Alignment guide for golf clubs

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described herein to provide a golf club, such as, for example, a putter, with one or more site alignment members coupled to the head of the golf club. The site alignment member(s) can include markings or patterns visible to a golfer that can be used to aid the golfer with alignment of the golf club relative to a ball or target. An alignment guide housing can be used to couple a selected site alignment member to a club head of a golf club.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A golf putter, comprising:
 a putter head defining a top surface, a face, a rear portion separated from the face by the top surface, and an alignment guide housing wherein the alignment guide housing defines a slot;   a hosel received by the putter head;   a shaft attachable to the hosel; and   a site alignment member having a top surface including one or more alignment markings to facilitate alignment of the golf putter during use, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and an attachment member protruding from the bottom surface wherein the attachment member is configured to be removably received by the slot of the alignment guide housing.   
     
     
         2 . The golf putter of  claim 1  wherein the golf club includes one or more weighting screws received by the putter head. 
     
     
         3 . The golf putter of  claim 1  wherein the alignment guide housing defines a cutout portion in an upper surface of the slot wherein the top surface covers the cutout portion when the attachment member of the site alignment member is received within the slot. 
     
     
         4 . The golf putter of  claim 3  further including a guide screw configured to be received in an opening of a rear surface of the alignment guide housing. 
     
     
         5 . The golf putter of  claim 1  wherein the rear portion further includes a pair of curved portions extending rearward relative to the putter head. 
     
     
         6 . The golf putter of  claim 1  further including one or more bushings configured to adjust a position at which the hosel is received by the putter head and thereby adjust an offset distance between the face and the hosel. 
     
     
         7 . The golf putter of  claim 1  further including a lie angle shim coupled to the hosel wherein the lie angle shim is configured to adjust a lie angle of the golf club putter. 
     
     
         8 . A site alignment member for a golf putter, the site alignment member comprising:
 a substantially planar member defining a top surface;   a bottom surface; and   an attachment member protruding from the bottom surface;   wherein the attachment member is configured to be received by the golf putter and wherein the site alignment member facilitates alignment of the golf putter during use.   
     
     
         9 . The site alignment member of  claim 8  further including one or more alignment markings upon the top surface. 
     
     
         10 . A golf putter head assembly, comprising:
 a putter head defining a top surface, a face, a rear portion separated from the face by the top surface, and an alignment guide housing wherein the alignment guide housing defines a slot;   a hosel received by the putter head; and   a site alignment member having a top surface including one or more alignment markings to facilitate alignment of a golf putter, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and an attachment member wherein the attachment member is configured to be removably received by the slot of the alignment guide housing.   
     
     
         11 . The golf putter assembly of  claim 10  wherein the rear portion further includes a closed arc portion extending rearward relative to the putter head. 
     
     
         12 . The golf putter assembly of  claim 10  wherein the attachment member protrudes from the bottom surface. 
     
     
         13 . The golf putter assembly of  claim 10  further including a guide screw configured to be received in an opening of a rear surface of the alignment guide housing. 
     
     
         14 . The golf putter assembly of  claim 10  further including one or more bushings configured to adjust a position at which the hosel is received by the putter head and thereby adjust an offset distance between the face and the hosel. 
     
     
         15 . The golf putter assembly of  claim 10  further including a lie angle shim coupled to the hosel wherein the lie angle shim is configured to adjust a lie angle of the golf club putter.