Improvements in the Type of Golf Club known as a "Putter."
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Type of Golf Club known as a "Putter."
We, ROGERS LYONS COWPER-COLES, of 75, Cheapside, in the City of London,
late Captain in Her Majesty's Army, and ROBERT STANLEY COPSON PEAKE, of
27, Saint John's Square, Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Merchant,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
Golf putters as usually heretofore constructed either have the heads formed
each of a block of wood of a narrow oval shape as seen on plan, except that a
portion of one side is cut away to form a flat surface which acts as the striking
face, with the bottom or sole faced with a plate of horn or brass, or else as a piece
of metal which has a broad flat striking face but which is relatively thin in
transverse section. In using a putter of either of such constructions, it is found
that unless the ball is struck with the striking face of the putter vertical, the
ball is struck either above or below its centre according to the direction of inclina-
tion of such face, and is consequently struck downwards and the force of the
blow largely wasted, or is struck upwards and thus lifted from the ground; and
it is also found that the sharp edge which the bottom or sole of the head makes
with the striking face thereof tends to cut into the turf, in case the club is held
too low in striking.
Now, the object of this invention is to improve the construction of the head
of the putter in a manner which will obviate, or greatly lessen its liability to
cause, the before-mentioned inconveniences.
According to this invention, the forward or striking face of the head is formed
to a convex shape in transverse section, and this is conveniently accomplished
by forming the head of a cylindrical shape. It is preferred to form the head
as a hollow metal cylinder filled with a core of suitable material. This core may
be of wood or other light material if the head will then be of the weight required;
or the weight may be made up by forming the core wholly or partially of heavier
material, such as lead.
It will be seen that in using a putter provided with a head having a curved
striking face as described, the ball will always be struck at a point which
is the same distance from the ground, providing that the putter is held at the
proper height whilst striking, and, further, that the curved shape, in transverse
section, of the head prevents it from cutting into the ground in case a stroke is
made while the putter is held too low, and allows it to slip along the ground and
avoid the missing of the stroke.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, we will proceed to
describe a practical application of the same by the aid of the accompanying
drawings, of which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a putter constructed according
to this invention, Figure 2 is a section taken longitudinally of the head; and
Figure 3 is a transverse section taken in the plane indicated by line t of

page_text: Figure 2. In each of the views a short length only of the shaft is shewn, the
greater portion thereof being broken away, for convenience of illustration.
A is a short length of metal tube, preferably brass, the thickness of which
is considerable, as shewn, to provide the necessary weight. B is a core of wood
which is tightly driven into the tube, and C the shaft or handle. For the pur-
pose of presenting a finished appearance to the head, discs of metal or other
suitable material a are attached to the ends thereof by means of screws b which
are screwed into the wooden core B. The inner end c of the shaft C is reduced
in size to pass through a hole in the cylinder A, and is securely fixed in the
core B, conveniently by means of one of the screws b, while the shouldering d
left by the reduction in size bears against the exterior surface of the cylinder.
As before stated, the head may be formed of any suitable material or materials.
for instance it may be formed of solid wood, or of an outer casing of wood with
a core of lead or other material to give weight. While it is much preferred to
form the head of circular shape in transverse section, such is not essential, as
heads of other shape, such as D-shape, which have a convex striking face, may be
used, with the result that the advantages of the invention are secured, at any
rate in a considerable degree.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A golf putter having the striking face of the head formed to a convex shape
in transverse section, substantially as described.
2. A golf putter having the head formed to a cylindrical shape (that is to say,
to a circular shape in transverse section), substantially as described.
3. A golf putter having the head formed as a metal cylinder filled with a suit-
able core, substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day or June 1898.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.