It Pays to Know the USGA Equipment Rules
Familiar with the USGA Rules on Clubs & Balls? Well, if you intend to invent and market a golf product then you should familiarize yourself with the Rules.
One of the Rules is often simply referred to as the “plain in shape” rule and reads as follows:
The USGA also publishes a Guide to the Rules on Clubs & Balls, which provides nice examples interpreting the Rules. The following is an excerpt from the Guide offering some assistance in interpreting the “plain in shape” rule:
And the following is the Figure 25 mentioned above:
Now, with that bit of background check out this recently issued design patent…
The patent is USPN D574455 titled “Golf Club Putter Head.”
So do you think it conforms to the USGA Rules?
Now, of course, there are many novelty golf products that probably sell very well which were never intended to conform to the USGA Rules. After all, I don’t really expect to see anyone playing in a tournament using a race car shaped putter head.
Dave Dawsey - The Golf Club Head Patent Lawyer
PS – click HERE to check out another putter mixing classic automobiles and golf
One of the Rules is often simply referred to as the “plain in shape” rule and reads as follows:
4. Clubhead
a. Plain in Shape
The clubhead must be generally plain in shape. All parts must be rigid, structural in nature and functional. The clubhead or its parts must not be designed to resemble any other object. It is not practicable to define plain in shape precisely and comprehensively. However, features which are deemed to be in breach of this requirement and are therefore not permitted include, but are not limited to:
(i) All Clubs
(ii) Woods and Irons
a. Plain in Shape
The clubhead must be generally plain in shape. All parts must be rigid, structural in nature and functional. The clubhead or its parts must not be designed to resemble any other object. It is not practicable to define plain in shape precisely and comprehensively. However, features which are deemed to be in breach of this requirement and are therefore not permitted include, but are not limited to:
(i) All Clubs
• holes through the face;
• holes through the head (some exceptions may be made for putters and cavity back irons);
• facsimiles of golf balls or actual golf balls incorporated into the head;
• features that are for the purpose of meeting dimensional specifications;
• features that extend into or ahead of the face;
• features that extend significantly above the top line of the head;
• furrows in or runners on the head that extend into the face (some exceptions may be made for putters); and
• optical or electronic devices.
(ii) Woods and Irons
• all features listed in (i) above;
• cavities in the outline of the heel and/or the toe of the head that can be viewed from above;
• severe or multiple cavities in the outline of the back of the head that can be viewed from above;
• transparent material added to the head with the intention of rendering conforming a feature that is not otherwise permitted; and
• features that extend beyond the outline of the head when viewed from above.
The USGA also publishes a Guide to the Rules on Clubs & Balls, which provides nice examples interpreting the Rules. The following is an excerpt from the Guide offering some assistance in interpreting the “plain in shape” rule:
Examples of features not permitted under the “Plain in Shape” Rules and guidelines for putters include the following:
* Appendages for the purpose of meeting dimensional specifications — see Figure 22;
* Features of any nature that extend above the top line of the face by more than 0.25 inches (6.35 mm);
* Holes through the face — see Figure 23;
* Facsimiles of golf balls or actual balls incorporated into the head — see Figure 24;
* Heads designed to resemble other objects (i.e., bottles, cars, vegetables, body parts, etc., — see Figure 25);
* Optical devices such as prisms, mirrors, reflective materials, etc. — see Figure 26;
* Electronic devices such as light beams and metronomes, or mechanical devices such as spirit levels, etc. — see Figure 27.
* Appendages for the purpose of meeting dimensional specifications — see Figure 22;
* Features of any nature that extend above the top line of the face by more than 0.25 inches (6.35 mm);
* Holes through the face — see Figure 23;
* Facsimiles of golf balls or actual balls incorporated into the head — see Figure 24;
* Heads designed to resemble other objects (i.e., bottles, cars, vegetables, body parts, etc., — see Figure 25);
* Optical devices such as prisms, mirrors, reflective materials, etc. — see Figure 26;
* Electronic devices such as light beams and metronomes, or mechanical devices such as spirit levels, etc. — see Figure 27.
And the following is the Figure 25 mentioned above:
Now, with that bit of background check out this recently issued design patent…
The patent is USPN D574455 titled “Golf Club Putter Head.”
So do you think it conforms to the USGA Rules?
Now, of course, there are many novelty golf products that probably sell very well which were never intended to conform to the USGA Rules. After all, I don’t really expect to see anyone playing in a tournament using a race car shaped putter head.
Dave Dawsey - The Golf Club Head Patent Lawyer
PS – click HERE to check out another putter mixing classic automobiles and golf
Posted by David Dawsey PE Esq at 8/22/2008 12:00 AM 
Categories: USGA Rules, Putters, Golf Design Patents
Categories: USGA Rules, Putters, Golf Design Patents
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