Abstract:
A golf putting aid and method of using is disclosed. The golf putting aid includes a substantially flat rectangular guide having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of markings on the substantially flat rectangular guide. The method of using includes the steps of placing the putting aid parallel to a putting line, putting from a first numerical mark on the putting aid, and advancing to a subsequent numerical marking on the putting aid and putting from the subsequent numerical marking on the putting aid.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to the field of golf aids, and in particular to a device to aid a golfer with putting.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     More and more people are taking up golf as a favorite pastime. It is a relaxing way for people to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors. However, golf is a game which requires a fair amount of skill to play effectively and can be very frustrating unless a golfer practices the many aspects of the game. In particular, putting is one of the more difficult tasks in golf to master. As a result, numerous golf aids, and putting aids, have been introduced into the market to aid golfers.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,912 discloses a golf putting teaching aid for helping a golfer learn proper accelerated putting that includes a rectangular putting surface having a putter path line located lengthwise down the center of the putting surface to indicate the proper path of a putter during the putting stroke. A plurality of squaring lines are disposed perpendicular to the putter path at different distances from the cup. These squaring lines serve as a visual aid for the golfer to indicate the proper orientation of the putter head when it strikes the ball, i.e., perpendicular to the path of the golf ball. A stroke length ruler is locatable along an edge of the putting surface and has indicia for aligning the stroke length ruler with the position of the golf ball and for indicating the proper backswing and follow-through in relation to the distance of each putt.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,815 is directed to a grid-like reference system for obtaining a properly aligned golf stance that includes a plurality of lines and a plurality of frames for holding opposite ends of each line on the ground in a predetermined relationship. A stance position line is established which extends from in front of the golfer and under the golf ball to behind the golfer to reference placement of the golfer&#39;s heels. A toe alignment line is established substantially perpendicular to the stance position line as a reference for placement of the golfer&#39;s toes and, a pair of substantially parallel swing plane lines are established to straddle the golf ball to direct the swing of the golf club.  
         [0005]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,139,263 discloses a golf practice device in the form of a closed frame encircling an open area within which a golf ball may be positioned and including alignment elements which enable the golfer to modify the flight path of a golf ball. The alignment elements are provided in the practice device to serve as guidelines for executing straight, fade, slice, draw and hook shots. The alignment elements are a plurality of visible indicia lines on the frame requiring the golfer to maintain the golf clubface square to the intended target while adopting a swing plane along other visible indicia lines on the frame.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,708,346 discloses a grip and swing alignment device provided on a golf club face in the form of a visible stripe extending through the desired ball contacting area of the club face and being aligned such that, when viewed from directly ahead of the club face, a plane including the viewer&#39;s eye and a lengthwise extension of the stripe extends generally through the longitudinal center of the club hand grip.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,300 is directed to a putter for use in training a golfer in a style of putting in which a crossrod at the upper end of the club shaft is provided with a sleeve supported at each end by ball bearings on a reduced diameter portion thereof extending from the shaft toward the golfer while the golfer addressed a ball. The golfer maintains a firm grip on the sleeve with one hand during the backswing and the ensuing pendulum-like stroke while using the other hand to grip a portion of the crossrod that extends out away from the golfer in order to raise the club head to a desired height during the backswing, after which that portion is released or held with a light grip should the golfer want to add more power for a longer and/or uphill putt. The golfer may thus maintain his body steady during the putting stroke for greater consistency in putting on the green in the course of play.  
         [0008]     There is a need however, for a portable putting aid and method of teaching putting, that can be easily set up and utilized by a golfer to improve his or her putting game.  
       OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a putting aid for a golfer that allows the golfer to practice putting and become proficient in putting.  
         [0010]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a putting aid for a golfer that can be easily set up.  
         [0011]     It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a method of aiding a golfer in improving his or her putting.  
         [0012]     In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, a novel golf putting aid is disclosed. The novel golf putting aid includes a substantially flat rectangular guide having a first end and a second end, and a plurality of markings on the substantially flat rectangular guide.  
         [0013]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a novel golf putting aid that can be easily set up is disclosed. The novel golf putting aid includes a substantially flat rectangular guide formed of a flexible material so that the substantially flat rectangular guide can be easily placed on the ground next to a hole.  
         [0014]     In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a novel method of using a golf putting aid is disclosed. The method includes placing the putting aid parallel to a putting line, putting from a first numerical mark on the putting aid, and advancing to a subsequent numerical marking on the putting aid and putting from the subsequent numerical marking on the putting aid. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be better understood when read with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a golfer and a golf putting aid in accordance with the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a partial cross sectional view of the golf putting aid of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation of the golf putting aid of  FIG. 1  shown rolled up into a transportable form. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0019]     Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to the same components across the several views, and in particular to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a golf putting aid  10  being used by a golfer  20 . The golf putting aid  10  includes a substantially flat rectangular guide  11 , having a first end and a second end.  
         [0020]     The substantially flat rectangular guide  11  includes a first fabric  12  and a second fabric  13 . A first grommet hole  15  is located at the first end of the substantially flat rectangular guide  11 , and a second grommet hole  16  is located at the second end of the substantially flat rectangular guide  11 . A plurality of markings  14  are located on the first fabric  12  of the substantially flat rectangular guide  11 . The plurality of markings  14  are spaced equally along the first fabric  12 , and proceed sequentially from the first end to the second end of the substantially flat rectangular guide  11 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the markings  14  are numerals, however, any markings known to one of ordinary skill in the art can be substituted. For example, the markings could simply be a line, or an ‘x’, or any other marking that a golfer could line up with to putt, including letters and words. Additionally, the markings  14  are ideally spaced at equal intervals of 1½ feet. The substantially flat rectangular guide  11 , in a preferred embodiment has a length of 12 to 15 feet, and is approximately 2½ inches wide.  
         [0021]     The first grommet hole  15  at the first end of the substantially flat rectangular guide  11  allows the golf putting aid  10  to be fastened to the ground by means of a golf tee, spike, or some other fastener known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, the golf putting aid  10  may be fastened to the ground through the second grommet hole  16  at the second end of the substantially flat rectangular guide  11 .  
         [0022]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the general construction of the substantially flat rectangular guide  11  is shown. The second fabric  13  is slightly wider than the first fabric  12 . The second fabric  13  is disposed substantially beneath the first fabric  12 , with the edges of the second fabric  13  wrapped over the edges of the first fabric  12  and attached to the first fabric  12  thereto by means of sewing, or any other means known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Disposed between the first fabric  12  and the second fabric  13  are a plurality of weights  17 . The weights  17  keep the substantially flat rectangular guide  11  from lifting off the ground and to maintain a straight line along the edge for a golfer to line the hole up on. The weights  17  are placed generally underneath the locations of the markings  14 . In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weights  17  are washers, and in particular 1¼ inch washers, however any weights known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be used.  
         [0023]     The first fabric  12  and the second fabric  13  of the substantially flat rectangular guide  11  are formed of a flexible material so as to allow the substantially flat rectangular guide  11  to be rolled up and transported as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In this fashion, the golf putting aid  10  can be utilized almost anywhere. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first fabric  12  and the second fabric  13  will be formed of a material such as NYLON®, however any material known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be utilized that will allow the substantially flat rectangular guide  11  to be rolled up.  
         [0024]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a preferred method of using the golf putting aid  10  will be described. The substantially flat rectangular guide  11  of the golf putting aid  10  is placed on the ground where the golfer  20  will be practicing putting. The first grommet  15  is placed such that it is substantially in line with a hole  23 . The golfer  20  can secure the substantially flat rectangular guide  11  to the ground by inserting a fastener as previously described, such as a golf tee or any other similar fastener, through the first grommet  15  and, if desired for additional stability, through the second grommet  16 . The golfer  20  begins the exercise by placing a golf ball  22  at the first marking  14  numbered “1”. The golfer  20  then putts the golf ball  22  with the putter  21  in the direction of the arrow “P”. After successfully sinking a pre-determined number of putts, three in a preferred method, the golfer  20  moves to the next sequential marking  14  on the golf putting aid  10 , and repeats the process of putting until he or she reaches the final marking  14  on the golf putting aid  10 , proximate to the second grommet  16 . At this point the exercise is completed and may be repeated as many times as the golfer  20  deems it necessary. The method described and illustrated in  FIG. 1  is for a right handed golfer, however, the method can readily be adapted to a left handed golfer by simply rotating the entire golf putting aid  10  about the first grommet  15 , or alternatively by placing the golf putting aid  10  on the opposite side of the hole  23 .  
         [0025]     In view of the foregoing disclosure, some of the advantages of the present invention can be seen. For example, a novel golf putting aid and method are disclosed. The novel golf putting aid can easily be transported to and from a location where a golfer would like to practice putting as it is made of flexible material and can be rolled up into an easy to transport form. Also, the novel method of using a golf putting aid helps to simulate pressure situations which a golfer is likely to encounter when playing an actual game of golf. Therefore, the golfer is able to practice putting under conditions as real as possible, enhancing his or her confidence in putting.  
         [0026]     While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example, with regard to the method, putting the golf ball three times is disclosed, however any amount of putts that a golfer feels he or she needs to adequately practice putting may be employed. Likewise, although the preferred method described is for the golfer to proceed from one marking to the next in sequential order, the golfer may advance to any marking that he or she sees fit to aid in practicing putting, including skipping putting from any particular marking. The substantially flat rectangular guide may be of any dimensions that would suffice to ensure a useful size for the golf putting aid.