Traditional putter with elevated mass

Abstract

A golf putter head with traditional looks when viewed from above and an elevated center of gravity. The putter head comprises a central lower cavity portion under a weight flange, while the weight flange has been elevated towards the middle of the putter head, with mass relieved portions below the flange and on either side of the central mass relived cavity, with the bottom of the central weight relieved cavity forming the sole, and the upper side of the flange being compressed to maintain a traditional view from above.

Description

PRIOR APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 725,448, filed Oct. 11, 2005, from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 467,160, filed Aug. 24, 2006, and from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 792,181, filed Apr. 14, 2006, pending, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The invention relates generally to golf clubs and, more particularly, to a putter with a very traditional appearance, especially to the user at address, with an elevated weight-flange, a central mass relieved cavity under the weight flange creating a raised center of gravity (CG) to provide over-spin to a golf ball, thereby improving the roll dynamics of a golf ball upon being struck by the putter. [0004] 2. Description of Related Art [0005] In recent years, some attention has been given by golf club manufacturers, designers and engineers towards increas...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] Accordingly, the present invention provides a putter head that appears traditional in every respect to the golfer at address and in use, with an elevated center of gravity producing overspin and a more efficient, accurate and consistent roll of the golf ball. Accordingly, the design incorporates traditional lines and visual features when looked at from directly above, at address, and in use, since the golfer is looking down at the head from above when using the putter, except these lines and features have been compressed and raised nearer the top of the club without significantly altering their shape and geometry, especially when viewed from above. Importantly, the height of the top-line is kept at the same height as a traditional putter's design, as this is most often used by a golfer to gauge the proper height and path of the putter during the stroke. The top of the flange portion carrying most of the weight is raised from the sole to near the middle of the head. In one embodiment, a hollow box is provided under the flange as a place to sole the putter, without adding back significant weight in this region. The sole of the hollow box cavity allows the putter head to be soled on the ground evenly at address, and also for golfers to tamp down spike marks, ball marks and the like when and as permitted by the Rules of Golf.

Problems solved by technology

However, the higher launch causes the ball to become airborne and the low CG and lofted face causes the ball to backspin, similar to the launch from a lofted iron or wedge, and thus causes the ball to hop and skid across the surface of the grass before starting its forward roll as dictated by the coefficient of friction between the grass and the lower surface of the golf ball and the forward momentum of the ball.

In fact, a ball that is launched too high with the old prior art style putters reduce the accuracy of the roll as the ball backspins, bounces and skids, being deflected on the irregularities of the green surface as it transitions from backspin to a forward roll.

Also, the friction applied to the ball as it skids and changes direction of rotation from backspin to forward spin and roll requires a harder stroke to achieve the required roll distance.

By using a larger than standard head, however, the head is non-traditional looking, even if the head design is mostly traditional, in its features' relative proportions, just enlarged over traditional sized putter heads.

The use of non-traditional looking putters, especially where the alignment features are “out of place” is often difficult and uncomfortable to golfers, especially the most experienced and often the most proficient.

However, this “upside down design” creates a very non-traditional look, where none of the familiar design features and visual cues golfers rely upon for alignment are present, such as a thin top line, cavity framing the ball, etc. which are normal and familiar and comfortable to the experienced golfer.

Furthermore, the upside down design moves the center of gravity too high in the head, so that it does not provide a pleasing feel or solid energy transfer upon contact.

However, the design is very non-traditional and therefore non-desirable to more experienced golfers with more traditional tastes and needs.

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