PUTTING AID FOR GOLFERS

Abstract: A putting aid (10) for golfers has a pair of parallel guide members (11) interconnected by connecting straps (12, 13). A loop portion (14) open at its bottom, is provided centrally of one of the connecting straps (12). The loop portion (14) is dimensioned to enable a golf ball (15), correctly struck by the putter head (16), guided by the guide members (11), to pass through the loop portion (14). Lugs (12a) on the connecting straps (12,13) are releasably engaged in sockets (11a) in the ends of the guide members (11). The height of the guide members (11) is selected to train the golfer to limit the height of his backswing by maintaining the putter head (16) between the guide members (11).

Description: Title: "PUTTING AID FOR GOLFERS" BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to a putting aid for golfers. 2. Description of the Prior Art ; The success or failure of a golfer, whether in a scratch game or an international tournament, is most often determined by his ability to putt the golf ball into the hole. To enable a golfer to improve his putting ability, a large number of putting aids have been developed over the years. Most of these provide a target' for.the ball and with many, the ball is automatically returned to the golfer if the ball is putted correctly. With other putting aids, the golfer's putter may be modified. For example, U.S. Patent No. 4,130,282 (David T. Pelz) discloses a pair of attach- ments which may be alternatively fitted to a putter with a specially designed head. The first attachment is provided with a pair of spaced elements which are positioned on the striking face of the putter to restrict the effective hitting area around the centre of percussion of the putter. The second attachment leaves the striking face unobstructed for normal play. While such aids do assist golfers, they are not directed to actually improving the putting stroke and so a golfer may increase ' the accuracy of his putting, e.g. over a flat floor but in doing so, make adjust¬ ments to his putting stroke which when employed on the actual green make his putting stroke worse than before. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a putting aid for golfers which improves the golfer's swing. It is a preferred object to provide such an aid which is readily portable. It is a further preferred ob ect to provide such an aid which is relatively simple and inexpen¬ sive to manufacture. Other preferred objects will become apparent from the following description. In one aspect, the present invention resides in a putting aid for golfers including: a pair of substantially parallel guide members interconnected by connecting means adjacent each end of the guide .member; and a loop portion, open at its bottom, substant¬ ially central of one of the connecting means, so arranged that: the head of a golf putter is adapted to be . received between, and guided by, the guide member; and a golf ball, when struck correctly by the putter head, will pass through the loop portion. Preferably each guide member has an inclined (or vertical) guide face adapted to be engaged by the head of the putter to guide the putter during the putting stroke. Preferably the height of t the guide member is selected so that the putter head will not clear the guide members during a correct backswing for the putting stroke. Integral spikes may be provided on the underside of the guide members and/or connecting means to enable the aid to be secured to a carpet or other practice surface. Alternatively, four golf tees or "Velcro" (trade mark) stripping may be used to secure the aid to the putting green. Preferably the aid is injection moulded, from a suitable plastics material, in a four- piece construction, and may incorporate reinforc¬ ing gussets. Preferably the connecting means incorporate lugs which engage in sockets in the ends of the guide members. , BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS' To enable the invention to be fully under¬ stood, a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the putting aid; and FIG. 2,is an end view showing the aid in use. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The putting aid 10 (injection moulded from a clear plastics material) has a pair of substantially parallel guide members 11 interconnected at their ends by connecting straps 12, 13 (provided with lugs 12a which engage in sockets 11a in the ends of the guide members 11). A loop portion 14, open at its bottom, is provided centrally of the connecting strap 12 and has a height and width sufficient to allow a golf ball 15 to pass clearly through it when struck correctly by the head 16 of a putter 17, but to deflect, and prevent the escape of the ball when it is incorrectly struck. Each guide member 11 has a downwardly inwardly inner guide face 18 and a down¬ wardly outwardly inclined outer face 19. Integral spikes 20 are provided on the underside of the guide members 11 and/or the connecting straps 12, 13 to enable the aid to be secured to a piece of carpet being used as a putting surface. In use, the putting aid is positioned on the carpet and secured by the spikes 20. (Four golf tees may be used to position and secure the aid on a grass practice green or "Velcro" (trade mark) stripping may be used to secure the aid on the carpet.) The player places the putter head 16 between the guide members 11 and brings the heel 21 of the putter head adjacent to, or against, the guide face 18 of the adjacent guide member 11. The putter is now ready. A ball 15 is placed against the face of the putter head equally spaced from the guide members. * The player commences his backswing and then swings through on the putting stroke. If the ball 15 has been struck correctly it will pass clearly through the loop portion 14. However, if it is struck incorrectly, it will strike, and be deflected by, the sides of the loop portion 14. If the player's backswing is too high, the putter head 16 will clear the guide member and so on the downswing, the putter will not be guided by the adjacent guide face 18. This indicates to the player that his backswing is too high. As guide faces 18 are provided oh each side of the aid, the aid may be used by both right - and left- handed players. It will be readily appreciated that the aid may * * I be assembled from a number of separate components which may.be clipped, glued or otherwise fixed together, or may be produced as a one?-piece unit. While it is ' preferred that'the guide members 11 be of transparent material, this is not necessary to enable the player to ascertain if his putting stroke is correct. The invention provides a simple, inexpensive but effective aid for players. Various changes and modifications ma 'be made to the embodiment described without departing from the scope of the present invention. OMPI

Claims: CLAIMS: — ~~~ """" ' 1. A putting aid for golfers including: a pair of substantially parallel guide members interconnected by connecting means adjacent each end of the guide member; and a loop portion, open at its bottom, substant¬ ially central of one of the connecting means, so arranged that: the hea,d of a golf putter is adapted to be received between, and guided by, the guide members; and a golf ball, when struck correctly by the putter head, will pass through the loop portion. 2. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 1 wherein: each guide member has an inclined inner guide face adapted to-be engaged by the head of the putter to guide the putter during the putting stroke. 3. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein: the height of the guide members is selected so that the putter head will not clear the guide members during a correct backswing for the putting stroke . 4. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein: integral spikes are provided on the underside of the guide members and/or the connecting means to enable the putting aid to be secured to a putting practice surface. 5. A putt.ing aid as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein: the width or height of the loop portion is selected to deflect, and prevent the escape, of the golf ball from the putting aid when the ball is incorrectly struck. 6. A putting aid as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein: each guide member is substantially triangular - lX .. OMPI in cross-section and is hollow; and the connecting means include lugs adapted to releasably engage respective sockets formed at ,■ ■ ' the ends of the guide members. OMH

Inventors: JOHNSON GRAHAM JAMES, JOHNSON, GRAHAM, JAMES
Applicants: JOHNSON GRAHAM JAMES, JOHNSON, GRAHAM, JAMES
Application year: 1983
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A63B69