Patent ID: 8012035

Claim:
A putter, comprising: a putter body including a ball striking face, a top, and a bottom, wherein an exposed ball striking surface at a central portion of the ball striking face between the top and the bottom includes polymeric material and metal material arranged in an alternating manner, wherein the polymeric material is softer than the metal material, wherein a first portion of the polymeric material is present at the exposed ball striking surface as: (a) a first horizontal linear segment extending across the central portion of the ball striking face in a heel-to-toe direction when the putter body is oriented in a ball address position, (b) a first slanted linear segment located at a first end of the first horizontal linear segment, and (c) a second slanted linear segment located at a second end of the first horizontal linear segment, wherein the exposed ball striking surface further includes a first groove defined therein, and wherein a first edge of the first groove is defined by the metal material and a second edge of the first groove opposite the first edge is defined by the polymeric material of the first horizontal linear segment; and a shaft extending from the putter body.