Putter and face alignment system

Abstract

A putter is disclosed in which the heel of the head is heavier than the toe to automatically hold the putting face at a right angle to the target line at address, thereby eliminating the effort normally needed by the golfer to hold the toe in the forward position when striking a golf ball. Thus, all of the golfer's effort and attention can be devoted to pulling the putter head straight back (back swing) and straight forward to strike the ball precisely and directionally on line. This improved and surprising result is accomplished by mounting a straight shaft off center in the head toward the toe, or by controlling the balance of the head with respect to the position of the shaft through use of design features or material variations. The successful accomplishment of this important feature is readily shown if the toe of the putter head points up when the shaft is placed on a flat smooth table with the head suspended over the edge of the table. Attainment of the putter's desired loft and lie angles and location of the shaft are simultaneously accomplished by forming a single shaft-mounting hole in the top surface of the head at a predetermined location and compound angle with respect to the top surface and the putting face.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A putter comprising: 
 a) a head having a toe and a heel and a lateral center of gravity defining the boundary therebetween; and    b) a straight shaft extending upwardly from a position in the head offset from said lateral center of gravity toward the toe whereby the heel is heavier than the toe.    
     
     
         2 . The putter as defined in  claim 1  in which the head is laterally symmetric such that said lateral center of gravity coincides with the geometric lateral center between the toe and the heel whereby said shaft extends from said position offset on the toe side of said geometric lateral center.  
     
     
         3 . The putter as defined in  claim 1  in which the head is gravitationally non-symmetric with respect to a geometric lateral center between the toe and heel, and said shaft extends from said position at one of (i) said geometric center and (ii) offset on the toe side of said geometric center, to establish the heel heavier than the toe with respect to said position.  
     
     
         4 . The putter as defined in  claim 3  in which said head is formed substantially of a first material having a first specific gravity and includes inserts formed of a second material having a second specific gravity to establish said gravitational non-symmetry with respect to the geometric lateral center.  
     
     
         5 . The putter as defined in  claim 3  in which said head is formed with cutouts to establish said gravitational non-symmetry with respect to the geometric lateral center.  
     
     
         6 . A putter comprising: 
 a) a head having a toe and a heel, and having a top surface and a putting face at a right angle thereto; and    b) a straight shaft extending upwardly from the top surface of the head at a compound angle (i) in relation to the top surface to establish a lie angle therebetween, and (ii) in relation to the putting face such that the putting face is at a positive loft angle with respect to the longitudinal center of the shaft.    
     
     
         7 . The putter as defined in  claim 6  in which the head is laterally symmetric, and the shaft extends from the top surface offset from said lateral center toward the toe whereby the heel is heavier than the toe.  
     
     
         8 . The putter as defined in  claim 6  in which there is a lateral center of gravity defining the boundaries between the toe and the heel, and the shaft extends from the top surface offset from said lateral center of gravity toward the toe whereby the heel is heavier than the toe.  
     
     
         9 . The putter as defined in  claim 6  in which the head is gravitationally non-symmetric with respect to a geometric lateral center between the toe and heel, and said shaft extends from said position at one of (i) said geometric center and (ii) offset on the toe side of said geometric center, to establish the heel heavier than the toe with respect to said position.  
     
     
         10 . The putter as defined in  claim 9  in which said head is formed substantially of a first material having a first specific gravity and includes inserts formed of a second material having a second specific gravity to establish said gravitational non-symmetry with respect to the geometric lateral center.  
     
     
         11 . The putter as defined in  claim 9  in which said head is formed with cutouts to establish said gravitational non-symmetry with respect to the geometric lateral center.  
     
     
         12 . A putter comprising: 
 a) a head having a toe and a heel, and having a top surface and a putting face at a right angle thereto; and    b) a straight shaft extending upwardly from the top surface of the head (a) from a position adapted to establish the heel heavier than the toe in relation to said position, and (b) at a compound angle (i) in relation to the top surface to establish a lie angle therebetween, and (ii) in relation to the putting face such that the putting face is at a positive loft angle with respect to the longitudinal center of the shaft.