Golf putter and method of putting

Abstract

A method of putting a golf ball includes a golfer standing erect with the head up and the body facing the hole. The golf ball is positioned to the side of the golfer on his dominant side. A uniquely designed putter is grasped in the dominant hand with the grip of the putter extending upwardly along and against the dominant arm to a position above the elbow. The upper portion of the grip and the dominant arm are grasped firmly with the non-dominant hand to provide stability and the dominant arm and club are swung smoothly in a pendulum-like motion from the shoulder of the dominant arm. The result is a smooth consistent putting swing wherein the effects of flexing elbows and twisting wrists are eliminated and, ultimately, a better putting game and lower golf score. The invention also includes an unique putter for carrying out the inventive putting technique.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of putting a golf ball in a target direction, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a putter with a head and a with shaft sufficiently long to extend upwardly to a location above a golfer's elbow when the head of the putter is adjacent the ground;    (b) aligning the body generally with the target direction with the golf ball to the dominant side of the body;    (c) locating the head of the putter to the dominant side of the body in putting relationship relative the to golf ball;    (d) grasping a mid-portion of the putter shaft with the dominant hand and with the shaft extending upwardly along the dominant arm with its upper portion located above the elbow;    (e) judging the intended line of the put with the head up and facing the target direction; and    (f) swinging the dominant arm from the shoulder to swing the putter head through the ball.    
     
     
         2 . A method of putting a golf ball as claimed in  claim 1  and further comprising the step of grasping the upper portion of the shaft and the dominant arm with the non-dominant hand prior to swinging to stabilize the putter and the dominant arm during the swing.  
     
     
         3 . A method of putting a golf ball as claimed in  claim 2  and wherein the target direction is generally toward a golf hole and wherein step (b) includes aligning the body generally toward and facing the hole.  
     
     
         4 . A technique of putting a golf ball toward the hole comprising the steps of aligning the body in a direction generally facing the hole with the golf ball located to the dominant side of the body, standing substantially upright with the head level and facing the hole; grasping a putter in the dominant hand with the shaft of the putter extending upwardly along the dominant arm to a position above the elbow and with the head of the putter located behind the golf ball, visually judging the intended line of the put while the head is in its level and hole facing orientation, and swinging the putter through the ball in a pendulum-like motion with the dominant arm pivoting at the shoulder and with the putter shaft stabilizing the elbow to prevent flexing during the swing.  
     
     
         5 . A technique of putting a golf ball as claimed in  claim 4  and further comprising the step of grasping the upper portion of the shaft and the dominant arm above the elbow with the non-dominant hand to stabilize the shaft and dominant arm further, the non-dominant hand following the dominant arm throughout the swing.  
     
     
         6 . A technique of putting a golf ball as claimed in claim and wherein the golfer's head is maintained in its level hole facing orientation throughout the swing.  
     
     
         7 . A golf putter comprising a head, a hosel mounted to the head and extending upwardly therefrom at a predetermined angle, and a shaft mounted in and extending upwardly from the hosel, the shaft being sufficiently long to extend upwardly to a position above a golfer's elbow when the golfer is standing upright with the putter to the side of the golfer.  
     
     
         8 . A golf putter as claimed in  claim 7  and wherein said head has an upper surface formed with an non-circular insert and wherein said hosel is mounted to said head with a non-circular tongue that mates with and extends into said non-circular insert.  
     
     
         9 . A golf putter as claimed in  claim 8  and wherein said non-circular insert and said non-circular tongue are symmetric about a vertical center line of said head so that said hosel and said shaft can be mounted in a first orientation to form a right handed putter and a second orientation to form a left handed putter.  
     
     
         10 . A golf putter as claimed in  claim 9  and wherein said insert and said tongue are square in shape.  
     
     
         11 . A golf putter as claimed in  claim 7  and wherein said predetermined angle is at least the minimum lie angle for a putter specified by USGA regulations.  
     
     
         12 . A golf putter as claimed in  claim 11  and wherein said predetermined angle is at least ten degrees.  
     
     
         13 . A golf putter as claimed in  claim 7  and wherein said head is symmetrical about a vertical center line and wherein said hosel is mounted to said head along said vertical centerline.  
     
     
         14 . A golf putter as claimed in  claim 13  and further comprising balancing means in said head for precisely balancing the head.  
     
     
         15 . A golf putter as claimed in  claim 14  and wherein said balancing means comprises a pair of spaced holes formed on either side of said head, said holes containing balancing inserts of the proper weights to balance the head along a vertical centerline thereof.  
     
     
         16 . A method of assembling a golf putter comprising the steps of: 
 (a) providing a head that is symmetrical along a vertical centerline and that has an upper surface formed with a non-circular insert positioned along the centerline;    (b) providing a hosel having a non-circular tongue sized and shaped to extend into and mate with the non-circular insert in the head;    (c) mounting the hosel to the head by inserting its non-circular tongue into the non-circular insert of the head and with the hosel extending upwardly from the upper surface of the head at a predetermined lie angle, the non-circular insert and tongue being shaped such that mounting the hosel to the head in one orientation forms a right handed putter and mounting the hosel to the head in an opposite orientation forms a left handed putter; and    (d) mounting a shaft in the free end of the hosel.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  and wherein the insert and tongue are square.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  and wherein the shaft is sufficiently long to extend upwardly along a golfer's arm to a position above the golfer's elbow when the golfer is standing upright with the putter to his side.  
     
     
         19 . A method of putting a golf ball comprising the steps of standing substantially upright with the body facing along the intended line of the put and with the golf ball to the side of the body, locating the head of a putter behind the golf ball and grasping a mid-portion of the shaft of the putter with one hand such that the upper portion of the shaft extends upwardly along the arm to a position above the elbow; judging the line of the putt while standing substantially upright with the head up, level, and facing the target; and swinging the arm and putter in a pendulum-like motion from the shoulder so that the head of the putter swings through the golf ball to putt the golf ball along the line of the putt.  
     
     
         20 . A method of putting a golf ball as claimed in  claim 19  and further comprising the step of grasping the upper portion of the shaft and the arm above the elbow with the free hand to stabilize the putter shaft and arm during the putt.