Putting practice kit and method

A practice putting kit and training method for practicing the aiming a golf ball, aiming the putter, and keep returning the putter to a square position to the golf ball. The kit includes a laser golf ball that produces a planar, laser beam of light. Printed on the outer surface of the golf ball is a centrally aligned reference line aligned with the laser. The laser is connected to a control switch, an optional timer, and a battery that enables the golfer to selectively control its activation. The golfer practices aiming the reference line at the target line and then uses the laser to verify if aiming was correct. The kit also includes a stand that holds the golf ball in an elevated position behind the golfer. During use, a standard putter and golf ball is placed in front of the golfer and the stand and laser golf ball are positioned behind the golf ball and aimed at the golf ball so that the laser beam illuminates the top of the golf ball and the target line. The golfer watches the path of the golf ball and the putter head with respect to the laser line to determine if the putter was properly aimed and returned to a square position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to devices and methods for practicing putting a golf ball, and more particularly, to such devices and methods that helps a player properly aim the ball and putter and determine if the putter returns to square when striking the ball.

2. Description of the Related Art

Putters with large wide heads are popular today. Printed on the top surface of many putters is a reference line that is aligned with the head's center axis and perpendicular to the front face and used to properly aim the putter.

When putting, some golfers aim the ball at the cup. Typically, the golfer uses a ball with a reference centerline printed on the ball's surface that is longitudinally aligned with the target line to the cup. Typically, the golfer manually rotates the ball on the ground just prior to the putt so that the reference line is longitudinally aligned with the target line. Some golfers will align the reference line while standing directly over the ball and others will align the reference line while standing directly behind the ball. After the reference line on the golf ball has been properly aligned with the target line, the golfer then positions himself over the ball with the putter facing perpendicular to the reference line.

In order to properly execute a putt, the golfer must properly aim the putter at the desired target using the reference lines on the golf ball or on the putter. When the putter impacts the ball, the face of the putter should be aligned perpendicular with the target line. Like many physical activities, the acts of aiming the ball, aiming the putter at the target, and swinging the putter so that the putter head impacts the ball in a square position requires hundreds of hours of practice. In order to master these tasks, the golfer must continuously monitor the execution of these aspects of putting and take any corrective action or steps, if necessary, so that the desired outcome is obtained.

What is needed is a putting practice kit and training method that allows a user to practice aiming the ball, aiming the putter and returning with the putter head to a square position to the ball using his or her own putter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a practice putting kit and training method that allows a user to practice aiming the ball, aiming the putter, and returning the putter head to a square position.

It is another object of the present invention to provided such a kit and method that is easy to use at home or on a standard putting green with the golfer's favorite putter.

These and other objects of the invention are met by a kit and training method disclosed herein that uses a laser golf ball with a built-in laser generating means disposed inside a regulation size golf ball body. The laser generating means is aligned inside the golf ball body so that planar laser beam of light is produced that is longitudinally aligned with the golf ball body's center axis. Printed on the outer surface of the golf ball is a centrally aligned reference line longitudinally aligned with the laser beam. The laser generating means is connected to a control switch, an optional timer, and a battery that enables the golfer to selectively control its activation. In the preferred embodiment, the control switch, timer and battery are mounted inside a control box electrically connected to the golf ball body. In a second embodiment, the control switch, timer and battery are mounted inside the golf ball body. The golfer practices aiming the reference line on the golf ball body at the target line and then uses the laser generating means to verify if the aim was correct.

The kit also includes a stand that holds the golf ball body in an elevated position behind the golfer. During use, a standard regulation golf ball is placed in front of the golfer. The stand and golf ball body are positioned behind the regulation ball and aimed at the golf ball so that the laser beam illuminates the top of the ball, the top of the putter, and the target line. The golfer watches the path of the golf ball and the location of the laser beam on the top of the putter head as the putter is swung to determine if the putter was properly aimed returned to a and square position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to the Figs. there is shown a golf putting kit, generally referenced as10, that includes a laser golf ball12with a built-in laser beam generating means20. Printed or formed on the sides of the golf ball10is a centrally aligned reference line38as shown in FIG.3. In the preferred embodiment, the laser beam generating means20is a laser generating diode21mounted inside a centrally aligned bore22formed inside a golf ball body13or13′. A laser-reflecting prism26is mounted over the laser generating diode21that is used to produce a vertically aligned, planar laser beam denoted as29.

The planar laser beam29is preferred over a pinpoint laser beam because it produces a projected light “line” from the laser golf ball to the target. The laser beam29is oriented vertically so that a continuous line is produced with the center axis of the golf ball body13or13′ is diagonally aligned When a golf ball or putter is placed in the field of the laser beam29, a portion of the laser beam29is seen on the golf ball70and putter75. Typically, a stand15, is used to slightly elevate the laser golf ball12so that laser beam29is scattered downward to delineate the path of the laser beam29on the ground.

During use, the laser golf ball12or12′ is aimed so that the scattered laser beam29extends from the golf ball70to the intended target. Because the player has a visual reference that extends from the golf ball70to the target, when the golf ball70is struck, the player may observe its path of travel relative to the target line.

In the first embodiment of the laser golf ball12shown inFIGS. 1 and 3, the laser generating diode21is electrically connected via a wire36or a wireless communication means to a control switch32and battery34housed inside a control box30. Located inside the control box30is an optional tinier40that allows the golfer to selectively control when and how long the laser beam29is activated.

In a second embodiment of the laser golf ball12′ shown inFIG. 2, the laser generating diode21, control switch32, battery34, and timer40are all mounted inside a regulation-size golf ball body13′.

The kit10also includes a stand15designed to hold the laser golf ball12or12′ to elevate the laser golf ball12or12′ one to two inches above the putting green. In the preferred embodiment, the stand15includes three legs16,17, and18and attached to a triangular base19. As mentioned above, when using the kit to practice aiming the putter and returning squaring the putter to a square position, the laser golf ball12or12′ is placed on the stand15.

Aiming the Ball

When using the kit10to practice aiming a golf ball70at the cup, the user stands over or behind the laser golf ball12or12′ and rotates it so that the reference line38is longitudinally aligned with the target line55as shown in FIG.3. After the golfer has aimed the ball, the laser generating diode21is activated to produce the illuminated beam29. If the reference line38on the laser golf ball12is properly aimed at the target line55, the laser beam29illuminates the desired target line55. If the reference line38is not properly aimed, the golfer can easily determine if the laser golf ball12was mis-aligned and what corrective action should be taken. By repeating the exercise, the golfer slowly becomes trained at aiming the ball at the target line55when by standing behind or over the ball.

Aiming the Putter

As stated above, the kit10is also used to properly aim the putter75at the target55and to square the putter75on a standard golf ball70. In order to practice aiming the putter75at the target55, the laser golf ball12or12′ placed on an elevating stand15behind the regulation golf ball70used for putting. The laser golf ball12or12′ is rotated so that the laser beam29is simultaneously aimed at the target line55and illuminates the reference line76when the putter75swings at the golf ball70. The golf ball70is placed in the putting area and aligned with the laser beam29so that the laser beam29bi-sects the golf ball70and the reference line76of the putter75.

Determining if the Putter is Square

When executing a putt, the laser golf ball12or12′ are placed on the stand15so that the laser beam29crosses over the top of the putter75and illuminates the top portion of the golf ball70as shown in FIG.4. By monitoring whether the laser beam29is aligned with the reference line76on the top of the putter75, the golfer can determine if the putter75was square on the golf ball70at impact. The optional timer40is connected to the laser generating diode21that allows the golfer to selectively control activation of the laser beam29during use. For example in some instances, it may be desirable to keep the laser beam29constantly activated so that the target line55is illuminated at all times. In other instances, it may be desirable to intermittently activate the laser generating diode21so that that laser beam29is momentarily discontinued during a shot so that the golfer's eyes are properly trained to look at specific directions.

Using the above-described kit, a method of practicing aiming a golf ball is provided, comprised of the following steps;

a. selecting a laser golf ball12with a built in planar laser beam generating means20and a reference line38formed on said ball's outer surface, said reference line being longitudinally aligned with a laser beam29formed by said laser beam generating means20;

b. placing said laser golf ball12in the putting area;

c. visually aiming said reference line38with a desired target line55; and,

d. activating said laser-generating means to verify if the reference line38has been aimed properly at said target line55.

Using the above described kit, a method of practicing aiming the putter and determining if the putter head is square with a golf ball when hit is also provided, comprising the following steps:

a. selecting a laser golf ball12with a built in planar, laser beam generating means20and a reference line38formed on said ball's outer surface, said reference line38being longitudinally aligned with a laser beam29formed by said laser beam generating means20;

b. placing said laser golf ball12in an elevated position behind the putting area;

c. placing a golf ball70in said putting area.

d. activating and aiming said laser beam generating means so that said laser beam29illuminates the top portion of said golf ball70and the target line from said golf ball to the cup;

e. putting said golf ball70with a putter75and monitoring the path of the golf ball70with respect to said illuminated target line55, whether the laser is aligned with a reference line38on the putter75, and the area of said putter illuminated by said laser beam29when said putter75impacts said golf ball70.

In compliance with the statute, the invention described herein has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown is comprised only of the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.