Golf club head

Abstract

A golf club ( 110 ) has a head ( 111 ) with a curved reflective surface ( 128 ) for visually aligning a shot. The club head is counterbalanced above the plane of the ball ( 120 ) and has balance weights ( 116, 118 ) which may be selected to accommodate the style and preference of the user. The striking surface may be of a different material than the surrounding club head to dampen vibration on the stroke and may be of a material tailored to the user's preference. The other parts of the club may also be composites of several materials to assist in dampening vibration. An alternative aligning structure uses lenticular lens ( 142, 144, 146 ) to provide guiding images to the user.

1 - 21 . (Canceled)  
   
   
       22 . A golf putter head comprising a striking surface and a reflective surface disposed above the striking surface for reflecting an image of a golf ball to a user when the striking surface is adjacent the golf ball, the reflective surface having a convex curvature relative to at least one of a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.  
   
   
       23 . The golf putter head of  claim 22 , wherein the reflective surface includes a convex curvature relative to both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction.  
   
   
       24 . The golf putter head of  claim 22 , further comprising a rear surface positioned opposite the striking surface and the reflective surface, and at least one weight coupled to the rear surface above the striking surface.  
   
   
       25 . The golf putter head of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one weight is disposed above a top edge of the golf ball.  
   
   
       26 . The golf putter head of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one weight comprises at least two spaced apart weights respectively disposed outside of each corresponding side edge of the golf ball.  
   
   
       27 . The golf putter head of  claim 22 , wherein the reflective surface includes a plurality of reference elements for visually indicating a location of the golf ball, a proper stance of the user, and alignment of a stroke of the golf putter head.  
   
   
       28 . The golf putter head of  claim 22 , wherein the reflective surface includes at least two diverging lines.  
   
   
       29 . The golf putter head of  claim 22 , further comprising a body having a rear curvature, and wherein the reflective surface defines a rear curvature substantially matching the rear curve of the body when viewed from above by the user and when the golf putter head is aligned with the golf ball.  
   
   
       30 . The golf putter head of  claim 22 , wherein the golf putter head defines a substantially arrowhead shape when viewed from above by the user.  
   
   
       31 . The golf putter head of  claim 22 , wherein the reflective surface includes a convex curvature relative only to the vertical direction.  
   
   
       32 . The golf putter head of  claim 22 , wherein the reflective surface includes a convex curvature relative only to the horizontal direction.  
   
   
       33 . A golf putter head comprising a striking surface and a reflective surface disposed above the striking surface for reflecting an image of a golf ball to a user when the striking surface is adjacent the golf ball, the reflective surface curving generally upward and backward with curvature in a vertical plane and in a horizontal plane.  
   
   
       34 . A golf putter head comprising a striking surface, a rear surface positioned opposite the striking surface, and at least one weight removably coupled to the rear surface above a top edge of a golf ball when the striking surface is positioned adjacent the golf ball.  
   
   
       35 . The golf putter head of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one weight comprises at least two spaced apart weights respectively disposed outside of each side edge of the golf ball.  
   
   
       36 . The golf putter head of  claim 35 , further comprising a reflective surface disposed above the striking surface for reflecting an image of a golf ball to a user when the striking surface is adjacent the golf ball.  
   
   
       37 . The golf putter head of  claim 36 , further comprising a body having a rear curvature, and wherein the reflective surface defines a rear curvature substantially matching the rear curve of the body when viewed from above by the user and when the golf putter head is aligned with the golf ball.  
   
   
       38 . The golf putter head of  claim 34 , wherein the golf putter head defines a substantially arrowhead shape when viewed from above by the user.  
   
   
       39 . A golf putter head comprising a striking surface and means for reflecting an image of a golf ball to a user when the striking surface is adjacent the golf ball.  
   
   
       40 . The golf putter head of  claim 39 , further comprising means for counterbalancing the golf putter head.  
   
   
       41 . The golf putter head of  claim 40 , wherein the means for counterbalancing comprises at least one weight coupled to the golf putter head above a top edge of the golf ball.  
   
   
       42 . The golf putter head of  claim 39 , wherein the means for reflecting comprises a reflective surface disposed above the striking surface, the reflective surface having a convex curvature relative to at least one of a horizontal plane and a vertical plane.