Ground contact putter

Abstract

A ground-contact putter and method of use are disclosed wherein a substantially cylindrical putter head is rested on the putting surface and pushed by the putter shaft forwardly across the putting surface to strike a golf ball toward a cup. The putter head is oriented so that the longitudinal axis through the putter head is perpendicular to the ball-strike direction. The putter handle is preferably attached to the putter head at a rearward angle of at least about 10 degrees from perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis through the putter head. The putter head can optionally comprise a core, ground-contact surface and ball-strike surface made of different materials.

1 . A ground-contact putter comprising an elongated shaft having first and second ends, the first end having a handgrip and the second end being attached to a substantially cylindrical head oriented substantially transversely to the shaft, the head having a center.  
     
     
         2 . The putter of  claim 1  wherein the head further comprises a core, two ends and a substantially cylindrical sidewall.  
     
     
         3 . The putter of  claim 2  wherein the sidewall further comprises a ground-contact section and a ball-strike section.  
     
     
         4 . The putter of  claim 2  wherein the core and sidewall are made of different materials.  
     
     
         5 . The putter of  claim 3  wherein the ground-contact section and the ball-strike section are made of different materials.  
     
     
         6 . The putter of  claim 1  wherein the shaft and the putter head each comprise a major longitudinal axis.  
     
     
         7 . The putter of  claim 6  wherein the major longitudinal axis of the shaft is perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the head and the two axes intersect in the center of the head.  
     
     
         8 . The putter of  claim 6  wherein the major longitudinal axis through the shaft slants up to about 20 degrees rearwardly from an axis perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the head and passing through the center of the head, and wherein the shaft axis and the perpendicular axis intersect at a point other than the center of the head.  
     
     
         9 . The putter of  claim 8  wherein the major longitudinal axis of the shaft slants about 10 degrees rearwardly from the axis perpendicular to the major longitudinal axis of the head.  
     
     
         10 . The putter of  claim 8  wherein the shaft axis and perpendicular axis intersect at a point on a distal surface of the putter head.  
     
     
         11 . The putter of  claim 1  wherein the head is made of metal.  
     
     
         12 . The putter of  claim 2  wherein at least a portion of the core is hollow.  
     
     
         13 . The putter of  claim 2  wherein the head comprises a polymeric material.  
     
     
         14 . The putter of  claim 3  wherein the ground-contact section comprises a polymeric material.  
     
     
         15 . The putter of  claim 1  wherein the putter head has a cross-sectional diameter that is slightly greater than the diameter of a golf ball.  
     
     
         16 . The putter of  claim 1  wherein the putter head, when resting on a level putting surface, has a center of gravity disposed at an elevation about {fraction (1/8)} inch higher than the center of gravity of a golf ball resting on the same putting surface.  
     
     
         17 . The putter of  claim 1  wherein the central longitudinal axis through the putter head, when the head is resting on a level putting surface, is disposed at an elevation about {fraction (1/8)} inch higher than the center of a golf ball resting on the same putting surface.  
     
     
         18 . The putter of  claim 3  wherein, when the putter head is rotated to a position where the ball-strike surface faces forwardly and the ground-contact surface faces downwardly, an angle ranging between about 30 and about 85 degrees is formed between the shaft and a substantially level putting surface underlying the putter head.  
     
     
         19 . The putter of  claim 3  wherein the angle formed between the shaft and the support surface ranges between about 30 and about 45 degrees.  
     
     
         20 . A method for use by a player in putting a golf ball from a resting position on a putting surface toward a cup position in the same putting surface using a putter comprising a shaft having a handgrip at one end and a transverse cylindrical putting head at the other end, the putting head having a generally cylindrical sidewall, the method comprising the steps of: 
 gripping the handgrip with one hand;    resting the putter head on the putting surface a few inches behind the golf ball with the cylindrical sidewall facing the golf ball;    sighting along the putter shaft in an intended ball-strike direction while aligning the putter head so that the cylindrical sidewall is centered on the ball and is generally perpendicular to the intended ball-strike direction;    without lifting the putter head off the putting surface, adjusting the elevation angle between the shaft and the putting surface to an angle between about 30 and about 85 degrees;    and thereafter moving the handle forward, simultaneously applying force down the shaft to the putter head, causing the putter head to slide forwardly across the putting surface toward the ball, striking the ball in the desired ball-strike direction.