when the putter is laid upon the ground  15  (represented in dotted line in  FIG. 2 ). 
         [0020]    It will be appreciated that by virtue of the offset of the relatively heavy head, the putter will lie naturally on its side, so that the spirit level can face upwardly. An alternative location  14   a  for the spirit level is also illustrated. For example, as depicted in  FIG. 2  the putter in its natural position has the face of the putter head facing upwards. The level  14  or  14   a  is located to face in the same direction as the face of the putter so that the level  14   a  or  14  can be easily inspected by looking down on the putter as it lies on the putting green. 
         [0021]    As illustrated the putter contacts the ground at two widely spaced points, represented by the wide putter head  12 , and the grip ring  16  at the end of the handle. Thus the putter can lie flat upon the ground, without rocking. In one embodiment, the level  14   a  is located about midway between the head  12  and the ring  16 . In this position, the level  14   a  may provide an estimate of the average slope in the green extending between the ring  16  and the head  12 . In other embodiments, the level may be located nearer the handle  13  than the head  12 , or nearer to the head  12  than to the handle  13 . 
         [0022]    In use the golfer lays the putter on the green between the ball and the pin, and can read the slope of the green or an analogue thereof from a scale  18  of the spirit level. In this respect it is noted that a normal spirit level has only a single marking indicating horizontal. In some embodiments, the spirit level may have several markings indicating the degree of slope relative to horizontal. From this information, the golfer may gain an intuitive feel for the degree of slope in the green by noting the degree to which the bubble has moved away from its horizontal position. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates the spirit level  14  when viewed in the direction of arrow  17 . The level includes line markings  18  indicative of slope on either side of the horizontal, and the usual bubble  19 . 
         [0024]    The spirit level tube may be arched in order to better show non-level conditions whilst maintaining a stable bubble position. 
         [0025]    A sliding cover or sleeve (not shown), which may be spring loaded, may be provided to cover the spirit level when not in use. For example, in one embodiment the sleeve may be configured so that the level is revealed for a practice session, and then covered when the putter is used during competition. 
         [0026]    The spirit level casing may be of glass, but is preferably of plastic to improve the robustness thereof. Setting screws may be included to allow the horizontal to be accurately indicated in relation to a reference horizontal surface. 
         [0027]    In use the golfer may take several sightings between ball and pin, and also measure transverse slopes by suitable putter positioning. 
         [0028]    While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications can be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects. Therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.