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Various sprays and tapes have been used during golf lessons and training sessions to illustrate the impact sites on a golf club face; center, toe, or heel. To our knowledge the impact geometry has not been studied as it relates to putting. We have examined the geometry of the impact of the putter on the ball as we hypothesized it may be important in the design of a putter. This idea was based upon observations that a golf ball that is "bladed" usually goes low and straight. In addition, the lead edge of a sand iron has been used for putting during competition with resultant straight roll of the ball.
Our patent application indicates that any putter with a radius less than that of a golf ball results in a geometry that is linear and of less surface area than a similar flat face putter used at same impact force.
The materials were a variety of golf clubs, primarily putters. The method was to spray the face of the putter with ON-MARK yellow color (On-Mark USA; 888-4ON-MARK) and then putt the ball about 10 feet on an artificial surface with a Stemp meter of 10.5.
The following results were observed.
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SAND IRON IMPACT GEOMETRY AND BALL ARE LINEAR |
Sand Iron: The impact geometry of a bladed sand iron used for putting is linear and has a small surface area.
Traditional Putter: The impact geometry of a traditional flat face putter is circular and approximately 1/8 in diameter.
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CIRCULAR IMPACT GEOMETRY OF TRADITIONAL FLAT FACE PUTTER AND BALL |
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LARGE SURFACE AREA CIRCULAR IMPACT GEOMETRY CREATED WITH SOFT INSERT DESIGN PUTTER |
Soft Insert on Putter Face: The impact geometry of a soft face insert putter design and the ball is circular and has large surface area.
Rolled Face Impact Geometry: The impact area of various putters with a round or rolled face were linear and had small surface area.
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PHYSICAL THERAPY® |
PRO FORMA-R™ |
SCALPEL® |
TRANQUILIZER® |
A closer look at the ball impact geometry shows that the impact bridges the dimples as opposed to irregular crossing of the dimple depressions.
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EXAMPLES OF HORIZONTAL IMPACT |
Graphite Paste: The use of graphite in a paste on the putter face of a Pro Forma-R™ shows the impact geometry of a rolled face putter with more contrast than the yellow spray.
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IMPACT GEOMETRY ON PUTTER FACE |
CORRESPONDING MARK ON BALL |
Multiple Impacts: Impacts on Physical Therapy® rolled face shows variety of geometry, but predominately linear. This putter face was sprayed and intentionally hit multiple times across the entire face. Notice that most are on the bottom half of the face which indicates the golfer was hitting the ball slightly on the up stroke.
"Stamped Out" Effect: Close inspection of the rolled putter face of the Physical Therapy® model that has been thickly sprayed shows the impression stamp of the dimples. The illustration shows that the depressed areas have been "stamped out" in that the contact was all on the ridges. In other words, the stamped out areas of powder on the putter indicate that there was no contact in the dimple area of the ball, but only on the surface ridges.
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"STAMPED" OUT AREA OF THE DIMPLES CREATED BY CONTACT ONLY ON THE RIDGES |
Conclusion: The geometry of the impact between the rolled face putter and the ball is linear and of less surface area contact than a flat face putter.
Discussion: This patented design feature is one of the explanations for the positive effects upon the performance of Prescription Putting's putters.
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