Golf putter and method of putting

Abstract

The present invention is a golf putter, including an elongated shaft with a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion having a neck engaging portion. The golf putter also includes a putter head element, having a top portion with a head portion and a hosel or butt portion. The first end of the shaft is attached to and extends from the top portion. The putter head element also includes a bottom portion and a putting face for contacting the golf ball. The elongated shaft is sized to extend at least adjacent a user's neck area, such that the neck engaging portion contacts the user's neck. A method of putting a golf ball is also disclosed.

The invention claimed is  
     
         1 . A golf putter, comprising: 
 an elongated shaft having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion having a neck engaging portion;    a putter head element, including: 
 (i) a top portion having a head portion and a hosel portion, wherein the first end of the shaft attached to and extending from the top portion;  
 (ii) a bottom portion; and  
 (iii) a putting face configured to contact a golf ball;  
   wherein, the elongated shaft is sized to extend at least adjacent a user's neck area and the neck engaging portion is configured to contact the user's neck area.    
     
     
         2 . The golf putter of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated shaft first end is attached to the putter head element top portion via a welding process.  
     
     
         3 . The golf putter of  claim 1 , wherein the hosel portion includes a hosel orifice, and the elongated shaft first end is configured to frictionally engage the hosel orifice, thereby securing the elongated shaft to the putter head element.  
     
     
         4 . The golf putter of  claim 3 , wherein the elongated shaft first end is further secured within the hosel orifice via at least one of welding, adhesive and bonding.  
     
     
         5 . The golf putter of  claim 1 , further comprising a pliant padding element surrounding at least a portion of the intermediate portion of the elongated shaft.  
     
     
         6 . The golf putter of  claim 5 , wherein the pliant padding element is positioned at least partially in a user's grip area located on the elongated shaft and configured to allow a user to grip the pliant padding element to assist in utilizing the golf putter.  
     
     
         7 . The golf putter of  claim 5 , wherein the pliant padding element is positioned at least partially on the neck engaging portion of the intermediate portion of the elongated shaft and configured to allow a user to place the user's neck against the pliant padding element.  
     
     
         8 . The golf putter of  claim 5 , wherein the pliant padding element extends substantially from the elongated shaft first end to the elongated shaft second end.  
     
     
         9 . The golf putter of  claim 5 , wherein the pliant padding element is at least partially manufactured from at least one of rubber, foam, leather, polymer, plastic and padding material.  
     
     
         10 . The golf putter of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a first pliant padding element surrounding a user's grip area located on the elongated shaft and configured to allow a user to grip the first pliant padding element to assist in utilizing the golf putter; and    a second pliant padding element surrounding the neck engaging portion of the intermediate portion of the elongated shaft and configured to allow a user to place the user's neck against the second pliant padding element.    
     
     
         11 . The golf putter of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the elongated shaft is in the range of about 36 inches to about 80 inches.  
     
     
         12 . The golf putter of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the elongated shaft is in the range of about 50 inches to about 70 inches.  
     
     
         13 . The golf putter of  claim 1 , wherein the length of the elongated shaft is 58 inches.  
     
     
         14 . The golf putter of  claim 1 , wherein an angle created between the elongated shaft first end and the top portion of the putter head element is in the range of about 80° to about 90°, with respect to a substantially flat surface upon which the bottom portion of the putter head element rests.  
     
     
         15 . The golf putter of  claim 1 , wherein an angle created between the elongated shaft first end and the top portion of the putter head element is 83°, with respect to a substantially flat surface upon which the bottom portion of the putter head element rests.  
     
     
         16 . A method of putting a golf ball, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a golf putter with an elongated shaft having a putter head element attached to an end of the elongated shaft;    placing a portion of the elongated shaft against a user's shoulder area and adjacent and in contact with a user's neck;    moving the golf putter in a pendulum swing pattern, with a portion of the elongated shaft adjacent the user's neck acting as a fulcrum; and    striking the golf ball with the putter head element towards an object point.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein a pliant padding element surrounds at least a portion of the elongated shaft.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the length of the elongated shaft is in the range of about 36 inches to about 80 inches.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the length of the elongated shaft is in the range of about 50 inches to about 70 inches.  
     
     
         20 . A golf putter, comprising: 
 an elongated shaft having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion having a neck engaging portion;    a first pliant padding element surrounding a user's grip area located on the elongated shaft and configured to allow a user to grip the first pliant padding element to assist in utilizing the golf putter;    a second pliant padding element surrounding the neck engaging portion of the intermediate portion of the elongated shaft and configured to allow a user to place the user's neck against the second pliant padding element; and    a putter head element, including: 
 (i) a top portion having a head portion and a hosel portion, wherein the first end of the shaft attached to and extending from the top portion;  
 (ii) a bottom portion; and  
 (iii) a putting face configured to contact a golf ball;  
   wherein the length of the elongated shaft is in the range of about 36 inches to about 80 inches;    wherein an angle created between the elongated shaft first end and the top portion of the putter head element is in the range of about 80° to about 90°, with respect to a substantially flat surface upon which the bottom portion of the putter head element rests.