Putter

Abstract

A putter club having a relatively hard face insert supported by at least one dampening layer is disclosed. The putter club also has an internal weight positioned in line with the center of gravity of the club. The putter club has a body and a sole plate wherein the density of the body is substantially higher than the density of the sole plate. A vibration dampening system for a golf club is also disclosed.

1 . A putter comprising a club head having a body comprising a front portion and a back portion, wherein the front portion has an insert supported by a dampening layer and the insert has a Brinell hardness of at least about 150.  
   
   
       2 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein the Brinell hardness of the insert is lower than a Brinell hardness of the body by less than 100.  
   
   
       3 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein a tensile strength of the insert is higher than a tensile strength of the body.  
   
   
       4 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein a yield strength of the insert is higher than a yield strength of the body.  
   
   
       5 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein the insert has a Brinell hardness of less than about 200.  
   
   
       6 . The putter of  claim 2 , wherein the difference in Brinell hardness is at least about 10.  
   
   
       7 . The putter of  claim 6 , wherein the difference in Brinell hardness is at least about 25.  
   
   
       8 . The putter of  claim 7 , wherein the difference in Brinell hardness is at least about 50.  
   
   
       9 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein the back portion comprises a mallet type extension.  
   
   
       10 . The putter of  claim 1 , further comprising a sole plate attachable to the body and made from a material with a density lower than a density of the body.  
   
   
       11 . The putter of  claim 10 , wherein the sole plate is made from a non-ferrous material.  
   
   
       12 . The putter of  claim 11 , wherein the sole plate is made from aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       13 . The putter of  claim 10 , wherein the density of the body is at least about twice the density of the sole plate.  
   
   
       14 . The putter of  claim 13 , wherein the density of the body is at least about three times the density of the sole plate.  
   
   
       15 . The putter of  claim 1 , further comprising a weight member positioned within the body such that a center of gravity of the putter coincides with the weight member.  
   
   
       16 . The putter of  claim 15 , wherein a center of gravity of the weight member is positioned approximate the center of gravity of the putter.  
   
   
       17 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein the dampening layer is located on a back surface of the insert.  
   
   
       18 . The putter of  claim 1 , further comprising a second dampening layer visible on the front portion and positioned around the insert.  
   
   
       19 . The putter of  claim 1 , further comprising a third dampening layer positioned between a weight member and a sole plate attached to the body.  
   
   
       20 . The putter of  claim 19 , wherein the third dampening layer attaches a weight member to the sole plate.