Putter with improved construction and alignment

Abstract

A putter having a hosel block located on a back surface of a front portion of the putter. The hosel block can be dimensioned and positioned to locate a shaft axis at various locations in a front-to-back direction and in a heel-to-toc direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A putter comprising:
 a heel side;   a toe side opposite said heel side;   a front portion;   a rear portion opposite said front portion;   wherein said front portion includes a striking face and a back surface opposite said striking face, said back surface facing said rear portion,   wherein a hosel block is coupled to said back surface of said front portion.   
     
     
         2 . The putter of  claim 1 , wherein said hosel block includes a shaft connection portion configured to couple said putter to a shaft having a shaft axis. 
     
     
         3 . The putter of  claim 2 , wherein said hosel block has a front surface that contacts said back surface of said front portion,
 wherein said shaft axis is located a distance D 1  from said front surface of said hosel block measured in a direction perpendicular to said front surface of said hosel block.   
     
     
         4 . The putter of  claim 3 , wherein a center of gravity of said putter is located at a CG depth measured perpendicular to said striking face and rearward from said striking face, and
 wherein said CG depth is between 0.20 inches and 1.75 inches.   
     
     
         5 . The putter of  claim 4 , wherein said shaft axis is located at a shaft axis depth measured perpendicular to said striking face and rearward from said striking face, and
 wherein said hosel block has a distance D 1  which positions said shaft axis depth at said CG depth.   
     
     
         6 . The putter of  claim 5 , wherein said shaft axis goes through said center of gravity. 
     
     
         7 . The putter of  claim 6 , wherein said shaft axis is toeward of said center of gravity. 
     
     
         8 . The putter of  claim 7 , wherein said shaft axis is heelward of said center of gravity. 
     
     
         9 . The putter of  claim 5 , further comprising at least one weight member on a bottom portion of said putter. 
     
     
         10 . The putter of  claim 2 , wherein said shaft connection portion has a protruding member configured to fit within said shaft. 
     
     
         11 . A putter comprising:
 a heel side;   a toe side opposite said heel side;   a front portion;   a rear portion opposite said front portion;   a striking face located on said front portion; and   a hosel block having a shaft connection portion configured to couple said putter to a shaft having a shaft axis,   wherein said shaft axis is located at a shaft axis depth measured perpendicular to said striking face and rearward from said striking face,   wherein a center of gravity of said putter is located at a CG depth measured perpendicular to said striking face and rearward from said striking face, and   wherein said shaft axis depth is equal to said CG depth.   
     
     
         12 . The putter of  claim 11 , wherein said shaft axis goes through said center of gravity. 
     
     
         13 . The putter of  claim 11 , wherein said shaft axis is toeward of said center of gravity. 
     
     
         14 . The putter of  claim 11 , wherein said shaft axis is heelward of said center of gravity. 
     
     
         15 . The putter of  claim 11 , wherein said CG depth is between 0.20 inches and 1.75 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The putter of  claim 11 , wherein said front portion includes a back surface opposite said striking face, said back surface facing said rear portion,
 wherein said hosel block is coupled to said back surface of said front portion.   
     
     
         17 . The putter of  claim 16 , wherein said hosel block has a front surface that contacts said back surface of said front portion. 
     
     
         18 . The putter of  claim 17 , wherein said front portion includes a face insert on said striking face, and
 wherein said face insert is secured within a front pocket of said front portion.   
     
     
         19 . The putter of  claim 18 , wherein said hosel block further comprises a protruding member extending forward from said front surface of said hosel block in a direction perpendicular to said front surface of said hosel block. 
     
     
         20 . The putter of  claim 19 , wherein said front portion includes a recess formed between said back surface of said front portion and said front pocket, and
 wherein said protruding member is secured within said recess.