Putter

Abstract

An improved golf putter that consistently imparts topspin to a golf ball that is struck therewith for increasing the tendency of the ball to leave the putter in a predictable manner along an intended path and at an intended rate of speed. Unlike conventional, flat-faced putters, the inventive putter has a forward-projecting, rounded striking edge for delivering an upwardly-directed strike to a golf ball regardless of whether the golfer strikes the ball early or late during his or her putting stroke. Additionally, the round striking edge of the putter reduces the amount surface-to-surface contact between the putter and a golf ball relative to traditional putters, thereby mitigating the undesirable effects of flawed, laterally off-center putting strokes that would otherwise cause a struck ball to travel offline immediately after impact.

1 . An improved putter having a putter head with a rounded striking edge that extends forward from a shaft of the putter a distance of at least 0.5 inches, wherein a forward-most apex of the striking edge has a height of at least 0.5 inches relative to a sole of the putter head. 
     
     
         2 . The improved putter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the striking edge extends forward from the shaft a distance in a range of about 1 inch to about 2 inches. 
     
     
         3 . The improved putter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the forward-most apex of the striking edge has a height in a range of about 0.75 inches to about 0.84 inches relative to the sole of the putter head. 
     
     
         4 . The improved putter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein a radius of the rounded striking edge is in a range of about 0 inches to about 0.75 inches. 
     
     
         5 . The improved putter in accordance with  claim 4 , wherein a radius of the rounded striking edge is in a range of about 0.25 inches to about 0.5 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The improved putter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the putter head has a blade configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The improved putter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the putter head has a mallet configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The improved putter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the putter head has removable weights. 
     
     
         9 . The improved putter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the putter head has a heel shafted configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The improved putter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the putter head has a center-shafted configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The improved putter in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the putter head has an offset shaft configuration.