Golf club

• US 6,634,955 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2002
• Issued: 10/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nicholas M. Middleton
• Original Assignee: Nicholas M. Middleton
• Inventors: Middleton, Nicholas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Passaniti, Sebastiano
• Application Number:
  US10/112,207
• Publication Number:
  US 20030064820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 473/131, 473/231, 473/238, 473/257, 473/258, 473/260, 473/261, 473/268, 473/280, 473/242, 473/249, 473/251, 473/219, 473/235, 473/200, 473/409, 473/286, 473/313, 473/314, 473/340, 473/252, 473/341, 473/324, 473/226, 473/227, 434/252, D21/736-746
• US Class Current: 473/231
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0433 with special sole configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0437 with special crown configurations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0441 with visual indicators for aligning the golf club
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 53/0487 for putters A63B53/065 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/50 with through-holes A63B60/18 takes precedence; for stringing purposes A63B49/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3682 Visual means not attached to the body for aligning, positioning the trainee's head or for detecting head movement, e.g. by parallax
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/3685 Putters or attachments on putters, e.g. for measuring, aligning A63B69/3614 takes precedence

Abstract

A method of improving the putting stroke of a golfer using a putter as a training device, said putter having a club head and in one embodiment an attachment for the same. The club head has faces or edges defining a body of a predetermined thickness to which a shaft is attached. Within the body of the head there is provided a recess in a form which opens into the rear face of the head or as a closed aperture completely defined within the body which is of marginally greater dimensions than, and adapted to receive an object such as a conventionally sized golf ball. The recess or aperture can be disposed of substantially centrally of the head so that the “sweet spot” can be substantially centrally disposed of said recess or aperture. Ideal toe-heel weight distribution can be achieved in this manner. The club, which is typically a putter, can be used as a practicing aid by swinging the same proximate a surface when the articles or objects are disposed within said recess or aperture. In one embodiment when the putter is swung so that it is no longer proximate the floor, the object or article is released and is momentum causes the same to continue moving in a direction imparted to it by the swinging of the putter. The swing profile of a user can thus be quickly assessed. The attachment embodiment functions in a similar manner and allows for attachment to a conventional putter not provided with a recess to be used as a putting training aid.

Claims

1. A method of improving the putting stroke of a golfer using a putter as a training device, said putter having a club head comprising at least one channel defined throughout the thickness of the club head and having a rearmost dimensional size of at least the diameter of a golf ball so that such a golf ball is not hindered moving into and from said channel, said putting stroke including a backswing, a downswing, and a follow through, said method including the steps of

placing a first golf ball in said channel when the club head is stationary on a surface prior to commencing the stroke,

marking said surface with an indicator means behind the first golf ball extending in a straight line rearwardly therefrom,

executing a controlled backswing causing the first ball to roll along the surface until no longer in contact with the rear most edge of the club head at which time the momentum already imparted to said first ball causes same to continue rolling in a release direction dependent on the club head motion at the moment of deceleration of said club head towards the end of the backswing, said release direction being ideally identical to the direction in which said indicator means extends on said surface when the backswing is correctly executed and easily distinguishable therefrom in the event that the release direction is different.

2. A method of improving the putting stroke of a golfer using a putter as a training device, said putter having a club head comprising at least one aperture defined throughout the thickness of the club head, said aperture being of a size and shape capable of receiving a golf ball which can pass through the aperture without hindrance from the edges or sides which define said aperture, said putting stroke including a backswing, a downswing, and a follow through, said method including the steps of

placing a first golf ball in said aperture when the club head is stationary on a surface prior to commencing the stroke,

marking said surface with an indicator means extending forward therefrom in straight line,

firstly executing a controlled backswing so that the club head rises above the surface by a distance less than the diameter of a golf ball thus causing the first ball to roll along the surface but ensuring said first ball is retained in the aperture,

secondly executing a downswing whereby the club is accelerated from the top of the backswing towards its starting position, and

finally executing a follow through whereby the club head is raised above said surface by an amount greater than the diameter of a golf ball so that the first ball is released from the aperture in a release direction dependent on the direction of travel of the club head at the moment of release, the release direction and the direction of the indicator means being ideally identical when the follow through is correctly executed and easily distinguishable in the event that the two directions are different by virtue of the divergence of the first ball from the indicator means as they travel in different directions.

3. A method of improving the putting stroke of a golfer using a putter having an attachment secured thereto as a training device, said putter having a club head, said attachment being secured to said club head and comprising a pair of arms extending rearwardly to define a channel having a rearmost dimensional size of at least the diameter of a golf ball so that such a golf ball is not hindered moving into and from said channel, said putting stroke including a backswing, a downswing, and a follow through, said method including the steps of

placing a first golf ball in said channel when the club head is stationary on a surface prior to commencing the stroke,

marking said surface with an indicator means behind the first golf ball extending in a straight line rearwardly therefrom,

executing a controlled backswing causing the first ball to roll along the surface until no longer in contact with the rear most edge of the channel at which time the momentum already imparted to said first ball causes same to continue rolling in a release direction dependent on the club head motion at the moment of deceleration of said club head towards the end of the backswing, said release direction being ideally identical to the direction in which said indicator means extends on said surface when the backswing is correctly executed and easily distinguishable therefrom in the event that the release direction is different.

4. A method of improving the putting stroke of a golfer using a putter having an attachment secured thereto as a training device, said putter having a club head, said attachment being secured to said club head and defining an aperture being of a size and shape capable of receiving a golf ball which can pass through the aperture without hindrance from the edges or sides which define said aperture, said putting stroke including a backswing, a downswing, and a follow through, said method including the steps of

placing a first golf ball in said aperture when the club head is stationary on a surface prior to commencing the stroke,

marking said surface with an indicator means extending forward therefrom in straight line,

firstly executing a controlled backswing so that the club head rises above the surface by a distance less than the diameter of a golf ball thus causing the first ball to roll along the surface but ensuring said first ball is retained in the aperture,

secondly executing a downswing whereby the club is accelerated from the top of the backswing towards its starting position, and

finally executing a follow through whereby the club head is raised above said surface by an amount greater than the diameter of a golf ball so that the first ball is released from the aperture in a release direction dependent on the direction of travel of the club head at the moment of release, the release direction and the direction of the indicator means being ideally identical when the follow through is correctly executed and easily distinguishable in the event that the two directions are different by virtue of the divergence of the first ball from the indicator means as they travel in different directions.