Practice putter and head

Abstract

A putter and putter head for use during putting practice. The practice putter has a shaft with a grip at an upper end and a putter head that is designed to improve a golfer's ability to contact the golf ball on the sweet spot of the putter head. The putter head has a body having a front surface with a relatively small, centrally-located, flat ball contact surface that comprises a sweet spot of the putter head and lateral portions that taper rearwardly away from the ball contact surface. Striking a golf ball with the flat ball contact surface propels the ball in a desired direction, while a mishit propels the ball in an undesirable direction. This clearly indicates to the golfer whether or not the ball was stuck on the sweet spot of the putter head and induce the golfer to properly contact the sweet spot to correctly strike the golf ball.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A putter comprising: 
 a shaft having a grip disposed at an upper end;    a putter head disposed at a lower end of the shaft that comprises:    a body having a front surface with a relatively small, centrally-located, flat ball contact surface that comprises a sweet spot of the putter head and lateral portions that taper rearwardly away from the ball contact surface.    
     
     
         2 . The putter recited in  claim 1  wherein the shaft is straight.  
     
     
         3 . The putter recited in  claim 1  wherein the shaft has an offset.  
     
     
         4 . The putter recited in  claim 1  wherein the body has a trapezoidal shape.  
     
     
         5 . The putter recited in  claim 1  wherein the lateral portions of the front surface are flat surfaces.  
     
     
         6 . The putter recited in  claim 1  wherein the lateral portions of the front surface are curved surfaces.  
     
     
         7 . The putter recited in  claim 1  wherein the putter head has a flat base with relatively thick lateral ends, one of which has an opening therein into which the shaft is inserted.  
     
     
         8 . The putter recited in  claim 7  wherein a rear portion of the putter head has a cavity formed therein.  
     
     
         9 . In a putter having a shaft with a grip disposed at an upper end and a putter head disposed at a lower end, wherein the putter head comprises: 
 a body having a front surface with a relatively small, centrally-located, flat ball contact surface that comprises a sweet spot of the putter head and lateral portions that taper rearwardly away from the ball contact surface.    
     
     
         10 . The putter head recited in  claim 9  wherein the shaft is straight.  
     
     
         11 . The putter head recited in  claim 9  wherein the shaft has an offset.  
     
     
         12 . The putter head recited in  claim 9  wherein the body has a trapezoidal shape.  
     
     
         13 . The putter head recited in  claim 9  wherein the lateral portions of the front surface are flat surfaces.  
     
     
         14 . The putter head recited in  claim 9  wherein the lateral portions of the front surface are curved surfaces.  
     
     
         15 . The putter head recited in  claim 9  which has a flat base with relatively thick lateral ends, one of which has an opening therein into which the shaft is inserted.  
     
     
         16 . The putter head recited in  claim 15  which further comprises a cavity formed in a rear portion thereof.