GB2414684A

GB2414684A - Putting device

Info

Publication number: GB2414684A
Application number: GB0510575A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Raymond Hicks
Original assignee: Dave Hicks Golf Ltd
Current assignee: Dave Hicks Golf Ltd
Priority date: 2004-06-05
Filing date: 2005-05-24
Publication date: 2005-12-07
Also published as: GB2414685A; WO2005120654A3; GB0510575D0; WO2005120654A2; GB0511471D0; GB0412604D0; WO2005120654A8

Abstract

A device for fitting a putter to the specific characteristics of the player comprises a fitting putter having an adjustable shaft 1 and a head 3. A lie angle indicator 6 is attached to the putter head by screws 7. A scale (10 fig 2) is etched onto the shaft and a knob (12 fig 2) locks the shaft at the selected length. A groove (15 fig 2) allows the device to be adjusted for left and right handed golfers.

Description

This invention relates to improvements in golf putters.

It is very important in golf that putters, whose purpose is to propel the ball along the ground of the prepared surface called a green, provide a consistent strike and impart consistent momentum to the ball.

This momentum is transferred from the puffer to the ball by a movement of the putter head when swung by the golfer. It is essential for this momentum to be transferred consistently to the ball for a given strength of impact otherwise a variable momentum transfer will occur with variable distance covered by the ball. For the ball to be propelled along the intended line to the hole it must be struck with the face of the putter at right angles to the intended line and with the path of the putter also along the intended line. r

Certain other characteristics are also desirable particularly that the puffer should not twist in the hands as the ball is struck. When the ball is struck and the point of contact is away from the "sweet spot" the puffer will twist away from the original right angles to the line chosen for the path of the ball and the ball will not be propelled in the correct direction. (The ball is in contact with the putter face for a fraction of a second in which time the puffer face has time to be deflected).

It is a further object of this invention to provide the means of ensuring that the "sweet spot'' is in line with the shaft of the putter as a further means of eliminating twisting. The Sweet spot" is normally found by tapping the face of the putter when the putter is held in the finger tips at the end of the grip and the putter hangs vertically downwards. If the face is tapped near the toe or heel on conventionally balanced putters then the face will twist in the appropriate direction. If the face does not deflect off axis when tapped then the area of the Sweet spots has been found.

Good putting is possible only if the golfer has a good putting technique based on good putting mechanics. In order to have a solid repetitive stroke it is necessary to comply with three principles: 1. The golfer's eyes must be over the ball 2. The golfer's hands need to be below their shoulders 3. The puKer must be made such that it fits the physical characteristics of the golfer precisely and enables the golfer to fulfil 1 and 2 above.

Complying with these principles allows the golfer to move their hands and the putter head along the line towards and past thehole and allowing the putter head to stay at right angles to that line for as long as possible.

The fitting putter will enable the putter to be made to the correct length and equally importantly to have the correct lie. The lie is defined as the angle between the putter head and the shaft. If the lie angle is too small it will be difficult to position the putter under the eyes without having the toe of the putter in the air. Conversely if the lie angle is too great then the heel of the putter will be in the air for that golfer. In both instances hitting the ground first, just before hiffing the ball, would result in the ball going dramatically off line.

In order to ensure that the putter shaft is of the correct length it is necessary to have an adjustable shaft which can be so arranged that the golfer, when being fitted is positioned with their eyes over the ball and their hands below their shoulders. The lie angle is then adjusted to ensure that the head of the putter is flat to the ground.

The principle of this invention is to arrange for a fitting puffer to be made in which both the length of the puffer and the lie angle can be adjusted so that the golfer can be tiffed exactly and to fulfii the above objectives.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which in Figure 1 is shown the shaft 1 of the putter which is fitted into a boss 2. This boss 2 is then connected to the head 3 of the putter by a screw thread with knob attached 4 together with a spacer 5. When the knob is loosened the head of the putter can be adjusted freely so that the lie angle can be changed. Tightening the knob allows the lie angle to be fixed.

The lie angle can then be shown from the lie angle indicator 6 that is fitted to the putter head by the screws 7 in the recesses 8.

Figure 2 shows the adjustable shaft assembly 9 that is inserted into the shaft 1. The scale 10 is etched onto the shaft assembly 9. A puffer grip 11 is tiffed over the shaft assembly 9 and fixed, when the adjustment is complete, by a knurled knob 12. The knurled knob 12 fits into a groove 13 which runs down the length of the adjustable section 14 and up and around a circular section 15. The groove then runs down the opposite side 16 of the adjustable section 14 so that the equipment can be adjusted simply for both left and right handed golfers. To make this adjustment the knurled knob 12 is loosened and then pulled up to the top of the adjustable section 14, around the circular section 15, and then down the other side 16.

Claims

1. A device for fitting a putter precisely to the specific physical characteristics of a golfer.

2. A device as in claim 1 in which an adjustable shaft is provided to ensure that when the eyes of the golfer are above the ball and the golfer's hands are below their shoulders it is possible for them to have the putter head flat to the ground.

3. A device as in claim 1 in which the lie angle of the putter head can be adjusted to fulfil the requirements of claim 2.

4. A device as in claims 1, 2 and 3 in which it is possible, by the judicious use of grooves, to ensure that the putter can be reversed very easily to allow for both left and right handed golfers.