GOLF PUTTING AID

Abstract: A golf putting aid for use indoors or outside, comprising a substantially rectangular mat in the upper surface of which is a channel to guide a struck ball, and a stroke guide grid comprising a longitudinal line being an extension of said channel and a number of short lines crossing said longitudinal line and said channel substantially normal thereto against which the face of a golf club can be sighted during the putting stroke. The invention also provides for a larger mat having foot positions and alternative ball positions provided thereon.

Description: TITLE GOLF " PUTTING AID TECHNICAL FIELD The prejsent invention relates to a golf putting aid, especially suitable for home or office use - either indoors or outdoors. BACKGROUND ART 10 Perhaps the most common complaint of the average amateur golf player is that he does not have time to go to a golf course or putting range in between his normal days of play to hit practice balls or to improve his golf shots. However to play well, or to improve the golfer's game, regular practice is required to improve co-ordination as golf is not a game of strength but a game of co-ordination. Most golf players have a spare twenty minutes or so once or twice a week, and if this time could be devoted to construc 20 ive golf practice, improvements in play would be evident. Several factors influence whether a person will be a good golf player, including stance, address position, ball placemen grip, clubface position and swing path. The stance position taken by the player's feet in preparing for the stroke varies with the build of the player, his method of swinging and the type of shot being attempted. Many golfers decrease their chances of playing wel 30 by unconciously taking up an incorrect position when about to play a golf shot. It is essential that a golf playe . constantly be aware of adopting the correct alignment by making sure that his body is set up in proper relation to the ball and target. Golfers frequently do not pay enough attention to their stance or to identifying the appropriate target line, and instead { OMPI -2- begin to tamper with any number of other parameters such as using different grip and stroke remedies. If a golfer's shots or putts are not going straight to the target, the correct thing to do is to check his alignment and his target line to make sure they are set up straight'. Ball placement will depend upon the type of shot being played and upon the type or size of club used to play the shot. Ball placement is also dependent on the build of the golfer and the need of the golfer to feel comfortable and relaxed when making his play. The two main factors which influence whether a golf shot is straight are clubface position and swing path. The swing path has the biggest effect on the shot's start rather than its final curvature. The position of the clubface in relation to the swing path at impact is the main factor in determining how a shot curves. It is an object of the present invention to provide a golf putting aid which will assist a golfer in improving his golf play. It is another object of this invention to provide a golf putting aid which will assist a golfer in obtaining both the correct clubface position and the correct swing path. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a golf putting aid which will assist a golf player to adopt the correct stance and to properly address the ball, in relation to a given ball placement. It is a further object of this indention to provide a golf putting aid which will enable a golfer to practice his golf shots in his spare time - either at home or at the office. -p _ __^ ■ - DI5CLOSURE OF INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a golf putting aid characterised in that it comprises a base ma a ball-path guideline extending along a face of-said base mat and further characterised in that said face of said base mat is provided with a series of spaced apart lines or markings extending substantially normal around to and across said guideline forming in combination therewith a grid pattern. o: :?ι -4- BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS A " number of preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective of a putting mat Fig. 2 is a plan view of the mat of Fig.l Fig. 3 is a plan view of a variation of the mat Fig. 4, 5, 6 are plan views of mats marked for use by golfers having an arced swing-path MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Some embodiments of the invention are shown in the attached drawings. In the embodiments shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 the elongated ball-path guideline extends centrally and longitudinally along a face of the base mat, parallel to the sides of said mat. The lines or markings which extend across the base mat are a series of parallel lines extending normal or at right angles to, and across, said channel. Spaces outer parallel lines, which are themselves parallel to the ball-path guideline act as a further guide for the swing- path of the putter head. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig.3 is especially intended for use on an elongated, preferably self-contained mat, and which is especially suited for use where the available putting surface is not adequate e.g. on shag pile carpet. The base mat could comprise a suitable length of synthetic grass, broadloom carpet, felt or the like, such that it may simply be rolled up and put away when it is not in use. The ball-path guideline may be either a recessed channel or simply a printed or marked line, which ~ -5- extends part of the way, at least, along the intended ball path. The golf putting aid illustrated in Fig. 3 is further intended for use with a movable target or "hole" which may be placed at any desired position on the mat - either to allow for variations in floor level or "fall" of the putting surface, or for practising different putting strokes. The golf putting aid may ideally be used with an electronic ball return device, such as the "Putt-a-matic" device. In the embodiments shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, allowance is made for the fact that some golf players actually putt with swing path in the shape of an arc. In this case the arc forms part of a larger circle with the player's feet positioned on th theoretical centre of that circle. Ideally, the player in this case needs to square the blade at the- moment of impact such that the ball is directed towards the target (e.g. the hole) along a straight line which forms a tangent with the swing-path arc at the point of impact between the ball and the club face, said tangent also passing through the centre of the target. In the embodiments shown in Fig. 5, the swing-path is defined between two parallel arc lines, with the cross lines or markings (acting as guidelines for a square club face in any position within the swing path) being parts of spaced radial lines which, if extended, would pass through the theoretical centre of the circle(s) of which the arc(s) is/are comprised. The ball-path guideway in this case extends along a tangent to an arc (not shown) which itself extends through the centre of the swing path and passes through the ball placement position within the swing path. Thus at the point of impact between the ball and the clubface, "the clubface should be parallel to (or in line with) the -6- radial line at the point of impact and normal to the ball- path guideline. Fig. 4 illustrates a similar embodiment to that discussed in respect of Fig. 5 above, but has opposed arcs, or swing paths, for use by right- or left-handed golf players. The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6 combines features of embodiments 1 and 5, wherein prior to contact with the ball the swing path follows an arc whereas after impact or contact with the ball, the swing path is parallel to the ball-path guideway. The base mat may be made from any suitable material such felt or synthetic grass , but it is pre erably made of a heavy but flexible rubber or plastics sheet material about 900 mm in length, about 250 mm in width and about 3-5 mm in thickness Extending centrally and longitudinally along one face of the mat there is a ball-path guideline, which can either be a printed line or a recessed channel about 12 mm wide and anything from about 0.1 to about 2 mm deep. The purpose of this channel is to act as a target or guideline along which a player must follow through with his putter. The channel is not necessarily intended as a physical means to keep the ball in a particular line. The player must still use his best efforts or endeavours to keep the ball on target within the channel, as the shallow depth of the channel is such that the ball can still easily roll out of the channel if the ball is incorrectly addressed by the player. In order that the line of the recessed channel stands out to the player, the upper edges or shoulders and/or ξ_ ' i*._ -7- the bottom of the groove may be appropriately marked with gui lines. Alternatively, the bottom of the channel can be marked by any suitable means . The end of the channel in the marked swing-path area may be adapted to provide a suitable or convenient ball placement for the player. The channel further serves to simulate actual putting conditions wherein the ball settles into the turf by one or several millimetres. In this case the channel serves to simulate the relative position of the ball viz- - iz the putter, allowing the club face of the putter to πake contact with the ball in the correct manner to impart top spin or over spin to the ball. Extending transversely across the channel is provided a regular array of spaced apart parallel or radial lines, which may extend throughout the full length of the golf putting mat or only for a short predetermined distance in the intended ball placement area, as illustrated in the drawings . The grid pattern is designed to train the player to keep the clubface square through the swing, and also to keep the cl within lateral lines defined by the side edges of the grid are or along a central line or lines as represented by the channel When putting, tension in the hands of the player that is transmitted up to the shoulders and forearms can cause putting errors . The player may be overly concerned,.,with missing and so develops a jerky stro ed The golf putting mat the present invention allows the player to practice putting sh taking the putter squarely back and through in an even flowing action, putting the ball squarely every time and in the required direction, building up his confidence in his putting •8- strokes. The putting mat is ideally used with an electronic ball return device, such as the "Putt-a-matic" device. Perhaps one of the biggest problems for the average golfer is to correct the tendency to slice the ball, i.e. hitting the ball to the right. This occurs mainly because the player is not aligned with the intended direction of flight of the ball. The golf putting mat of the present invention is an aid in teaching the player to correctly address the ball and to aim the clubhead straight at the intended target with the players feet, shoulders and hips correctly aligned. It has been suggested that many average non-professional or handicap golfers prejudice their chances of playing well by taking up an incorrect position when about to play a golf shot without being aware of it. The average handicap golfer has. very little idea about the way to line up correctly. This is partly because he is more conscious of the ball than the target. He also allows his head to hang down when taking aim, with the result that his eye line (when he does look at the target) is moved away from his shoulder line. As he already has his clubhead placed at the ball , this action will almost certainly set his shoulders, hips and feet in the incorrect position. A common problem of high or middle golf handicappers is an erratic putting path. One of the main advantages of my putting aid is that it allows the golfer to practice taking up the correct position when about to play a golf putting shot. Generally, the intentions of the golf player on the putting green are not much different from those on the tees and fairways. They can be * summarized into two aspects. - - (a) to hit a good shot or stroke a good putt, the club or putter must be travelling along a straight line toward the target the instant contact is made, and (b) contact must be made with a square clubface or putterface. Everything which the player does in grip, posture, stance, rhythm, etc. is intended to facilitate the accomplishment of these two f ndamentals. These two aspects become particularly significant when applied to what is generally the shortest and most delicate of all golfshots, the putt. In actual fact, the golf club or putter head swing path describes part of an arc. However, a proper putting shot stroke does, for all intents and purposes trace a straight line for at least the first few centimetres before contact with the ball and for the first few centimetres after contact is made. A putting shot is normally aimed, in the case of a right- hand golf player, by imagining a straight line that touches the right toe, the left toe and then extends towards the target remaining parallel to the target line (the line which passes through both the ball and the hole). Thus a right-hander's stance is aimed at a point somewhere to the left of the hole - contrary to the belief of some players that the stance of the player should point directly at the target. The proper stance is emphasised and instilled in the player when using the golf putting aid according to the present invention. The golf putting aid teaches the player the proper putter-head J path and also how to set and aim his stance and to visualize the -10- intended line of roll. The device makes the imaginary target line a reality, and helps the player to take his putter straig back and straight through to hit the ball absolutely square and roll it straight towards the hole. Another advantage of use of the golf putting aid according to the present invention is that it enables the player to identify and utilize the best position on the clubface or putter head - the so-called "sweet spot" - to make contact with the ball. If the player hits the ball somewhere off the centre, or sweet spot, the putter may not exert enough force to roll the ball the proper distance. Instead of stroking harder, the solution is to improve the player's ability to meet the ball correctly. The putting aid of the present invention serves to alleviate the problem of poor contact. By centering the ball on the putting aid channel, and swinging the putter head centrally along this line greatly enhances the player's ability to consistently hit the ball with the sweet spot on the putter. Although the invention has been described above with reference to preferred embodiments and drawings, it will be appreciated that numerous variations, modifications or alternatives may be substituted for specifically described features, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. C:. " ?l

Claims: -11- The claims defining the invention are as follows: Claim 1 According to the present invention there is provided a golf putting " aid characterised in that it comprises a base mat a ball-path guideline extending along a face of said base mat and further characterised in that said face of said base mat is provided with a series of spaced apart lines or ma ings extending substantially normal to and across said guideli forming in combination therewith a grid pattern. Claim 2 A golf putting aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guideline comprises wholly or partly a narrow channel recessed into the face of the said base mat. Claim 4 A golf putting aid as detailed in claim 1 wherein said guideline comprises a line marked on the surface of the mat. Claim 4 A golf putting aid as described in any preceding claim wherein said base mat is substantially rectangular and said guideline extends centrally substantially along the length of said mat to form a ball path guideline separated from a club approach guideline by the ball position. Claim 5 A golf putting aid as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said guideline is curved in that position representing the approach prior to the ball position such that a grid line at this position is normal to said ball path guideline. -12- Claim 6 A golf putting aid substantially as described herein with re erence to the accompanying drawings. ~ ~ ~

Inventors: GANLEY ROBERT NORMAN
Applicants: GANLEY ROBERT NORMAN
Application year: 1982
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A63B69