A putter for use with a one-handed, modified, croquet-style putting stroke is described. The player is thus able to gain full advantage of his or her binocular vision because the player is able to face the target while aligning and stroking a putt. The geometry of the shaft is such that the grip is substantially centered vertically above the center of mass of the putter head when the putter is in a normal address position. The putter may include a head that allows the putter to be free standing in an address position, which assists the player in aligning a putt. The putter may also include a grip with at least one flat land and an angled bore, which provides tactile feedback to the player regarding the alignment of the putter face. The putter complies with the official rules of golf as promulgated by the United States Golf Association and the Royal & Ancient Golf Association in Great Britain. Finally, a method of using the putter is also described.

A player uses putter 10 to hit the ball with a one-handed, modified croquet-style putting stroke. Like all putter heads, head 20 has a center of mass (C.sub.g, head). The face 22 of putter head 20 also defines a face angle line 24 that lies on the face and is generally horizontal when the putter is in a normal address position. Also, like all putters conforming to the Rules, a shaft 30 extends from the putter head 20. A connector portion 32 of shaft 30 is attached to the putter head 20 at point 21, which may be any point on putter head 20. At least a portion of shaft 30 is straight, and straight portion 34 extends from point 33 on connector portion 32.

An alternative embodiment of putter 10, not shown, has a shaft with no curved or angled connector portion. In such an embodiment, the straight portion of the shaft is connected directly to the putter head. Such an arrangement is only possible when the point at which the shaft is connected to the head is located far enough away from the geometric center of the putter head to allow the grip to be appropriately located above the geometric center of the putter head while simultaneously complying with the Rules.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the putter of FIG. 1 illustrating the relationship among putter head 20, grip 40, the player's shoulder joint and the player's arm when putter 10 and a player are in a normal address position. Also shown in FIG. 2 is vertical plane 52, which contains face angle line 24 (shown in FIG. 1) and is perpendicular to intended target line 50. Plane 52 is the plane onto which straight portion 34 (shown in FIG. 1) is projected in determining whether shaft 30 complies with the Rules. The way in which plane 52 is used in determining compliance with the Rules is explained more fully below in connection with FIG. 16.

FIG. 2 also discloses a player in a normal address position, holding putter 10 with his or her dominant hand and preparing to stroke a putt along an intended target line 50. FIG. 2 further discloses a player in a normal address position, holding putter 10 with his dominant hand with the arm substantially fully extended. The vertical alignment of putter head 20, grip 40, the player's arm and shoulder joint are apparent. As can be seen, the player stands beside the intended target line 50 and facing the intended target. This allows the player to look directly behind and along the intended target line 50 of a putt while aligning and while stroking the putt. Thus, a player may obtain the full advantage of his or her binocular vision throughout the putting process. This is a particularly important feature of putter 10 because it substantially removes the single obstacle to proper alignment that cannot be perceived by a typical player directly. That is, when using a traditional putter, a player must compensate for the visual distortion caused by viewing the target laterally (and only during a putting stroke and not during the alignment process) by watching how and where the ball rolls after it is struck. The difficulty with this type of feedback is that the player cannot distinguish the error caused by visual distortion from the error caused by other factors (e.g., a poorly struck putt or a poorly chosen intended target line).

When stroking a putt with putter 10 in a manner most suited to take advantage of the design of putter 10, the player swings putter 10 completely within a substantially vertical plane containing the intended target line 50. Additionally, the player should keep face angle line 24 perpendicular to target line 50 throughout the stroke. As explained more fully below, grip 40 is particularly suited to aid the player in keeping face angle line 24 perpendicular to target line 50 throughout the stroke (i.e., in keeping the face square to the target throughout the stroke). When stroking long putts, the player may keep his or her wrist relatively stiff such that the putter head 20 swings from a pivot point at the player's shoulder joint, such as the natural movement of the normal arm swing when one walks. The movement of putter 10 using this stiff-wristed stroke is accomplished using the relatively large muscle groups that move a player's entire arm from the shoulder joint. When stroking short putts, a player may desire to use a wrist-actuated stroke in which putter head 20 rotates around a pivot point at the player's wrist rather than the shoulder joint. Such a stroke is performed using the small muscle groups of the hand and wrist and may provide more "feel" and fine control than the stiff-wristed, shoulder-based stroke described immediately above. The key with both strokes, however, is in keeping putter head 20 moving along target line 50 with face angle line 24 perpendicular to target line 50 throughout the stroke. Ultimately, whether a particular player prefers the wrist-based stroke, shoulder-based stroke, or a combination of the two in a particular set of circumstances is a matter of personal preference.