Golf putter with a removeable insert and method of using the same

Abstract

A golf putter including a plurality of visual aids for assisting the golfer to more consistently assume a good head and body position and to better putt a golf ball toward a remote hole. The putter head is engaged with any one of a plurality of detachable flanges that have any one of a number of different shapes. The shaped flanges are designed to aid the golfer in directing the golf ball toward a remote hole. The putter is provided with first and second linear markings to assist in soling the putter head. The second linear marking is disposed rearwardly of the first linear marking and at a position vertically above or below the first linear marking. When viewed from above, the first and second linear markings are aligned when the putter head is correctly soled and the golfer can sole the putter by aligning the first and second markings. The detachable flange may also include a first reflective surface and a second non-reflective surface. The reflective surface is used during practice sessions to aid the golfer in correctly positioning his head by aligning his eyes along the second linear marker. The flange is removed and rotated so that the non-reflective surface faces upwardly during USGA golf games. The putter may also be provided with spaced apart weight ports that receive small weights to balance the putter head and help the golfer hold it in the correct orientation for striking the ball well.

1 . A golf putter for use by a golfer to putt golf balls, said golf putter comprising: 
 a shaft;    a handle disposed at a first end of the shaft;    a putter head disposed at a second end of the shaft, and wherein said putter head includes: 
 a front wall having a front face adapted to strike the golf ball; a rear face; an upper surface and a lower surface;  
 a mounting area; and  
 a flange removably mounted to the mounting area.  
   
   
   
       2 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the putter head includes a pair of spaced apart legs extending rearwardly away from the rear face of the front wall; said legs defining a gap therebetween.  
   
   
       3 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 2 , wherein the flange is sized to be received within the gap between the legs.  
   
   
       4 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the flange is removably mounted to at least one of the front wall and legs of the putter head.  
   
   
       5 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the flange has a first reflective surface and a second non-reflective surface; and wherein said flange is selectively reversible so as to cause one of said first and second surfaces to face upwardly toward the golfer when said putter is positioned on the ground for striking the golf ball.  
   
   
       6 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 5 , wherein said flange includes an upper surface defining a recess therein; and wherein the reflective surface comprises a mirrored insert disposed within said recess.  
   
   
       7 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the upper surface of the front wall includes a first linear marking disposed substantially at right angles to the upper surface; said first linear marking being adapted to be lined up with a remote hole into which the golf ball is to be putted.  
   
   
       8 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 7 , wherein the first linear marking extends between the front face and rear face of the front wall.  
   
   
       9 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 8 , wherein a second linear marking is disposed substantially parallel to the first linear marking; and the first and second linear markings are disposed on the putter head at different heights relative to each other.  
   
   
       10 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second linear markings comprises one of a groove, a ridge and a physical line provided upon the upper surface and flange respectively.  
   
   
       11 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 10 , wherein the upper surface of the front wall is disposed vertically above the flange when the flange is mounted on the putter head.  
   
   
       12 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the flange includes a front end and a rear end; and wherein the front end of the flange abuts the rear surface of the front wall when the flange is mounted on the putterhead.  
   
   
       13 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the rear surface of the front wall defines a shaped recess therein and the front end of the flange is complementary sized and shaped to be received within the shaped recess.  
   
   
       14 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the flange includes a pair of opposing sides extending between the front end and the rear end thereof; and wherein an aperture is formed between each of the legs and the sides of the flange when the flange is mounted on the putterhead.  
   
   
       15 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the front end and rear ends of the flange extend outwardly beyond the sides of the flange.  
   
   
       16 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the rear end of the flange is one of V-shaped, inverted V-shaped and substantially circular in shape.  
   
   
       17 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 3 , wherein each of the legs includes a bore therein and said putter further comprises a plurality of weighted members selectively receivable within one or both of the bores of the legs.  
   
   
       18 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 3 , wherein the putter head further includes a bottom wall that extends outwardly from the front wall and terminates a spaced distance inwardly from a terminal end of each of the legs.  
   
   
       19 . The golf putter as defined in  claim 18 , wherein the flange is mounted a spaced distance above the bottom wall.  
   
   
       20 . A method of putting a golf ball into a remote hole, comprising: 
 providing a putter having a shaft with a handle disposed at a first end and a putter head disposed at a second end thereof; said putter head having a first linear marking and a second linear marking disposed thereon, said first and second linear markings being disposed at different heights relative to one another;    positioning the putter head adjacent a golf ball;    aligning the first linear marking on the putter head with the golf ball and a remote hole into which the golf ball is to be putted;    checking the relative position of the second linear marking relative to the first linear marking;    aligning the first and second linear markings with each other;    striking the golf ball with a front face of the putter head.    
   
   
       21 . The method of putting a golf ball into a remote hole as defined in  claim 20;  wherein the step of aligning the first and second linear markings includes one of the steps of: 
 moving the handle of the golf club slightly away from the body of the golfer if the first linear marking is disposed closer to the golfer's body than is the second linear marking; and    moving the handle of the golf club slightly toward the golfer's body if the first linear marking is disposed further from the golfer's body than is the second linear marking.    
   
   
       22 . The method of putting a golf ball into a remote hole as defined in  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of: 
 positioning the golfer's head over a reflective surface on the putter head; where said reflective surface has the second linear marking disposed thereon;    aligning at least one of the golfer's eyes with the second linear marking prior to striking the ball.    
   
   
       23 . The method of putting a golf ball into a remote hole as defined in  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of flanges for detachable engagement with the putter head; wherein each of said flanges has a different shape;    selecting a first one of the plurality of flanges and engaging the same with the putter head;    selecting a second one of the plurality of flanges and replacing the first flange with the second flange.    
   
   
       24 . The method of putting a golf ball into a remote hole as defined in  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing at least one of the plurality of flanges with a first reflective surface and a second non-reflective surface;    engaging the at least one of the plurality of flanges with the putter head so that one of the first and second surfaces faces outwardly toward the golfer;    detaching the at least one of the plurality of flanges from the putter head and rotating the same;    engaging the rotated flange with the putter head so that the other of the first and second surfaces faces outwardly toward the golfer.