Golf putter and putter head

Abstract

The present invention is of a golf putter and putter head that assist the user in properly aligning the putter face with the intended path of a golf ball and, upon impact, provide immediate distance and directional control of the golf ball. The golf putter and putter head have a negatively angled putter face that strikes a golf ball above its equator, imparting an immediate forward spin to the golf ball and thus, minimizing the bouncing or skidding of the ball, which can greatly affect the distance and accuracy of the putt. As a result of the negatively angled putter face, an upper portion of the putter head overlaps the golf ball when one is addressing the ball. This overlap creates a perceived line of intersection along the top of the golf ball, which acts as a visual reference when aligning the putter face with the ball and its intended path. The effectiveness of this alignment aid can be improved by adding markings along the top of the putter head. For significant overlap of the golf ball by the putter head, the height of the putter face is preferably one and a half to two inches, which is taller than a standard putter head of approximately one inch. To further extend the overlap beyond the distance achieved with the desired angle and height of the putter face, an overhang may extend outwardly from the top edge of the putter face or from the putter head hosel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A golf putter head comprising a top, a bottom, and a face that extends between said top of putter head and said bottom of putter head, said putter face having an upper edge that intersects with said top, having a lower edge that intersects with said bottom and being negatively angled wherein said upper edge of said putter face is more forwardly projected than said lower edge of said putter face for contacting a golf ball above its equator to impart more quickly a forward spin on the golf ball.  
     
     
         2 . A golf putter head comprising a face, said face having a top edge and a bottom edge and being negatively angled wherein said top edge is more forwardly projected than said bottom edge.  
     
     
         3 . A golf putter of  claim 1  wherein said putter face is negatively angled at a degree which causes contact between a golf ball and said puffer face to occur at an optimal distance above the equator of the golf ball, instantly imparting a forward spin of the golf ball.  
     
     
         4 . A golf putter head of  claim 1  wherein said putter face has a negative angle in the range of 10 to 15 degrees.  
     
     
         5 . A golf putter head of  claim 3  wherein said putter face has a negative angle in the range of 20 to 25 degrees.  
     
     
         6 . A golf putter head of  claim 1  wherein the height above the golf ball's equator at which said putter face strikes the golf ball is substantially equal to the distance with which said putter face overlaps the golf ball.  
     
     
         7 . A golf putter head of  claim 1  wherein said putter face is negatively angled to such a degree to provide sufficient overlap of the golf ball and create an improved visual aid for directional control of the ball.  
     
     
         8 . A golf putter head of  claim 1  wherein said putter face has a height, the combination of said putter face height and negative angle provides a 10 to 30 percent overlap of the golf ball.  
     
     
         9 . A golf putter head of  claim 1  wherein said putter face has a height, the combination of said putter face height and negative angle provides an overlap of one-eighth inch to one-half inch of the golf ball's diameter.  
     
     
         10 . A golf putter head of  claim 8  having a height of 1.75 inches and wherein said putter face has a negative angle of 15 degrees.  
     
     
         11 . A golf putter head of  claim 1  further comprising an overhang that extends from the top edge of the putter face to enhance the overlap of the golf ball provided by said negatively angled putter face.  
     
     
         12 . A golf putter head of  claim 10  wherein said negatively angled putter face in combination with said overhang provides adequate coverage of the top of a golf ball for improved visual aid and directional control.  
     
     
         13 . A golf putter head of  claim 11  wherein said negatively angled putter face in combination with said overhang provides coverage of 10 to 30 percent of the golf ball.  
     
     
         14 . A golf putter head of  claim 11  having a height, wherein said height when combined with said negatively angled putter face and said overhang provides adequate coverage of the golf ball for visual aid and directional control.  
     
     
         15 . A golf putter head of  claim 14  wherein the combination of said height, negatively angled putter face and said overhang provides 10 to 30 percent coverage of the golf ball.  
     
     
         16 . A golf putter head of  claim 14  wherein said height is 1.75, said putter face is negatively angled at 15 degrees and said overhang protrudes 0.01 inch away from said top edge of said putter face to create about 18 percent coverage of the golf ball.  
     
     
         17 . A golf putter head comprising a top, a bottom, a vertical face having an upper edge that intersects with said top, having a lower edge that intersects with said bottom and extending between said top of putter head and said bottom of putter head, and an overhang that projects outwardly from the top edge of said putter face, creating a line of intersection with a ball for improved directional and distance control of the ball.