Golf putter

Abstract

A golf putter and more specifically a putter head is configured to retrieve a golf ball from a cup on a putting green or to pick up a golf ball from any surface upon which the golf ball is resting. The putter head has a generally C-shaped configuration and defines a centrally located cylindrical channel sized to engage a golf ball and retain the golf ball at a lower end of the channel until removed by hand.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A putter, comprising:
 a putter head comprising:
 a front face; 
 a pair of opposing and rearwardly extending flanges extending from said front face and having a generally cylindrical shape with an effective diameter that is less than an inside diameter of a cup, the pair of rearwardly extending flanges defining a partially cylindrical aperture positioned behind the front face and extending from a top surface of the putter head to a sole of the putter head, the aperture having a first partially cylindrical portion having an effective diameter that is slightly less than a diameter of a golf ball configured to retrieve a golf ball from a surface; 
   a shaft coupled to said putter head; and   a grip attached to a proximal end of the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein the shaft is coupled to the putter head proximate a forward quadrant of the putter head and the putter head is face balanced relative to the shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The putter of  claim 2 , wherein the shaft is contoured to align with a center of gravity of the putter head proximate the front face. 
     
     
         4 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein a width of the putter head from heal to toe is approximately 3.75 inches and wherein an inside diameter of the cup is approximately 4.25 inches to allow the putter head to be inserted into the cup to retrieve the golf ball therefrom. 
     
     
         5 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein the putter head comprises a cylinder with the face side cut to form the front face and the back end cut to form a trailing end of the putter head. 
     
     
         6 . The putter of  claim 5 , wherein the aperture is centrally located within the putter head and defines a golf ball grasping portion that forms a partial circle and has a diameter that is between about 1.67 and 1.6 inches to be able to form a friction fit between the golf ball and the golf ball grasping portion. 
     
     
         7 . The putter of  claim 5 , wherein the trailing end of the putter head that includes the pair of rearwardly extending flanges that extend away from the front face define and are separated by a trapezoidally shaped opening of the aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The putter of  claim 7 , wherein the pair of rearwardly extending flanges position weight behind the front face on a toe side and heel side of the front face, with less weight positioned directly behind the front face to stabilize the front face when the front face strikes the golf ball at an off center location. 
     
     
         9 . The putter of  claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of crescent shaped weights, at least one of which is attached to a bottom surface of each of the pair of rearwardly extending flanges. 
     
     
         10 . The putter of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of crescent shaped weights are removable and replaceable by removing threaded fasteners that secure the plurality of crescent shaped weights to the putter head. 
     
     
         11 . The putter of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of crescent shaped weights have a different weight. 
     
     
         12 . The putter of  claim 9 , wherein the pair of rearwardly extending flanges each define a crescent shaped recess for receiving at least one of the plurality of crescent shaped weights. 
     
     
         13 . The putter of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of crescent shaped weights have a thickness that is substantially similar to a depth of the plurality of crescent shaped recesses so that bottom surfaces of the plurality of crescent shaped weights are substantially flush with a sole of the putter head. 
     
     
         14 . The putter of  claim 12 , wherein each of the plurality of crescent shaped weights are comprised of at least two portions, with each of the at least two portions having a different weight. 
     
     
         15 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein the front face of the putter head defines a plurality of concentric ridges having a center that is centered between a toe side and a heel side of the putter head. 
     
     
         16 . The putter of  claim 15 , wherein a height of the putter face is between about 1 inch and 1.25 inches and wherein the center of the plurality of concentric ridges is positioned approximately ¼ to ½ inch above a sole of the putter head so that the center of the concentric ridges can contact the center of the golf ball during a putting stroke. 
     
     
         17 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein the putter head is bottom weighted such that the center of gravity of the putter head is closer to a bottom of the front face than a top. 
     
     
         18 . A putter head, comprising:
 a generally C-shaped head defining a putter face, a pair of rearwardly extending flanges depending from the putter face, the pair of rearwardly extending flanges defining a central aperture having a diameter configured for partially wedging a golf ball therein, at least two recesses, each formed in a bottom surface of one of the pair of flanges; and   at least two weights, each configured to be received within one of the at least two recesses, the at least two weights, each having a crescent shape.   
     
     
         19 . The putter head of  claim 18 , wherein a width of the head from heal to toe is approximately 3.75 inches and wherein an inside diameter of the cup is approximately 4.25 inches to allow the head to be inserted into the cup to retrieve the golf ball therefrom. 
     
     
         20 . The putter head of  claim 18 , wherein the head comprises a cylinder with the face side cut to form the front face and the back end cut to form a trailing end of the head. 
     
     
         21 . The putter head of  claim 20 , wherein the central aperture defines a golf ball grasping portion that forms a partial circle and has a diameter that is between about 1.67 and 1.6 inches to be able to form a friction fit between the golf ball and the golf ball grasping portion. 
     
     
         22 . The putter head of  claim 20 , wherein the trailing end of the putter head that includes the pair of rearwardly extending flanges that extend away from the front face define and are separated by a trapezoidally shaped opening of the aperture. 
     
     
         23 . The putter head of  claim 22 , wherein the pair of rearwardly extending flanges position weight behind the putter face on a toe side and heel side of the putter face, with less weight positioned directly behind the putter face to stabilize the putter face when the putter face strikes the golf ball at an off center location. 
     
     
         24 . The putter head of  claim 18 , wherein the at least two weights are removable and replaceable by removing threaded fasteners that secure the at least two weights to the putter head. 
     
     
         25 . The putter head of  claim 24 , wherein each of the at least two weights have a different weight. 
     
     
         26 . The putter head of  claim 24 , wherein the at least two weights have a thickness that is substantially similar to a depth of the at least two recesses so that bottom surfaces of the at least two weights are substantially flush with a sole of the head. 
     
     
         27 . The putter head of  claim 24 , wherein each of the at least two weights are comprised of at least two portions, with each of the at least two portions having a different weight. 
     
     
         28 . The putter head of  claim 18 , wherein the face of the head defines a plurality of concentric ridges having a center that is centered between a toe side and a heel side of the head. 
     
     
         29 . The putter head of  claim 28 , wherein a height of the face is between about 1 inch and 1.25 inches and wherein the center of the plurality of concentric ridges is positioned approximately ¼ to ½ inch above a sole of the putter head so that the center of the concentric ridges can contact the center of the golf ball during a putting stroke. 
     
     
         30 . The putter of  claim 18 , wherein the head is bottom weighted such that the center of gravity of the putter head is closer to a bottom of the front face than a top.