This invention relates to clubs for use in the game of golf, more particularly it relates to golf clubs which are adjustable so as to be more convenient for use for people having different 5. playing characteristics.

One of the facets of the game of golf which requires most skill and the facet in which a game can be won or lost is putting. In putting it is necessary to propel a golf ball at relatively low

10. speeds along the ground with a great accuracy to enable the ball to roll into a cup or hole. The problem therefore is that it is most necessary that a particular putter,, which is the name of the golf club used for putting, be suited to the

15. player using the putter so that maximum accuracy may be obtained.

The standard rules of golf state that a handle of a putter may not extend from the head of a club vertically for more than about 5 inches and then 20. it must be inclined at an angle to the vertical of more than 10 and that this angle may not be varied during play.

Normally a putter has a head having an elongated planar front surface and a shaft or a handle extending J25. from the head at an angle to the vertical. A sole extends along the bottom of the putter and is elongated in the direction transverse to the normal direction of travel of the head in use.

In use the putter is drawn back substantially straight behind the ball rather than swung as for other types of golf club and then moved in a straight line forward to strike the ball so that the ball 5-. is projected in a straight line. It is therefore essential that neither of the ends of the elongated head of the club touch the ground as this would induce a slight braking effect on the head which would cause a misdirected shot. In other words 10.. the sole of the head must be maintained substantially parallel to the ground.

Another problem with golf is that both left and right handed players play the game and hence it is desirable to have a golf club which may be 15.. adapted or set so that it can be used by both right and left handed people.

Another important consideration with a putter is that the mass of the head of the putter must be such that a ball when it is struck has sufficient

20. force to propel it into the cup. Momentum transfer is required and hence either the speed of striking the ball or the mass of the club may be varied to give a different momentum to the ball. For different players different speeds of striking the ball are

25. most convenient and hence it is desirable that the mass of the head is variable such that it can be set for a particular player and a particular players style.

It is therefore the object of this invention 30. to provide a golf putter which may be varied and set to suit different players so that optimum golf may be played.

In its broadest form therefore the invention is said to reside in a golf putter, having a head and a shaft and connection means therebetween, the head including a sole with a major axis which 5• in use is disposed transversely to the direction of travel of the head, the connection means including adjustable holding means adapted such that the angle between the longitudinal axis of the shaft and the major axis of the sole is adjustable.

10. In a preferred form of the invention the connection means further includes locking means such that the angle once set may be locked.

In various embodiments of the invention the connection means may comprise a screw threaded - _j _5_ connection or a splined shaft. Such a splined shaft may be tapered. The splined shaft may be held into the head by means of a screw threaded connection extending from the head into the splined shaft.

20. Locking means may comprise a lock nut or it may comprise an anaerobic adhesive which may be applied to the spline or thread once the club is set for a particular player.

In a further preferred form of the invention 25 _. '., the head may include a substantially planar striking surface, the surface being provided by a rigid plate fastened to the head.

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There may also be provided between the rigid plate and the head a shock absorbing layer comprised of plastics material or rubber or the like.

In a anonther preferred form of the invention 5... the head may include recesses into which may be added weights and packing pieces or have weights and packing pieces removed from it so that the mass of the head may be varied.

It will be realised that with the types of 10. adjustments discussed above the angle of the head of the putter to the shaft may be varied so that left or right handed users can purchase the golf club and set it for their particular style of golf.

It is envisaged that a player will purchase 15.. a golf club of the type described and practice with it until he has adjusted the angle to suit his needs best and the weight of the head until it feels smooth and then set both of these so that they cannot be changed during play.

20. In one particular embodiment the head of the club may be made from cast aluminium with a face plate made from brass and having the brass face plate attached to the head of the club by means of screw threaded fasteners. Removing the brass

25. face plate would allow access to a recess in the aluminium head in which the weights and packing pieces may be placed to vary the mass of the head and behind the face plate the head of the fastening means to attach the shaft to the head of the club

30. may be located.

To more clearly define the invention reference will be made to several preferred embodiments and discussed in detail with reference to the accompanying illustrations in which:-

FIG. 1 shows a front of a golf putter.

FIG. 2 shows the rear of a golf putter.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view showing the angle through which the shaft may be varied.

FIG. 4 shows a cross section of the head of

10. the putter showing how the shaft may be fastened into the head and

FIG. 5 shows an alternative method of fastening the shaft into the head.

Now looking in more detail to the drawings 5 it will be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 that the golf putter comprises a head 1 and a shaft 2. The head comprises a face plate with a face plate 4 screwed onto the body 3 by means of screws 5. A ishock absorbing plate 6 is in between the face plate 4 and the body 0 3.

The shaft 2 is curved to extend into the rear of the body 3 and in this embodiment has a lock nut 7 and a screw threaded connection 8 into the body 3. This is shown most clearly in FIG. 4.

Now referring to FIG. 3 it will be seen that the sole 9 is along the bottom of the golf club and the shaft 2 maybe varied in angle in relation to the sole so that it can be adjusted for left 5. or right handed players or players of different height. As discussed earlier the handle must be inclined at least 10° from the vertical line marked 10 and hence if the club is to be set for a right handed person then the angle of the shaft may be 10. set anywhere within the angle marked 11. For a left handed person the angle of the shaft may be set anywhere within the angle marked 12.

Once the angle is set as desired it will be realised that the lock nut 7 may be tightened against 15. the body 3 to lock the shaft in place. Additionally or instead an anaerobic adhesive may be placed on the threads 8 to lock the shaft in position.

The mass of the head may be varied by adding weight into recesses 13 in the body 3. These additions 20. may include packing pieces 14 and weights 15 added until the desired weight of the club head is reached. By the use of packing pieces such as felt or the like the weights which may be lead discs will not move about and cause problems during play.

25 An alternative locking method between the shaft and the body is shown in FIG. 5. In this embodiment the connection means comprises a tapered spline

16 let into a tapered splined slot 17 in the body

3. The spline may be such that the shaft may be

30. set at one or two degree intervals. A locking

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screw 18 may extend from the front of the body into the splined shaft 16 to firmly lock the spline into the body. Alternatively or as well anaerobic adhesive may be placed between the splined shaft 16 and the 5". socket 17 once the desired angle has been found to securely lock the splined shaft in place.

It will be seen that there is provided by this invention a golf club in which the angle of the head to the shaft may be varied to be most convenient 10. for different handed and sized players and in which the mass of the head may be varied for most convenient play.