Patent Publication Number: US-2009227387-A1

Title: Practice putter with pointed striking surface

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority based upon provisional patent application 61/068,160, filed on Mar. 5, 2008 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     A practice putter comprised of a head with a striking surface that is pointed. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Practice golf putter heads are known to those skilled in the art. Thus, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,384,376 discloses a practice putter head that has striking pin. U.S. Pat. 3,021,141 discloses a putter head comprised of a U-shaped device. U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,564 a practice putter head comprised of a pair of pins within which the golf ball is to be disposed prior to putting. 
     None of the prior art devices is entirely satisfactory. It is an object of this invention to provide an improved practice golf putter comprised of a putter head that will facilitate more accurate putting. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with this invention, there is provided a practice putter comprised of a shaft and a putter head attached to said shaft, wherein said putter head comprised of two striking surfaces, each of which comprises a substantially V-shaped assembly. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described by reference to the specification, the claims, and the following drawings, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of one preferred embodiment of applicant&#39;s practice putter; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the putter of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of the putter of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the putter of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the putter of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     It is one of the objectives of this invention to provide a practice putter head which will enable the practicer to establish the position in which the practice putter head should be held to hit the ball along the desired path to the golf hole. 
     It is another objective of the invention to provide a practice putter head which will, due to its V shaped pointed striking surface, provide immediate feedback as to whether the V shaped point striking surface struck the ball in the middle of the golf ball and if the practice putter head remained at the desired angle from set up, to pull back stroke, through hitting the ball, and throughout the follow through. If it is not done properly, the ball will immediately move in the direction of the side of the V shaped point that is wrongly struck. As in all learning, immediate feedback is imperative; and this practice putter head provides such immediate feedback as to allow the practicer to make necessary adjustments right away. 
     It is yet another objective of this invention to provide, through the V shaped striking point, a means of determining a portion of the path along which the golf ball is intended to follow in order to roll into the golf hole. 
     Yet another objective of the invention is to provide the player with a means of developing what is known as “muscle memory”, meaning with consistent and successful practice, the muscles in the arms, wrists, and hands will “remember” the feeling of the appropriate pull back stroke, striking position of the putter, and the follow through stroke. 
     Yet another objective of this invention is to provide a practice putter that is simple in design, economical to produce, effective for both indoor and outdoor practice, equally effective for any age/sex golfer, equally effective for both right and left handed golfers, and pleasing to the eye. 
     There have been many putting training aids on the market. None have focused almost entirely on developing “muscle memory” in the hands, wrists, and arms without the assistance of some type of rail system used to guide the putter. One of the primary reasons golfers miss putts is that in the midst of pulling the putter head back in preparation for the fore stroke, the putter face turns and does not remain straight, causing the ball to roll in a direction different than intended when the golfer initially lined up the putt. The V shaped point used as the striking surface of the practice putter head invention serves as a visual aid in assuring the putter point continues to point in the desired direction during back stroke, fore stroke, and follow through. It also serves as an immediate source of feedback. If the putter head face does not remain straight during back stroke, fore stroke, and follow through, the point of the V will not strike the ball in the center and the ball will immediately roll in the direction the putter head&#39;s V shaped point was pointing upon impact. The golfer will know exactly what corrective action must be taken to correct the error in their putting stroke. 
       FIG. 1  is a partial perspective view of a practice putter  10  comprised of a shaft  17  connected to a putter head  20 . As will be apparent, the shaft  17  is not drawn to scale and is substantially longer than indicated in the Figure. 
     In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , the shaft is attached to a grip  16 . This grip  16  can be made of rubber, leather, neoprene, or any other standard golf putter grip material. The size of the grip can be standard golf club grip size, oversized for people who prefer a larger grip feel in their hands. The shape of this grip can be round, or flat on the front of the grip where the golfer normally places his/her thumbs. The length of the grip is approximately 10 inches (in one embodiment), but it can be other lengths. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the putter head  20  may be any shape that putter heads conventionally have, including rectangular, square, half-moon, blade, and other shapes. In general, the putter heads conventionally have a front side and back side. Putter head  20  has such a front side  19  (corresponding to its “right side”), and a back side  21  (corresponding to its “left side”). 
     Extending from front side  19  is a first substantially V-shaped assembly  23 . Extending from back side  21  is a second substantially V-shaped assembly  25 . These V-shaped assemblies provide the striking surfaces used in applicant&#39;s practice putter; and they will be described in greater detail elsewhere in this specification. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , also extending from front side  19  are wings  27  and  29 . Extending from back side  21  are wings  31  and  33 . Such wings  27 ,  29 ,  31 , and  33  may be the same or different. In one embodiment, they have substantially the same weight, substantially the same size, and substantially the same shape. Without wishing to be bound by any particular theory, applicant believes that these wings provide a balanced feel to his practice putter. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the putter shaft  17  is preferably cylindrical in shape and can vary in length from the standard putter shaft length to any length desired by the golfer. The standard diameter of the shaft is preferably 0.370 inches, but can be larger or smaller. The shaft can be made of steel, graphite, aluminum, wood, fiberglass, or any combination of materials. The shaft can be “stepless”, “double bend”, “straight” or other variations of the above mentioned types. The shaft  17  is present to assist the golfer in moving the practice putter head in the desired direction and with the desired speed as to propel the golf ball in the direction of the golf hole. In the embodiment depicted, the shaft  17  is preferably anchored into the putter head  20  by being affixed into a pre-placed hole (not shown) on the top surface of the practice putter head  20 . The material used to affix the shaft  17  into the hole (not shown) can be any type of glue, epoxy, or other bonding material. 
     The practice putter head  20  can be made of metal, wood, fiberglass, or any combination of materials desired. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , and in the preferred embodiment depicted, the top surface  14  of putter head  20  is comprised of an alignment line  13  that preferably extends from the first substantially V-shaped assembly  23  to the second substantially V-shaped assembly  25 , and also from striking surface  35  to striking surface  37 . The alignment line  13  is preferably a slot  13  that is cut into the surface  14  to a depth of from about 0.02 to about 0.20 inches. The alignment line  13  assists the golfer in aligning the putter head  20  with the golf ball (not shown). 
     The substantially V-shaped assemblies  23  and  25  can provide different striking surfaces  35  and  37 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , striking surfaces  35  and  37  are substantially flat. In another embodiment, not shown, striking surfaces  35  and  37  are arcaute. In another embodiment, not shown, striking surfaces  35  and  37  present sharp V-shaped points. The term “substantially V-shaped assembly” is meant to comprehend each of these (and other) assemblies with each of these (and other) striking surfaces. Similarly, the term “pointed” refers to striking surfaces that may be flat, arcuate, or sharply V-shaped. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , it will be apparent that practice putter  10  can advantageously be used by both right-handed and left-handed golfers. Whether a golfer using the putter is left or right handed, the surfaces  35  and  37  are substantially the same. The alignment line  13  extends from one striking surface  35  to another striking surface  37  to assist in aligning either of such striking surfaces with a golf ball. The triangular designs  12  on each corner of the head  20  are used to assist with direction. In one embodiment, the length  39  of the putter head  20  is about 4 inches. 
       FIG. 2  is a front view of the putter  10 .  FIG. 3  is a side view of such putter  10 . 
       FIG. 5  is a bottom view of putter head  20  that, in the embodiment depicted, is a small hallowed out oval  24  that is there only to lessen the weight of the putter head  20 . It serves no other purpose and can be present or not. 
     Best Mode for Using the Practice Putter  10   
     The golfer will hold the grip  16  of the shaft  17  and align the sweet spot point ( 35  or  37 ) and the center line  13  so that the sweet spot is perpendicular to the golfer&#39;s line of sight and lined up with the center of a golf ball. The direction the golfer wishes to hit the golf ball is an extension of the center line indicator  13  passing through the sweet spots  35  and  37 , through the center of the ball and directly in line with the intended target The golfer lines the practice putt up by bringing the practice putter head to rest with the sweet spot butted up to the center of the golf ball with an imaginary line extending from the actual center line indicator  13  through the sweet spot, through the golf ball continuing along the desired path and ending in the center of the golf hole. Once the golfer has lined up the practice putter head  20 , he/she proceeds with a back stroke, whereby the putter is pulled in a backward motion straight back away from the golf ball. The goal is for the practice putter head  20  to be pulled back as straight as possible, keeping the practice putter sweet spot maintaining the imaginary line during this backstroke, keeping the practice putter head  20  as straight and steady as possible. The golfer would then commence a forward stroke, again attempting to maintain the imaginary line to the golf hole as the sweet spot of the putter strikes the golf ball in the exact center of said ball and pushing the golf ball in the intended direction in order for the golf ball to complete its roll into the hole. While such a stroke is desired, there are numerous errors a golfer can make resulting in a miss hit golf ball and a missed putt. This practice putter head  20  will give immediate feedback as to what error was made during the putting stroke by the direction the golf ball rather than straight to the intended target, the golf hole. Using the sweet spot on the front of the practice putter head during subsequent practice strokes, the golfer can not only correct the mistake, but also build what is known as “muscle memory”, so that the muscles in the hands, wrists, and arms will automatically repeat the desired back swing and the follow through of the putt. 
     This practice putter head  20  invention can be used by anyone of golf age; man, woman, or child. It can be used on an outside practice green, inside a house, hotel room, or anywhere a useable surface is present. It is useful inside during extended periods of inclement weather to perfect the putting stroke. It can be used with equal ease by left or right handed golfers. 
     It is contemplated that initially, this invention will be utilized with short practice putts, say 2 feet or less, until the golfer begins to develop the “muscle memory” to draw the practice putter head  20  straight back and straight through every time, which is the ultimate goal of the invention. As the golfer becomes more proficient with the invention, it is assumed that he/she will move incrementally farther from the target as to gain confidence with longer, more difficult putts. 
     While particular aspects of the invention (practice putter  20 ) must be illustrated to respect its ultimate purpose, modifications may be made as long as they fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.