Golf club alignment markings

Abstract

A golf club is provided having alignment markings that assist a golfer in finding a desired setup position before addressing the ball. In one embodiment, a golf club according to the present invention includes a shaft having a substantially tubular shape, a club head having an upper surface, a lower surface, a toe end, a heel end, and a striking face disposed therebetween, and a hosel that couples the upper surface of the club head to the shaft. One or more alignment markings are disposed on the upper surface of the club head between the hosel and the heel end in a direction substantially parallel to the striking face. A proper setup is attained by a golfer when the shaft is seen by the golfer as substantially parallel to at least one of the alignment markings.

1 . A golf club comprising:
 a shaft having a substantially tubular shape;   a club head having an upper surface, a lower surface, a toe end, a heel end, and a striking face disposed therebetween;   a hosel coupling the upper surface to an end of the shaft; and   one or more alignment markings disposed on the upper surface substantially parallel to the striking face, the one or more alignment markings being disposed between the hosel and the heel end,   whereby a proper line of sight is attained by a golfer positioned over a ball to be struck when the shaft is seen by the golfer as substantially parallel to at least one of the one or more alignment markings.   
   
   
       2 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the golf club is a putter. 
   
   
       3 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the club head is formed integrally with the hosel. 
   
   
       4 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the hosel comprises,
 a lower portion extending from a recess in the upper surface, the recess being adjacent to the striking face, and   an upper portion configured for receiving the end of the shaft.   
   
   
       5 . The golf club of  claim 4 , wherein the lower portion extends substantially perpendicular to the striking face and an upper portion. 
   
   
       6 . The golf club of  claim 4 , wherein the lower portion extends forwardly diagonally from the recess and further extends substantially perpendicular to the striking face. 
   
   
       7 . The golf club of  claim 4 , wherein the upper portion comprises a socket having a closed end and an open end, the closed end being coupled to the lower portion and the open end being oriented upwardly of the club head to receive the end of the shaft. 
   
   
       8 . The golf club of  claim 4 , wherein the club head comprises,
 a front member including the striking face and a rail that extends rearwardly of the strike face from the toe end to the heel end, the recess being defined within the rail;   a rear member parallel to the front member, the middle member being U-shaped with upwardly extending outer portions and with a central portion recessed in relation to the rail, and   a middle member interposed between the front member and the rear member, the middle member being U-shaped and having upwardly extending outer portions and a recessed central portion juxtaposed to, and forming an essentially continuous channel with, the central portion of the rear member.   
   
   
       9 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein the recess is a depression in the proximity of the toe end, and wherein the toe end is raised in relation to the lower portion of the hosel. 
   
   
       10 . The golf club of  claim 8 , wherein outer portions of the middle member have ends that are channel shaped and that are downwardly inclined toward the central portion of the middle member. 
   
   
       11 . The gold club of  claim 8 , wherein the outer portions of the rear member are rounded and downwardly inclined toward the central portion of the rear member. 
   
   
       12 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more alignment markings are a plurality of parallel lines, or circular or elliptical segments, of different lengths. 
   
   
       13 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more alignment markings are a plurality of parallel lines, or circular or elliptical segments, of different widths. 
   
   
       14 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more alignment markings are of different colors. 
   
   
       15 . The golf club of  claim 14 , wherein there are two alignment markings, one white and the other one red. 
   
   
       16 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein there are two alignment markings spaced apart at a distance less than a diameter of the shaft. 
   
   
       17 . The golf shaft of  claim 16 , wherein the two alignment markings are disposed adjacently to the striking face. 
   
   
       18 . The golf club of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more alignment markings are painted, etched, or shaped as one or more grooves on the upper surface. 
   
   
       19 . The golf club of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the one or more alignment markings are a plurality of alignment markings, and   wherein the plurality of alignment markings are disposed at such a distance one from the other that a proper line of sight is attained by a golfer positioned over a ball to be struck when the shaft is seen by the golfer as substantially parallel to at least one of the plurality of alignment markings and is further seen as obscuring at least one of the one or more of the plurality of alignment markings.