FIELD
This disclosure relates to a golf putter and manufacturing of same.
BACKGROUND
An average golfer uses their putter for just over 40% of strokes in a round of golf. During this round, golfers are allowed 14 clubs and often have a variety of drivers and irons in their bag, but tend to have just one putter. With this in mind, having a putter that is well suited to each player's game and the day's course conditions is paramount to success. When a club-fitting professional is fitting a putter to an individual, three common factors are addressed: toe-hang, loft, and face material.
Toe-hang addresses the degree of openness of the putter face in relation to the plane in which the golf ball lies which can be described by an angle that the face is rotated in relation to the shaft of the club. The amount of toe-hang which works best for a player is largely dependent on how much their swing arcs, and thus can change throughout a golfer's career as their putt changes. A putter with 0 degrees of toe-hang is referred to as face balanced and anything greater than that is referred to as a putter with toe-hang.
When choosing a face material, there are many options on the market from metals to polymers, and most golfers choose what works for them based on feel. That is, when they hit the ball, do they like the sound, feeling, and overall user feedback that comes with contacting the ball? This, again, is an extremely personal choice for each golfer.
Finally, loft refers to an angle of the putter face relative to a vertical plane, with most putters being tilted upwards to provide some lift and spin to the ball. The degree of loft that is best for a game typically depends on the course conditions with considerations made to the season, the type of grass on the course, how damp the course is, and the length of the grass on the green.
When fitting for a golf club, in order to adjust for each of these factors, one typically needs to try multiple clubs until the perfect combination of all three is found.
SUMMARY
In some examples, a golf putter clubhead can include a channel marked with graduations in which a nut can be slid to provide a continuous spectrum of attachment points and thus a range of toe-hang values, which provides an advantage over known golf clubs which have a singular, predetermined shaft attachment point and thus only the capacity for one, set degree of toe hang. An example golf putter can include a clubhead having a rounded arrow shape channel at the top of the club head for continuous points of shaft attachment to influence toe-hang. The shaft can attach by screwing into a nut in the channel.
In some examples, the golf putter clubhead can include detachable face plates which can alter loft values and can be combined to make a custom loft angle for each game of golf, which provides an advantage over known golf clubs which have a set loft value for each putter. The example golf putter clubhead can include stackable wedge shaped face plates which stack to form a greater degree of loft. The face plates can individually have 0.5, 1, and 2 degrees and can be stacked to provide between 0.5 to 3.5 degrees of loft in 0.5 degree increments. The face plates can include two materials. The face plates can be 3D printed. The faceplates can screw into the clubhead. The face plates can be inverted to create a negative degree of loft as well.
In some examples, the golf putter clubhead can be printed with two or more metals of differing density, which provides an advantage over known golf clubs having two or more joined metals. The golf putter clubhead can be manufactured via Direct Metal Laser Sintering. The golf putter clubhead can be manufactured in one continuous metal piece. Ratio of the two or more metals can be distributed spatially with a gradient to precisely control center of mass of the clubhead.
In some examples, the golf putter clubhead can include a honeycomb structure in the middle of the club to lighten the structure. The honeycomb structure could be any design including characters, figures, or alphanumeric inscriptions that pass through the full thickness of the golf putter clubhead.
An example clubhead of a golf putter can include a channel and an attachment feature configured to slide through a continuous spectrum of positions within the channel and configured to receive a shaft of the golf putter such that the shaft can be affixed to the clubhead to provide a continuous spectrum of toe-hang values for the golf putter.
The attachment feature can include a nut configured to slide through the continuous spectrum of positions within the channel and configured to receive a threaded end of the shaft.
The attachment feature can be configured to inhibit movement of the attachment feature through the channel when the shaft is tightly threaded through the nut.
The channel can have a cross-sectional shape having a rounded arrow shape pointing down from a top surface of the clubhead.
The attachment feature can include a hosel configured to slide through the continuous spectrum of positions within the channel and configured to receive a threaded end of the shaft.
The channel can extend from a top surface of the clubhead to a bottom surface of the clubhead.
The channel can include a ledge therein. The ledge can have a bottom-facing surface and a top-facing surface such that the bottom-facing surface faces the bottom surface of the clubhead and the top-facing surface faces the top surface of the clubhead.
The attachment feature can include a screw and a hosel such that the screw head engages the bottom-facing surface of the ledge, the hosel engages a top-facing surface of the ledge, and the screw is threaded into the hosel.
The hosel can be shaped to inhibit rotation of the hosel within the channel. The screw can be configured to be loosened to allow translation of the attachment feature through the continuous spectrum of positions within the channel. The screw can be configured to be tightened to inhibit translation of the attachment feature within the channel.
The clubhead can include one or more detachable face plates which are attachable to the clubhead to provide a first loft angle. The one or more detachable face plates are stackable with another detachable face plate to provide a second loft angle greater or less than the first loft angle.
The first loft angle can be one of 0.5 degrees, 1 degree, or 2 degrees.
The one or more detachable face plates can be attachable to the clubhead to provide a 0.5 degree loft angle, a 1 degree loft angle, and a 1.5 degree loft angle.
The one or more detachable face plates are attachable to the clubhead to further provide a 2 degree loft angle, a 2.5 degree loft angle, a 3 degree loft angle, and a 3.5 degree loft angle.
The clubhead can further include a face having a plurality of grooves each extending parallel to a bottom surface of the face such that spacing between grooves of the plurality of grooves increases vertically in a direction away from the bottom surface of the face and toward a top surface of the face.
The clubhead can include two or more metals printed together with Direct Metal Laser Sintering. A ratio of the two or more metals can be distributed spatially with a gradient such that a center of mass of the clubhead is based at least in part on the gradient.
The core can have a honeycomb pattern.
The clubhead can include a patterned structure passing through a majority of a thickness of the clubhead and oriented parallel to a bottom surface of the clubhead
The clubhead can include one or more weights movable within the clubhead to adjust center of mass of the clubhead.
The clubhead can include one or more tracks extending orthogonal to a face of the clubhead such that the one or more weights are moveable within the tracks to adjust center of mass of the clubhead. The one or more weights can be removable from the clubhead.
Another example clubhead of a golf putter can include a channel and a nut configured to slide within the channel. The nut can include a receptacle configured to receive a shaft of the golf putter.
The channel and the nut can be collectively configured to provide a continuous spectrum of toe-hang values for the golf putter.
The channel can be configured with graduated markings to provide an estimation of toe-hang values for the golf putter.
The channel can include a rounded arrow shape pointing down from a top of the clubhead.
The clubhead can include one or more detachable face plates which are attachable to the clubhead to provide a first loft angle.
The one or more detachable face plates can be stackable with another detachable face plate to provide a second loft angle greater or less than the first loft angle.
The first loft angle can be one of 0.5 degrees, 1 degree, and 2 degrees.
Another example clubhead of a golf putter can include two or more metals printed together with Direct Metal Laser Sintering. A ratio of the two or more metals is distributed spatially with a gradient such that a center of mass of the clubhead is based at least in part on the gradient.
Another example clubhead of a golf putter can include a honeycomb structure within the clubhead.
Another example clubhead of a golf putter can include a patterned structure of any design including characters, figures, or alphanumeric inscriptions that pass through the full thickness of the golf putter clubhead.
An example method for adjusting a toe hang of a golf putter can include the following steps performed in various orders and including additional steps as understood by a person skilled in the pertinent art. The example method can include moving an attachment feature through a channel within a clubhead of the golf putter. The example method can include securing the attachment feature in place within the channel.
The example method can include moving the attachment feature through a continuous spectrum of positions within the channel. Moving the attachment feature through the channel can further include moving a nut through the channel Securing the attachment feature in place within the channel can further include threading a threaded end of a shaft into the nut. Moving the attachment feature through the channel can further include moving a hosel through a continuous spectrum of positions within the channel.
The example method can include attaching a shaft to the hosel. Securing the attachment feature in place within the channel can further include engaging the hosel to a top-facing surface of a ledge within the channel; threading a screw into a bottom-facing surface of the hosel; and engaging a head of the screw to a bottom-facing surface of the ledge.
Moving the attachment feature through the channel can further include loosening the screw to allow translation of the attachment feature through the channel. Securing the attachment feature in place within the channel can further include tightening the screw to inhibit translation of the attachment feature within the channel.
An example method for adjusting loft angle of a golf putter clubhead can include the following steps performed in various orders and including additional steps as understood by a person skilled in the pertinent art. The example method can include attaching one or more detachable face plates to the clubhead to provide a first loft angle. The first loft angle can be one of 0.5 degrees, 1 degree, or 2 degrees. The one or more detachable face plates can be attachable to the clubhead to provide a 0.5 degree loft angle, a 1 degree loft angle, and a 1.5 degree loft angle. The one or more detachable face plates are attachable to the clubhead to further provide a 2 degree loft angle, a 2.5 degree loft angle, a 3 degree loft angle, and a 3.5 degree loft angle.
The example method can further include stacking the one or more detachable face plates on the clubhead to provide a second loft angle greater or less than the first loft angle.
An example method of manufacturing a golf putter clubhead can include the following steps performed in various orders and including additional steps as understood by a person skilled in the pertinent art. The example method can include printing two or more metals together with Direct Metal Laser Sintering.
The example method can further include distributing a ratio of the two or more metals spatially with a gradient such that a center of mass of the clubhead is based at least in part on the gradient.
The example method can further include forming a honeycomb pattern in a core of the clubhead.
The example method can further include forming a patterned structure passing through a majority of a thickness of a core of the clubhead and oriented parallel to a bottom surface of the clubhead.
An example method of adjusting a center of mass of a golf putter clubhead can include the following steps performed in various orders and including additional steps as understood by a person skilled in the pertinent art. The example method can include moving one or more weights within the clubhead to adjust the center of mass of the clubhead.
The example method can further include moving the one or more weights through one or more tracks extending orthogonal to a face of the clubhead to adjust the center of mass of the clubhead.
The example method can further include removing the one or more weights from the clubhead.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an illustration toe hang of a golf putter.
FIG. 2 is an illustration loft angle of a golf putter.
FIG. 3A-C are a series of illustrations depicting impact of center of mass on vertical gear effect.
FIG. 4A is an illustration depicting oblique impact between a club face and a ball.
FIG. 4B is an illustration depicting roll ratio of a ball.
FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example core of a golf putter clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIGS. 6A through 6E are illustrations of various views of another example core of a golf putter clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an illustration an example attachment of a putter shaft to a core of a golf putter clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is an illustration another example attachment of a putter shaft to a core of a golf putter clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are illustrations of respective example cross sections of a channel of the core of the golf putter clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a threaded end of a shaft being screwed into a nut in a channel of the core of the golf putter clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is an illustration of a 2 degree faceplate according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 12A is an illustration of another example golf putter clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 12B is an illustration of the example golf putter clubhead illustrated in FIG. 12A during manufacturing prior to removal of the face of the clubhead from a build plate according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is an illustration of a slant neck hosel and screw assembly of an example golf putter clubhead as viewed from a face of the clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 14 is an illustration of a hosel and screw assembly attached at a ledge of an example golf putter clubhead as viewed from a bottom side of the clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 15A is an illustration of the example golf putter clubhead illustrated in FIG. 12A with shaft as viewed from a topside of the clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 15B is an illustration of the example golf putter clubhead shown in FIG. 15A as viewed from a bottom side of the clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 15C is an illustration of the example golf putter clubhead with zero offset hosel as viewed from a topside of the clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is an illustration of a face of the example golf putter clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 17A is an illustration of an example golf putter clubhead with toe hang adjusted to balanced according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 17B is illustrations of example golf putter clubheads with toe hang adjusted to 30 degrees and −10 degrees according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 17C is an illustration of a channel and attachment feature of a clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 18A is an illustration of discrete attachment features on a top surface of a clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 18B is an illustration of a double threaded shaft attachment according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 18C is an illustration of a threaded shaft according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 19A is an illustration of another example clubhead with adjustable center of mass according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 19B is an illustration of the example clubhead illustrated in FIG. 19A including inserts to adjust center of mass of the clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 19C is an illustration of an insert within the clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
FIG. 19D is an illustration of the insert removed from the clubhead according to aspects of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In some examples presented herein, a putter is designed manufactured in a way that allows for a golfer to adjust toe hang, face material, and loft all in one club, in order to optimize the club for the day's game without having to purchase a new golf club each time one desires to try something new. The putter head can combine a removable, stackable face plate with a continuous range of shaft attachment points to allow a golfer to adjust each factor all in one club.
In some examples, manufacturing of the putter leverages the abilities of 3D printing technology for metal additive manufacturing. For instance, manufacturing of the putters described herein can include laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) such as direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) and/or electron beam powder bed fusion (PBF-EB) techniques. DMLS is a 3D printing process which allows for lattice structures and metallic gradients to come together in one, continuous piece by using a laser to solidify metallic powder(s) into solid bodies. With the freedom this affords the designer, this allows for very specific placement of the center of mass within the club, thus allowing for the moment of inertia to be optimized to create a club which is both customizable and forgiving.
In certain examples, other suitable 3D printing techniques for manufacturing the putter described herein can include directed energy deposition (DED) or directed metal deposition (DMD) techniques such as laser engineered net shaping (LENS) or laser powder forming. DED and DMD are 3D printing processes for metal additive manufacturing that injects a metal powder or metal wire into a molten pool created by a focused, high-powered laser beam.
LPBF and DED or DMD techniques allow the unique capability to print a single, cohesive body using two or more metal powders of different densities, forming a material gradient. This is advantageous in allowing for the center of mass (COM) to be intentionally positioned in the golf club to increase forgiveness, additionally yielding more control over the mass of the club. In some examples a less dense metal can be used in combination with a relatively dense metal, such as aluminum and tungsten or osmium and titanium. In other examples, only stainless steel powder can be used. When one metal is used, or in addition to using two metals, density of material can be adjusted within the clubhead to intentionally position COM.
Lattice structures and metallic gradients can be manipulated to vary vibration properties and other mechanical properties of the putter.
In some examples the core of the golf putter can be printed in 316L stainless steel on a 3D printer (e.g. EOS M 280 printer). Following printing, the clubhead can be removed from a printing plate or substrate using a cutting instrument (e.g. bandsaw) and supports can be removed using a grinding instrument (e.g. Dremel, sand).
In some examples, manufacturing of the putter with a single material can be accomplished using casting, machining, and milling manufacturing processes. Molten metal or alloys can be poured into a mold to create the desired putter pattern. Milling can further pattern the putter by using rotary cutters to remove unwanted material from the putter.
Face patterns can affect forgiveness of a golf putter to provide favorable ball rotation and motion through a variety of impacts to the ball. A forgivable putter is a highly desirable trait, as every shot is not always hit in the sweet spot of the club. A milling pattern can be utilized that is customized to the mass distribution properties of the club head itself to make a club more forgiving to slow down the ball when coming off of a mishit, thereby minimizing the effects of the hit on the overall putting game.
FIG. 1 is an illustration toe hang of a golf putter. The shaft defines an axis that extends through the clubhead of the putter a distance A from center of mass of the clubhead across the face of the clubhead toward the heel of the putter, and the axis defined by the shaft extends a distance B from the center of mass toward a backside of the clubhead. The offset of the axis defined by the shaft from the center of mass results in a toe hang angle θT. A putter with zero degrees of toe hang is referred to as face balanced. A putter with more than zero degrees is referred to as a putter with toe hang.
FIG. 2 is an illustration loft angle θL of a golf putter which is a measurement of an angle of the face of the clubhead from the axis defined by the shaft of the gold putter. Most putters are tilted upwards to provide some lift and spin to the ball. The degree of loft that is best for a game typically depends on the course of conditions with considerations made to the season, the type of grass being played on, the dampness of the course, and the length of the grass on the green.
FIGS. 3A-C are a series of illustrations depicting impact of center of mass on vertical gear effect. Vertical gear effect is impacted by the relative position of the center of mass of the club to the center of mass of the ball. FIG. 3A illustrates a center impact in relation to center of mass resulting in normal trajectory and spin. FIG. 3B illustrates impact on a lower portion of the face of the golf putter clubhead in relation to the center of mass of the ball resulting in lower trajectory and higher spin. FIG. 3C illustrates impact on a higher portion of the face of the golf putter clubhead in relation to the center of mass of the ball resulting in higher trajectory and lower spin.
FIG. 4A is an illustration depicting oblique impact between a club face and a ball. While vertical gear effect has a larger impact on roll ratio, oblique impact is determined by the loft of the putter. By lofting the clubface downwards instead of upwards, a user imparts some topspin on the ball, but also drives it into the ground which can be combated by contacting the ball when the putter is on the upswing. In theory, this is a useful concept, but it can be difficult for a golfer to adjust their swing in order to contact the ball at the right moment. In some examples presented herein, loft of the putter can be adjusted by the golfer. Such adjustable loft can allow a golfer to experiment with effects of loft angle, positive and negative, during various course conditions and on the kinetics of their swing.
FIG. 4B is an illustration depicting roll ratio of a ball. The effect of loft is generally quantified by roll ratio. The roll ratio describes the ratio of vertical spin induced peripheral speed of the ball to the translational speed of the ball. For most putters, this is a negative number which is indicative of backspin. Backspin can result in skidding which is less controlled motion.
Example golf putter clubheads disclosed herein can include some or all of the advantageous features disclosed above. Example golf putter clubheads disclosed herein can have reasonable mass properties. The golf putter clubhead can conform to United States Golf Association (USGA) and/or R&A regulations. In some examples, the clubhead is manufactures using a 3D printer which creates metallic parts using LPBF, PBF-EB, DMLS, DED, DMD, and/or LENs techniques described above. In some examples, the clubhead has is semi-porous with lattice structures in the main body. In some examples, a specific mass, center of mass, and/or inertia can be controlled by controlling porosity of the lattice structures.
In some examples vertical gear effect and topspin is determined by low placement of moment of inertia (MOI), low center of mass, and a center of mass far back from the face of the putter. In some examples, these properties are controlled by functionally graded porosity (FGP) to vary density of material through the body of the putter clubhead.
Example golf putters illustrated herein are right-handed putters for the sake of illustration only. Left-handed putters having similar features can be constructed as understood by a person skilled in the pertinent art according to the teachings herein.
FIG. 5 is an illustration of an example core 100 of a golf putter clubhead illustrating a top surface of the core 100. The core 100 includes a y-shaped portion 102 intersecting a trapezoidal shaped portion 104. The core 100 is oriented with a toe side 132, a heel side 134, a face 120, and a back side 136. The core 100 further includes a channel 110 at which a shaft can be attached. The channel 110 can be configured to allow the shaft to attach to the core 100 over a continuum of positions to provide a continuum of toe hang values. Toe hang values possible from the channel 110 of core 100 can also allow a negative toe hang angle (−θT), as illustrated in FIG. 1.
FIGS. 6A through 6E are illustrations of various views of another example core 200 of a golf putter clubhead. The core 200 illustrated in FIGS. 6A through 6E is configured similarly to the core 100 illustrated in FIG. 5 excepting that a y-shaped portion 202 of the example core 200 illustrated in FIGS. 6A through E includes a honeycomb lattice pattern rather than a solid construction as illustrated in FIG. 5.
FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate a top side of the core 200. The y-shaped portion 202 intersects a trapezoidal shaped portion 204. The core 200 is oriented with a toe side 232, a heel side 234, a face 220, and a back side 236. The core 200 further includes a channel 210 at which a shaft can be attached. The core 200 includes a nut 212 that can slide through the channel 210. The nut 212 includes a threaded receptacle 214 configured to receive a threaded end of a shaft of a golf putter. The nut 212 can thereby serve as an attachment feature to attach the shaft to the core 200.
FIG. 6C is an illustration of a bottom side of the core 200. The channel 210 extends only partially through the core so that the channel 210 is not visible from the bottom side of the core 200.
FIGS. 6D and 6E are perspective view illustrations showing a face 220 of the core. FIG. 6D further includes a faceplate 240. The face 220 includes threaded receptacles 222 configured to receive screws. The faceplate 240 includes openings 242 shaped to allow the faceplate 240 to be attached to the face 220 by screws.
FIG. 7 is an illustration an example attachment of a putter shaft 150 to a core 100 of a golf putter clubhead. The core 100 is illustrated similar to the core 100 in FIG. 5, however, the core 200 illustrated in FIGS. 6A through 6E can be substituted. The shaft 150 includes a threaded end 154 which can be threaded into the threaded receptacle 114 of the nut 112 to thereby attach the shaft 150 to the putter core 100. The putter shaft 150 can be affixed to the clubhead so that the shaft 150 does not move in relation to the clubhead and does not become detached from the clubhead during typical usage of the golf putter. When the shaft 150 is affixed to the clubhead, movement of the nut 112 within the channel 110 is inhibited. The shaft 150 can be affixed to the clubhead when the threaded end 154 of the shaft 150 is tightly threaded into or through the nut 112.
FIG. 8 is an illustration another example attachment of a putter shaft 250 to a core 200 of a golf putter clubhead. The core 200 is illustrated similar to the core 200 in FIGS. 6A through 6E, however, the core 100 illustrated in FIG. 5 can be substituted. The putter includes a connector 218 between the shaft 250 and clubhead core 200. The putter includes a screw 216 securing the connector 218 to the core 200. The putter shaft 250 can be affixed to the clubhead so that the shaft 150 does not move in relation to the clubhead and does not become detached from the clubhead during typical usage of the golf putter. When the shaft 250 is affixed to the clubhead, movement of the connector 218 in relation to the channel 110 is inhibited.
FIGS. 9A and 9B are illustrations of respective example cross sections of channels 110, 210 of the core of the golf putter clubhead. Each respective channel 110, 210 includes an arrow shaped cross-sectional shape including opening 111, 211, a bottom-facing surface 113, 213, and an a trapezoidal 117 or rounded triangular 217 shaped head. The channel 110 in FIG. 9A has a cross-sectional shape having a truncated arrow shape pointing down from a top surface of the clubhead. The channel 210 illustrated in FIG. 9B has a cross-sectional shape having a rounded arrow shape pointing down from a top surface of the clubhead.
FIGS. 10A and 10B illustrate a threaded end 154 of a shaft 150 being screwed into a nut in a channel of the core 200 of the golf putter clubhead.
FIG. 11 is an illustration of an angled faceplate 240 having a first width W1 at a top edge of the faceplate 240 and a second width W2 at a bottom edge of the faceplate 240. A difference between the first and second widths W1, W2 can result in an angled surface, that when attached to the face 220 of the core 200 changes loft angle θL of the putter. These faceplate 240 can be available in several materials such as a polymer, Aluminum 6061, or other suitable material. The faceplate 240, can allow for the golfer to select the desired degree of loft, can be computer drafted (e.g. Solidworks) and 3D printed with a suitable material (e.g. RPU130). The faceplate 240 can be wedge shaped to be thicker at the bottom than at the top, with a predetermined incline (e.g. 0.5 degrees, 1 degree, and 2 degrees). The faceplate 240 can be designed to be stacked on top of other faceplates of similar design to create a range of loft values (e.g. 0 to +/−3.5 degrees in 0.5 degree increments). The faceplates can be stacked to the desired degree, then screwed into the face of the club.
FIG. 12A is an illustration of another example golf putter clubhead 300. The clubhead 300 can further include a channel 310 as illustrated in FIGS. 13, 14, and 15A-B. Toe hang of the putter and center of mass and moment of inertia of the clubhead 300 can be altered to by a golfer. The clubhead 300 can further include a variable roughness of the putter face 320 which may promote a more immediate forward roll.
FIG. 12B is an illustration of the example golf putter clubhead 300 during manufacturing prior to removal of the face 320 of the clubhead 300 from a build plate 370. The clubhead 300 can be printed similar to the cores 100, 200 disclosed above. After the print, the clubhead 300 can be fused to the build plate 370 and can be removed without damaging the clubhead 300. Material of the channel 310 can be removed after printing the clubhead 300.
FIG. 13 is an illustration of a slant neck hosel 360 and screw 365 assembly of an example golf putter clubhead 300 as viewed from the face 320 of the clubhead 300. The hosel 360 includes a lower portion 364 that extends though the clubhead 300. The lower portion 364 has a rectangular cross section that can fit snugly within the channel 310 to inhibit rotation of the hosel 360 in relation to the clubhead 300. The channel 310 extends from a top surface of the clubhead 300 to a bottom surface of the clubhead 300. The hosel 360 and screw 365 assembly can be rotated 180 degrees such that the same golf putter can be used ambidextrously, or properly adjusted for each of a right-handed or left-handed user.
FIG. 14 is an illustration of the hosel 360 and screw 365 assembly attached at a ledge 372 of the clubhead 300 as viewed from a bottom side of the clubhead 300. The bottom of the hosel 360 rests on the ledge 372 near the base of the putter. A standardized golf screw 365 can be used to hold the hosel 360 with tension on the ledge 372. The screw 365 is threaded into the hosel 360. A screw head of the screw 365 engages a bottom-facing surface of the ledge 372, and the hosel 360 engages a top-facing surface of the ledge 372. The screw 365 can be loosened to allow translation of the hosel 360 within the channel 310 over a continuous spectrum of positions. The screw 365 can be tightened to inhibit movement of the hosel 360 within the channel 310 and affix the hosel 360 in place in relation to the clubhead 300.
The hosel 360 includes an upper portion 362 which can allow connection to the shaft 350 with an adhesive, such as a golf epoxy, or a standard screw fastener. The connection between shaft 350, hosel 360, and clubhead 300 can provide enough stability to withstand common forces during standard play. The connection between shaft 350, hosel 360, and clubhead 300 can provide enough stability to allow for a hosel 360 with offset, which is the position of the shaft axis in relation to the putter face 320. This introduces many different combinations of various styles of hosels 360 including a slant neck hosel 360 and a zero offset hosel.
FIG. 15A is an illustration of the example golf putter clubhead 300 with shaft 350 as viewed from a topside of the clubhead 300. The clubhead 300 can include a sightline 380 positioned centrally with respect to the face 320 and extending orthogonally from the face 320. The clubhead 300 can be symmetrical with respect to the sightline 380.
FIG. 15B is an illustration of the example golf putter clubhead 300 as viewed from a bottom side of the clubhead 300. The clubhead 300 includes cavities to reduce overall weight of the putter. The clubhead 300 includes a pair of tracks 366, 368 into which weights 369 can be positioned. The pair of tracks includes a toe-side track 366 and a heel-side track 368. Weights 369 can be positioned to adjust the center of gravity and moment of inertia of the clubhead. The weights 369 can be detachable from the clubhead 300. The weights 369 can be positioned to adjust location of center of mass, thereby dimensions A and B, and thereby toe hang θT (FIG. 1) and moment of inertia of the clubhead. Moving the center of gravity forward produces a blade-like putter, which has more consistent start direction and less consistent ball speed on mishits. Moving the center of gravity back produces more consistent ball speed and less consistent start direction on mishits. Additionally, the weights can be stacked on a singular side, moving the center of gravity towards the toe or heel. This can affect the closing rate of the face similar to draw and fade biases on an adjustable driver. Having these weights also allows for interchangeable weight sizes so that the overall weight of the putter can be adjusted.
FIG. 15C is an illustration of the example golf putter clubhead 300 with shaft 350 as viewed from a topside of the clubhead 300. The clubhead 300 can be oriented with a toe side 332, a heel side 334, a face 320, and a back side 336. The clubhead 300 can also include a sightline 380 positioned centrally with respect to the face 320 and extending orthogonally from the face 320. The clubhead 300 can be symmetrical with respect to the sightline 380. In some examples, a zero offset hosel 360B does not go around the shaft 350, rather the shaft 350 goes around the hosel 360B in order to look like a clean transition from shaft to putter. The zero offset hosel 360B can be very wide to fill the channel as much as possible to control the pitch of impact while still allowing for maximum to zero toe hang as well as negative toe hang. Additionally, the zero offset hosel 360B can allow for the putter to be switched from a right-handed club to a left-handed club without flipping the offset of the hosel. This is a unique feature that can help with large scale manufacturing for commercial sales. A golfer can also experiment with dexterity changes on the putting green.
FIG. 16 is an illustration of an example face 320 of the golf putter clubhead 300. The face 320 can include grooves 330 that are parallel to a bottom surface of the face 320 and/or bottom surface of the clubhead 300. The spacing between grooves can increase vertically in a direction away from the bottom surface of the face 320 toward a top surface of the face 320. For instance, grooves near the bottom surface 384 of the face 320 can have a spacing H2 that is less than a spacing H1 between grooves near the top surface 382 of the face 320. The spacing between grooves can gradually increase from H2 to H1 through a majority of the height of the face 320. Closely spaced grooves can result in less ball speed off the face 320. This is due to less surface area contact with the ball at impact. The graduated groove spacing may be able to hit the upper portion of the golf ball with slightly more ball speed than the bottom of the golf ball, which can promote immediate forward roll after impact.
FIG. 17A is an illustration of an example golf putter clubhead with toe hang adjusted to balanced. The clubhead is marked with toe hang angles such that when the nut or other attachment feature is positioned next to a given marking with a shaft attached, the putter will have a toe hang angle approximately equal to the marked angle.
FIG. 17B provides illustrations of example golf putter clubheads with toe hang adjusted to 30 degrees and −10 degrees. Although not illustrated, channel and attachment feature can provide a continuum of positions can provide a continuum of toe hang angles.
FIG. 17C is an illustration of the channel and attachment feature of the clubhead.
FIG. 18A is an illustration of discrete attachment features on a top surface of a clubhead. As an alternative to the channel, the clubhead can include multiple attachment features fixed in position on the top surface of the clubhead, and a shaft can be attached at any one of the attachment features to selected one of a discrete number of toe hangs. The clubhead can include discrete threaded holes along the top of the head as shaft attachment points.
FIG. 18B is an illustration of a double threaded shaft attachment.
FIG. 18C is an illustration of a threaded shaft.
FIG. 19A is an illustration of another example clubhead with adjustable center of mass.
FIG. 19B is an illustration of the example clubhead including a lattice structure and inserts which can be positioned, by the user, into the clubhead to adjust center of mass of the clubhead.
FIG. 19C is an illustration of an insert within the clubhead. The insert can include tabs to facilitate insertion and removal from the clubhead.
FIG. 19D is an illustration of the insert removed from the clubhead.
Features of the foregoing example clubhead and putters can be combined as understood by a person skilled in the pertinent art. For instance, the clubhead 300 illustrated in FIGS. 12A through 16 can be modified to include detachable faceplates 240 similar to as illustrated in FIGS. 6D, 6E, and 11. For instance, the clubheads 100, 200 illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 11 can be modified to include a channel 310, hosel 360, and screw 365 configured similarly to as illustrated in FIGS. 13 through 16. For instance, the clubhead 300 illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 11 can be modified to include a channel 110, 210 configured similarly to as illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 10B. For instance, the clubheads 100, 200 illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 11 can be modified to include a sliding weight system to adjust center of mass and/or moment of inertia. For instance, the clubhead 200 illustrated in FIGS. 6A through 6E can be modified to include removable inserts configured similarly to as illustrated in FIGS. 19A through 19E. For instance, the detachable faceplates 240 can be patterned to provide a clubhead face patterned as illustrated in FIG. 16. Although not illustrated, the clubhead and putters can include additional face patterns including grids, waffle patterns, honeycomb patterns, crosshatch groove patterns, semicircle patterns, and the like.
Clubheads disclosed herein, and variations thereof can further be modified to have various shapes including mallet and blade shapes as understood by a person skilled in the pertinent art. Clubheads disclosed herein, and variations thereof can further be modified to include a sliding weight system such that a weight can be translated parallel to the face of the clubhead to adjust center of mass of the clubhead.
Patent Application
20240149121
