Crazy Golf Club Patent of the Week

It has been a while since the last  post covering a bizarre golf club patent and I am starting to sense the pent up demand for such a post (not really). Well, there is no doubt that the putter found in US Patent No. 5362048, which issued in 1994, meets the criteria. Check out this beauty!

The patent explains:

This invention relates generally to golf clubs, and more particularly to a golf club having a unique connector between the head and shaft of the golf club.

In the game of golf, putting is widely regarding as being perhaps the most important skill required to score well. For most golfers, it is physically impossible to reach the vast majority of greens in less than a regulation number of strokes. Thus, if the otherwise skilled golfer is to break or save par it will frequently be necessary to hole out with only a single putt. In my experience, poor putting may occur when the golfer grips the shaft too tightly, such as frequently occurs when the golfer is attempting to make a short putt. The golfers grip is believed to affect the force applied to the ball when putting. Presently, the rigid connection between the shaft and head of a putter is believed to transmit substantially all of the tension in the golfer’s grip to the club head. Thus, the feel of the shot and the impact applied to the ball undesirably vary with the tightness of the grip, rather than varying solely with the speed of the stroke.

Another important aspect of putting is the desire to obtain the maximum roll of the ball with the minimum of effort by the golfer. The golfer can generally putt more proficiently if his swing is smooth and easy, even on long putts. In that regard, it is helpful to strike the ball when the putter is actually on the upstroke so as to impart a greater topspin motion to the ball. The golfer is thus able to putt the ball greater distances with a more controlled swing. There is presently a need for a putter which facilitates the application of topspin to the golf ball.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the several objects and features of the present invention may be noted the provision of a golf club in which the effect of the golfer’s grip of the club on the impact applied to the ball is diminished; the provision of such a golf club which facilitates striking the ball with a slightly upward component for imparting topspin to the ball; and the provision of a golf club which is of sturdy construction, and which is easy to manufacture and use.

Generally, a golf club comprising a head having a generally forwardly directed face constructed for striking a golf ball. A shaft extends outwardly from the head and has a grip portion thereon for gripping the shaft to swing the club. A connector located between and interconnecting the head and the shaft is relatively more resiliently yieldable than the shaft and the head.

Surprised we haven’t seen any of these on tour?

Dave Dawsey   – Keeping an Eye on Crazy Golf Products

PS – click here to check out another interesting way of joining a club head to a shaft