GB2269758A - Improvements relating to golf clubs. - Google Patents

Abstract

A golf putter is bifurcated at the upper end of its shaft (1) and the twin arms (3) are provided with grips (6) allowing the player to hold the putter symmetrically with both hands level and one in front of the other in relation to the direction normal to the face of the putter head (2). These grips (6) may be parallel to the shaft (1) or transverse to it, for example on a T-handle. The bifurcation may be extended to form a closed loop. Other grip arrangements, not necessarily on separate limbs of a bifurcation, are possible, at least one grip being non-aligned with the putter shaft. Adjustment may also be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

"Improvements relating to Golf Clubs" This invention relates to golf clubs, and in particular is concerned with putters.

The secret of golf is a holy grail not yet achieved by anyone, but it is commonly agreed that if a player could putt surely and accurately every time, especially from short distances, he would be considerably closer to that objective.

Many things affect putting, but one fundamental characteristic is that almost every player grips the shaft with one hand below the other, although there may be some overlap. Conventionally, for a right handed player, it is the right hand that is below the left, but many players, including well-known professionals, reverse that arrangement in the fond belief that it will cure them of what is known as "the yips". A comparatively recent innovation is to have a putter with a very long shaft, the top end of which is tucked under the players chin, with that point acting as the pivot for a long pendulum motion. But the player's hands still have to hold the shaft one above the other.

Thus, the putter is always gripped in an asymmetrical fashion which may not always be the most comfortable or natural. The player has to make allowances for this when making his stroke, which ideally is a smooth swing whose line at the bottom dictates the direction in which the ball is to travel. But so often that motion is slightly off line at the critical moment, and it is believed that this is very largely attributable to the way the player has to hold the putter.

It is the aim of this invention to provide a putter with a grip tailored to the comfort of the player. In particular, it may allow him to address the ball with his shoulders more level and arms more equally extended than with existing putters.

According to the present invention there is provided a golf putter having grips for respective hands, at least one grip being non-aligned with the putter shaft.

The Rules of Golf provide for the axis of the grip of a putter not co-inciding with the axis of the shaft, and this arrangement allows many variations.

In one preferred form, the grips are on respective limbs of a bifurcation at the top of the shaft. This bifurcation may be a generally T-shaped formation at the upper end of the shaft, the grips being on the cross bar of the T. Alternatively it may be V- or U-shaped, in which case it may be extended and the two parts united to form a closed loop.

In another form, the grips are on different parts of a non-rectilinear portion at the top of the shaft.

The grips may be adjusted in relation to the shaft or interchangeable with others. This adjustment may be by rotation of said bifurcation or of said portion with respect to the axis of the shaft and/or with respect to an axis transverse to that of the shaft.

The grips could be mutually offset longitudinally of the shaft, but they will generally both be offset from the axis of the shaft. In a preferred form they are arranged so that a player can hold the putter with hands generally level and one in front of the other in relation to the direction normal to the putter head face.

The grips may be substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft, transverse to the shaft and either transverse to or aligned with the direction normal to the putter head face. Intermediate positions are also possible.

Normally, the grips will be substantially symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane through the axis of the shaft in its playing position, but asymmetry is a possibil ity.

For training purposes only, the grips may be shaped to guide the manner in which they are held.

The geometry of this grip arrangement can thus take many forms, and the materials from which it is made can also be from a wide choice. It is mandatory once a club is assembled for a grip to be effectively integral with the rest of the club and not to be adjustable during play. Any reference to adjustment means that it should be done before or after play. But it is envisaged that the double grip attachments could be made and sold separately to be interchangeable, as mentioned above, and for replacing conventional ones at the top of the shafts of existing putters.

The putter head itself may take any form consistent with the Rules of Golf.

For a better understanding of the invention, one embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a front elevation of a putter, and Figure 2 is a side elevation of the putter of Figure 1.

The putter is shown in its normal attitude for play, and it has a shaft 1 with a head 2 at the lower end, in the conventional manner. As mentioned above, the head can take many different forms and is not central to the invention.

Instead of having a single grip provided by a sleeve over the upper end of the shaft 1, the latter is bifurcated with two cranked arms 3 extending first upwardly and outwardly from the upper end of the shaft 1 and then turning into parallel portions 4, which are also parallel to the axis of the shaft 1. These portions 4 have their upper ends joined by a cross piece 5 so that a closed loop is formed.

In practice, the upper corners would probably not be sharply angled as shown. The portions 4 provide the grips for the putter, and if the arms 3 are tubular steel, for example, they may be encased in softer, more frictional sleeves 6 to enlarge the grips and make them more comfortable. But there are alternatives to this arrangement, such as making the arms 3 and cross piece 5 an integral moulded rubber or plastics member, with or without fibre reinforcement, secured to the top of the shaft 1. That moulding can be shaped to give a comfortable grip.

It will be appreciated that, when addressing the ball, the player can stand with shoulders level and arms equally extended so that his hands hold the club one in front of the other in relation to the direction towards the hole. The pendulum motion of putting is therefore carried out with the player standing symmetrically with respect to the ball, and there should therefore be far less tendency for the putter head to move off the intended line.

It is emphasised that the drawing shows one example only, and that many variations are possible. In particular, the grips do not have to be parallel to the shaft: they may be angled with respect to it (for example pointing towards the player), or be provided on a cross member forming a Tshaped upper end of the shaft. Of course, how a player actually holds the club is at his own discretion and although grips may be provided as shown in the drawing, the player may, for example, hold the ends of the cross piece 5.

To ease that option, the grips 6 may be extended over the cross piece 5, and indeed down to the common root of the arms 3.

A separate double grip assembly was mentioned above for replacing a single one. With the appropriate connections to the shaft, these grips may be interchanged and adjusted to a particular height at any time (except of course during play). Thus, for practice the double one may be adopted, while for serious play a single one may be fitted. A player might equip himself with several different double grips so that he has a choice.

Claims (18)

1. A golf putter having grips for respective hands, at least one grip being non-aligned with the putter shaft.

2. A putter as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the grips are on respective limbs of a bifurcation at the top of the shaft.

3. A putter as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the bifurcation is a generally T-shaped formation at the upper end of the shaft, the grips being on the cross bar of the T.

4. A putter as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the bifurcation is a generally V- or U-shaped formation at the upper end of the shaft.

5. A putter as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the bifurcation is extended and the two parts thereof united to form a closed loop.

6. A putter as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the grips are on different parts of a non-rectilinear portion at the top of the shaft.

7. A putter as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the grips are adjustable in relation to the shaft, or interchangeable with others.

8. A putter as claimed in Claim 7 as appendant to Claim 2 or 6, wherein the adjustment is by rotation of said bifurcation or of said portion with respect to the axis of the shaft.

9. A putter as claimed in Claim 7 as appendant to Claim 2 or 6, or Claim 8, wherein the adjustment is by rotation of said bifurcation or of said portion with respect to an axis transverse to that of the shaft.

10. A putter as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the grips are mutually offset longitudinally of the shaft.

11. A putter as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the grips are offset from the axis of the shaft.

12. A putter as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the grips are arranged to enable a player to hold the putter with hands generally level and one in front of the other in relation to the direction normal to the putter head face.

13. A putter as claimed in and preceding Claim, wherein the grips are substantially parallel to the axis of the shaft.

14. A putter as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12, wherein the grips are transverse to the shaft.

15. A putter as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the grips are also transverse to the direction normal to the putter head face.

16. A putter as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the grips are aligned in the direction normal to the putter head face.

17. A putter as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the grips are substantially symmetrical with respect to a vertical plane through the axis of the shaft in its playing position.

18. A putter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.